Time really does fly, and now we have a live-action Lilo & Stitch. While I usually go into live action filmd with a fair amount of skepticism, I walked away from this one feeling mostly impressed—and, honestly, more than a little emotional. I’m not afraid to say it: this might be Disney’s best live-action adaptation yet.
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The heart of the story remains familiar: Experiment 626, later known as Stitch, is a wild, genetically engineered creature built for destruction by the eccentric scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis). After escaping from alien custody, he crash-lands on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, where he’s adopted by Lilo (Maia Kealoha), a lonely, imaginative young girl trying to make sense of grief and her place in the world.
From the moment Stitch appears onscreen, he steals the show. His chaotic energy, bizarre quirks, and unexpected softness are all intact, and the visual effects bring him to life without losing his animated charm. Somehow, even as a furball of fangs and fury, he’s impossible not to love—and by the end, you’re rooting for him just as hard as ever.
Maia Kealoha as Lilo is perfectly cast. Her performance is quietly powerful—she doesn’t overdo it, and that subtlety gives her character weight. You really believe this is a kid who’s had to grow up too fast, but still clings to imagination and empathy as a survival tool. She’s a natural.
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The film also expands on Nani’s (Sydney Agudong) arc in meaningful ways. Now a young woman who’s put her future on hold—including a spot at UC San Diego’s marine biology program—Nani is portrayed not just as a struggling guardian, but as someone trying to hold her own dreams together while raising her little sister. It shifts the focus slightly, but I found the added emotional depth worthwhile.
Still, not everything lands perfectly. Some of the comedic moments between Jumba and Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) feel more obligatory than clever, and without Captain Gantu, the intergalactic side of the story feels a bit thin. I missed that extra layer of tension, though there’s a clear opening for him to appear in future sequels—and I hope Disney takes it. The end is also not as strong as the original animation, but it still pulls on your heart strings enough for you to want more.
Tonally, the film dances between heartfelt and overly sentimental. It leans heavily into emotion, but in most cases, it earns it. The visuals are warm and textured, the Hawaiian backdrop is lovingly preserved, and the soundtrack hits just the right nostalgic notes without relying too heavily on the past.
All in all, this Lilo & Stitch isn’t flawless—but it doesn’t need to be. What matters is that it captures the feeling: the messiness of family, the ache of loss, the beauty of connection, and that classic reminder that ohana means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. And at the center of it all, Stitch still has that same chaotic, lovable soul—and somehow, maybe even more heart than before.
