Lilo & Stitch (franchise)
A Disney franchise about ʻohana and a blue alien.
Lilo & Stitch is an American media franchise created and owned by The Walt Disney Company, beginning with the 2002 film written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. The franchise centers on the adventures of an orphaned Hawaiian girl, Lilo Pelekai, and an artificial extraterrestrial creature named Stitch, whom she adopts. Its combined critical and commercial success during Disney's post-Renaissance downturn led to multiple sequels, television series, spin-offs, and merchandise, making it one of Disney's top ten best-selling franchises.
- First release
- 2002
- Creators
- Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
- Field
- Media franchise
- Owned by
- The Walt Disney Company
- Retail sales as of 2024
- $2.6 billion
- 2025 fiscal year revenue
- $4 billion
- Overall revenue
- over $7.9 billion
Lore & Background
The franchise primarily follows Lilo Pelekai, an orphaned Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, an artificial extraterrestrial originally created by mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba to cause chaos. Stitch is rehabilitated by Lilo through the Hawaiian concept of ʻohana, or extended family. Their ʻohana includes Lilo's older sister Nani, Jumba, and his partner Agent Wendy Pleakley. Later works introduce many genetic experiments similar to Stitch, Captain Gantu, and Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel. The films and first television series frequently reference Elvis Presley.
Reader's Guide
The Lilo & Stitch franchise is significant for its success during a difficult period for Disney's feature animation studio, spawning two direct-to-video sequels, a television sequel, animated shorts, three television series, a live-action/CGI adaptation, video games, theme park attractions, comics, and literature. Its retail sales reached $2.6 billion as of 2024, with an additional $4 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, and overall revenue exceeding $7.9 billion. The franchise expanded internationally with Japanese and Chinese spin-offs that replaced Lilo with local characters. A live-action adaptation released in 2025, with a sequel in development. The franchise's emphasis on family and redemption has resonated globally.
Did You Know?
- The original film was a rarity for Disney's feature animation studio during its post-Renaissance downturn in the early 2000s.
- The franchise's overall revenue has reached over $7.9 billion.
- Later spin-offs from 2008 through 2017 separated Stitch from Lilo and placed him in Japan and China.
- As of 2025, no theatrical short film titled Lilo & Scratch has been announced.
More in Extraterrestrial life in popular culture 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced