“Lilo & Stitch,” Disney‘s latest live-action remake, has been revealed to select members of the press, and the first reactions to the film are overwhelmingly positive.
Critic Wendy Lee Szany wrote on X, “Lilo and Stitch is the best Disney live-action to date. Seeing Stitch in his live-action form on the big screen brings on a huge wave of nostalgia. Tons of laughter and heartwarming moments. The film hits similar beats to the original, as well added something new flavors.”
Journalist Laura Sirikul wrote on X, “Lilo and Stitch was heartwarming & really gave the official film more depth to Lilo & Nani. Maia Kealoha is a STAR! The Stitch was so well made. I never imagined in 23 years they’d be able to merge animation w/ live action this well. It was magical. Very sweet.”
The original “Lilo & Stitch” was released in 2002, making this the most recent animated movie that Disney has turned into live-action and the first from the 2000s. Both movies follow a young, lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo who finds an adorable, blue and chaotic alien she names Stitch. With her big sister Nani, Lilo raises Stitch and teaches him the meaning of family, or “ohana.”
The cast includes Maia Kealoha as Lilo; Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani; Zach Galifianakis as Dr. Jumba Jookiba, Stitch’s alien creator who comes looking for him; Billy Magnussen as Agent Pleakley; Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles; Hannah Waddingham as the Grand Councilwoman; and the original movie’s co-director and co-writer Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch. Tia Carrere, who was the original voice of Nani, is also back playing a social worker this time around.
The first “Lilo & Stitch” was a box office success and grossed $273 million worldwide from an $80 million budget. It was nominated for best animated feature at the Academy Awards, but lost to “Spirited Away.” It went on to spawn several sequels, TV shows and video games thanks to Stitch’s popularity with kids.
Read some of the first reactions below:
