Live Action "Lilo & Stitch" movie makes huge waves at the box office in early sales!
Find out our thoughts on this heartwarming and fun film right here!
Disney’s live action Lilo & Stitch hits theaters worldwide on today May 23, 2025. The exciting new film has already earned approximately $14M from previews at the domestic box office alone. With a budget of $100M, this adaptation is on track to surely exceed it’s budget in the coming week.
Scenes In Color was granted access to an early release of the film. The film is 4.5/5 stars. The new Lilo & Stitch movie carefully merges FX and regular film in a way that doesn’t come across as non-blended or overt CGI usage. Presenting the blue alien creature known as “Stitch”, with sharp nails and jagged teeth in a way that keeps his classic, rough around the edges look, but in a mischievously handsome and cuddly way.
As far as the storyline, like the animated movie, Lilo & Stitch the live action film follows a little girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha) who is lonely and looking for a best friend. She adopts what she thinks is a dog at the pound, but he’s actually an alien named Stitch (voiced by the 2002 film’s director Chris Sanders) who escaped from his planet after being deemed a mixed abomination creation gone wrong. House-training a dog is hard enough, and though Lilo and her older sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) have their hands full trying to navigate life after the loss of their parents, house-training and living with this fluffy and wild little creature helps to bring them closer together at a much needed time.
The story does well to capture nostalgic moments from the original 2002 animated film along with several new and fresh adjustments that viewers will surely enjoy. Newcomer Maia Kealoha is a star! She portrays Lilo remarkably well! Capturing her spunky, curious, wild spirited and offbeat nature perfectly. Making the chemistry between Lilo and her misbehaving and strange blue “dog” Stitch flow effortlessly. The peculiar dynamic duo take the island by storm… wreaking havoc, having fun, and creating a heartfelt and profound bond along the way. The film does well to keep children of all ages entertained with chaotic and crazy Stitch antics, while also constantly pulling on the heartstrings of adults and highlighting the emotional connection between kids and their “Ohana” (Hawaiian term for family).
Comedy, unpredictable sci-fi thrills, and sentimental elements all combine throughout the film to create a beautiful and heartwarming tale about love, acceptance, sacrifice, destiny, and family, emphasizing that no matter what your family may look like, how big or small they may be, or what they have been through, they are yours and the love will always outlast any bad days or times. Another thing that this film gets right is that it chose just the right amount of action, pandemonium, and undertone of danger to insert while also keeping true to being a kid-friendly movie.
The beautiful Hawaiian setting along with small homages to the people, culture, and language were very well represented throughout the story. The island music from natives being played in the film as well as the stellar, predominately all Asian-Pacific Islander creatives behind the scenes and cast in front of the lens showcased just how committed Disney was to keeping cultural representation at the forefront of the film.
The 2002 animated Lilo & Stitch film grossed more than $273 million worldwide—exceeding Disney estimates—and it was nominated for best animated feature at the Academy Awards. The live-action Lilo & Stitch is on track to make huge waves at the box office, potentially surpassing $100 million in its opening weekend.
The film was heavily marketed in the last few months, in the weeks leading up to release, and even at the theaters. The merchandise and preview ticket sales are set to have Disney smiling and saying “Aloha” all weekend long as fans head to the theaters in droves to see this highly anticipated live adaption of Lilo & Stitch.
The film stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong · Billy Magnussen · Hannah Waddingham · Chris Sanders · Courtney B. Vance · Zach Galifianakis · Maia Kealoha. Lilo & Stitch live action film is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes.