Lilo & Stitch (2025) Review: A Warm, Wobbly Trip Back to Hawaii

This Lilo & Stitch review starts with a simple question: does Disney's live-action remake earn its place next to the 2002 animated favourite? Mostly, yes. Director Dean Fleischer Camp delivers a warm, funny family adventure with real heart, even if it wobbles in places.

The film arrived on 17 May 2025 and runs 108 minutes. It is rated PG, so it suits most family audiences.

Lilo & Stitch Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The plot follows Lilo, a quiet, lonely girl in Hawaii who lives with her older sister Nani. Their family has been through a lot, and money and stability are both in short supply. Lilo wants a friend, so she adopts a strange blue "dog" from a shelter.

The creature is Stitch, an alien experiment who has escaped from space custody. Scientist Jumba and Earth expert Pleakley are sent to bring him back, while Cobra Bubbles keeps a close eye on Lilo's home life. Stitch decides the safest hiding place is inside a family, and chaos follows.

The story stays close to the shape of the original in its opening stretch. That familiarity will comfort fans, though later changes may divide them.

What Works in Lilo & Stitch

The heart of the film is the bond between a grieving girl and a destructive alien. It remains simple and sincere, and it carries the emotional weight whenever the movie slows down. The idea of "ohana", the belief that family means nobody gets left behind, still lands.

• Stitch himself: The CGI design is expressive and genuinely cute, and Chris Sanders returns to voice him.

• The humour: Stitch's destructive antics get proper laughs, and younger viewers in particular respond to them.

• The sister story: Nani's struggle to keep the family together gives the adventure a grounded centre.

The Hawaiian setting also gives the film a sunny, lived-in feel. It works as both an action-adventure and a gentle comedy.

Lilo & Stitch Cast and Performances

The Lilo & Stitch cast is led by newcomer Maia Kealoha, and she is the film's biggest asset. She plays Lilo with a prickly, funny honesty that never feels forced. Many critics single her out as the reason the emotional beats work.

Sydney Agudong plays Nani as a tired, loving big sister, and her scenes with Kealoha ring true. Chris Sanders gives Stitch his voice once again, which keeps a direct link to the original film.

Zach Galifianakis plays Jumba and Billy Magnussen plays Pleakley, with Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles. Galifianakis and Magnussen bring comic energy, though how much you enjoy their take depends on how you feel about the changes made to their characters.

Where Lilo & Stitch Stumbles

Not every change from the 2002 film is an improvement. Some reviewers feel the second half drifts away from the original in awkward ways. The alien duo spend much of the film disguised as humans, which can feel like a compromise and drains some of the fun from two great characters.

The pacing also sags in the middle. At nearly two hours, a few scenes feel stretched, and the action sequences are less memorable than the quiet family moments. Viewers expecting a sharp, fast comedy may find it more sentimental than they hoped.

A reported budget above $421 million is a lot to live up to, and the film never quite feels as inventive as that figure suggests. It is a pleasant remake rather than a bold reinvention.

Is Lilo & Stitch Worth Watching?

Yes, Lilo & Stitch is worth watching, especially for families and fans of the original. Audience reaction has been warm, with a TMDB score of 7.2 out of 10, and the emotional core holds up well. It is not perfect, but its sincerity does a lot of the work.

If you want a film that mixes laughs, a little action and a heartfelt message, this delivers. If you are a purist who wants an exact copy of the animation, expect some frustration. For more in this vein, browse our action movie reviews and adventure movie reviews.

For a very different big-screen experience, our Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning review covers another major 2025 release. You can also read more background on the film at IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy Lilo & Stitch

• Families with children who want a gentle, funny PG adventure.

• Fans of the original 2002 film who are open to a few changes.

• Viewers who like emotional stories about found family and sisterhood.