More than 20 years after arriving on Earth—and into the hearts of moviegoers—Experiment 626 is once again making waves.
First released in 2002, Lilo & Stitch captured audiences with its offbeat humor, emotional storytelling, and colorful depiction of life in Hawaii. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the film followed a young girl named Lilo and her misfit alien pet Stitch. Together, they embodied the Hawaiian value of “ʻohana,” or family—a theme that struck a chord across generations.
A soundtrack featuring Elvis Presley hits and a distinct hand-drawn animation style helped the movie stand out, ultimately launching sequels and a successful TV spinoff that kept the franchise alive for years.
Now, over two decades later, Disney has revisited the property with a live-action/CGI hybrid directed by Dean Fleischer Camp. The updated version features newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo, with Zach Galifianakis as Pleakley, Billy Magnussen, and Courtney B. Vance stepping into the role of Cobra Bubbles. Chris Sanders returns as the voice of Stitch, preserving a key element of the original film’s identity.
Staying mostly faithful to its animated roots, the new adaptation has sparked debate around casting decisions, cultural interpretation, and changes made to the ending. These discussions reflect the broader challenges Disney faces as it continues to reimagine classic films for current audiences.
Originally slated for Disney+, the film took a theatrical turn following the massive success of Moana 2 in 2024. That sequel, also first announced as a streaming release, ended up crossing the $1 billion mark in global earnings—a wake-up call for Disney about the theatrical potential of select titles. Lilo & Stitch has now followed suit.
The hybrid remake has officially earned $1.001 billion globally, narrowly overtaking Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie (2025), which closed at just over $955 million. That commercial milestone, coupled with the ever-present popularity of Stitch across platforms, prompted a sequel announcement in late June.
As Deadline noted earlier this month, Stitch remains a cornerstone of Disney’s media empire.
“The Lilo & Stitch franchise in series and the original pic has driven over 579 million hours on Disney+ around the globe,” the outlet reported. “The original Lilo & Stitch has accounted for more than 306M hours of viewing on the OTT service. Disney+ global. Retail sales for Stitch have grown from $0.2B in 2019 to $2.6B in 2024, representing a ten-fold increase.”
That kind of staying power hasn’t gone unnoticed. Disney Entertainment Chairman Alan Bergman told Variety:
“We knew there was a lot of love for Lilo & Stitch with audiences around the world, yet we never take that for granted, and we’re proud of how this new film has connected with people.” But 2025 hasn’t been a smooth ride across the board for Disney. The studio stumbled hard with one of its most high-profile legacy remakes.
Long before it opened, Snow White (2025) faced heavy criticism, from casting choices to creative revisions. Rachel Zegler’s take on the title role stirred controversy not only due to her modernized interpretation of the fairytale but also because of her outspoken political commentary, which sharply contrasted with her co-star Gal Gadot.
The studio’s move to replace the iconic Seven Dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” was met with backlash from disability advocacy groups and fans who saw it as a departure from what made the original special.
Although the film opened atop the box office, it failed to sustain interest. With a production budget reportedly nearing $300 million, the film only managed to bring in $205 million worldwide. Critical reception was tepid, and online user scores dropped rapidly, placing it among the lowest-rated Disney remakes in years. Even a streaming launch couldn’t fully salvage its reputation.
Meanwhile, the 2002 original Lilo & Stitch has found new momentum on streaming platforms. According to Nielsen, the film landed in the Top 10 most-watched movies for the week of June 2–8, with 236,000 minutes streamed.
It appeared alongside high-profile titles like The Accountant 2 (2025), Captain America: Brave New World (2025), and The Wild Robot (2024).
As What’s On Disney Plus noted: “The original animated film, Lilo & Stitch, continues to get a boost in viewership following the release of the new live-action version, highlighting the benefit of the large back catalog of titles available on Disney+,” the outlet wrote.
Though no specific streaming date has been confirmed for the new version, all signs point to a late August or early September release on Disney+. Given past trends—and considering how Snow White found brief success in streaming despite its theatrical shortfall—Lilo & Stitch is poised to perform strongly once it drops on the platform.
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