Lilo & Stitch, the live-action remake of the 2002 Disney animated classic, will soon release in theaters, and tracking for the film suggests that a $1 billion worldwide gross is not just possible, but may actually be the likeliest outcome. Blending live-action and animation in a unique Hawaiian setting, everything known about Lilo & Stitch suggests that the contemporary update of this heartwarming story is already appealing to audiences. Following some strong marketing, it is now beginning to look like the film's success is all but guaranteed.

most anticipated movies of summer 2025. The film’s presales now seem to suggest that there is even greater fervor for the movie than was expected.

Lilo & Stitch Already Has The Best Presales For A PG Movie In 2025

The Disney Film Is Outpacing A Minecraft Movie In Presales

Advance ticket sales for Lilo & Stitch began last week and, according to Deadline, the first-day presales exceeded the 2025 record set by A Minecraft Movie. Minecraft has found incredible success at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing Hollywood movie of 2025 so far, with a worldwide total that currently exceeds $900 million. Minecraft is only second to the Chinese film Ne Zha 2 at the worldwide box office for 2025, making Lilo & Stitch's presales that much more illuminating.

Minecraft debuted to an incredible $162.8 million domestically and $313 million worldwide. With initial interest in Lilo & Stitch outpacing Minecraft for presales, this suggests that the Disney film might even have the biggest worldwide opening of the year so far, though tracking has been a little bit more conservative with their estimates. Still, with such a strong projected opening, even without reviews being available for the film, it feels safe to assume that Lilo & Stitch will go on to massive success, especially considering how, at this level, even poorly received films have earned $1 billion grosses.

Lilo & Stitch's Early Box Office Projections Look Promising Compared To Past $1B Disney Remakes

Disney Has Had Three, Or Arguably Four, Billion Dollar Live-Action Remakes

Disney has had incredible success with their live-action remakes at the box office, and several of these have gone on to gross over $1 billion. Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Alice in Wonderland all broke this incredible record, as did The Lion King which, while entirely computer-generated and not technically live-action, is understandably lumped into this category as well. Many Disney live-action remakes have tended to find great success, and the tracking for Lilo & Stich is favorably pacing alongside some of the most successful.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lilo & Stitch is currently tracking for a four-day domestic debut of $120 million, which would be an excellent start. Notably, this might put its three-day total, a more comparable figure to the others listed here, closer to $100 million. Regardless, these figures would suggest a worldwide opening of greater than $200 million, which would certainly put the film on the right path toward ing the most profitable Disney remakes so far.

Disney's Marketing Strategy Is A Hint At The Studio's Confidence In Lilo & Stitch's Box Office Potential

The Marketing Is Similar To What Was Done For The 2002 Original

Much of Lilo & Stitch's massive box office potential has grown out of its excellent marketing. Following in the footsteps of the 2002 original, the new film has seen innovative marketing, including Stitch popcorn bucket surprises and inserting Stitch into posters for other popular properties. This type of marketing is resonating with audiences, and calls to mind the excellent creative promotion that allowed the Deadpool films to become some of the biggest superhero movies of all time.

The animated Lilo & Stitch grossed $273.1 million worldwide in 2002.

Disney seems to be confident with the new film, and audiences clearly love Stitch. Disney parks have remained full of Stitch merchandise, and the new iteration of the character is very similar to the original version, even bringing back Chris Sanders, the director of the 2002 film, to voice him once again. As a family release with a popular character and innovative, memorable marketing, including great trailers, the new film is setting itself up for success on all fronts.

Lilo & Stitch Will Likely Become Disney's First Billion-Dollar Movie In 2025

The Film's Path To Success Seems Clearly Paved

Disney has released a few films in 2025, but they have not had a live-action film break a billion dollars since last year's Deadpool & Wolverine. With similar marketing creativity and excitement surrounding Lilo & Stitch as there was for that superhero blockbuster, and with first-day presale details showing the film standing only behind 2019's The Lion King for the same period, it is clear that Lilo & Stitch has a clear path towards being Disney's first billion-dollar movie in 2025. This is now beginning to look like the most likely result for the film.

Many believe that Lilo & Stitch could quickly beat Snow White's box office, and this seems very likely. The release of the film, on the same day as Paramount's Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, is already being framed as the next "Barbenheimer," and there is hope that both films will be able to act as excellent counterprogramming to one another. However, if only one of these movies is to find success on that weekend, it is all but assured that it will be Lilo & Stitch.

Granted, this success could be tempered by poor reviews, or by too much competition. The How to Train Your Dragon remake from Universal targets a similar audience, and releases on June 13, and Karate Kid: Legends could have some crossover when it is released on May 30. However, Lilo & Stitch still has enough space to itself in the summer movie season and, so long as it is received positively, it is difficult to imagine that it would not find its way to a $1 billion box office total by the end of its run.

Anything is possible, and the box office is always full of exciting surprises, but it seems that Lilo & Stitch's path to a $1 billion gross is among the most likely for any films this year. After a few middling years, Disney appears to have earned back some audience goodwill, allowing them to rule the box office in 2024. With interest in Lilo & Stitch already clear, it seems that the new film might be the next enormous hit from Disney.