Review: Lilo & Stitch (2025)

'Ohana' means family, but it's also so much more than that.

Disney returns with another live-action remake, this time it's Lilo & Stitch. With all the criticism surrounding the wave of unnecessary remakes, many wondered if this one was really needed. Surprisingly, the early reviews suggest otherwise, and I’m here to confirm it: this film is genuinely a fun and heartfelt watch.

Lilo & Stitch is the story of a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo who feels like an outsider in her own world. Everything changes when she adopts what she thinks is a dog, only to discover he’s actually a wild alien experiment who she later named Stitch. What starts as chaos slowly turns into an unforgettable friendship, as the two learn about love, family, and what it really means to belong.

In this new live-action version, Maia Kealoha plays Lilo with a lot of heart, capturing her stubbornness and sweetness perfectly. Sydney Agudong steps into the role of Nani, Lilo’s older sister, balancing the struggles of young adulthood with deep care for her sister.

I’m going to be completely honest...I didn’t care much when this remake was announced. In fact, I never really connected with Lilo & Stitch growing up. I’d seen the film and the TV show as a kid, but I barely remembered any of it. So going into the cinema with zero expectations turned out to be the best decision I could have made.

From the very start, the movie pulled me in. I found myself genuinely caring about the characters, even though I thought I wouldn't. I laughed, I cried a lot, and I left the theater feeling like my inner child had been given a warm hug.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t have strong memories of the original that this version hit me so hard, but whatever the reason, this film delivered a full range of emotions. The message behind "ohana means family" really landed for me. It’s not just about being related by blood. It’s about standing by the people you care about, no matter what. And in a world that often feels disconnected, that reminder meant more than I expected.

I honestly think the casting couldn’t have been better, especially when it comes to Lilo. Maia Kealoha completely became the character. She had so much emotion and presence on screen, and it really blew me away that she’s only eight years old. You can just tell how much talent she has. Sydney Agudong also did an amazing job as Nani. Both of them made it so easy to care about their characters and really feel what they were going through.

And I have to say, huge credit to the CGI team for how they handled Stitch. Let’s be honest, CGI can be hit or miss, but they absolutely nailed it here. If I had to imagine what Stitch would look like in real life, this would be it. He was expressive, chaotic, funny, and still incredibly cute.

Overall, I think Disney did a really great job with this live-action remake, especially after the mixed reception of Snow White. It’s a fun movie to watch, especially with friends and family. Honestly, I’d even say this is one of my favorite Disney films in recent years. I’m giving it a solid 4/5 stars!

Lilo & Stitch is out now in theaters!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWqJifMMgZE

Also check out my Tik Tok review here.