Lilo & Stitch (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A Hawaiian girl and a chaotic alien experiment find an unexpected bond while navigating the complexities of family and belonging.
The story
On planet Turo, the aggressive and indestructible creature known as Experiment 626 is exiled to Earth after its creator, Dr. Jumba Jookiba, is imprisoned. The creature crashes on the island of Kauai, where it is eventually found by a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo Pelekai. Lilo, who is struggling with her sister Nani's inability to care for her alone, takes the creature in, believing it to be a dog. As Lilo names the creature 'Stitch,' the two must navigate their new life together while Jumba and his companion, Agent Pleakley, hunt for the escaped experiment on Earth.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Experiment 626 (Stitch) crashes on Kauai and is taken to an animal shelter, Lilo Pelekai adopts him as a 'dog' to find a friend. While Lilo and Stitch bond, Nani struggles to maintain legal guardianship of Lilo. Jumba and Pleakley hunt for Stitch, and the situation escalates when Stitch's presence leads to Nani's job loss. After a series of mishaps, including a near-drowning incident, Nani is forced to relinquish guardianship. During a final confrontation, Jumba captures Stitch and attempts to erase his empathy. Lilo rescues Stitch, and they are forced to flee, eventually ending up in the ocean. Stitch saves Lilo but is left unconscious. After being revived by David Kawena, the Grand Councilwoman decides to let Stitch remain on Earth with his new 'ohana.' The film concludes with the family reunited and the girls' living situation stabilized.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Dean Fleischer Camp
- Writers
- Chris Kekaniokalani Bright · writer; Mike Van Waes · writer
- Cast and characters
- Maia Kealoha · Lilo Pelekai; Sydney Elizebeth Agudong · Nani Pelekai; Chris Sanders · Stitch; Zach Galifianakis · Dr. Jumba Jookiba; Billy Magnussen · Agent Wendell Pleakley; Courtney B. Vance · Cobra Bubbles; Amy Hill · Tūtū; Tia Carrere · Mrs. Kekoa; Kaipo Dudoit · David Kawena
- Genres
- science fiction; comedy; drama
- Themes
- family; belonging
- Tone and mood
- light; humorous
- Premise and plot tags
- remake; live-action/animated hybrid; alien; buddy comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- Lilo & Stitch (2002)
- Franchise connections
- Lilo & Stitch
- Content notes
- slapstick
- Reception
- The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and a positive reception from audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 53 · scale: 100 · review count: 40; PostTrak · score: 90% · scale: 100%
- Awards and nominations
- Visual Effects Society Awards · Outstanding Character in a Photoreal Feature · nomination; Movieguide Awards · Best Movie for Children · 2026 · nomination; British Academy Film Awards · Best Children's & Family Film · 2026 · nomination; Saturn Awards · Best Fantasy Film · nomination; Saturn Awards · Best Younger Performer · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Bad Dog'.; The film's marketing budget was at least $75 million.; The character Gantu was removed from the final film to give Jumba a more central role.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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