Watch Kids' Reviews of
LILO & STITCH (2025)

I enjoyed Disney's new live action remake Lilo & Stitch. It keeps the nostalgia of the original movie while giving it a fresh, real-life twist and is one of the better recent live action remakes.

Lilo & Stitch (2025) brings the adored animated film of the same name from 2002 to life. Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a lonely Hawaiian girl who lives with her older sister, Nani (Sydney Agudong) after their parents sadly pass away. Lilo discovers an adorable, but very chaotic fugitive alien named Stitch (Chris Sanders), who she teaches the meaning of "ohana," which means family, while he helps mend her own.

This remake stays pretty true to the original story with a few minor differences and the addition of a few new characters. I love the designs of Stitch and the other aliens, like Pleakley and Jumba, as they stay very true to their original characters from the animated version but have more realistic textures and qualities to fit a live action movie. Stitch somehow looks even more adorable as a live action alien, kind of reminding me of Baby Yoda. Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo, is precious and I was rooting for her the whole way. This movie is her big screen debut, and she is incredibly talented, especially considering that her co-star is completely CGI. Nani and Lilo's bond is explored more in this movie which I like as they really emulate a sibling relationship, but I wish that more of Stitch and Lilo's bond was explored as their connection feels a little rushed. Chris Sanders returns to voice Stitch's iconic voice which really helps keep the magic of the original movie as most of the other characters are played by new actors. One of my favorite characters from this movie is a new one, Tutu, played by Amy Hill. She actually had a small role in the original film, and now she plays the sweet and lovable neighbor of Lilo and Nani. Overall, I definitely prefer the original animated Lilo & Stitch movie from 2002 but this version is still worth the watch for young kids and Stitch fans.

The film's messages are about the importance of fighting for your family and a reminder that everyone is capable of change. It also displays the importance of strength, resilience and forgiveness during difficult times.

I give Lilo & Stitch 4 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It comes out in theaters on May 23, 2025.

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Lilo & Stitch is such a beautiful movie, not only visually but also in its story. I was in awe at so many points and felt so many emotions throughout the movie thanks to the incredible cast and crew.

Taking place in Hawaii and based on the 2002 animated film, the story follows Lilo (Maia Kealoha), a little girl struggling with being in a broken family, as she befriends Stitch (Chris Sanders), an alien hiding from being captured once again. Through this relationship, her small family attempts to stick together while keeping this strange pet.

The film's cinematography is gorgeous with so many wonderful shots capturing the beauty of the Hawaiian island of Oahu where it was shot. I love the shots on the water, especially when Lilo, Nani, and Stitch are surfing. The soundtrack also adds to the film and fits the mood needed for each scene. The upbeat songs during the surfing scenes or when Lilo and Stitch are playing are particularly enjoyable. The acting is incredible; all the actors have great chemistry with each other. The standout is the relationship between Lilo and her sister Nani (Sydney Agudong), who genuinely feel like they are sisters. I found myself becoming attached to the characters and getting emotional at times. The humorous script and the actors' comedic timing are impeccable. The CGI is extraordinary - everything is so detailed, especially Stitch.

The film's message is about families sticking together, regardless if they are related by blood or not. Be warned that there are some intense fighting sequences.

I give Lilo & Stitch 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18. It releases in theaters on May 23, 2025.

By Isabella V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Disney's live action Lilo & Stitch brings a fresh retelling of the classic story about the sense of family. I like how the film combines beautiful settings and themes of love, acceptance and family.

Set in the Hawaiian Islands, the story of Lilo and Stitch follows a girl with a really big imagination named Lilo (Maia Kealoha). Throughout the story, she and her sister, Nani (Sydney Agudong), struggle with the loss of her parents and Lilo feels out of place in her community. Then one day, Lilo meets a strange creature who she thinks is a dog named Stitch (Chris Sanders). At first, Stitch does nothing but cause destruction in their household. This provides an even bigger challenge for Nani because she has stepped into the role of a parent. Originally Stitch was exiled from his own planet, but after seeing the bond of their family, the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham) lets him live with Lilo.

I love the setting on the island of Oahu; it is filled with vibrant colors and beautiful trees and flowers. The acting is terrific, especially newcomer, Maia Kealoha, who is incredible as Lilo. Her tone brings a mix of happiness and sadness at different times; she never fails to have great facial expressions and reactions. Sydney Agudong is awesome in the role of Nani; she is great at showing her love, strength and how stressed she is when trying to be a good mother. And I really love the relationship between Lilo and Nani because it is so nice how they always believe in each other. I also love how in times of struggle, they manage to work together. Chris Sanders comes back to voice Stitch. Even though Stitch doesn't talk as much, Chris Sanders puts lots of emotion into his growls and little laughs. One of my favorite characters is Agent Cobra Bubbles played by Courtney B. Vance. At first, Vance shows up as an intimidating character, but as the movie continues, we see that he only wants what is best for the girls. Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family and the film talks about how nobody in your family gets left behind or forgotten.

This film's message is about family. This is a big theme in this story. No matter how much trouble Lilo or Stitch cause, they stay as one big family with Nani. We are also reminded that it is okay to be different. Lilo is different from other kids her age and is made fun of. Stitch doesn't know how to fit in and thinks that he is just tearing the family apart. However, the two sisters and Stitch find a way to keep going and work hard.

I give Lilo and Stitch 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages to 5 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on May 23, 2025

By Avani M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

see youth comments

Lilo & Stitch is a 2025 American science fiction comedy film directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. The story is about a lonely human girl named Lilo who adopts a dog-like alien named Stitch to mend her fractured family, unaware that Stitch is genetically engineered to be a force of destruction, and is being pursued by aliens and social workers, while Lilo teaches Stitch the idea of family.