Disney has been on a real tear with their live-action remakes of classic animated movies, and it seems that they have no intention of stopping. They've pretty much started putting more energy into creating these remakes than putting out new, original movies. And it makes sense - the remakes all tend to be incredibly financially successful, and so of course the company would take the path that's going to earn them the most money. Nostalgia sells, and Disney is putting out their most beloved movies from the past, presented in a new way is the perfect strategy to get people to watch.
There are a bunch of remakes that are still in the works and haven't even begun filming yet. One of these is the live-action Lilo & Stitch, which has no official release date yet but is widely thought to be coming out sometime in 2024 or early 2025. Lilo & Stitch, the 2002 movie that follows a young girl named Lilo and her newfound friendship with an alien named Stitch, is one that is super beloved among Disney fans. Stitch in particular has become a staple of Disney iconography and is always appearing in merch, be it clothing, pins, or plushies. Trying to remake this classic will be a huge mistake for Disney, especially when there are other options for profiting off nostalgia that don't take away from the integrity of the original film.
Lilo And Stitch At 20: The Beloved Disney Movie That Became An Instant Classic
After 20 years, Lilo & Stitch remains one of the most loved Disney movies. It's full of great characters, laughs, heart, and ohana.
The Live Action Lilo & Stitch Is Another Unnecessary Remake
Quite literally none of the remakes have been necessary in any way. Sure, they attempt to fix "plot holes" (that weren't really an issue in the first place) or have more feminist messaging in certain areas, but these attempts are always clunky and never feel genuine. They also undercut the actual feminism that's present in some of the older Disney movies by trying to make them feel more in line with modern ideals. It's not a bad goal, but even if the intent is there, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
In other words, none of these movies needed to happen. They're all worse than the animated movies they're remaking, and they simply feel like a waste of time and resources. Lilo & Stitch is a prime example of this. The original 2002 movie is fantastic, tackling themes about family and loyalty, and introducing kids to elements of Hawaiian culture. It manages to be sincere and heartwarming while also being a comedy, featuring exciting sci-fi elements that keep the viewer hooked. Come for the aliens, stay for the story about sisterly love. And yes, Lilo & Stitch tackled sisterhood long before Frozen ever came to be.
There is no reason to remake this movie other than for pure profit and nostalgia reasons (which, of course, is exactly why Disney is doing it). There's nothing in the story that warrants improvement, and if anything, it will be a lot harder than most movies to adapt to live-action. It will likely be very difficult to animate the aliens (particularly Stitch) into a CGI format without them looking kind of scary. It works in 2D animation, but a lot of fans are already worried about how Stitch is going to look when translated over into CGI.
Why Can't Disney Re-Release Their Animated Movies Into Theaters?
There's a much better way to profit off of nostalgia than remaking the old Disney classics - simply re-release the original movies themselves. There are plenty of Disney fans who would love to see some of their favorite movies on the big screen at a theater, particularly if were too young to have that experience when the movie initially came out. People enjoy those films, and they want to see that level of quality, not a watered-down version of their favorite Disney 2D movie that feels slapped together.
Of course, though this option may be more in keeping with artistic integrity, it's not necessarily the best option financially, and as a massive corporation, that's what Disney's going to focus on. Remakes are where the money is, likely partially due to the fact that it feels like a new story, rather than one that fans have already seen. Also, with Disney Plus, a lot of people would just prefer to watch the movie at home rather than pay for a movie ticket.
Though re-releasing the old films would still generate a lot of buzz and make people excited, those profits wouldn't be anywhere near what they make with the live-action remakes. So while it hurts for those who love older Disney movies and don't want to see their legacy touched in any way, the live-action remakes certainly aren't going anywhere, as long as they manage to keep collecting those massive returns.