Disney live-action remakes that hope to break through with audiences. There is much to be learned from the triumph of Lilo & Stitch that may be able to help these other films.

The box office success of films like Lilo & Stitch is incredibly illuminating for the Disney brand. Moana 2's many box office milestones and its worldwide gross of over $1 billion, these recent switches to theatrical seem to be the right move.

Lilo & Stitch Made A Record-breaking $183 Million At The Domestic Box Office

The New Film Set A Memorial Day Weekend Opening Record

Disney had followed their original Lilo & Stitch plan.

Lilo & Stitch's ability to reach $1 billion at the worldwide box office now seems assured. The film has already made more than its budget and has plenty of runway in the coming weeks to make a great deal more money. With the worldwide figure already at $341.7 million, success is all but assured for the film, which may already be in the black. Notably, this is also the second-biggest opening for a live-action Disney remake, just behind The Lion King. Notably, however, Lilo & Stitch's holiday weekend release has given it an extra day gross compared to these other titles.

The Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Simply Had A $100M Budget

The Budget Was Much Smaller Than Most Live-Action Disney Remakes

One element that has gone into making Lilo & Stitch's record-breaking success more notable is that the film was made on a $100 million budget. This number reflects the original intent to have the film released on streaming and is significantly lower than most other Disney remakes. This year's Snow White was burdened by a budget of between $240-270 million, making profitability that much more difficult for the film. The same was true of last year's The Little Mermaid, which cost a similar $240 million.

Following in the footsteps of the original animated Lilo & Stitch, which cost a modest $80 million back in 2002, the new remake took a pared-down approach. By keeping costs lower, the film's bar to break even was not nearly as high. Considering the disappointing results of films like The Little Mermaid, scaling down budgets in this fashion is a smart choice for Disney. Doing so has especially paid off now, as Lilo & Stitch looks to become one of the highest-grossing live-action remakes yet.

Disney Must Learn This Major Lesson When It Comes To Budgeting Their Movies

A $100 Million Movie Has A Much Easier Path To Success

Budgeting has become a significant problem in Hollywood overall. Many films have become increasingly bloated and expensive, creating almost impossible numbers to make back. Even the budget for this weekend's Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which has earned a franchise-best $204 million worldwide in its opening days, will likely keep the film from becoming profitable, as it is rumored to have cost up to $400 million. With numbers like these, it is almost impossible for almost any film to succeed.

With marketing costs and the split of ticket proceeds with exhibitors, most films will need to make about 2.5x their budget to break even. By budgeting their films more modestly, such as Lilo & Stitch has done, that path to success is more attainable. Rather than having to gross $1 billion just to make a profit, as The Final Reckoning might need, the new Disney hit is likely already making money after its opening weekend.

Hollywood budgets are too high, and Lilo & Stitch's success, based on a $100 million budget, shows that they don't need to be so expensive to connect with audiences. Certainly, the series has great international appeal due to its Stitch character and popularity, and not every $100 million film could hope to reach these highs. However, Lilo & Stitch sets an important example for Disney to follow with its releases. To ensure sustainable and consistent success, the budgets must be at least somewhat pared down.

Source: Deadline, Box Office Mojo