Lilo and Stitch 2025
We were able to snatch a few tickets for the new live action remake of Lilo and Stitch, and personally I enjoyed it. Of course with every remake they do change some of the characters and storyline. Read below for our spoiler free review.
Disney’s 2025 Lilo & Stitch remake arrives in a wave of live-action adaptations that tread familiar waters—this one more faithfully than most. It’s a film that doesn’t just revisit its animated predecessor; it retraces it, with a glossy coat of CGI and a new cast that brings both warmth and novelty to the screen. It welcomes back the characters that we love from our childhood and of course our favorite trouble maker, Stitch.
Maia Kealoha, in her breakout role as Lilo, is the film’s undeniable heart. She captures the stubborn charm and emotional depth of a child caught between loneliness and imagination. For this being her first role, I absolute think she was the perfect casting for Lilo. Her chemistry with Stitch—rendered in impressively lifelike CGI—keeps the core relationship endearing and believable, even when the script leans a bit too heavily on nostalgia. Sydney Elizabeth Agudong as Nani delivers a heartfelt performance that grounds the film’s more whimsical beats with emotional sincerity. In my opinion, she adds a new view to the character of Nani and goes more into depth about her emotions.
Visually, the movie is polished and rich in tropical color, with Hawaii’s landscapes offering a lush, living backdrop that outshines the sometimes flat storytelling. Stitch’s new design walks a fine line between cartoonish mischief and digital realism—largely succeeding, though at times the animation can feel like it’s trying too hard to impress.
Where the film stumbles is in its reluctance to evolve. It feels hesitant to reimagine, choosing instead to recreate. The emotional notes are hit, but often with the precision of a cover band—technically sound, yet missing the spontaneous soul of the original. At points in the movie, it did feel rushed and felt like we missed some key moments that we did have in the original.
Still, Lilo & Stitch (2025) is a visually stunning, competently acted, and heartfelt experience that younger audiences and fans of the original will likely enjoy. It may not carve out a legacy as bold as its animated ancestor, but it reaffirms a timeless truth: ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind—or forgotten.
