As many Disney animation fans predicted, the studio didn’t have to grieve the disaster of Snow White for long. Just a couple of months after the most widely criticised remake in Disney’s history hit theatres, a far stronger reboot — Lilo & Stitch — has taken over the big screen.
Thankfully, all hopes Disney had pinned on this new take on the friendship between a young girl and a mischievous alien creature paid off. In fact, Lilo & Stitch earned more during its opening weekend than Snow White managed to scrape together in an entire month. But here’s the twist — Disney almost missed this success entirely.
Disney Originally Planned to Release Lilo & Stitch Exclusively on Streaming
According to insiders, the remake was originally destined for a straight-to-Disney+ debut, with no theatrical release at all. Surprisingly, it wasn’t even the Snow White backlash that forced Disney to rethink. Well before that film hit cinemas, the studio began to realise that many of its streaming hits only became successful after enjoying a theatrical run.
In the end, Lilo & Stitch got the cinema release it deserved — a decision that may have saved Disney hundreds of millions of dollars, considering the film has already become a box office sensation.
Lilo & Stitch Has Already Grossed Over $300 Million Worldwide
Though the film only opened last Friday, and despite criticisms from purists over changes to the original plot, the controversy hasn’t dented its earnings. So far, Lilo & Stitch has grossed roughly $341 million globally — nearly covering its hefty $200 million budget.
Given that the remake has achieved this in under a week, Disney has every reason to expect it’ll start turning a profit any day now.
