2025’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo: Walt Disney Pictures.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2025) receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on May 23rd is ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2025), which is the latest animation-to-live-action conversion effort from Walt Disney Studios.
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’), the film stars newcomer Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong (‘On My Block’), Courtney B. Vance (‘Uncorked’), Billy Magnussen (‘Game Night’), Zach Galifianakis (‘The Hangover’) and Chris Sanders (who directed the original ‘Lilo & Stitch’) as the voice of Stitch.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Snow White’ (2025)
Initial Thoughts
Stitch in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Did you know the phrase “Ohana” means “family”? If you watch the new, live-action/CG version of ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ you are certainly not going to forget it, as it’s mentioned approximately 27 times. Yet, that’s the core concept of the 2002 original, so it was always going to show up here.
The new take on the cuddly blue alien –– who also happens to be a super-smart killing machine –– has a lot to live up to. And it must also answer the key question of whether it deserves to exist in the first place, a hurdle that some of Disney’s more recent attempts to mine its animated back catalogue for new hybrid releases have failed to cross.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Stitch and Sydney Agudong as Nani in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Building on the original movie’s script –– which, let’s not forget, was written by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois (who would also go on to the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ franchise for DreamWorks), the new movie has a screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, who look to inject some more authentically Hawaiian flavor into this offering.
Of course, there’s only room for so much, and it can sometimes feel like lip service when the primary focus is the chaotic antics of the alien critter and the sibling bond between the other two main characters.
It all races along amiably enough, Stitch proving to be his usual destructive/sweet self and the women brought to life well.
A few pacing issues rear their head –– there are some transitions that feel abrupt here and there, which might be an issue of translation from the swifter speed of animated movies. But on the whole, this is a sweet, family-friendly caper that largely does justice to the original.
(L to R) Amy Hill as Tūtū and Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As director, Dean Fleischer Camp previously brought us the sweet, animated miracle ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,’ and does what he can not to get lost within the Disney corporate moviemaking behemoth. There are some fun touches here and there, and he certainly takes full advantage of the beautiful Hawaiian scenery, while keeping the movie moving along.
If there are issues, it’s that the live-action setting is perhaps not the best for the zanier moments of the story, which sometimes fit uneasily into the reality that the movie is looking to build for itself.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Sydney Agudong as Nani in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Any ‘Lilo & Stitch’ lives and dies on its three main characters, and the new movie gets all three pretty much right.
Maia Kealoha is an appealing, charming Lilo, delivering the right balance of youthful exuberance and sweetness. Her bond with Stitch (voiced to uproarious effect once more by Chris Sanders, who has provided the vocals for the character since co-writing and directing the original) works, and the sisterly dynamic with Sydney Agudong’s Nani.
Agudong does solid work as the older sister of the pair, struggling to keep her own life together in the wake of their parents’ death while also taking care of her wayward younger sibling. She’s got the right blend of emotion and frustration, all the while bringing some grounded humanity to the story.
(L to R) Billy Magnussen as Pleakley and Zach Galifianakis as Jumba in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo by Zach Dougan. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Less grounded –– by design –– are Billy Magnussen’s Pleakley (the alien researcher and Earth specialist dispatched to help find Stitch on the planet) and Zach Galifianakis’ Jumba (the scientist who created Stitch, AKA Experiment 626).
Magnussen is definitely the highlight of the pair, imbuing Pleakley with appropriately silly energy, and throwing himself into the role. Galifianakis is fine as Jumba, though he’s more a stock comedy villain.
‘Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, meanwhile, shines in a supporting role as the imperious Grand Councilwoman, an alien character with a nice line in withering sarcasm.
Finally, the movie does look to cram in two main cameos from the 2002 take –– Tia Carrere (who voiced Nani in that movie) and Jason Scott Lee (the original David) are a mixed blessing.
Carrere is good value as Mrs. Kekoa, the social worker whose inspections put orphan sisters Nani and Lilo at risk of being separate, bringing a blend of gentle comedy and real empathy to the role.
Lee, on the other hand, is largely wasted in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role as a restaurant owner.
Final Thoughts
Stitch in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The new ‘Lilo & Stitch’ seems unlikely to replace the animated take in the hearts of those who grew up on it, but for the younger target audience, this will surely hit the mark.
Stitch remains a funny and frantic central character, and he’s still the core of the story here. The movie around him doesn’t always work as well, but it’s certainly not an embarrassment from Disney.
“Hold on to your coconuts.”
The wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family. Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2025)?
This new, live-action take follows the familiar story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Who is in the cast of ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2025)?
- Maia Kealoha as Lilo
- Sydney Agudong as Nani
- Billy Magnussen as Pleakley
- Tia Carrere as Mrs. Kekoa
- Hannah Waddingham as Grand Councilwoman
- Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch
- Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles
- Zach Galifianakis as Jumba
Grand Councilwoman voiced by Hannah Waddingham in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2025 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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