The live-action remake of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” hits theaters on Friday with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 72% among all critics, but lower marks among the website’s Top Critics.
Many reviewers are celebrating the film’s dedication to its emotional core.
“The heart of this story remains firmly intact,” noted Kate Erbland of IndieWire, though she added, “there’s something about seeing it rendered in live-action that takes away its inherent magic.”
“While it may never fully replace the original in the hearts of its fans, this new Lilo & Stitch manages to capture the real emotion embedded in this story,” writes Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence.
Many critics felt the film’s emphasis on “ohana” (family) and the relationship between Lilo and Nani resonated, just like the 2002 original.
“Here, ‘ohana’ doesn’t just mean family but community, and the film does moving and spirited work in showcasing how crucial it is for us to lift each other up,” wrote Justin Clark of Slant Magazine.
Not all Top Critics, however, were sold. Some felt 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch” played it a bit too safe, essentially being a faithful recreation that didn’t quite justify its existence—a common criticism of Disney’s live-action remakes.
“The Disney Channel Original aesthetic and a handful of wrongheaded decisions make this film just the latest in a string of soulless, cut-rate copies,” wrote Jacob Oller of AV Club.
Variety’s Peter Debruge suggested that “Somehow, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ has lost its unpredictable sense of anarchy in the retelling.” And Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press bluntly stated, “Here comes the sweet but utterly unnecessary ‘Lilo & Stitch’ of 2025, which carefully apes almost every detail of the 2002 original… Disney should have left the original alone.”
“Lilo & Stitch” is in theaters now.
