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<\/p>\n\n\tQuick, who would you say are the biggest winners in entertainment this year? <\/p>\n
\n\tMaybe Netflix, for continuing its streaming domination and securing Warner Bros.? Perhaps YouTube, which cemented itself as a true force in the industry?<\/p>\n
\n\tMichael DeLuca and Pam Abdy, who salvaged the Warners film studio? Or Taylor Sheridan, who leveraged his many (many!) hit shows into a mega-deal with NBCUniversal?<\/p>\n
\n\tHere\u2019s an idea: How about a mischievous alien that rode the Disney flywheel to become arguably the biggest character in an arsenal of IP that makes everyone else in Hollywood (and in AI) blue with envy?<\/p>\n
\n\tIt\u2019s Stitch, the adorable star of Lilo & Stitch, and his success is by design.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWhen you look at some of our\u00a0most famous and long-lasting characters, it\u2019s the ones who are fun, silly, a little rambunctious but they always do the right thing in the end. And\u00a0Stitch\u00a0is exactly that,\u201d Asad Ayaz, The Walt Disney Co.\u2019s chief brand officer, tells The Hollywood Reporter. \u201cHe\u00a0is flawed in ways we all recognize:\u00a0sometimes being a little naughty,\u00a0but always trying his best. That authenticity, and instant familiarity, is what transforms a character into a cultural phenomenon that resonates across generations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tStitch and Disney chief brand officer Asad Ayaz at the world premiere of Disney\u2019s Lilo & Stitch at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 17, 2025.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto by Alberto E. Rodriguez\/Getty Images for Disney<\/p>\n
\n\tIndeed, Stitch has quietly become one of Disney\u2019s cross-generational success stories, with the millennials who grew up with him from the 2002 film introducing him to their kids. The 2025 live action remake of Lilo & Stitch spent most of the year as the top theatrical film of the year (right up until fellow Disney feature Zootopia 2 passed it), and it now has $1.04 billion in theatrical revenue.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn a year that saw Disney release a reboot of The Fantastic Four, a Tron sequel, and a live-action Snow White, it was Stitch that broke through.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhen the live-action remake debuted on the Disney+<\/a> streaming service in September, it passed 14.3 million views in its first five days, the second-best result for a live-action film, while Disney says that content from the original franchise passed 640 million viewing hours, and that was before the sequel landed. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tLilo & Stitch in 2002<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalt Disney\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n \n\tAnd then there\u2019s the Disney magic: The ability to bring those franchises to life, and make them available to buy in every way imaginable.<\/p>\n \n\tWhen Walt Disney first graphed out his flywheel in a now-legendary 1957 chart<\/a>, he outlined how the Disney film studio will power theme parks which would power TV which would power music which would power merchandise. Stitch may be the best example of that.<\/p>\n \n\tThe blue alien made his debut in the 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch, and Disney quickly leveraged the film\u2019s success to create an interactive experience a couple years later in Disney World\u2019s Magic Kingdom called \u201cStitch\u2019s Great Escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMerchandise based on the character has been available for more than 20 years, but the live action remake turbocharged it. Disney says that retail sales for consumer products based on the character surged past $4 billion in fiscal 2025.<\/p>\n \n\tThat\u2019s $4 billion, with a \u201cB,\u201d of Stitch merch.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe popularity of this global phenomenon underscores the franchise\u2019s enduring strength and the effectiveness of our strategy to invest in popular stories and characters,\u201d Disney CEO Bob Iger told Wall Street analysts Nov. 13 of Stitch\u2019s success in the space.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tStitch plush toys<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDisney<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThese touchpoints\u00a0all reinforce the emotional connection back\u00a0to\u00a0Stitch,\u201d Ayaz says. \u201cThe success of the new\u00a0movie brought families back to the original film\u00a0on Disney+, products deepen the connection through gifts people genuinely love, and experiences in our parks transform\u00a0that affection into lasting\u00a0memories.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe film is an event, the theme park attractions are an experience, and Disney+ and a regular cadence of new merchandise provide year-round engagement. It\u2019s a model that, so far, only Disney has truly been able to make work. And it is a big reason why Warner Bros. is so coveted by both Netflix and Paramount.<\/a> In a world of abundant entertainment, truly iconic IP is scarce, and Stitch has hit that mark.<\/p>\n \n\tIn fact, Stitch has managed to pull off something close to impossible in the world of Disney: He took over for Mickey Mouse.<\/p>\n \n\tEvery year the company has a Disney Holiday Magic Tour, traveling the world to raise donations, hand out gifts for those in need, and host activations for fans. Last year Mickey led the charge, but this year Disney gave the honors to Stitch, who journeyed to more than 20 cities across the country, surprises in hand (Mickey Mouse is still expected to sell more merchandise than Stitch this year, lest the alien get too comfortable).<\/p>\n \n\tAnd earlier this month, as part of that tour, Stitch crash-landed on Broadway.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n