Anthony Bergamini
Lilo & Stitch (2025) is a live-action remake of the 2002 original that features some slight story changes while maintaining an almost identical plot. The film revolves around a young Hawaiian girl, Lilo, who struggles to fit in and is having difficulty navigating a new dynamic with her older sister after the death of their parents. Their lives are turned upside down when Lilo unknowingly adopts a rogue alien, Stitch, who is on the run from the Galactic Federation after being created to destroy cities. Capturing all the heart of the original with a few added twists, Lilo & Stitch (2025) stands out as one of the best live-action reimaginings of a Disney animated film.
The main difference between the original animated film and the 2025 version lies in how the character of Nani is developed. In the original, Nani receives little backstory beyond being Lilo’s older sister who is suddenly thrust into a parental role. She then comedically struggles to keep custody of Lilo, with CPS threatening to take her away, only for the plot to resolve itself in a fantastical manner, as the Galactic Federation helps create an environment where Nani can raise her sister.
In the remake, Nani is explicitly portrayed as a 19-year-old who has just graduated high school. She gives up her dream of attending USC to study marine biology in order to raise her six-year-old sister. More than any other change, this development is a welcome one. It doesn’t sugarcoat the hardship of being forced to make life-altering sacrifices at such a young age.
There has been considerable discourse on social media surrounding the film’s ending, particularly accusations that it promotes CPS’s historical mistreatment of Indigenous children. The claim is that the film centers around Nani giving Lilo up to CPS—this, however, is simply not true. Once again, social media has perpetuated a false narrative that has led to outrage among people who have not even seen the film. Let’s be clear: the mistreatment of Indigenous people—by CPS or otherwise—is a serious issue and should never be minimized. But this is not what happens in Lilo & Stitch (2025). As a film scholar and someone who cares deeply about the medium, I encourage you to watch the film before forming an opinion based on misinformation. While the box office doesn’t yet appear to be affected, there have been past instances where films suffered unfairly due to false narratives on social media. The takeaway? See the movie for yourself and make your own judgment.
Another notable change is the introduction of a proper social worker and the removal of the character Captain Gantu. These might seem like major shifts on paper, but they actually enhance the plot. The new social worker is played by Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original film. Her portrayal offers a more grounded and realistic depiction of what a social worker actually does, in contrast to the original’s exaggerated version—a hulking man who used to be a secret agent. Cobra Bubbles still appears in the remake, but now he’s clearly established as an undercover agent posing as the social worker’s boss, which adds narrative fluidity.
Removing Captain Gantu improves the story’s internal logic. In the original, Dr. Jumba Jookiba abandons his villainous ways to take on a grandfatherly role, with Gantu stepping in as the final antagonist. In the remake, Jumba maintains his antagonistic persona throughout, which results in a more cohesive and focused finale and reduces the reliance on elaborate CGI battles.
As for the special effects, the film wisely doesn’t spend much time in space beyond the opening sequence. While the space scenes don’t look particularly impressive, most of the visual effects budget clearly went toward Stitch—and it shows. Stitch looks fantastic. The majority of the film takes place on Earth, with the emotional core centered on the bond between Lilo and Stitch. The film does a phenomenal job making Stitch’s presence in a live-action world feel believable, with animation that’s arguably Oscar-worthy. A lot of credit goes to Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo. Her performance makes the relationship between a six-year-old girl and an alien creature feel authentic and emotionally resonant. Her acting not only helps sell Stitch as a believable character but also allows for the emotional arc between them to shine, holding the entire film together beautifully.
