Ask anybody with a head for numbers they usually’d in all probability agree that the primary billion is all the time the toughest. Many 2025 motion pictures are attempting, and Disney’s live-action Lilo & Sew remake turned the primary Hollywood flick in 2025’s $1 billion membership. That’s undoubtedly one thing to smile about, however Maia Kealoha, one of many movie’s stars, did greater than that when recalling her personal emotions on the matter.
This cute piece of data comes courtesy of THR, which is in attendance at this yr’s San Diego Comedian-Con. The outlet caught up with Maia Kealoha, who was with co-stars Tia Carrere and Sydney Agudong. Through the chat, the trio had been requested the billion-dollar query. All had been enthusiastic concerning the milestone, nevertheless it was Kealoha’s expression of disbelief that basically took the cake. You’ll be able to see it on this clip, which was shared to Instagram:
Her expression is downright priceless and too cute to disclaim! The kid star’s enthusiasm can be greater than comprehensible. This milestone marks a serious event for the live-action Disney’s remake. In the end, it represents a contact of the outdated, pre-lockdown world, by which document setting $1 billion grosses felt a bit extra widespread. With that, it was additionally commonplace to see stars expressing gratitude for such success.
One wouldn’t have been faulted for believing that Lilo & Sew’s 2025 revamp (which can ultimately be streamable with a Disney+ subscription) can be a success earlier than it began its field workplace run. Maybe 2024’s field workplace figures could have swayed even essentially the most jaded adults. Per Field Workplace Mojo, the one three motion pictures to crack $1 billion final yr had been Disney titles.
A part of the explanation Kealoha was so amped for the announcement is as a result of the information got here with a studying alternative. When it got here to the great fortune her Disney film eased into, Kealoha not solely welcomed it with the optimism you noticed above but additionally adopted that up with a vital query – as you’ll learn beneath:
I did not understand how a lot it was, after which my mother was like, ‘Okay, you guys simply hit a billion {dollars}. You guys have been aiming for that!’ I [was] like ‘Yay, so comfortable for Disney,’ and my mother was like, ‘You have to be,’ and I am like ‘How a lot is a [billion] {dollars} once more?’
As questions surrounding Lilo & Sew 2 at the moment are starting to kind, and franchise co-creator Chris Sanders has began writing the follow-up, there’s going to be much more to contemplate within the close to future. Maia Kealoha’s response to the primary movie’s success highlights one such question that’s about to begin taking maintain, as everybody might be questioning, “May Lilo & Sew 2 surpass this storied success?” We’ll simply have to attend and see.
For these of you who haven’t caught Lilo & Sew 2025, or for you readers who simply wish to revisit this reimagining but once more, you’ll be able to hire or buy the movie on PVOD. Additionally, the bodily media launch is ready for August twenty sixth – in case you wish to snag Sew’s Disney magic in your shelf!