Lilo & Stitch Breaks Ticket Sales Records Ahead of Release

The much-anticipated live-action remake of Disney's beloved film, Lilo & Stitch, has made a remarkable splash in advance ticket sales, setting multiple records on its first day. This Disney film, directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, revives the heartwarming story of a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo who befriends an alien creature, Stitch. The film is based on the original 2002 animation that garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. According to Deadline, Lilo & Stitch has achieved the highest first-day presales for a PG-rated movie of the year on Fandango, surpassing previous record-holder, A Minecraft Movie, which recently crossed the $875 million mark worldwide. Additionally, the film has secured the second-highest presales for any Disney live-action release, only trailing behind 2019's The Lion King, which went on to earn an impressive $1.662 billion. Jerramy Hainline, EVP at Fandango, commented on the film's anticipated success, suggesting that audiences are eager to experience this fresh take on a story that has been beloved for generations. Despite falling short of The Lion King's first-day sales, Lilo & Stitch has outperformed several notable live-action remakes, including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Alice in Wonderland—all of which reached billion-dollar grosses. As Lilo & Stitch prepares for its Memorial Day weekend debut, projections suggest a potential gross of around $120 million over the four-day period. Though this figure is below the $162.7 million opening of A Minecraft Movie, rising presales indicate that this number could very well shift upwards. Interestingly, historical data suggests that even negative reviews may not greatly hinder viewership; most Disney live-action remakes have grossed a billion dollars despite low Rotten Tomatoes scores. With towering expectations, Lilo & Stitch is poised to continue breaking records as it officially launches into theaters.