Wednesday marked Josh D'Amaro’s first day as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and the company wasted no time making major announcements. Pixar and Walt Disney Studios unveiled release dates for two highly anticipated films: Lilo & Stitch 2 and The Incredibles 3. Both movies are slated to arrive in Summer 2028, with just weeks separating the two.
Lilo & Stitch 2, a sequel to Walt Disney Studios’ live-action take on the beloved animated classic, is set to hit theaters on May 26, 2028, kicking off Memorial Day weekend. The date mirrors the rollout of Lilo & Stitch, which debuted in May 2025 and became a major box office win for Disney.
Based on the original Lilo & Stitch, the live-action remake connected with both families and Gen Z audiences who grew up with the story, ultimately earning over $1.03 billion worldwide. It also set the record for the biggest Memorial Day weekend opening ever, momentum Disney is clearly aiming to recapture with the sequel.
Co-creator Chris Sanders, who wrote and directed the original animated Lilo & Stitch, is writing the script, but no ploat details have been shared yet.
Just three weeks later, The Incredibles 3 will hit theaters, continuing Pixar’s blockbuster superhero franchise. The threequel arrives 10 years after Incredibles 2, which also debuted in June 2018.
The Incredibles is one of Pixar’s most successful, with Incredibles 2 grossing over $1.24 billion worldwide. At the time, it was Pixar’s highest-grossing film, later surpassed by Toy Story 4. The long 14-year gap before Incredibles 2 helped build massive anticipation, and the film’s release capitalized on the superhero craze sparked by the Marvel era, boosting its box office.
By the time The Incredibles 3 premieres, a decade will have passed since the last film. While Marvel-style superheroes remain popular, the genre isn’t at the same peak it reached during the Avengers era. Still, nostalgia for the franchise could play a key role in driving audiences to theaters, giving The Incredibles 3 a strong shot at box office success.
Like Lilo & Stitch 2, not much is known about the plot of The Incredibles 3. Director Brad Bird, who wrot eand directed the first two movies, is returning to write and executive produce; however, Peter Sohn (Elemental) will direct the movie.
Releasing Lilo & Stitch 2 and The Incredibles 3 just three weeks apart in the summer does come with some risk due to potential audience overlap. However, the back-to-back releases could also keep Disney at the center of the summer box office conversation. While both are family-friendly blockbusters, they appeal to slightly different fan demographics, which helps reduce the risk of cannibalization. With that in mind, there’s every reason to believe that both films could potentially surpass $1 billion at the global box office, giving Disney a major summer boost in 2028.