Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch is absolutely killing it at the box office, zooming past USD 400 million globally in less than a week since its May 23, 2025, release. This heartwarming remake of the 2002 animated classic has broken records left and right, including snagging the biggest Memorial Day weekend debut ever in North America. With a perfect mix of nostalgia, family vibes, and a super lovable Stitch, it’s no wonder this film’s got everyone talking—and flocking to theaters!
A Massive Memorial Day Win
Lilo & Stitch kicked things off with a mind-blowing USD 182.6 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend in North America, including USD 146 million over the standard three-day frame. That’s enough to dethrone Top Gun: Maverick’s old record of USD 160.5 million, making it the biggest Memorial Day weekend opener ever. Add in USD 178.6 million from international markets, and the film hit USD 361.2 million right out of the gate—all on a lean USD 100 million budget. By day six, it had already soared past USD 400 million worldwide, blowing past the original 2002 film’s lifetime gross of USD 273.1 million (unadjusted for inflation) in record time.
The film held strong with a USD 36.6 million haul on Memorial Day Monday alone, the fifth-biggest holiday Monday ever, trailing only heavyweights like Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame. With just a 13.3% drop from Sunday, it’s clear audiences are loving this one and coming back for more.
Why Everyone’s Obsessed with Lilo & Stitch
So, what’s making Lilo & Stitch such a hit? For starters, it’s got that nostalgic pull from the 2002 animated film, a total favorite for millennials and Gen Z (or “zillennials,” as some call them). A whopping 57% of the opening weekend crowd were non-families, which is wild for a PG-rated flick. The story of Lilo, a quirky Hawaiian girl (played by newcomer Maia Kealoha), and her chaotic alien pal Stitch (voiced by the OG creator Chris Sanders) still hits all the right feels about family and belonging. Plus, the mix of live-action and CGI makes it feel fresh yet familiar.
Director Dean Fleischer Camp, who charmed us with Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, nailed the vibe, earning a solid 73% on Rotten Tomatoes—one of the best scores for a Disney live-action remake. Fans are raving too, giving it an “A” CinemaScore and a 90% on PostTrak, with 61% already begging for a sequel. The trailer blew up online, racking up 158 million views in 24 hours and trending No. 1 on X and YouTube. And let’s not forget the merch—Stitch stuff sold over USD 2.6 billion in retail last year alone, and it’s flying off shelves now.
Beating Out the Big Guns
Lilo & Stitch went head-to-head with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which pulled in a respectable USD 77 million over the same weekend. But Disney’s family-friendly gem stole the show, especially with women aged 18–34 and Hispanic and Latina audiences. Together, these two films pushed the Memorial Day weekend to a record-breaking USD 330 million in domestic ticket sales, topping the previous high of USD 306 million set in 2013. In the UK and Ireland, Lilo & Stitch topped the charts with USD 12.9 million, just edging out Mission: Impossible’s USD 11.5 million, thanks to families hitting theaters during the May half-term holiday.
A Big Win for Disney
After Snow White flopped with just USD 200 million against a USD 250 million budget, Lilo & Stitch is the comeback Disney needed. With its USD 100 million budget and massive returns, it’s already a financial slam dunk. Bob Iger’s push for quality over quantity in live-action remakes is clearly working—this one’s right up there with hits like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Experts are betting it could hit USD 800 million or even USD 1 billion globally, which would make it one of 2025’s biggest blockbusters.
The cast is a big part of the magic, with Maia Kealoha shining as Lilo and Sydney Elizabeth Agudong killing it as Nani. Add in stars like Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Zach Galifianakis, and original cast members like Tia Carrere, plus Chris Sanders back as Stitch’s voice, and you’ve got a winning lineup.
Source: Pinkvilla
Image Credit: Disney