Nostalgia sells — but not all the time.
Disney is learning that lesson as it mines its library of iconic films for new versions. The Mouse House scored a win this past weekend with its live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” which shattered expectations with a record-setting Memorial Day box office haul.
“‘Lilo’ will provide a blueprint for future success,” Comscore box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian told Business Insider. He added that “there’s got to be a corporate mandate” at Disney to dive into the vault in search of material for further remakes.
There’s one problem for Disney: It could be running out of compelling IP to give the live-action treatment.
Disney’s ill-fated reimagining of “Snow White” earlier this year showed the perils of trying to remake a classic that contemporary audiences didn’t connect to. And the company has already remade blockbusters like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” and “Mulan.”
Disney could roll the dice with older or lesser-known films, but they might turn out less like “Lilo & Stitch,” a smash that’s on pace to gross over $1 billion, and more like “Snow White.”
However, there’s some room for Disney. It’s remaking “Moana,” and could get creative by opening up the Pixar vault.
Disney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Is the ‘Lilo & Stitch’ blueprint bankable?
Film critic Scott Mantz said “Lilo & Stitch” may be more of an exception than the rule.
“Stitch has become a modern mascot for Disney, eclipsing even Mickey Mouse,” Mantz said, noting that “Lilo & Stitch” merchandise has been a bestseller for the Mouse House.
Besides the original 2002 movie, there was also a TV series featuring the dynamic duo and sequels like 2003’s “Stitch! The Movie,” 2005’s “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch,” and 2006’s “Leroy & Stitch.”
The quality of the film is another factor that helped the new “Lilo & Stitch” avoid a “Snow White” outcome. Mantz opined that the “Lilo & Stitch” remake is “not as good as the original animated film, but it’s good enough.” (It has significantly higher scores than “Snow White” from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.)
“‘Snow White’ just was a disaster waiting to happen, whereas ‘Lilo & Stitch’ was a sleeping giant ready to be awakened,” Mantz said.
What Disney live-action films are next?
Fans of Disney’s live-action remakes are in luck, box-office analysts say.
“They’re going to find a way to do live-action versions of their animated hits from the last 30 years, so they can appeal to the families that are coming out in droves to make this sort of obscure animated film from 2002 into a massive live-action hit,” Mantz said.
Dergarabedian warned Disney that projects need to be more than a “money grab,” however.
“If they try and do this in an inorganic way to just capitalize on ‘Lilo,’ that won’t work,” he said.
Below is a list of beloved Disney movies that could be candidates for remakes, given the success of “Lilo & Stitch.” Some were mentioned by box-office analysts, while others are relatively recent hits that are at least a decade old and prominently feature humans.
One of these possible remakes is already confirmed. And it’s worth noting that a live-action remake of “Tangled” got shelved earlier this year.
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