Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (2025) is a wildly funny and heartfelt story about a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps mend her broken family. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, the film features a screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, and stars Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, and Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance and Zach Galifianakis, and introduces Maia Kealoha in her breakout role.
Fleischer Camp’s live-action take is not a direct adaptation of the beloved 2002 animated film. Instead, it reimagines the Lilo & Stitch story with a sharper focus on Lilo Pelekai, Nani Pelekai and Stitch. Addressing the Gantu in the room—he’s notably absent this time around. Including the character may have added unnecessary runtime and taken valuable screentime away from developing other key characters.
In many ways, this new version of the Hawaiian rollercoaster ride appeals to both younger and older audiences. As someone who grew up watching the Lilo & Stitch movies and TV series, I came into the film with a deep connection to the characters and their ohana. The familiar songs and new renditions sparked fond memories, while fresh musical elements added a new emotional layer to the story. And just in case you forgot—‘ohana’ means family.
When it comes to Hawaiian language and culture, Lilo & Stitch (2025) does an excellent job of expanding on the theme of ‘ohana, introducing a new term for audiences already familiar with the original film. This reimagining brings in the word ‘kuleana,’ which means responsibility. The themes of kuleana and ohana resonate strongly throughout the film and help ground its emotional core.
“Whether audiences wanted a live-action adaptation or not, Lilo & Stitch (2025) delivers some of the franchise’s most heartfelt performances.”
As mentioned, this live-action interpretation also caters to older audiences and longtime fans like me. It does so by leaning into Nani’s reality, raising Lilo both as her older sister and as a single guardian. This focus naturally brings in the tension between Nani and social services, who are trying to support both sisters. It also reinforces the idea that it takes a village to raise the next generation—something many people seem to be forgetting in today’s world.
Bringing back Tia Carrere, who originally voiced Nani in the 2002 film, was a thoughtful and impactful choice. She now plays a new character, Mrs. Kekoa—Lilo and Nani’s social services representative. While Mrs. Kekoa’s role is challenging, she’s portrayed as empathetic and understanding of the sisters’ situation. Her inclusion also allows Agent Cobra Bubbles to retain his role as a U.S. government handler for the Pelekai family, without being burdened by the social services subplot.
By focusing more on Nani’s struggles, Lilo & Stitch (2025) shows how someone thrust into a parental role navigates life under those circumstances. While delving into themes of parenthood and social services expands the story beyond the original, it also adds greater heart and humanity to the franchise. Yes, this is a kids’ movie—but kids today are often maturing faster and becoming more emotionally aware. The definitions of family, too, are broad and evolving.
To some extent, the core ohana themes resonate even more with me in this version than in the original animation. Whether audiences wanted a live-action adaptation of this beloved story or not, Lilo & Stitch (2025) delivers some of the franchise’s most heartfelt performances in a format that feels right for the medium. Much of that comes down to the talent of the cast.
Unlike the original Lilo Pelekai, who was voiced by a non-Hawaiian actor, Lilo & Stitch (2025) makes a meaningful effort by featuring a predominantly Hawaiian-born cast. In her acting debut, Maia Kealoha portrays Lilo with authenticity and charm, capturing the character’s cuteness and stubbornness to a tee.
Similarly, Agudong performs well as Nani, a young adult trying to raise Lilo right while managing other adult responsibilities like signing Lilo and Nani up for life insurance. Seeing her struggle through Nani is believable, and Agudong genuinely gives off the older sister vibes acting opposite Kealoha.
“Maia Kealoha captures Lilo’s cuteness and stubbornness with authenticity, making her debut one to remember.”
Having Sanders back to voice the other titular character Stitch, is just how I loved Stitch as a kid. Sanders never lost Stitch’s voice and provides even more depth and disorderly energy to the iconic blue alien. His voice acting as Stitch is just as good as his directing in last year’s hit animated film adaptation, The Wild Robot.
Lilo & Stitch (2025) also brings back Amy Hill, who originally played Mrs. Hasagawa in the original film. However, this time she plays a new character named Tūtū, who is both Lilo and Nani’s trusted neighbour and David Kawena’s grandmother. She adds another level of comedy and heart, solidifying the themes of finding one’s ohana and living up to one’s kuleana.
The animation department should also be praised for bringing Stitch to live-action in the best way possible. With other great successes, like in the Sonic live-action franchise, this one is up there—definitely a better direction than Snow White. Overall, Lilo & Stitch (2025) is a solid take to bring the well-known Hawaiian animated story to live-action. Every part of this film provided that same sense of ohana and warmness I felt as a kid, if not more.
