Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is already proving to be one of the most anticipated live-action remakes in recent history. The first trailer, released this week, has smashed expectations by accumulating a staggering 158 million views in just 24 hours, making it the second most-watched Disney live-action trailer ever—just behind 2019’s The Lion King teaser.
This is terrific news for Disney, who has struggled to please audiences with several of their last live-action remakes. Previously, some speculated that this film could be a flop. On the contrary, the positive reception of this initial trailer has given Disney the boost they desperately needed.
A Viral Sensation Across Multiple Platforms
The overwhelming response to the Lilo & Stitch trailer wasn’t just limited to high viewership numbers—it also became a dominant force on social media. Within an hour of release, the trailer hit No. 1 on Twitter/X’s trending list, staying within the top 10 for several hours.
On YouTube, it quickly climbed to the No. 1 trending position, and it even reached the top spot on China’s Douyin platform (the country’s version of TikTok), demonstrating the film’s massive global appeal.
The numbers suggest that fans of the original 2002 animated classic are eager to see how Disney will bring the beloved story to life in a new format.
Disney’s Latest Live-Action Reimagining Arrives in 2025
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), Lilo & Stitch will introduce a new generation of fans to the bond between a young Hawaiian girl and her mischievous alien companion. While many details about the film remain under wraps—including how Stitch will be brought to life with CGI—the sheer volume of views for the trailer signals widespread curiosity and excitement.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is set to debut exclusively in theaters on May 23, 2025, and if its early momentum is anything to go by, the film could be one of the studio’s biggest live-action hits to date.
