Disney’s Live Action Success
Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch has reached a significant milestone, crossing the $1 billion mark at the global box office. This achievement makes it the first Hollywood picture of 2025 to reach this milestone, solidifying its status as the world’s top film of the year.
Box Office Performance
The film ended with a domestic total of $416.2 million and $584.8 million overseas, resulting in a global total of $1.001 billion. In comparison, Ne Zha 2 holds the record for 2025 with a total of over $1.899 billion, with the majority of its income coming from the Chinese box office.
Exceeding Expectations
Lilo & Stitch, an adaptation of the popular animated film from 2002, has exceeded expectations since its opening on Memorial Day. The film’s success can be attributed to families and Gen Zers who grew up with the original title. This milestone marks the fourth billion-dollar film released by Disney’s film empire in the past 13 months.
Recent Disney Releases
Other recent Disney releases that have reached the billion-dollar mark include Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.328 billion), Inside Out 2 ($1.698 billion), and the Moana sequel. These films demonstrate Disney’s continued success in producing high-grossing films.
Studio Reaction
Alan Bergman, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, expressed the studio’s pride in the film’s performance, stating, "We knew there was a lot of love for Lilo & Stitch with the audience around the world, and we are proud of how this new film has resonated with people."
Domestic Box Office
In the domestic box office, Lilo & Stitch opened with $183 million, surpassing Mission: Impossible – The Last Billing from Paramount. The film is one of only two films to exceed $400 million at the domestic box office this year, with A Minecraft Film being the other.
International Performance
Overseas, Lilo & Stitch has become the top-grossing international Hollywood release of the year and is the highest-grossing Disney live-action film of all time in Mexico. The film has also performed well in several European and Latin American markets.
Franchise Revival
The success of the live-action film has sparked worldwide interest in the franchise, leading to increased viewership of the original animated classic and related content on Disney+. The film’s performance has also led to the development of a sequel, which is currently in the works.
Historic Achievement
Lilo & Stitch is the 58th film in history to exceed the $1 billion mark worldwide. Among other live-action Disney films, The Lion King (2019) is one of the top-grossing films, with a total of $1.662 billion that is not adjusted for inflation.
