Disney’s blue alien from outer space, initially a cartoon figure but now a live-action feature star, is a red-hot commodity among film-goers.
“Lilo and Stitch,” the live-action film shot in Hawaii last year, looms to become the first Hollywood title of 2025 to join the $1 billion box office club. The feat could be accomplished over the Fourth of July weekend.
And the film is enjoying enormous success without the benefit of a big-name Hollywood star. Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo, is the discovery playing opposite the dog-like Stitch character, the alien who needs no introduction.
In its sixth week at the cinema, the film has already logged $401 million taking kids to see it, and in some situations, a second outing to watch the movie. R-rated features are customarily one and done.
Disney’s “Frozen” was able to break the billion-dollar mark, accumulating just shy of $1.3 billion globally. Currently, “Lilo & Stitch” has earned $948 million worldwide, with every likelihood to pass the billion-dollar count.
The live-action picture already has out-grossed the entire $273.1 million global of run of 2002’s animated “Lilo & Stitch” and the tally has not been adjusted for inflation.
Tom Cruise smartly did not anticipate his “Mission: Impossibe,” which opened the same day opposite “Lilo & Stitch,” would exceed his action film, and he certainly didn’t anticipate the little girl named Lilo and her blue pet named Stitch would unseat his 2022 feature adventure “Top Gun: Maverick” ($160.5 million) as the biggest Memorial Day opener of all time.
Oh, the power and prowess of the Hawaii-groomed flick…
Whee, the people
Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Manoa Marquee” event, at 7:30 p.m. July 23 at MVT, will feature Jerry Santos, the legendary island entertainer.
Henry Kapono is hosting the program, also featuring Kailua Moon, as part of an ongoing Kapono/MVT series of a variety of shows.
Tickets start at $25, available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35307/production/1211148?performanceld=11513542 …
Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will appear at Blue Note Hawaii in a two-night stand July 22 and 23.
His accompanists will be Jackson Waldhoff, bass; Michael Grande, keyboards; and Shawn Pimental, drums.
Shimabukuro then heads to the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.
Showtimes are 6. and 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 and 8 p.m. for beverage and food service.
Tickets are $55 for premium seating and $45 for bar area.
Reservations: www.bluenotehawaii.com or 808-777-4890…
“‘Wicked’ still topping Broadway gross list
The leaders led — in the weekly list of Broadway show grosses — for the week ending June 29. Thus, “Wicked” was the hot ticket.
But two newcomers made their first appearance on the Top 10: “Maybe Happy Ending,” at No. 9, and “Just in Time,” at No. 10.
The Top 10:
1–“Wicked,” $2.435 million
2—”Glengarry Glen Ross,” $2.230 million
3—”The Picture of Dorian Gray,” $2.092 million
4—”The Lion King,” $2.067 million
5—”Hamilton,” $1.939 million
6—”Sunset Blvd.,” $1.851 million
7—”Aladdin,” $1.376 million
8—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.355 million
9—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.307 million
10—“Just in Time,” $1.279 million
The complete list, courtesy of the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…