Latest news with #LILO&STITCH
Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AMC Entertainment Sets Memorial Day Holiday-Weekend Records for Admissions Revenue, Food and Beverage Revenue, and Total Revenue, on the Way to AMC's Biggest Revenue Weekend So Far in 2025
LEAWOOD, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC), the largest theatrical exhibitor in the United States and the world, today announced a record-breaking Memorial Day holiday weekend performance. From Thursday through the Monday holiday, AMC set all-time weekend records for the Memorial Day holiday for admissions revenue, food & beverage revenue and overall revenue at its domestic locations. In terms of the number of guests in its theatres, both in the United States and globally AMC and ODEON Cinemas also recorded their highest attended weekend and highest attended 5-day period of 2025. All told, more than 7 million moviegoers visited an AMC in the United States or an ODEON Cinemas location internationally from Thursday through Monday. AMC's 5-day performance for overall revenue (admissions revenue plus food and beverage revenue) ranks as the Company's third-best 5-day period in more than a decade. As part of the successful weekend in the U.S., AMC recorded its biggest food and beverage revenue over a 5-day period this decade, and second biggest in Company history. Domestically, it was also AMC's most attended weekend of the year and its highest-attended Memorial Day weekend since 2013. Also, this past weekend domestically at AMC, each of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were the most attended of all the respective Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of 2025. AMC's strong results reflect broader momentum across the theatrical industry, as media outlets report a record-setting Memorial Day box office, driven by the robust openings of LILO & STITCH and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING. Audiences for both films filled AMC's extensive network of premium screens, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema and RealD 3D. AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron commented: 'Finally it would appear that our industry has turned a corner. Since early April, weekend after weekend, moviegoers have been demonstrating their preference for theatrical moviegoing. A record-setting Memorial Day holiday is yet another sign of the continued strength and relevance of moviegoing in 2025. With many more potentially huge movies coming in June all the way through the end of 2025, and beyond that deeply into 2026 as well, we firmly expect to be enjoying a robust theatrical box office as we look ahead.' Aron continued: 'This record-setting Memorial Day weekend underscores the long-standing truth that when exceptional films meet unmatched theatrical experiences, audiences respond in a big way. We are especially grateful to our studio partners at Disney and Paramount, as well as the filmmakers, casts, and crews behind LILO & STITCH and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING for their creating stories and delivering performances that truly resonated with moviegoers. Their creative efforts, combined with AMC's continued focus on enhanced sight, sound, and comfort, led to AMC Entertainment enjoying one of the most successful weekends in our company's history.' About AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. AMC is the largest movie exhibition company in the United States, the largest in Europe and the largest throughout the world with approximately 900 theatres and 10,000 screens across the globe. AMC has propelled innovation in the exhibition industry by: deploying its Signature power-recliner seats; delivering enhanced food and beverage choices; generating greater guest engagement through its loyalty and subscription programs, website, and mobile apps; offering premium large format experiences and playing a wide variety of content including the latest Hollywood releases and independent programming. For more information, visit
The Age
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Fun and anarchy in Disney's live action remake of Lilo and Stitch
LILO & STITCH ★★★ PG. 108 minutes, rated PG. In cinemas Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a young Hawaiian orphan, full of high spirits but short on friends. Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders) is a sharp-toothed but fluffy alien genetic experiment, who has fled the laboratory where he was created and is hiding out on planet earth. That should let you know what to expect from Lilo & Stitch, even if you're unfamiliar with the 2002 cartoon of the same title – not the last Disney film to rely on traditional hand-drawn animation, but among the last to be viewed with widespread nostalgia. Many members of the original target audience will by now have young children of their own, presumably what Disney are banking on with this live-action remake, a more faithful transposition than their remakes of their older animated classics tend to be. As before, six-year-old Lilo stumbles upon Stitch at the local dog pound, though even in his new digitally-animated form he looks more like a previously undiscovered species of possum than a dog. It's love at first sight, despite the qualms of Lilo's elder sister and guardian Nani (Sydney Agudong), who's wrapped up in her own worries including an ongoing struggle with child protection services. Stitch has worries too, such as the extra-terrestrial scientists on his trail, played in their disguised human form by Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifinakis. Still, before the climax kicks in there's ample time for him and his new human soulmate to cause trouble at the hotel where Nani works, along with bonding over Elvis records and teaching each other the meaning of family. While the tone remains basically gentle, much of the fun comes from Stitch's anarchic, destructive streak – akin to one of my own childhood favourites, Mortimer the raven in the books by Joan Aiken, which some enterprising producer should try bringing to the big screen.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fun and anarchy in Disney's live action remake of Lilo and Stitch
LILO & STITCH ★★★ PG. 108 minutes, rated PG. In cinemas Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a young Hawaiian orphan, full of high spirits but short on friends. Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders) is a sharp-toothed but fluffy alien genetic experiment, who has fled the laboratory where he was created and is hiding out on planet earth. That should let you know what to expect from Lilo & Stitch, even if you're unfamiliar with the 2002 cartoon of the same title – not the last Disney film to rely on traditional hand-drawn animation, but among the last to be viewed with widespread nostalgia. Many members of the original target audience will by now have young children of their own, presumably what Disney are banking on with this live-action remake, a more faithful transposition than their remakes of their older animated classics tend to be. As before, six-year-old Lilo stumbles upon Stitch at the local dog pound, though even in his new digitally-animated form he looks more like a previously undiscovered species of possum than a dog. It's love at first sight, despite the qualms of Lilo's elder sister and guardian Nani (Sydney Agudong), who's wrapped up in her own worries including an ongoing struggle with child protection services. Stitch has worries too, such as the extra-terrestrial scientists on his trail, played in their disguised human form by Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifinakis. Still, before the climax kicks in there's ample time for him and his new human soulmate to cause trouble at the hotel where Nani works, along with bonding over Elvis records and teaching each other the meaning of family. While the tone remains basically gentle, much of the fun comes from Stitch's anarchic, destructive streak – akin to one of my own childhood favourites, Mortimer the raven in the books by Joan Aiken, which some enterprising producer should try bringing to the big screen.
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘Lilo and Stitch' is a live-action alien resurrection
Disney's latest beeline for your wallet, and your nostalgia, is a live-action remake of 'Lilo & Stitch.' If that title doesn't ring a bell, this movie is not for you at all. I'm astonished by how many of my millennial friends consider the 2002 original to be an essential staple of their childhood. The character of Stitch is a fan favorite for them, and these are the people Disney is trying to reach. It's smart counterprogramming to the behemoth that is ' Advertisement I shouldn't really be surprised by the Stitch love: I took my then-four-year old nephew to see the original 'Lilo & Stitch,' and I've never seen a kid enjoy a movie more. His raggedy uncle, however, was praying the movie would fry in the projector; I hated, hated, hated this frenetic cartoon about an obnoxious little Hawaiian girl named Lilo and her equally destructive alien pal, Experiment 626, aka 'Stitch.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 23lilostitch - Stitch in Disney's live-action 'LILO & STITCH.' (Courtesy of Disney) Courtesy of Disney The remake keeps about 85 percent of the original plot, and a lot of its dialogue, so this recap will sound very familiar. The creation of a mad scientist named Jumba (Zach Galifianakis), Stitch was designed for maximum carnage. He's bulletproof, fireproof, smarter than a hundred supercomputers, and can learn and adapt to surroundings in the blink of an eye. Water is his only enemy, as his molecular structure will make him so heavy in water that he will drown. Advertisement Of course, when Stitch escapes from a tribunal where Jumba is being tried for creating him, he crash-lands on an island in Hawai'i, a state surrounded by water. He disguises himself as the world's ugliest dog, and Lilo (Maia Kealoha) temporarily adopts him from the pound. 23lilostitch - Maia Kealoha as Lilo, left, and Sydney Agudong as Nani in Disney's live-action 'LILO & STITCH.' (Matt Kennedy/Disney) Matt Kennedy/Disney Lilo's sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) has been taking care of her since their parents died in an automobile accident. Nani is trying to keep the family together, but she's barely an adult. The social worker assigned to the case, Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the 2002 original), is understanding, but warns Nani that Lilo may be put in foster care. Meanwhile, an alien called the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham) is quite ticked off that Stitch escaped. She has no choice but to free the jailed Jumba and send him to Earth to retrieve his product. The cruel and unfriendly Jumba is joined by an extroverted, one-eyed Earth specialist named Pleakley (Billy Magnussen). Pleakley's job is to keep the hotheaded Jumba from creating an intergalactic incident. Also in the mix is the awesomely named Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance), whose role here is slightly altered from the original's incarnation, which was voiced by Ving Rhames. David (Kaipo Dudoit), the tongue-tied surfer dude who's sweet on Nani, also makes the leap to this version. Jason Scott Lee, the original David, has a cameo here as well. 23lilostitch - From left, Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Stitch and Sydney Agudong as Nani in Disney's live-action 'LILO & STITCH.' (Courtesy of Disney) Courtesy of Disney As for Stitch, fans will be happy to know that Chris Sanders is once again providing his voice. Sanders also co-directed and co-wrote the original film before going on to greatness with 2010's 'How to Train Your Dragon' and last year's superb adaptation, ' Advertisement I revisited the animated version of 'Lilo & Stitch' right before my screening of this movie. I still hated the original, but I found this version a bit more tolerable. Both of the titular characters are more likable here, with Kealoha giving a good performance as Lilo. Take that with a grain of salt; I may have been slightly softened up by the sight of Stitch driving his car through the screening room before the movie started. This was cuter than anything the movie had to offer. Given my disdain, I'm surprised he didn't try to run me over. There's still time to hit me, Stitch! Because from a visual standpoint, this film is the ugliest entry in the live action remake sub-genre. The troublemaking alien Stitch and his fellow alien cronies look terrible in this incarnation. Stitch has always looked ugly and acted ratchet—I believe that's why he's so beloved—but a 2-D drawing can pull that off far better than CGI. 23lilostitch - Jumba voiced by Zach Galifianakis, left, and Pleakley voiced by Billy Magnussen in Disney's live-action 'LILO & STITCH.' (Courtesy of Disney) Courtesy of Disney Director The concept of 'ohana,' or extended family, remains a central theme in the live action 'Lilo & Stitch.' According to Lilo, family means no one is left behind or forgotten. I'm not surprised that I had the same cynical reaction to this overly simplistic philosophy in both iterations of this film. However, this version's final speech extoling the virtues of ohana moved me a little bit. Perhaps I'm becoming an old softie after all. Advertisement ★★ LILO & STITCH Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp. Written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Mike Van Waes. Starring Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Tia Carrere, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham. Courtney B. Vance, Kaipo Dudoit. At AMC Boston Common, Landmark Kendall Square, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, suburbs. 108 min. PG (mild violence) Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Lilo & Stitch' review: Can Disney please stop torturing innocent cartoons?
movie review LILO & STITCH Running time: 108 minutes. Rated PG (action, peril and thematic elements). In theaters May 23. 'I like you better as a sister than a mom,' says little orphaned Lilo to her older sister Nani. Similarly, I like 'Lilo & Stitch' a lot better as a cartoon than yet another creativity-free live-action remake. Advertisement Obviously, because no Disney carbon copy has ever so much as matched an original, let alone topped it. I loathe this 2D-to-too-real trend, which seems meant purely for Bob Iger to have something easy to announce during quarterly earnings calls. What's next, Bob? 'In 2028, we got um, um, um, live-action 'The Rescuers'!' It's too much. Advertisement The House of Mouse's latest go at making childhood less magical is, at least, not as ponderous as 'Mufasa: The Lion King' or as universally unwanted as 'Snow White.' But, as is almost always the case, the animated action set to Elvis songs translates awkwardly to actual people in familiar places with kitchen-table problems. Just what tots want — bland doses of harsh reality. What was great fun before is mostly mopey and depressing now. A hunk, a hunk of burning IP. 3 'Lilo & Stitch' is Disney's latest live-action remake. AP Advertisement For instance, a social worker played by Tia Carrere tells high-school-age Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong) to get health insurance for her and her six-year-old sister, whose parents died in a car crash, and to stock their barren fridge with food. Otherwise, Lilo goes into foster care. Pretty bleak! Even the most adorable alien visitor can't help you sign up for Medicaid. To be honest, this time I spent much of the movie, rudimentarily directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, actually thinking Lilo should go live with a more stable family. So, I wasn't sure who to root for … other than hand-drawn animation. The spunky, King-obsessed girl is played by a very young actress, seven-year-old Maia Kealoha. She's very sweet with Stitch — there are 'aww's aplenty — and that connection is all the movie's got going for it. Advertisement However, being so small, when she's bullied by classmates, left home alone, sent to the hospital after nearly drowning or is imperiled by gun-toting villains, it's extremely uncomfortable. They should've made the character older. 3 Stitch isn't as lovable as he was in the cartoon. What of our gibberish-talking blue buddy? Considering the toon has been around for 23 years, Stitch is already cherished by kids the world over — the stuff of millions of stuffed animals. He's a lab-engineered super-intelligent weapon created by Jumba, an extraterrestrial scientist. Feisty Stitch escapes captivity to Hawaii, and Jumba and frenzied Earth expert Pleakley are tasked with retrieving him by Hannah Waddingham, who's in far too many movies. Although Stitch is well-designed, he's harder to embrace. My thought bubble the whole time: I can help falling in love with you. After Lilo adopts Stitch thinking he's just a weird indigo dog, his previously silly mischief (trashing the house, setting fire to the luau-themed restaurant where Nani waitresses) ain't cute — it's distressing. The 2002, pen-and-ink rascal went on a buyable emotional journey of self-discovery. The CGI guy does not. 3 AP Advertisement Some fans will be miffed that Jumba and Pleakley (Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen) use technology to resemble humans — a la 'Men in Black' — instead of donning dresses and other disguises. They behave with generic oddness, like the outline of a 'Coneheads' sketch. The duo isn't funny. Courtney B. Vance, an exceptional actor, is horribly wasted as secretive Cobra Bubbles. I hope the paycheck was nice. The only scene I really enjoyed was when Lilo, Nani and Stitch go surfing to that happy tune 'Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride.' During that playful minuite, the movie is colorful, carefree and light on its feet. Advertisement For a brief and sunny moment, 'Lilo & Stitch' finally resembles a cartoon. I've just read that Disney has at least four more poorly considered live-action retreads in some stage of development. Only fools rush in!
