Latest Live-Action Remake Smashes Records, Becomes Disney+’s 2nd Biggest Premiere on The Platform

Disney’s live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” has made a huge impact on Disney+ and in theaters worldwide.

According to Disney’s internal data, the film became the platform’s second-biggest live-action premiere, just behind “The Little Mermaid,” with 14.3 million views globally in its first five days. Disney counts a view as total stream time divided by the movie’s runtime.

The release also renewed interest in the original animated film and related content on Disney+, which together reached 670 million hours of viewing worldwide.

The live-action version had already been a box-office hit, crossing $1 billion globally after nearly two months in theaters. This milestone made it Disney’s fifth remake to hit $1 billion, joining “Alice in Wonderland,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and “Aladdin.” It was also only the second film in 2025 to reach that mark, alongside Chinese animated hit “Ne Zha 2.”

Disney co-chairman Alan Bergman commented on the success, saying, “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. I’m thankful to our filmmakers, our cast and all on our Studio team who have made this film such a success, and we look forward to more adventures with these characters ahead.”

The movie centers on Stitch, an alien who arrives on Earth and is adopted by a lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo.

Critics gave mixed-to-positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 72% approval rating, calling it “one of the better live-action remakes of a Disney classic”, while Metacritic shows a score of 53 out of 100. Audiences have responded very positively, with CinemaScore giving it an A and PostTrak reporting 90% overall positive feedback.

Some fans did criticize changes to certain characters and story elements, including Pleakley’s drag disguise, Gantu’s absence, and Nani giving up guardianship of Lilo.

With the film’s strong performance, Disney is already planning a sequel. Director Dean Fleischer Camp and producer Chris Eirich said that the direction of future projects will depend on audience reaction.

Fleischer Camp added, “I would do a sequel if it was the right idea, not just because there is a new market demand for it,” and also suggested the possibility of an animated spin-off series. On June 26, 2025, known as “626 Day” or “Stitch Day,” Disney confirmed that a sequel is in development, with Sanders joining as a screenwriter and Eirich returning as producer.

In my view, the success of “Lilo & Stitch” proves that live-action remakes can still capture the magic of the originals when done carefully. It’s impressive how Disney balanced nostalgia with a fresh take for modern audiences. Fans clearly loved it, both streaming at home and in theaters.

What do you think about this new “Lilo & Stitch”? Do you prefer the animated version or the live-action remake? Share your thoughts in the comments.