The 2025 film Lilo & Stitch opens with six-year-old Lilo Pelekai, a Native Hawaiian girl grappling with the loss of her parents and social challenges, including bullying at her hula class. She is introduced as a lonely but spirited child with a keen love for hula, surfing, and wildlife.

At the same time, Experiment 626, an alien designed for destruction, escapes captivity on another planet and crash-lands on Earth. Found in an animal shelter, he cleverly disguises himself as a dog by absorbing some of his alien features. Lilo visits the pound, instantly bonding with 626, whom she adopts and names Stitch.

As their unconventional friendship begins, the story focuses on Lilo's relationship with her older sister, Nani, who is struggling to support and care for her while fighting to keep their small family together. Nani faces pressure from social worker Kekoa and CIA agent Cobra Bubbles, who question her ability to care for Lilo due to their chaotic circumstances. Nani searches desperately for employment but encounters repeated rejections, worsened by the unruly antics of Lilo and Stitch.

Lilo helps Nani find work as a surfing instructor, and they share moments of joy surfing together, highlighting brief reprieves from their difficulties. Meanwhile, alien agents Jumba and Pleakley attempt to recapture Stitch with comedic and chaotic consequences, including a jet ski mishap that nearly drowns Lilo.

After recovering, tensions grow as Kekoa informs Nani that she must relinquish custody of Lilo to the government for health insurance coverage, an emotionally wrenching decision. During a poignant night, the sisters share their last moments at home, full of unspoken fears and love. Stitch, feeling guilty for jeopardizing the family, quietly returns to the animal shelter alone.

The plot reaches a climax as Lilo goes missing, prompting a frantic search by Nani, Kekoa, and Cobra. Lilo finds Stitch at the shelter, but Jumba arrives to recapture him. They flee together, leading to a destructive confrontation at the Pelekai home. In the chaos, Jumba cruelly tells Lilo that Stitch only used her as a shield, causing Stitch deep guilt. Ultimately, Stitch surrenders, showing a shift in his character from a self-serving experiment to a being capable of empathy and sacrifice.

The film ends on a bittersweet note. Lilo enters foster care with family friends so Nani can pursue her dreams college, while still maintaining bonds of 'ohana, or family, in spirit. The narrative intimately captures Lilo's innocence and strength, Nani's protective resilience, and Stitch’s transformation from chaos to love.

Throughout the film, key emotional arcs unfold vividly: Lilo moving from loneliness to connection, Nani striving between responsibility and personal growth, and Stitch evolving from a destructive alien to one who understands belonging and care. Scenes of surfing, hula, and the Hawaiian setting ground the story in authentic culture, enhancing the visceral experience of family, loss, and hope.

Family Friendliness: Lilo & Stitch (2025)

Lilo & Stitch (2025) is a live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animated film, rated PG for mild themes, violence, and some scenes that might upset young children. While it retains the original’s messages about family and acceptance, there are some elements parents may wish to consider before viewing it with sensitive or very young children.

Potentially Objectionable or Upsetting Content

Mild Violence and Peril - The movie includes action sequences, mild violence, and scenes of peril that could be visually intense for younger children. - Some alien characters and fast-paced special effects might be scary or disturbing for children under 8, particularly those sensitive to realistic threats or danger. - There are scenes in which children are hurt or threatened, which may be upsetting for kids aged 8–13.

Sexual References and Nudity - There are occasional sexual references, such as a neighbor expressing a crush on Nani in a mildly suggestive way. - Brief romantic moments include a photo of Nani kissing a boy. - A scene shows Stitch in a humorous situation where his hula skirt drops, and he quickly covers himself (played for comedy, rather than eroticism).

Substance Use - Some mild depictions of substance use, including Stitch drinking from a pineapple with an umbrella (mimicking an alcoholic drink) and from a lava lamp. - Characters also play with wine glasses in a non-serious, slapstick manner. - These scenes are not presented as glamorous, but may prompt questions from young viewers.

Coarse Language - The film contains mild name-calling and insults, such as “crikey,” “garbage girl,” “silly,” “buffoon,” “pizza face,” “stupid,” “hairy potato,” and “freakish monster”. - These are not frequent or severe, but may be noticed by parents of younger children.

Product Placement - Products like Capri-Sun and Hawaiian Airlines are clearly visible in some scenes.

Suitability

The film is generally suitable for children over 8, but it is not recommended for children under 6 due to the above elements. Children aged 6–8 may need parental guidance, while those over 9 should generally be able to handle the content.

Summary Table

| Content Type | Description & Examples | Potential Impact | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | Violence & Peril | Action, sequences of peril, alien threats, children in danger | May upset <8, some 8–13| | Sexual References/Nudity | Crush dialogue, photo kiss, comedic skirt-falling moment | Mild, mostly comedic | | Substance Use | Mock drinks, playful use of wine glasses, lava lamp drinking | Mild, non-glamorous | | Coarse Language | Insults, name-calling | Mild, infrequent | | Product Placement | Capri-Sun, Hawaiian Airlines | Minor distraction |

The film’s core values about family and accepting differences remain intact, but parents should review the above points to determine if it is suitable for their particular child.

In the 2025 live-action movie Lilo & Stitch, no main characters die during the film's events. However, the backstory includes the death of Lilo and Nani's parents, who are deceased before the story begins. Their parents died in a tragic car accident on a rainy night, an event that is referenced but not deeply explored in the 2025 remake—unlike the 2002 animated version which clearly depicted this.

During the 2025 film, there are intense moments involving danger and destruction, such as the battle at the Pelekai home which results in the destruction of their house, and Stitch rescuing Lilo from drowning despite not being able to swim. However, Stitch survives after being revived with electricity, and the film concludes with everyone alive and the family unit intact.

No deaths of characters occur on-screen or are described during the movie, aside from the prior loss of the parents before the timeframe of the story.

Summary: - Deceased: Lilo and Nani's parents (before the film's events, car accident on a rainy night) - During the film: No character deaths occur; all main characters survive.

This maintains the franchise's theme of ohana (family) and the importance of sticking together despite challenges.