NEW TO THEATERS! Disney’s latest live-action remake, Lilo & Stitch, transports audiences back to the heartwarming world of ohana, set against the lush backdrop of Hawaii. Directed with the goal of staying faithful to the 2002 animated original, this version blends CGI with live-action to tell a familiar story of belonging, grief, and unlikely friendship. While it doesn’t completely escape the shadows of its source material, the film succeeds where it matters most—preserving the emotional bond between its three core characters.
The plot follows Stitch (Chris Sanders), a genetically engineered alien fugitive created by the mad scientist Jumba (Zach Galifianakis). Designed for destruction and banished to a remote planet, Stitch escapes and crash-lands on Earth, where he finds himself in the care of Lilo (Maia Kealoha), a young girl who is struggling to find friendship and acceptance after the death of her parents. Lilo lives with her older sister Nani (Sydney Agudong), who’s fighting to retain custody under pressure from social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere). Mistaking Stitch for a dog, Lilo adopts him from the animal shelter, believing he’s the friend she desperately needs.
Meanwhile, Jumba and his sidekick Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) arrive on Earth to retrieve Stitch without alerting the locals to an intergalactic crisis. As Stitch causes chaos while adjusting to his new environment, Lilo and Nani must prove their unconventional family is strong enough to satisfy the social services and undercover CIA agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance). The threat of separation looms large, both from alien forces and social services. As the tension builds, so does the emotional weight, culminating in a resolution that reaffirms the core theme: “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind—or forgotten.”
Stitch in Disney’s live-action LILO & STITCH. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind—or forgotten.”
What works best in this Lio & Stitch is the central trio: Lilo, Stitch, and Nani. Kealoha brings genuine charm to the role of Lilo, acting very much like a real six-year-old rather than a polished child actor. Agudong delivers a grounded performance as Nani, and the chemistry between the sisters sells the film’s emotional core. Chris Sanders returns to voice Stitch, and the CGI rendering is surprisingly effective—you forget he’s animated most of the time. I’ll admit—I got weepy…like a lot. Seeing the family torn apart felt even more powerful in live-action, adding new emotional layers not always present in the original animation.
The film does take liberties for budgetary reasons, cutting certain side characters and making small changes to the story, like having Jumba and Pleakley take on human forms. These changes aren’t deal-breakers, though longtime fans might miss some of the quirky elements that made the original so rich. That said, the filmmakers clearly understood what mattered most and made sure the key emotional beats remained intact. Though it’s not a one-to-one adaptation, it’s close enough for fans to appreciate.
The film doesn’t surpass the original, but it’s good enough to satisfy fans. My only real complaint is Galifianakis’ take on Jumba lacks the deep, menacing voice fans associate with David Ogden Stiers, and instead, makes the character feel cartoonish rather than threatening. The ending “battle” scene is a bit of a mess. It’s easy to lose a sense of space while watching all this alien space action take place. Still, the movie never loses sight of its audience—young kids and hardcore Disney fans—which helps it steer clear of the pitfalls that doomed Disney’s Snow White remake.
In the end, Lilo & Stitch isn’t a perfect adaptation, but it’s a heartfelt and faithful one that captures the spirit of the original without trying to “fix” it like in the abysmal Snow White from this year. It respects the source material and focuses on telling a story that still resonates with families today. The emotional punch lands, the visuals hold up, and the casting is spot-on. If Disney is looking for a blueprint on how to remake their animated classics, this is a solid step in the right direction.
"…I got weepy…like a lot."
