Lilo & Stitch (Live-Action)

[Sotiris]

Doesn't he say this about every Disney movie?

Iger said he has personally seen the live-action Lilo & Stitch “a few times” and “can endorse it wholeheartedly,” adding: “Tracking is enormous.”

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/busin ... 236209856/

[Disney's Divinity]

I doubt it. They already knew this one would be huge. They should ride it while they can, since Moana and Frozen are the only other potential remakes after this with this same potential. Although it would be interesting to see how an Encanto remake would do considering the original's performance was marred by the pandemic.

[DisneyFan09]

Yes, but Menken was required to work with others on Aladdin and TLM. Of course, the partnership worked out well on the former, not so much the latter.

Sorry, but I disagree. I found the partnership in the Mermaid remake to be superior to the one in Aladdin. I never cared for Speechless, as I thought it was a shrill and melodramatic song. The new songs in Mermaid were superior to Speechless.

I'm surprised they didn't let him come back since Sanders is also back unlike people like M&C, Hahn, etc. with other remakes. I can't recall, did Hans Zimmer come back for TLK remake?

Yes, he did.

Btw, Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OM7oi79hd4. It`s surprising how they`ve released it, since the movie haven`t been released yet.

[Disney's Divinity]

Interesting. I did like WUW and the new reprise to be POYW, but the other two songs didn't work for me.

Thanks for posting about the song release.

[Sotiris]

I’m really surprised he was allowed to say that. I assume boring Pleakley was a decision made by the higher ups due to the unfortunate current political climate.

The director clarified what he meant in a new interview.

The director confirms his team experimented with "some tests and some character design work" to see if they could render CG aliens wearing human clothes, but the results felt like "a bridge too far." He explains further, "The humor of them walking around Hawaii dressed in these terrible disguises where Pleakley still has one eyeball, it's a little harder to buy in live action."

There are other more "boring limitations," like budgets, that contributed to this decision, he adds. "If you have Jumba and Pleakley in alien disguises, then you're going to have to shortchange how much development work you can do on Stitch and these other elements. It's not that they're not aliens in the movie. You definitely see Jumba and Pleakley in their alien forms through a lot of the movie, but they are in human skin suits for part of it."

Source: https://ew.com/lilo-stitch-animation-li ... e-11728587

[UmbrellaFish]

Thanks for sharing, Sotiris.

I get what he means about the comedy not working the same in live action.

[DisneyFan09]

Interesting. I did like WUW and the new reprise to be POYW, but the other two songs didn't work for me.

Okay Well, I have nothing against Wild Uncharted Waters, but I found it to be forgettable. My favorite of the new songs was For the First Time. It had an enchanting melody and orchestration, despite how the melody felt derivative from Menken`s previous work. I didn`t mind The Scuttlebutt either, despite how it was utterly pointless and the movie could`ve survived without it.

Thanks for posting about the song release.

You`re welcome

[Sotiris]

Lilo & Stitch: Stitches Crashes Disney Princess Movies In 4 Posters
https://bleedingcool.com/movies/lilo-st ... 4-posters/

The Rock posted another one of these posters with Stitch holding Maui's hook, probably as a way to promote next year's live-action Moana.

https://www.instagram.com/therock/p/DKAUXo9vN0F/

[Sotiris]

‘Lilo & Stitch’ First Reactions Praise Film as ‘Heartfelt’ and ‘Easily the Best Disney Live-Action Remake Yet’
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/lilo ... 236399452/

[PatchofBlue]

Hm ... I do feel like I have been burned by this sort of talk before. But such remakes always had clear and visible warning signs. I haven't been impressed with anything I have seen, but neither has anything really bothered me. (I'll admit I'm not crazy about the alien designs, I guess?) So we'll see.

[Farerb]

It doesn't look like a bad film, just one that's completely unnecessary. Doesn't feel like a "must watch", I still think it'll do well.

[reee9948]

I remembered before Snow White was released the critics were praising it as one of the best Disney's live action movie but then the movie came out and most people ended up hating it. I'm wondering if that's the case here. Are they legit or are the critics being paid by Disney again?

[UmbrellaFish]

I’m confident this one will be a crowd pleaser.

[Thumper_93]

It's going to be a massive success. The character is very popular right now and the people who think that they are Disney influencers on instagram and social media use to love the character. They are going to consume all the merchandise and I bet that they are going to watch the movie more than once. Kids also love Stitch so parents are going to take them to the theater to see the movie. This franchise and Sanrio are the most popular right now and you can find useless stuff everywhere.

[DisneyFan09]

Well, I`m with everybody else here: It`s contradictory to hear statements about a remake being "the best remake yet", when critics are most likely going to tear it afterwards. At least the remake of The Little Mermaid was regarded to be the best remake of the early Renaissance Quartet. But hey, the only two remakes who truly were critical hits were Cinderella and The Jungle Book.

Btw, here are some videos of the premiere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=norxXpfKlkU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZtwDX5l6_c

[Farerb]

Apparently, Captain Gantu will not appear in this, which is strange because how will the climax of the movie play out without him?

[UmbrellaFish]

Apparently, Captain Gantu will not appear in this, which is strange because how will the climax of the movie play out without him?

I read this, too! It’s interesting that nobody clocked this.

I read (not sure if this was based on spoilers or pure speculation) that Cobra Bubbles plays a more active role in the climax.

[Thumper_93]

I read that on X too.

Why they deceided to change a thing that already worked? I understand other changes but this one is really stupid. People complained a lot for changes like this one in other movies.

[DisneyFan09]

"I Like You As a Mom Too" Official Clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sk-RriOtpU

[reee9948]

Overall score so far on this movie is a 71 % with 42 critics giving it a rating. So it's not terrible, but not amazing either. Just alright. Of course we will have to wait for audience reaction since crtics and audience's opinion often clash with one another.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lilo_and_stitch_2025