The Walt Disney Company released its Q3 FY25 earnings on August 6, 2025, with CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston spotlighting creative momentum, strategic investments, and growing integration across the company’s business units. Here’s a summary of the key takeaways.
Lilo & Stitch Becomes a Breakout Franchise
Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch film surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, becoming the first film of 2025 to hit that milestone and marking Disney’s fourth billion-dollar title in just over a year. The film’s success rippled throughout the company:
- The original 2002 animated Lilo & Stitch and related content have been streamed over 640 million hours globally on Disney+.
- Stitch is on track to become Disney’s second-largest licensed merchandise property in 2025, second only to Mickey Mouse.
- The character has been rolled out across Disney Parks worldwide.
- A sequel to the film is already in development.
Streaming Evolves: ESPN, Hulu, and Disney+
Iger and Johnston emphasized Disney’s continued evolution in the streaming space:
- ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service launches August 21, offering access to all ESPN networks and digital properties.
- Hulu will be fully integrated into Disney+ by next year, creating a unified experience for general entertainment, family content, news, and live sports.
- Hulu will become a global general entertainment brand, replacing the Star tile on Disney+ internationally.
These moves aim to deliver more personalized, flexible, and valuable experiences to subscribers.
ESPN Expands with NFL and WWE
Disney continues to strengthen ESPN as a digital sports leader:
- ESPN will acquire NFL Network and other NFL media assets, pending approval, in exchange for a 10% equity stake.
- A new deal will merge ESPN Fantasy with NFL Fantasy, creating a combined platform.
- ESPN has secured rights to distribute NFL+ Premium and additional preseason games.
- WWE Premium Live Events will stream exclusively on ESPN starting in 2026.
Content Performance and Recognition
Disney’s film and television studios are delivering across platforms:
- Four of the top five streaming programs in the U.S. in early 2025 belonged to Disney.
- Disney earned 137 Emmy nominations across 50 titles, led by Andor with 14.
- Disney continues to dominate preschool programming with the three most-streamed shows in that category.
Parks, Experiences, and Cruise Line
Disney’s global experiences segment saw strong performance once again:
- Expansion is underway at every theme park worldwide, including:
- World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris (2026)
- Villains and Cars-themed lands at Magic Kingdom
- Monsters, Inc. area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Avatar-themed land at Disney California Adventure
- A new theme park in Abu Dhabi
- Disney Cruise Line is expanding to eight ships, with two new vessels set to launch later this year.
- Celebrations for Disneyland’s 70th and Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th were met with strong guest enthusiasm.
Executive Summary
Bob Iger and Hugh Johnston summed up Disney’s performance by stating, “Disney operates in a league of its own.” With momentum across streaming, sports, theatrical releases, and parks, Disney is doubling down on its strengths while preparing for a future driven by digital innovation.
Stay tuned to Sam’s Disney Diary for continued coverage of Disney’s business milestones, character growth, and the rise of Stitch as one of Disney’s top global icons.
