The live-action adaptation of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch features a handful of major changes to the iconic storyline—and many fans were disappointed to see how Lilo’s family bond had been altered.

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, the movie adapts the beloved 2002 animated movie by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois into the live-action medium, which is a pattern Disney has been following for years.

In the original film, Lilo lives with her sister Nani after their parents die in a car crash driving home one stormy night. However, Nani struggles to keep up with her troublemaking sister. When Stitch comes into their lives and causes even more chaos, a social worker threatens to place Lilo in foster care, believing Nani can’t handle it.

Viewers of the new live-action Lilo and Stitch have been left furious after major changes were made to the childhood classic, completely altering the story

Lilo and Stitch went up against the latest Mission Impossible film this weekend in a race for the box office top spot, although it sounds like - financially, at least - there were no real losers here after becoming two of the biggest films of the year with record-breaking takings.

Lilo & Stitch is the newest Disney live-action remake that premiered in theaters on May 23, 2025. It reimagines the story of the original 2002 movie.