A parent's guide to 'Lilo & Stitch': Is Disney's movie suitable for little kids?
If your children don't already have an undying love for Stitch ... buckle up.
The furry blue alien critter from Disney's 2002 animated classic "Lilo & Stitch" is back in theaters in a new way in the live-action remake. That means a revisit for old fans who grew up with Stitch's shenanigans alongside his young Hawaiian bestie Lilo and a fresh bunch of little movie lovers discovering the adorable pals for the first time. And if your youngsters are really into space dogfights, surfing and hula dancing, and a heartfelt tale of two orphaned sisters, well, all the better.
But is the new "Lilo & Stitch" as kid-friendly as the first film? Here's what parents need to know about the high-profile redo:
What is 'Lilo & Stitch' about?
Stitch, aka Experiment 626, escapes the clutches of the United Galactic Federation and winds up crash landing in Hawaii. A 6-year-old girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha) meets the little guy at the pound and, since everybody thinks Stitch is a dog, adopts and brings him home. But his chaotic nature causes problems for Lilo and her big sister Nani (Sydney Agudong), Lilo's legal guardian since their parents died. Struggling to keep a job and pay the bills, Nani is at risk of losing custody of Lilo, but with the help of others, they work to keep their new family together and Stitch safe from those who want to recapture him.
What is the live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' rated?
The remake is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association "for action, peril and thematic elements." Stitch causes a cosmic chase with a bunch of space cops at the beginning of the movie that's pretty action-packed. There are a couple of perilous situations where Nani and her neighbor/friend David (Kaipo Dudoit) have to save Lilo and the alien from drowning. And there are some emotional scenes where your little ones might worry that Lilo will be taken from Nani by social services.
How long is 'Lilo & Stitch'?
The runtime of the remake is 108 minutes – and it does have a mid-credits scene, in case you're wondering – while the original is 88 minutes. (This is also a good time to mention that you can stream the older cartoon version on Disney+ and it's still an awesome watch.)
What happened to Lilo and Nani's parents?
In the original film, Lilo reveals to Stitch that her parents died in a car accident during a storm. (She gives a fish named Pudge a sandwich because she believes he controls the weather and wants to keep him happy.) In the remake, the hows and whys of the tragedy aren't as important as Lilo and Nani trying to figure out a happy home life. They butt heads at first, with Lilo telling Nani that she likes her better as a sister than a mom, but ultimately, they grow closer and reminisce about their parents. Lilo even confesses that she "changed her mind" and says, "I like you as a mom, too" in one of the movie's sweetest moments.
What is the message in 'Lilo & Stitch'?
The major mantra of the first film returns for the remake: "Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind." The characters remind each other of this often, that loved ones aren't just relatives but also your community and those who come into your orbit, and you need to look out for each other. The redo doesn't carry over everything from the original cartoon, but makes sure it gets that right. And Stitch gets his important line as well when he talks about his new family: "It's small and broken, but still good."
Is the 'Lilo & Stitch' remake appropriate for little kids?
There are some thrilling moments that might raise a few heart rates. Lilo pushes another little girl off a stage, so be sure to point out that's not a great thing to do. And some sequences of deep emotion and discussion of lost parents might need some post-movie discussion. For the most part, however, the family comedy leans extremely kid-friendly. Stitch says some untoward things to some aliens, who get very offended, but it's all cute gibberish. Really, everything Stitch does children will love – it was true in 2002, and it's true again in 2025.
Where can I watch the new 'Lilo & Stitch'?
The movie is in theaters now, and probably will there for a while. So you'll have to wait a bit if you're hoping to stream it at home. If it follows a similar path like recent Disney releases "Mufasa: The Lion King" and "Captain America: Brave New World," "Lilo & Stitch" will likely be available on demand in late July or early August and on Disney+ sometime in early September.