Disney’s Lilo & Stitch live-action remake shines with heart and intimacy in theaters. Now fans and families can experience that joy once more with its home entertainment release.
Director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) doesn’t just give us a scene-for-scene remake. Instead, he crafts something more grounded and resonant, a character-driven reinterpretation that preserves the soul of the original while deepening its cultural and emotional textures. At home, away from the distractions of spectacle, those quieter moments hit even harder.
Set against the lived-in beauty of Oʻahu, this version centers Hawaiian culture not as a backdrop but as the film’s beating heart. Casual ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, mele both old and new, and a soundscape that blends Elvis with Iam Tongi and a Bruno Mars produced “Burning Love” cover (performed by his nephews) bring the island to life in a way that feels personal. This isn’t just a visual update; it’s a spiritual and cultural one.
And now, watching from home, you can pause to appreciate the layered visuals and subtle choices. Stitch crashing a wedding to “Uptown Funk” or Lilo lounging in a hot tub “in town for the convention” feel even more hilarious and heartfelt in rewind. But it’s the core bond between sisters Lilo and Nani that lingers. This is where the film shines.
Maia Kealoha’s Lilo is messy, imaginative, and misunderstood just as she should be. She makes friendship bracelets from beach junk while her classmates wear store-bought perfection. She feeds Pudge the fish, frees chickens, and yearns to belong. Sydney Agudong’s Nani, meanwhile, is a young woman shouldering adult responsibilities far too soon. She’s not just raising Lilo, she’s grieving, struggling, and surviving at an age where she is supposed to be a kid. Watching their push and pull from the comfort of home only underscores how rare it is to see this kind of sibling dynamic treated with such nuance.
Supporting characters bring warmth without overwhelming the core. Amy Hill as Tūtū delivers peak auntie energy, while Kaipo Dudoit’s David offers quiet support. Tia Carrere, in a nice reversal from her role in the original, plays a social worker who’s more empathetic than adversarial. Even when the system bears down, this film lets its characters be more supportive than obstructive.
That said, a few animated holdovers feel trimmed down—Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) in particular—but the story’s emotional clarity remains. Bright and Mike Van Waes’ script peels away the animated film’s cartoon idealism and replaces it with emotional honesty. This Lilo & Stitch is still funny and chaotic, but it’s also about grief, displacement, and the messiness of love.
And Stitch? Still a chaotic blue ball of fluff voiced by Chris Sanders, still a menace with a heart. But here, his presence complicates rather than fixes things. Lilo doesn’t reform him instantly. Nani doesn’t trust him. The tension feels earned. Which is why when Stitch begins to change—really change—it feels like a breakthrough, not a plot point.
Fleischer Camp and cinematographer Nigel Bluck use a tactile, intimate visual language that fits right in with home viewing. Shots of filtered sunlight, misted ocean air, and the soft grain of handheld cameras bring a texture that’s best appreciated when you’re not being rushed out of a theater seat. The effects are modest, never drowning the film’s humanity in CGI noise. When Stitch gets weird (and he does), it’s earned chaos.
In the end, this remake isn’t about bigger action or louder laughs. It’s about connection—between siblings, cultures, found families, and the many versions of ourselves that survive hardship. “Lilo & Stitch” might be a Disney remake, but it’s also something more radical. It’s a reclamation, a soft reset, and a story that belongs right where you are, at home.
The “Lilo & Stitch” home release offers plenty of engaging bonus content, from deleted scenes like Nani Cleans Up to the charming ‘Ohana Means Family: Making Lilo & Stitch’ featurette that reveals how this live-action adaptation brings the beloved animated classic to life with care and cultural respect.
Fans will also enjoy Drawn to Life, which thoughtfully compares animated moments with their live-action recreations, peppered with Easter eggs for the keen-eyed.
Of course, the Bloopers reel feels like an obligatory inclusion—fun but standard fare for any family film release. What’s notably missing, however, is a director’s commentary or deeper creative insights that could have added another layer of appreciation for the filmmaking process.
Still, with Stitch’s playful “commentary” in Scenes with Stitch and a handful of deleted scenes, the extras round out the package nicely, making this a worthwhile watch for fans wanting to explore the heart and humor behind “Lilo & Stitch.”
“Lilo and Stitch” is on digital now, its home entertainment entry on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD arrives on August 26. It lands on Disney+ on September 3, 2025.
