2002’s Lilo & Stitch, just like its titular characters, has always felt like an outlier in Disney’s animated catalog. Nestled in a film library full of princesses and pixie dust, Lilo & Stitch uses the quaint setting of Kauai to teach us that ‘ohana (family) can find us in the most unexpected of ways. 23 years later, the film is one of Disney’s most beloved to date, and the lovable Stitch is now a mascot nearing the recognizability of Mickey himself. Anyone who’s entered a gift shop at a Disney Park in the last few years can attest to this: Stitch is everywhere. Now, that includes the theaters.
With that said, Lilo & Stitch (2025) is also an outlier within the live-action library. It’s one of the few that makes smart changes to the plot while simultaneously keeping the original story’s charm intact. That is a fine line many live-action Disney films have attempted to balance, but none pull it off better than Lilo & Stitch. However, Lilo & Stitch, for all of its strengths, reveals the most glaring issue with any of these live-action remakes: Even if these films do everything right on paper — solid casting, beneficial story changes and additions, cute character design, etc. — nothing can match the magic of animation.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ Makes Some Well-Versed Story Moves
The most infuriating issues with Disney’s live-action films stem from the filmmakers tweaking story beats that don’t need tweaking. March’s Snow White was a huge offender in this category. Most of the changes in Lilo & Stitch work to enrich the myriad stories told within the film. Namely, the added emotional weight to the storyline of Lilo’s (Maia Kealoha) sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) and the expanded role of the supporting cast. While Nani’s role remains intact from the original, the decision to have her guardianship of Lilo upend college dreams allows for the sisterly bond to take center stage.
Nani also has more community outside her family than in the original film. Characters like neighbor Tutu (Amy Hill), social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere), and CIA Agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) all help support Nani in ways she wasn’t in the animated version. It’s an issue with the original that I didn’t realize was there until this version, and it enhances the pervasive theme of family.
Experiment 626 himself (Chris Sanders, the mind behind the animated film) also becomes a lot more active in the story way earlier on. A lot of the plot points in the original revolve around Lilo trying to control his behavior; Stitch doesn’t utter a word in English that isn’t “Hi” until far into the movie. In this version, Stitch gains those qualities faster, communicating with his human friends fairly early. It’s a move that allows Lilo and Stitch to cause some mischief as a duo and establish them as a unit earlier in the film. It’s more evocative of the pair’s relationship in Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch than anything in the original film, for better or for worse.
Lilo’s Role Changes, but Maia Kealoha Is a Star
While most of Lilo & Stitch’s changes make for a more heartfelt story, others work to sour the original’s prowess. As Nani receives some new story beats, Lilo’s signature weirdness has been softened to an unfortunate degree. That isn’t to say that newcomer Maia Kealoha isn’t wonderful; if there’s something that these live-action films prove, it’s that Disney knows how to cast their lead heroines. There are moments in this film that would not be as heartfelt if it weren’t for Kealoha’s naivety and precariousness.
In the original, Lilo’s bizarre tendencies felt a part of her DNA. Her weirdness and troublemaking tendencies existed before her parents’ passing, and were only exemplified as a result of it. On the other hand, this adaptation of Lilo isn’t a “bad kid,” she’s a “kid who does bad things.” Rather than being weird, she’s weird as a result of her circumstances. It’s a small adjustment that appeals to modern-day sensibilities, but sacrifices the charm.
Despite High Points, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Still Struggles To Capture the Magic
If one character gets the shortest end of the live-action stick, it’s the character of Hawaii itself. Even when considering Lilo’s adaptation, or the abysmal adaptation of Jumba (Zach Galifianakis), Hawaii’s depiction takes the biggest hit. In the animated film, a subtle critique of mainland American tourism to Hawaii is notably absent. This is likely to avoid the irony that Disney themselves have cashed in on this very industry with Aluani, the Disney-owned resort in Oahu.
The direction by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell With Shoes On) also does Hawaii a slight disservice. While the direction is fun and fast-paced, Hawaii is not given as much room to shine. It’s not really his fault, though, as animation carries something that cannot be brought to another medium: A flexibility in visual expression that can transcend the limits of live-action. Cultural representation oozes out of every frame of the 2002 film, allowing the creators to embed identity in tiny details, from the movement of the waves to the lush watercolor backgrounds. In 2025’s Lilo & Stitch, we lose something larger — a group of animators’ interpretation of a culture. A land. An ‘ohana.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ Is Disney’s Best Live-Action Remake, but That Isn’t Saying Much
Disney’s frequent live-action remakes often lack memorability, especially when compared to their source material. However, this adaptation stands out with its genuine heart and charm, firmly ranking it as Disney’s best live-action effort to date. Lilo & Stitch is going to rake in a massive haul at the box office, which will likely continue the live-action trend after next year’s Moana remake starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, so let’s all collectively hope Disney learns the right lessons moving forward toward Questlove‘s The Aristocats remake and the live-action Hercules from Guy Ritchie and The Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo.
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'Lilo & Stitch' Review
'Lilo & Stitch' ReviewThe Good
- Nani has much more depth as a character.
- Stitch is somehow more charming than the original.
- Maia Kealoha is a star!
The Bad
- Unfortunately, changes to Lilo sacrifice some of her charm.
- Hawaii is not depicted with as much care as the animated version.
