Having been released in theaters nearly four months ago, I must admit that this “Lilo and Stitch” review is a bit overdue. However, with its long-awaited release on Disney+ earlier this month, the film is reaching a new audience.
In its opening weekend, “Lilo & Stitch” grossed over $300 million worldwide and was the first MPA film of the year to hit $1 billion at the box office. But now that we’re past the initial opening weekend commotion, does Dean Fleischer Camp’s remake of the 2002 classic live up to the hype?
The original “Lilo & Stitch” — and if you haven’t seen it, you’ve been living under a rock — revolves around teenage Nani fighting to keep custody of her sister Lilo after their parents’ death, and the arrival of an alien refugee who Lilo adopts as her dog. Set in Hawaii, the film is famous for its tropical aesthetic. But at the heart of the original “Lilo & Stitch" is a story of family and fighting for the ones you love.
If I’m being completely honest, I was expecting to heavily dislike the remake, seeing it as another unnecessary Disney cash grab. Additionally, I was highly skeptical that the remake could truly capture the same magic as the original. However, I was pleasantly surprised to realize the film isn’t all bad.
Within the first five minutes of the film, I was greatly impressed by the special effects and use of CGI. The opening scene, in fact, looked like it was directly out of a “Star Wars” movie. The character Stitch, played by the original voice actor and the director of “Lilo & Stitch”, Chris Sanders, was flawlessly brought to life, alongside numerous other alien creatures. I was also pleased by the soundtrack. Having partially expected a modernized version of the original score, I was relieved when I heard the familiar sound of “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” a staple feature of the original film.
Additionally, the plot stayed faithful to the original for the majority of the movie (unlike many other Disney remakes). Some scenes even perfectly replicated those of the 2002 version. Camp’s edition, however, does alter a few aspects of the film, adding more depth to the story. For instance, more emphasis is placed on Nani and her dream of becoming a marine biologist. Many characters were modified, as well, with some having less prominence than they did in the original.
Throughout the past couple of years, Disney has become notorious for altering the original story in their remakes, resulting in disaster (think “Mulan” or “Snow White”). But, in my opinion, the changes in “Lilo & Stitch” were done relatively well and didn’t weaken the story itself. The overall message, however, is a different matter. While I found this film fairly enjoyable, it lacks the theme of family that the original version delivered so powerfully. The aspect of “Lilo & Stitch” that has always been the most impactful to me is how determined Nani was to keep her family together. As a child, watching Nani fight for Lilo and Lilo fight for Stitch was inspiring and a large reason why the film was so moving. Camp’s modifications completely omit this theme. Instead, “Lilo & Stitch” focuses more on individual ambition than familial love.
The characters also just didn’t resonate with me as much as they did in the 2002 version. While the acting was satisfactory and the dialogue was humorous, live-action characters simply do not have the same effect as animated ones. Moreover, Lilo and Stitch’s relationship, which is an integral part of the original film, isn’t as compelling in the remake.
Overall, I don’t think this is a bad movie by any means. In fact, I did enjoy many of its features. However, the exclusion of the main theme completely changed the movie for me. The 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch” further proves that live-action remakes simply cannot capture the magic and nostalgia of their original films. Unfortunately, live-action remakes seem to be the only thing that Disney is capable of producing nowadays. Relative to other Disney remakes, “Lilo & Stitch” is stellar. However, compared to the 2002 version, it proves unnecessary, and you’d simply be better off rewatching the original.
