Introduction to the Record-Breaking Film
A week ago, nobody could have imagined that Disney’s live-action new production, a redesigned Lilo & Stitch, would open with a record fund of $182.6 million on the four-day Memorial Day weekend, with $146 million for the three days. In overseas markets, the live-action redux of the 2002 animation film survived with $178.6 million for a global start of $361.2 million, compared to a net budget of $100 million.
Breaking Records
The film today drives another milestone into its list, as it crosses the $400 million mark worldwide, including $200 million in the US on the sixth day of publication, more than the entire lifespan of some live-action Disney releases. It is already ahead of the total $273.1 million global animation from 2002’s Lilo & Stitch, not set to inflation. To boot, it’s off Warner Bros.’ blockbuster A Minecraft film at least in North America. On its sixth day in publication, Minecraft had $193.2 million in the US.
Unique Appeal
It would be difficult to find another film like Lilo & Stitch. Three weeks before its publication, it was opened to $120 million in the US. A week later, it was $145 million, followed by $165 million on the eve of the US debut. Almost nobody can imagine a similar title that pops so much, maybe because only a few have recognized Lilo & Stitch is not just a children’s film. Non-families made up 57 percent of the opening weekend audience and emphasized that the property IP heals for Gen-Zers and younger millennials or "Zillennials".
Family Films and PG Ratings
If a family film is rated with PG, this is a recipe for magic. A Minecraft film, the previous top-grossing film of the year, is another example. Ditto for A Super Mario Bros. film and Evil, or Disney’s Aladdin. These films have proven that a PG rating can lead to massive success at the box office.
Records and Achievements
Below are the data records and other remarkable achievements Lilo & Stitch has reached, not adjusted for inflation.
Top Memorial Day Opening of All Time
Tom Cruise knew that there was no way Mission: Impossible would beat Lilo & Stitch, but he probably hadn’t expected a delightful extraterrestrial creature to his 2022 feature Top Gun: Maverick ($160.5 million) as the greatest start of all time. Other top Memorial Day earners include Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ($139.8 million), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ($127 million), and X-Men: The Last Stand ($122.9 million).
Second-Largest Opening of All Time for Four-Day Holidays
In North America, Lilo & Stitch also offers the second-largest gross of all time for a four-day holiday weekend, behind the historical opening of Ryan Coogler’s $242 million Black Panther at Presidents Day Weekend in 2018. The top holiday opening by Martin Luther King Jr. is Bad Boys for Life ($73 million), while 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the crown holder of the Labor Day ($94.7 million).
Third-Largest Opening of All Time for a Disney Live Action
The only two titles that opened higher were the 2019 The Lion King, which still rules with a start of $192 million, followed by 2017’s Beauty and the Beast with $175 million in the US. Here, too, it is the three-day number that determines the order. Without these industry rules, Lilo & Stitch would be the second-largest opening ever for a Disney live-action picture.
Fifth-Largest Monday Ever in the US
On Memorial Day, Lilo & Stitch delivered one of the greatest entry-level goods of all time with $36.6 million. This brings the film into diluted air when considering that the top earners are 2018’s Black Panther ($40.2 million), 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($40.1 million), 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home ($37.1 million), and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame ($36.9 million).
Second-Best Domestic Opening of the Year
Since cash openings are officially classified by the three-day weekend number, Minecraft still has the previous top start of the year. Lilo & Stitch‘s three-day gross was $146 million. A Minecraft film made $162 million for a $940.7 million worldwide. It is unlikely that it will be the first Hollywood title of 2025 to join the $1-billion club. Could that be a feat for Lilo & Stitch?
Biggest Disney Live-Action Opening Ever in Latin America
Lilo & Stitch is enthusiastic about taking the highest opening ever for a Disney live-action remake throughout Latin America. Mexico headed all markets with $27 million, while the third top market was Brazil with $12.2 million. Europe was also strong, where the UK led with $17 million. The international start of $178.6 million is the fourth-largest ever for Disney live-action.
Seventh-Best Opening of All Time for Every PG Title
Not bad. Lilo & Stitch connects to the top-10 list of the largest openings for a PG title. Disney’s film empire claims eight of them, led by The Lion King, 2018’s Incredibles 2 ($182.7 million), and Beauty and the Beast. Warners’ Minecraft film follows in fourth place.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’ Fuel Largest Memorial Day Picnic Ever
Disney’s live-action redo and Tom Cruise’s final Mission: Impossible film fueled the largest summer holiday weekend of all time. The combined ticket sale for all films was almost $330 million. The former best Memorial Day frame in relation to total sales was one of the ticket sales of $306 million in 2013, when Fast and Furious 6 zoomed to $117 million, followed by The Hangover Part III with $50 million.
