Lilo is a spirited young Hawaiian girl in need of a friend.
After losing her parents in a tragedy, she's been raised by her devoted but overwhelmed teenage sister, Nani. At school, Lilo is often teased and excluded by her peers -- one even mocking her handmade bracelet, sneering, "It's not a friendship bracelet if you don't have any friends." Not surprisingly, Lilo channels her grief and isolation into outbursts typical of a 6-year-old -- like the time she shoved a bully off the stage during a hula recital.
Now, a social worker is warning that Lilo could be placed in state custody unless Nani can prove she's capable of providing a stable home. She's given one week to get things in order -- stock the fridge, pay overdue bills, and secure health insurance -- before a final decision is made.
"I like you better as a sister than a mom," Lilo says.
Perhaps a pet will ease Lilo's loneliness. So that's what Lilo does—picking up a dog one day at the local animal shelter to provide her with some much-needed companionship.
Yet this dog is different from any her neighbors have ever seen. It growls like a monster. It climbs the ceiling. It's also … blue.
True, it barks on cue. And yes, it adores Lilo like any loyal dog would.
But soon, Lilo and Nani discover that this so-called dog is being hunted by government agents -- and a pair of mysterious men with their own reasons for chasing him down.
The new Disney movie Lilo & Stitch (PG) follows the story of Lilo and Nani as they try to get their life back on track while protecting the oddest-looking dog around. It's a live-action remake of the 2002 animated film that was nominated for an Oscar and was the year's 14th-highest-grossing film.
Here are three things parents should know before taking the family to see this film.
Photo Credit: ©Disney
1. It Follows the Same Plot as the Original
1. It Follows the Same Plot as the Original
These days, studios often fumble when reimagining beloved classics. But here's the good news: this one stays remarkably true to the original.
The film opens with Stitch -- a mischievous alien experiment gone rogue -- learning that he's been exiled from his galaxy and is now being hunted. The story then shifts to Earth, where Lilo is dancing on stage while Nani struggles to make it on time after her old truck won't start. A social worker -- portrayed as a kind, compassionate woman in this version instead of the stern, intimidating man from the original -- warns Nani that she must prove she can provide a stable home for Lilo.
Soon, Jumba and Pleakley -- the two bumbling alien agents -- arrive on Earth to retrieve Stitch, though they repeatedly fail due to a strict prohibition against harming humans. Unlike the original, where they appear in clumsy disguises, the remake uses holographic projections to give them human appearances.
Stitch still can't swim (just like in the original), and he continues to cause chaos -- destroying the house and derailing Nani's job interview.
The film's final moments play out a bit differently, thanks in part to the introduction of a new character: Tūtū, a wise and warmhearted neighbor who offers Lilo and Nani emotional support.
But don't worry -- Stitch remains on Earth with his best friend, Lilo.
Photo Credit: ©Disney
2. It's Still about Friendship and Ohana
2. It's Still about Friendship and Ohana
Even without the specific focus on "Ohana," Lilo & Stitch is a heartwarming movie about friendship and familial love. Its embrace of Hawaiian culture makes that message all the more powerful and authentic.
In the film's opening moments, Lilo kneels at her window, watching a shooting star dart across the sky. She whispers a heartfelt prayer for "a real friend -- someone who won't tease me, someone who won't run away."
"Send me an angel," she prays.
Soon after, Stitch crashes into her life -- though it's far from clear to Nani or anyone else that Lilo has found what she was looking for. Part of the confusion, of course, is due to Stitch's talent for creating chaos.
The tension between Lilo and Nani reaches a boiling point when Stitch starts a fire on a restaurant patio, costing Nani her job. Furious and overwhelmed, she demands that Lilo return him to the shelter.
"Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten," Lilo insists.
"That's not reality," Nani responds, pointing to a messy kitchen. "This is reality."
But things begin to change. Nani lands a job as a surfing instructor, and slowly, she starts to see the value Stitch brings. Again and again, the film illustrates what it truly means to stand by someone. When Stitch is trapped underwater and on the verge of drowning, it's Nani who dives into the ocean to save him. When Stitch runs away, believing he's the source of all their troubles, it's Lilo who chases after him and reassures him: "Ohana means family, and sometimes family isn't perfect."
In the film's closing moments, as Stitch faces being taken back to his home galaxy, he proves he's learned what matters most.
"This is my family -- broken but still good," he says.
Photo Credit: ©Disney
3. It's Still Charming
3. It's Still Charming
Stitch is every bit as charming and hilarious in the live-action version as he was in the Original. He sits in Lilo's room and drinks her lava lamp while she observes with innocence, "I don't think you're supposed to drink that." He splashes around in the toilet, unaware of the bacteria lurking in the water. He zips through a downtown square in a child's toy car, oblivious to the danger around him. He's the kind of cute, plush-looking alien you'd love to play with -- but probably wouldn't want to wreak havoc in your own home.
Newcomer Maia Kealoha is perfect for the role -- adorable, expressive, and effortlessly believable -- and, honestly, she's even more endearing than the animated version of Lilo.
For families concerned about content, there are only a handful of speedbumps. The film includes mild language ("what the h-ll" and a possible "OMG"), some slapstick-style violence, and a moment when Lilo tells one of Nani's male suitors that she read a text saying Nani "liked your butt." Set against the backdrop of warm Hawaiian culture, the film includes midriffs and swimsuits -- yet noticeably fewer than in the animated version.
There's a mid-credit scene, but nothing after the full credits roll.
Overall, this new Lilo & Stitch captures everything that made the original special -- and in some ways, it even improves on it.
Rated PG for action, peril and thematic elements.
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Discussion Questions for Families:
- What does Ohana mean, and how do the Bible's teachings reflect that concept?
- Are there friends in your circle that need a friend?
- Have you ever felt like your family wasn't perfect -- but still full of love and worth holding onto?
Photo Credit: ©Disney
Originally published May 23, 2025.
