Experiment 626 has staged an epic return—and this time, he's rewriting the playbook for Disney’s live-action remakes.
Debuting in 2002, Lilo & Stitch made a lasting impression thanks to its heartfelt narrative, stylized visuals, and warm embrace of Hawaiian culture. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the animated feature introduced audiences to Lilo, a fiercely independent girl, and Stitch, a genetically engineered alien hiding in plain sight as her pet dog. Their journey was framed around the Hawaiian ethos of “ʻohana,” or family—an emotional anchor that helped propel the film into Disney classic status.
Fueled by a soundtrack filled with Elvis hits and crafted with rich hand-drawn animation, the original film became a breakout hit. Multiple sequels and an animated series soon followed, solidifying Stitch’s place in Disney’s character lineup.
Now, nearly a quarter-century later, Disney has reimagined the beloved story for a new generation. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the 2025 live-action/CGI adaptation stars Maia Kealoha as Lilo, joined by Zach Galifianakis (Pleakley), Billy Magnussen, and Courtney B. Vance (Cobra Bubbles). Co-director and original voice actor Chris Sanders reprises his role as Stitch, giving fans a direct link to the animated film.
While the new version remains close to its animated roots, it’s also sparked heated conversation around casting, the depiction of native Hawaiian themes, and changes made to the film’s ending. These conversations mirror larger discussions around how Disney is reshaping its legacy properties for modern audiences.
Initially slated to premiere exclusively on Disney+, the film was rerouted to theaters after Moana 2’s unexpected box office domination. Originally a streaming title, Moana 2 went on to gross over $1 billion worldwide—a clear sign that family-focused content still has a strong theatrical foothold.
Lilo & Stitch has now joined that elite club, surpassing the billion-dollar mark at the global box office with $1.001 billion. That figure puts it just ahead of Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie, which tallied $955 million. The financial momentum, combined with Stitch’s thriving merch and streaming appeal, prompted Disney to greenlight a sequel in June.
According to Deadline, Stitch’s reach continues to expand across platforms.
“The Lilo & Stitch franchise in series and the original pic has driven over 579 million hours on Disney+ around the globe,” the outlet reported. “The original Lilo & Stitch has accounted for more than 306M hours of viewing on the OTT service. Disney+ global. Retail sales for Stitch have grown from $0.2B in 2019 to $2.6B in 2024, representing a ten-fold increase.”
Disney Entertainment Chairman Alan Bergman reflected on the revival’s impact in a statement to Variety: “We knew there was a lot of love for Lilo & Stitch with audiences around the world, yet we never take that for granted, and we’re proud of how this new film has connected with people.”
But not every legacy reboot found success this year.
If Lilo & Stitch became 2025’s standout success, Snow White emerged as its cautionary tale. The film generated controversy long before release, from Rachel Zegler’s casting and commentary to Disney’s creative reworking of the classic tale.
The replacement of the traditional Seven Dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” drew sharp responses, especially from disability rights groups who criticized the choice. The broader fandom also voiced concerns over the film’s departure from the source material.
Despite a No. 1 opening weekend, Snow White failed to sustain interest and suffered from lackluster reviews. With a budget close to $300 million, the film grossed just $205 million globally, making it one of the studio’s most commercially disappointing remakes. Its digital release saw a slight bump, but not enough to offset the broader fallout.
Meanwhile, the original 2002 film has seen renewed life thanks to streaming. Nielsen reported Lilo & Stitch among the Top 10 most-viewed titles from June 2 to June 8, clocking 236,000 minutes watched.
It ranked alongside titles like 2025's The Accountant 2 and Captain America: Brave New World, and The Wild Robot (2024).
As noted by What’s On Disney Plus: “The original animated film, Lilo & Stitch, continues to get a boost in viewership following the release of the new live-action version, highlighting the benefit of the large back catalog of titles available on Disney+,” the outlet wrote.
While a release date for the live-action version on Disney+ hasn’t been confirmed, late August or early September seems likely. Given how even Snow White saw strong streaming numbers post-theatrical run, Lilo & Stitch may be poised for another surge when it hits the platform.
What did you think of Disney’s new take on Lilo & Stitch? Head to the comments and join the conversation.
