Editing Lilo & Stitch

{{Short description|2002 film by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois}}
{{About|the animated film|the TV series|Lilo & Stitch: The Series{{!}}''Lilo & Stitch: The Series''|the upcoming live-action film|Lilo & Stitch (2025 film){{!}}''Lilo & Stitch'' (2025 film)|the franchise|Lilo & Stitch (franchise){{!}}''Lilo & Stitch'' (franchise)}}
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{{Infobox film
| name           = Lilo & Stitch
| image          = LiloandStitchmovieposter.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Chris Sanders]]
* [[Dean DeBlois]]
}}
| producer       = [[Clark Spencer]]
| writer     = {{Plainlist|
* Chris Sanders
* Dean DeBlois
}}
| story          = Chris Sanders{{efn|name=Sanders 1}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Daveigh Chase]]
* Chris Sanders{{efn|name=Sanders 2}}
* [[Tia Carrere]]
* [[Ving Rhames]]
* [[David Ogden Stiers]]
* [[Kevin McDonald]]
* [[Jason Scott Lee]]
* [[Zoe Caldwell]]
* [[Kevin Michael Richardson]]
}}
| music          = [[Alan Silvestri]]
| editing        = [[Darren T. Holmes]]
| studio         = [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]]
| distributor    = [[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]{{efn|name=Disney|Distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]] through the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner.}}
| released       = {{Film date|2002|06|16|[[El Capitan Theatre]]|2002|06|21|United States}}
| runtime        = 85 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/lilo-stitch-am23506|title=Lilo & Stitch (2002)|work=[[Allmovie]]}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $80 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3898508801/|title=Lilo & Stitch (2002)|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=January 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216075318/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3898508801/|archive-date=February 16, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $273.1 million<ref name="mojo" />
}}

'''''Lilo & Stitch''''' is a 2002 American animated [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[comedy film]]  produced by [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] and released by [[Walt Disney Pictures]].<ref name= amazon>{{cite web|title=Amazon.com: Lilo & Stitch|website=Amazon|url=https://www.amazon.com/Lilo-Stitch-Daveigh-Chase/dp/B0060CXAHC/|access-date=September 3, 2017|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325055149/http://www.amazon.com/Lilo-Stitch-Daveigh-Chase/dp/B0060CXAHC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Beatrice |date=2023-04-14 |title=Disney's Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' Finds Its Nani, Lilo's Sister (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disney-lilo-stitch-live-action-nani-lilos-sister-1235373828/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509233417/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disney-lilo-stitch-live-action-nani-lilos-sister-1235373828/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was written and directed by [[Chris Sanders]] and [[Dean DeBlois]] in their directorial debuts and produced by [[Clark Spencer]], based on an original story created by Sanders. It stars [[Daveigh Chase]] and Sanders as the voices of the title characters, with the voices of [[Tia Carrere]], [[David Ogden Stiers]], [[Kevin McDonald]], [[Ving Rhames]], [[Jason Scott Lee]], [[Zoe Caldwell]], and [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] in supporting roles. It was the second of three Disney animated feature films produced primarily at the Florida animation studio in [[Disney's Hollywood Studios|Disney-MGM Studios]] at [[Walt Disney World]] near [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref name="DisneyWar-Lilo">{{cite book |last1=Stewart |first1=James B. |title=DisneyWar |date=2005 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9780743283908 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/page/472 472]–473 |language=en |quote=Weeks later, on January 12, Disney announced that it was shutting down its Orlando animation unit, where ''Lilo & Stitch'' had been created.|url=https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0|url-access=registration }}</ref>{{efn|The first being ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]'' (1998) and the third being ''[[Brother Bear]]'' (2003).}}

The film tells the story of two individuals: an orphaned Hawaiian girl named [[Lilo Pelekai]], who is raised by her struggling older sister, [[List of Lilo & Stitch characters#Nani Pelekai|Nani]], after their parents' deaths, and the genetically engineered [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|extraterrestrial creature]] [[Experiment 626]], who Lilo adopts as her "dog" and renames "Stitch". Stitch, who was designed to cause chaos and destruction, initially uses Lilo to avoid recapture by an intergalactic federation. They develop a close bond through the Hawaiian concept of [[Ohana|''{{okina}}ohana'']], or [[extended family]], causing Stitch to reconsider his intended destructive purpose in order to keep his newfound family together.

The film is based on an idea by Sanders, who originally conceived Stitch in 1985, and the film's design and aesthetics are based on his personal art style. Stitch was initially at the center of a children's book Sanders had conceptualized, but later abandoned. A feature-length film starring the character entered development in 1997 when [[Thomas Schumacher]], then the president of Walt Disney Feature Animation, approached Sanders with the objective of producing "the ''[[Dumbo]]'' for our generation." The use of watercolor backgrounds hearkened back to early Disney productions such as ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' (1937). The film and its accompanying soundtrack made extensive use of the music of [[Elvis Presley]], while [[Alan Silvestri]] composed the film's score.

''Lilo & Stitch'' premiered at the [[El Capitan Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles]] on June 16, 2002, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 21. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, humor, charm, and originality. Produced on an $80 million budget and promoted with a marketing campaign that played up its oddities, it was a box-office success, grossing over $273 million worldwide. It was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]] at the [[75th Academy Awards]] but lost to ''[[Spirited Away]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 75th Academy Awards {{!}} 2003|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2003|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 5, 2014 |language=en|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417092738/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2003|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shamsian|first=Jacob|title=Every animated movie that's won an Oscar|url=https://www.insider.com/oscars-winning-animated-movies-2018-1|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|website=[[Business Insider]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The film's success made it a highlight of Disney's post-[[Disney Renaissance|animation renaissance]] era in the 2000s, spawning a [[Lilo & Stitch (franchise)|franchise]] that includes three [[direct-to-video]] film sequels and three television series. A [[Lilo & Stitch (2025 film)|live-action adaptation]] is set to be released in 2025.

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. Word Count as of April 5, 2025: 607 -->
On planet Turo, the United Galactic Federation convicts evil scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba of illegal genetic experimentation; he has created [[Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)|Experiment 626]], an aggressive and near-indestructible creature with advanced learning capabilities. 626 is sentenced to [[exile]] on a desert [[asteroid]], but he escapes and hijacks a space cruiser that crash-lands on [[Kaua{{okina}}i]], [[Hawaii]], on the planet [[Earth]]. Shortly after landing on Earth, 626 is hit by three passing trucks and taken to an [[animal shelter]]. The Federation's Grand Councilwoman offers Jumba an early release if he retrieves 626 with the assistance of the council's Earth expert, Agent Pleakley.

On Kaua{{okina}}i, orphaned teenager Nani Pelekai struggles to take care of her lonely, rambunctious younger sister, Lilo, following their parents' death in a [[car crash]]. Social worker Cobra Bubbles doubts Nani can be an adequate [[Legal guardian|guardian]] for Lilo and threatens to place Lilo in [[foster care]] if the Pelekais' situation fails to improve. After overhearing Lilo wishing for a friend, Nani brings her to the animal shelter to adopt a dog. Lilo adopts 626, who is impersonating a dog, and names him "Stitch". Stitch causes chaos at the [[lū{{okina}}au]] where Nani works while trying to avoid capture by Jumba and Pleakley. Nani's boss blames Nani for the chaos, and she is fired. The news of Nani's unemployment reaches Bubbles, who orders Nani to find a new job and tells Lilo to teach Stitch to be a "model citizen".

Despite Lilo's attempts to domesticate Stitch, his antics repeatedly ruin Nani's efforts to find a new job. While Nani, Lilo, and Stitch go [[surfing]] with Nani's former co-worker and friend David, Jumba and Pleakley again attempt to capture Stitch and unintentionally drag Lilo underwater. David rescues Lilo and Stitch, but Bubbles, having observed the mishap, tells Nani he will retrieve Lilo the following morning. Feeling guilty for causing so much trouble, Stitch runs away. Having failed to capture Stitch, the Grand Councilwoman fires Jumba and Pleakley and tasks her second-in-command, Captain Gantu, with capturing Stitch. Now free, Jumba begins hunting Stitch using less covert methods. When David informs Nani of another job opportunity, Nani leaves Lilo at home alone. Jumba and Pleakley chase Stitch back to the Pelekais' house, and the ensuing fight causes an explosion that destroys the house.

Nani gets the job but frantically returns home after seeing a [[fire engine]] driving toward her house. Bubbles arrives to retrieve Lilo. While Bubbles and Nani argue about Lilo's well-being, Lilo runs away into the woods and encounters Stitch, who reveals his alien identity just moments before Gantu captures them both. Stitch manages to escape just as Gantu's ship takes off. Nani confronts Stitch, but Jumba and Pleakley immediately capture him. Nani asks them to save Lilo, but they insist they only have legal authority to capture Stitch. As Nani breaks down, Stitch remembers ''{{okina}}[[ohana]]'', a term for "family" he learned from Lilo, and convinces Jumba to help rescue her. Jumba, Pleakley, Stitch, and Nani board Jumba's spaceship to pursue Gantu and rescue Lilo.

The Grand Councilwoman arrives to retrieve Stitch herself, and fires Gantu for endangering Lilo and failing to capture Stitch. However, after observing Stitch's civilized behavior and being informed that Lilo legally owns Stitch because she bought him at the animal shelter, the Grand Councilwoman decrees that Stitch will live out his exile on Earth and that the Pelekai family is under the protection of the United Galactic Federation. Bubbles reveals he is a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent who had previously met the Grand Councilwoman in [[Roswell, New Mexico]] in 1973. Stitch, Jumba, and Pleakley, having joined Lilo and Nani's family, rebuild their house with David and Bubbles' help.

==Voice cast==
{{Main|List of Lilo & Stitch characters}}
* [[Daveigh Chase]] as [[Lilo Pelekai]], an eccentric young Hawaiian girl on the island of [[Kaua{{okina}}i]] who adopts Stitch as her pet [[dog]].
* [[Chris Sanders]]{{efn|name=Sanders 2}} as [[Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)|Stitch]], also known as Experiment 626, a blue [[koala]]-like illegal [[genetic engineering|genetic experiment]] with the ability to create untold chaos. 
* [[Tia Carrere]] as [[Nani Pelekai]], Lilo's older sister and [[legal guardian]].
* [[Jason Scott Lee]] as [[David Kawena]], Nani's hapless surfer boyfriend. 
* [[David Ogden Stiers]] as [[Dr. Jumba Jookiba]], a Kweltikwan mad scientist employed by Galaxy Defense Industries who created Stitch. 
* [[Kevin McDonald]] as [[Agent Pleakley]], a Plorgonarian Galactic Federation agent who acts as the expert of [[Earth]]. 
* [[Ving Rhames]] as [[Cobra Bubbles]], a [[social worker]] in charge of Lilo's welfare and Nani's duties as her guardian.
* [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as [[Captain Gantu]], the respected but arrogant Shaelik second-in-command of the Galactic Federation.
* [[Zoe Caldwell]] as [[List of Lilo & Stitch characters#Grand Councilwoman|the Grand Councilwoman]], the [[Grey alien|Grey]] leader of the Galactic Federation.
* Miranda Paige Walls as [[Mertle Edmonds]], Lilo's classmate from their [[hālau hula]] who despises and derides her.
* Kunewa Mook as [[List of Lilo & Stitch characters#Other characters|Moses Puloki]], Lilo's hula teacher.
* [[Amy Hill]] as [[Mrs. Hasagawa]], an elderly woman who runs a fruit stand.
* Susan Hegarty as Rescue Lady, who runs the animal shelter where Lilo adopts Stitch.

==Production==
===Development===
[[File:PreStitch.jpg|thumb|right|A 1985 [[concept art|concept sketch]] of Stitch by the character's creator Chris Sanders]]
In 1985, after graduating from [[California Institute of the Arts]], [[Chris Sanders]] had created the character of Stitch for an unsuccessful children's book pitch.<ref name="BTS">{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YKrFytA4Zg |title=The Story Room: The Making of 'Lilo & Stitch' |medium=DVD |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment |location=Burbank, CA |date=2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108004546/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YKrFytA4Zg |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> He said, "I wanted to do a children's book about this little creature that lived in a forest. It was a bit of a monster with no real explanation as to where it came from." But he found it difficult to condense the story and abandoned the project.<ref name="VultureOralInterview" /> In 1987, [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] hired him for their newly formed visual development department. His first project was ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]'' (1990), but he soon transitioned into storyboarding.<ref>{{cite book |last=Canemaker |first=John |year=1999 |title=Paper Dreams: The Art And Artists Of Disney Storyboards |publisher=[[Hachette Books|Hyperion]] |pages=256–257 |isbn=978-0-7868-6307-5}}</ref> After that, Sanders storyboarded sequences for ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (1991) and ''[[The Lion King]]'' (1994), and was promoted to Head of Story on ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]'' (1998).<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Lyons |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2032%20No%206%20%28Feb%202001%29/page/n38/mode/1up?view=theater |title=Thomas Schumacher: The Walt Disney Features Animation Presidency on Mouse House Supremacy |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |page=40 |date=February 2001 |volume=32 |number=6 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

In 1997, several executives at Disney Feature Animation were invited to a retreat at [[Michael Eisner]]'s farm in Vermont to discuss the future animation slate beyond adapting preexisting legends, folklore or classic novels.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Tim |url=https://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/12/02/features/story4.html |title=Storybook Ending: With the success of "Lilo & Stitch," 2 Disney employees now have their own production company |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=December 2, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912060642/https://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/12/02/features/story4.html |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> At the retreat, [[Thomas Schumacher]], then executive vice president of Disney Feature Animation, suggested they produce a film that would be the "''[[Dumbo]]'' for our generation", compared to the large-budget Disney animated features they had already done.<ref name="BTS" /> Schumacher approached Sanders about producing the film, telling him: "Everybody wants this next film to be you."<ref name="VultureOralInterview" />

During a karaoke dinner at the [[Walt Disney World Swan|Walt Disney World Swan Resort]], Schumacher asked Sanders, "Is there anything you would like to develop?" Sanders remembered the children's book project he had initially developed.<ref name="Fumettologica">{{cite news |last=Fiamma |first=Andrea |url=https://fumettologica.it/2022/07/intervista-chris-sanders-lilo-stitch/2/ |title=Intervista a Chris Sanders, il regista di "Lilo & Stitch" |website=[[Fumettologica]] |date=July 19, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719105835/https://fumettologica.it/2022/07/intervista-chris-sanders-lilo-stitch/2/ |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> At his next meeting, Sanders pitched a remote, non-urban location, with Stitch crash-landing into a forest and interacting entirely with woodland animals, being ostracized by them, and living on his own at a farm in rural [[Kansas]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Harada |first=Wayne |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121419355/the-honolulu-advertiser/ |title='Lilo & Stitch' creators fall for Hawai{{okina}}i's 'ohana' |work=[[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |date=May 1, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121418952/the-honolulu-advertiser/ F3] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322193246/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121419355/the-honolulu-advertiser/ |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> But Schumacher suggested that Stitch should interact with people instead: "The animal world is already alien to us. So, if you wanna get the best contrast between this monster and the place where it lives, I would recommend you set it in a human world."<ref name="Fumettologica" /><ref name="DavisHanaHou">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.hanahou.com/pages/magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=389&MagazineID=24 |title=Disney Goes Hawaiian |first=Pat |last=Davis |journal=[[Hana Hou!]] |volume=5 |issue=2 |date=April–May 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309045701/https://hanahou.com/5.2/disney-goes-hawaiian |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/newsletter/dec2002/index.html |title=DVD & Video Newsletter: 'Lilo & Stitch' Now on DVD and Video |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021211082937/http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/newsletter/dec2002/index.html |date=December 2002 |archive-date=December 11, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sanders would eventually, albeit inadvertently, revisit his idea of a creature bonding with animals in a forest years later with [[DreamWorks Animation]]'s ''[[The Wild Robot]]'' (2024).<ref name="Ebiri">{{Cite web |last= Ebiri |first=Bilge |date=September 26, 2024 |title='When CG Came Along, We Couldn't Escape' How The Wild Robot's director, Chris Sanders, found a sweet spot between hand-drawn and CG animation. |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/chris-sanders-on-the-wild-robot-and-live-action-lilo-and-stitch.html |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

For three straight days in his [[Palm Springs, Florida]] hotel room, Sanders created a 29-page pitch book drawing conceptual sketches and outlining the film's general story.<ref name="Fumettologica" /> He initially revised it by adding a boy character.<ref>{{cite news |author=Spence D. |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/19/a-look-inside-the-creation-of-lilo-and-stitch |title=A Look Inside the Creation of Lilo and Stitch |website=[[IGN]] |date=June 19, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413215011/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/19/a-look-inside-the-creation-of-lilo-and-stitch |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> But as the character of Stitch evolved, Sanders decided he needed to be contrasted with a female character: "I think Stitch represented a male character so the balance would be to put him with a little girl. We wanted someone who was going to be in conflict with Stitch, and we realized a little boy might be a comrade."<ref>{{cite news |last=Osmond |author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist) |first=Andrew |url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/lilo-stitch-revisited-part-i |title=Lilo & Stitch Revisited: Part I |website=[[Animation World Network]] |date=December 31, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224084025/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/lilo-stitch-revisited-part-i |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sanders then glanced at a map of Hawaii on his wall, and recalling he had recently vacationed there, he relocated the story there.<ref name="BTS" /> Not well versed in Hawaiian culture, Sanders turned to a vacation roadmap and found the names "Lilo Lane" and "Nani" there.<ref name="VultureOralInterview" /> After finishing the booklet, he shipped it to Burbank, and Schumacher approved the pitch with one condition: "it has to look like you drew it."<ref name="Fumettologica" />

===Writing===
{{Quote box|width=30em|quote="Animation has been set so much in ancient, medieval Europe&nbsp;— so many [[fairy tale]]s find their roots there, that to place it in Hawaii was kind of a big leap. But that choice went to color the entire movie, and rewrite the story for us."|source=—Chris Sanders, reflecting on the location change to Hawaii<ref name="DavisHanaHou"/>}}
[[Dean DeBlois]], who had served as "story co-head" for ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]'', was brought on to co-write and co-direct ''Lilo & Stitch'' after Thomas Schumacher allowed him to leave production on ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]'' (2001).<ref name="polygon"/> Meanwhile, Disney executive Clark Spencer was assigned as the film's producer. Unlike several previous and concurrent Disney Feature Animation productions, the film's pre-production team remained relatively small and isolated from upper management until the film went into full production.<ref name="RM">{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Roger |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2002-06-16-0206150049-story.html |title=For Disney's Orlando Animators, It's Show Time! |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 16, 2002 |access-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918200219/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2002-06-16-0206150049-story.html |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Originally, Stitch was the leader of an intergalactic gang, and Jumba was one of his former cronies summoned by the Intergalactic Council to capture Stitch.<ref name="BTS" /> Test audience response to early versions of the film led to changing Stitch and Jumba into creation and creator.<ref name="BTS" />

While the animation team visited [[Kauai|Kaua{{okina}}i]] to research the locale, their tour guide explained the meaning of ''[[ohana|{{okina}}ohana]]'' as it applies to [[Extended family|extended families]]. This concept of {{okina}}ohana became an important part of the movie. DeBlois recalls:

{{blockquote|No matter where we went, our tour guide seemed to know somebody. He was really the one who explained to us the Hawaiian concept of {{okina}}ohana, a sense of family that extends far beyond your immediate relatives. That idea so influenced the story that it became the foundation theme, the thing that causes Stitch to evolve despite what he was created to do, which is destroy.}}

The island of Kaua{{okina}}i had also been featured in such films as ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' (1981) and the [[Jurassic Park (franchise)|''Jurassic Park'' trilogy]] (1993–2001). Disney's animators faced the daunting task of meshing the film's plot, which showed the impoverished and dysfunctional life that many Hawaiians lived during the then-recent [[Early 2000s recession|economic downturn]], with the island's serene beauty. The actors voicing the film's young adults, Nani and David, were [[Tia Carrere]], a local of [[Honolulu]], and [[Jason Scott Lee]], who is of Hawaiian descent and grew up in Hawaii. Both Carrere and Lee assisted with rewriting their characters' dialogue in proper [[Colloquialism|colloquial dialect]], and with adding Hawaiian slang terms.<ref name="Carrere interview 2022">{{cite web|last=El-Mahmoud|first=Sarah|title=Lilo & Stitch 20 Years Later: How The Disney Film Authentically Captured Hawaiian Culture With Tia Carrere's Help|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/lilo-and-stitch-20-years-later-how-the-disney-film-authentically-captured-hawaiian-culture-with-tia-carreres-help|website=[[CinemaBlend]]|access-date=2022-05-02|date=2022-04-21|df=mdy-all|archive-date=May 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502204513/https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/lilo-and-stitch-20-years-later-how-the-disney-film-authentically-captured-hawaiian-culture-with-tia-carreres-help|url-status=live}}</ref>

One innovative and unique aspect of the film is its strong focus on the relationship between two sisters. At the time, a central relationship between sisters as a major plot element was rare in [[American animation|American animated films]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Solomon|first=Charles|title=The Art of Frozen|year=2013|publisher=Chronicle Books|location=San Francisco|isbn=978-1-4521-1716-4|page=13}}</ref>

===Casting===
Daveigh Chase earned the role of Lilo in the fall of 1998 against 150 other candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gehrett |first=Les |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121445298/corvallis-gazette-times/ |title=Big Break |work=[[Corvallis Gazette-Times]] |page=E1 |date=August 18, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323013259/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121445298/corvallis-gazette-times/ |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Stitch was initially intended to be a non-verbal character, but Sanders said he realized "he'd have to say a few things, so we made sure that we kept it to a minimum." Instead of hiring a professional actor to voice Stitch, DeBlois suggested Sanders take the role. According to Sanders, Stitch's voice was the one he regularly used "just to bother people at the studio. I'd call people on the phone and do that voice and annoy them."<ref name="SyFy">{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Joss |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/lilo-stitch-live-action-remake-christopher-sanders-original-director-interview |title=Original Co-Director of 'Lilo & Stitch' Has Thoughts About the Live-Action Remake |website=SyFy |date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913192537/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/lilo-stitch-live-action-remake-christopher-sanders-original-director-interview |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Tia Carrere was originally considered for the [[Mulan (Disney character)|title character]] in ''Mulan'' (1998), but lost the role to [[Ming-Na Wen]].<ref name="OrlandoSentinel">{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Roger |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2002-06-25-0206240289-story.html |title=Actors Stitch a Perfect Fit with their Hawaiian Roots |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=June 25, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724102421/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2002-06-25-0206240289-story.html |archive-date=July 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> After learning Disney was doing a Hawaii-set film, Carrere sought a voice role and was hired to voice Nani.<ref name="OrlandoSentinel" /> She spent two years recording her part in [[Los Angeles]], [[Paris]], and [[Toronto]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Tim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121418711/honolulu-star-bulletin/ |title=Voices from the Islands |work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |date=January 17, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322222534/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121418711/honolulu-star-bulletin/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121418780/honolulu-star-bulletin/ D3] |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Jason Scott Lee was cast as David after Carrere recommended him for the film.<ref name="OrlandoSentinel" />

[[Chris Williams (director)|Chris Williams]], then a storyboard artist, suggested [[Kevin McDonald]] for the part of Agent Pleakley. After McDonald read for the part, he was cast.<ref name="VultureOralInterview">{{cite news |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/an-oral-history-of-lilo-and-stitch-a-hand-drawn-miracle.html |title='Let's Make the Dumbo of Our Generation' An oral history of Lilo & Stitch, the Disney movie that almost brought hand-drawn animation back. |work=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]] |date=October 19, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019144402/https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/an-oral-history-of-lilo-and-stitch-a-hand-drawn-miracle.html |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Cobra Bubbles was initially envisioned as more of a nebbish, with [[Jeff Goldblum]] in mind for the role. Goldblum declined the role, and Bubbles was reconceived as a more intimidating character. Sanders and DeBlois recalled Ving Rhames's performance in ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' (1994) and cast him.<ref name="VultureOralInterview" />

During the film's early development, [[Ricardo Montalbán]] was cast as one of the villains, with his vocal performance based on the voice he used for [[Khan Noonien Singh]] in ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]''.<ref name="VultureOralInterview" /> However, all the lines he recorded were removed and his character was cut after the meeting that lead to the removal of Stitch's gang from the story. Eventually the villainous role in the film would be Gantu voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson who is best known for playing villain roles in shows and movies. David Ogden Stiers (who had previously done voices for Disney in past films) was chosen to be the voice of Jumba. Australian actress Zoe Caldwell got the role of voicing the Grand Councilwoman, the leader of the United Galactic Federation.<ref name="VultureOralInterview" />

===Design and animation===
[[File:Lilo and Stitch Deleted Scene.png|thumb|254x254px|The original scene (top) and the one used in the release (bottom); the [[Boeing 747]] and the spaceship are both flying in a sideways position]]
In a deviation from several decades' worth of Disney features, Sanders and DeBlois chose to use watercolor painted backgrounds for ''Lilo & Stitch'', as opposed to the traditional [[gouache]] technique.<ref name="BTS" /> Watercolors had been used for the early Disney animated shorts, as well as the early Disney features ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' (1937), ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'' (1940), and ''[[Dumbo]]'' (1941), but the technique had been largely abandoned by the mid-1940s in favor of less complicated media such as [[gouache]]. Sanders preferred that watercolors be used for ''Lilo & Stitch'' to evoke both the bright look of a storybook and the art direction of ''Dumbo'', requiring the background artists to be trained in working with the medium.<ref name="BTS" /><ref name="RM" />

The animation itself was all based on 2D work since the budget was too small for [[computer-generated imagery]].<ref name="polygon">{{cite web |first=Petrana |last=Radulovic |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/22675483/lilo-and-stitch-disney-animation-chris-sanders-dean-deblois |title='We're going to hide it': How Lilo & Stitch succeeded by staying off Disney's radar |date=September 16, 2021 |access-date=September 16, 2021 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916164727/https://www.polygon.com/features/22675483/lilo-and-stitch-disney-animation-chris-sanders-dean-deblois |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The character designs were based on Sanders's personal drawing style, rather than the traditional Disney in-house style.<ref name="BTS" /> To assist the animators with adapting Sanders's style, [[Sue C. Nichols]], the film's visual development supervisor, created a manual, ''Surfing the Sanders Style''.<ref name="Fumettologica" /> Because of the limited budget, details like pockets or designs on clothing were avoided in the animation process, and since they could not afford to do shadows throughout much of the film, many of the scenes took place in shaded areas, saving shadows for more pivotal scenes.<ref name="polygon"/>

The film's extraterrestrial elements, such as the spaceships, were designed to resemble marine life, such as whales and crabs.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Elemental Magic: The Art of Special Effects Animation |url=https://archive.org/details/elementalmagicar00gill_285 |url-access=limited |first1=Joseph |last1=Gilland |year=2009 |publisher=Focal Press (Elsevier, Inc.) |isbn=978-0-240-81163-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/elementalmagicar00gill_285/page/n282 256] }}</ref> One altered scene in the film involved Stitch, Nani, Jumba, and Pleakley [[aircraft hijacking|hijacking]] a [[Boeing 747]] jet from [[Lihue Airport]] that scrapes against buildings through downtown [[Honolulu]]. But after the [[September 11 attacks]], with only a few weeks left in production, the climax was completely reworked to have them use Jumba's spacecraft instead. The location was also shifted to have them fly through the mountains of Kaua{{okina}}i.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |url=https://www.cbr.com/lilo-stitch-9-11-edit/ |title=See How 9/11 Caused a Dramatic Change to the Ending of Lilo & Stitch |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=March 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330130811/https://www.cbr.com/lilo-stitch-9-11-edit/ |archive-date=March 30, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Renfro |first=Kim |url=https://www.insider.com/lilo-and-stitch-airplane-scene-before-and-after-9-11-disney-2017-9 |title=Disney's 'Lilo and Stitch' originally included an airplane crash scene that was cut after 9/11 |website=[[Insider.com]] |access-date=November 16, 2021 }}</ref> Regardless, the final design still has engines that resembled the 747's jet engines, according to Sanders.<ref name="polygon"/>

Even after this adjustment, the team had enough budget for about two additional minutes of animation, which was used to create the epilogue montage of Lilo, Nani, and Stitch becoming a new family.<ref name="polygon"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Orwall |first=Bruce |title=Disney Delivers 'Lilo & Stitch' On Competition-Driven Budget |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1024359150128557760 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=June 18, 2002 |access-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317231942/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1024359150128557760 |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release==
On June 16, 2002, ''Lilo & Stitch'' premiered at the [[El Capitan Theatre]]. Alongside the filmmakers and Disney studio executives, [[Priscilla Presley|Priscilla]] and [[Lisa Marie Presley]], [[Wynonna Judd]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Gregory Hines]], and [[Jodie Foster]] were also in attendance.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bloom |first=David |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/stitch-sez-aloha-1117868665/ |title='Stitch' sez aloha |work=Variety |date=June 17, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220131/https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/stitch-sez-aloha-1117868665/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Marketing===
Wanting Stitch to be a central part of the film's marketing campaign, Sanders pitched a subversive idea: "what if Stitch invaded other Disney properties?" [[Dick Cook]], then chairman of Walt Disney Studios, loved the idea and allowed for four parody teaser trailers to be made (nicknamed "Inter-stitch-als"), in which Stitch crashes memorable moments of four films from the [[Disney Renaissance]] (three of which Sanders had worked on): ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'' (1989), ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (1991), ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (1992), and ''[[The Lion King]]'' (1994).<ref name="SyFy" /> Most of the original actors reprised their roles in the trailers, but they were shocked when asked to act negatively toward Stitch.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} The trailers also include the [[AC/DC]] song "[[Back in Black (song)|Back in Black]]."

The marketing campaign also included several tie-in promotions, like ''Lilo & Stitch'' toys being offered as part of [[McDonald's]] Happy Meals.<ref name="Harada">{{Cite web |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/May/10/en/en04a.html |title=Commercial flood due for 'Lilo & Stitch' |date=May 10, 2002 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |website=[[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |last=Harada |first=Wayne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507065359/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/May/10/en/en04a.html |archive-date=May 7, 2004}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, ''Lilo & Stitch'' trailers and television ads featured a cover of Elvis's song "[[Suspicious Minds#Gareth Gates version|Suspicious Minds]]", performed by [[Gareth Gates]], who became famous on the UK TV program ''[[Pop Idol]]''. In the U.S., "[[Hound Dog (song)#Elvis Presley's version (1956)|Hound Dog]]" was used for both theatrical and television trailers. The marketing campaign presented Stitch as the sort of "Disney Family [[Black sheep|Black Sheep]]". As a promotional campaign, comics of ''Lilo & Stitch'' ran in ''[[Disney Adventures]] ''before the film's release. The comics detailed events leading up to the film for both title characters, including Stitch's creation and escape. These events were later contradicted by the sequel ''[[Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch]]'', rendering the comics non-canonical, but the comics are notable for introducing Experiment 625, [[Reuben (Lilo & Stitch)|Reuben]], who was a main character in the subsequent movies and TV series.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} Most of the comic series have been released as a collective volume, ''Comic Zone Volume 1: Lilo & Stitch''.

===Home media===
''Lilo & Stitch'' was released on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] on December 3, 2002.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hettrick |first=Scott |date=August 25, 2002 |title=Col TriStar adds trio of fall vid releases |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2002/digital/features/col-tristar-adds-trio-of-fall-vid-releases-1117871844/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408234024/https://variety.com/2002/digital/features/col-tristar-adds-trio-of-fall-vid-releases-1117871844/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the first day of release, more than 3 million DVD copies were sold, earning $45 million in retail sales.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2002/12/06/ltigtlilo-amp-stitchltigt-video-moves-3-million-units-first-day-sale-7142 |title=Lilo & Stitch video moves 3 million units on first day of sale |work=[[The Advocate (magazine)|The Advocate]] |date=December 6, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326190236/https://www.advocate.com/news/2002/12/06/ltigtlilo-amp-stitchltigt-video-moves-3-million-units-first-day-sale-7142 |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Netherby |first=Jennifer |url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/lilo-sees-animated-1st-day-sales-1117876973/ |title='Lilo' sees animated 1st-day sales |work=Variety |date=December 5, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220631/https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/lilo-sees-animated-1st-day-sales-1117876973/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> This [[THX]]-certified DVD release features various bonus features, including a "Build An Alien Experiment" game, an audio commentary, music videos, deleted scenes, teaser trailers, and DVD-ROM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdizzy.com/lilo.htm|title=Lilo & Stitch DVD Review|website=DVDizzy.com|access-date=March 26, 2022|archive-date=March 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326190335/https://www.dvdizzy.com/lilo.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003, a 2-disc DVD version was announced to come out along with ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1951) and ''[[Pocahontas (1995 film)|Pocahontas]]'' (1995), which were released in 2004 and 2005.

A 2-Disc Special Edition DVD of the film was released in [[Australia]] on November 10, 2004 and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] on August 22, 2005, along with the UK release of ''[[Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch]]'' (2005), but a release in the US was affected by many delays. On March 24, 2009, Disney finally released the special edition DVD, called the "Big Wave Edition". This DVD edition retained the original supplemental features, along with an audio commentary, a two-hour documentary, more deleted scenes, a number of behind-the-scenes featurettes, and some games.

On June 11, 2013, ''Lilo & Stitch'' was released on [[Blu-ray]] and re-released on DVD alongside ''Lilo & Stitch 2'' in a "2-Movie Collection", which included a single Blu-ray with both films but without bonus features, a reprint of disc one of the "Big Wave Edition" DVD, and a reprint of the ''Lilo & Stitch 2'' DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lilo-and-Stitch-and-Lilo-and-Stitch-2-Stitch-Has-a-Glitch-Blu-ray/22282/|title=Lilo & Stitch / Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=2021-05-13|df=mdy-all|archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513020244/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lilo-and-Stitch-and-Lilo-and-Stitch-2-Stitch-Has-a-Glitch-Blu-ray/22282/|url-status=live}}</ref> The "2-Movie Collection" has since seen two re-releases; one on January 31, 2017, containing only the Blu-ray and a code to redeem a digital download of the two films,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lilo-and-Stitch-and-Lilo-and-Stitch-2-Stitch-Has-a-Glitch-Blu-ray/180567/|title=Lilo & Stitch / Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=2023-01-16|df=mdy-all|archive-date=January 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117021721/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lilo-and-Stitch-and-Lilo-and-Stitch-2-Stitch-Has-a-Glitch-Blu-ray/180567/|url-status=live}}</ref> and another on August 9, 2022, which places both films on separate Blu-ray discs that also contain most of their original DVD bonus features, the two DVDs from the first Blu-ray collection, and a digital download code as with the second Blu-ray collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lilo-and-Stitch-2-Movie-Collection-Blu-ray/319073/|title=Lilo & Stitch: 2-Movie Collection Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=2023-01-16|df=mdy-all|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206234749/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Lilo-and-Stitch-2-Movie-Collection-Blu-ray/319073/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A newly restored and remastered version of the film is set to be released on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on May 6, 2025, by [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] to coincide with and build anticipation for the theatrical release of [[Lilo & Stitch (2025 film)|the live-action remake]].<ref name="Forbes 4K Blu-ray">{{cite web |last1=Archer |first1=John |title=Disney Announces Restored And Remastered 'Lilo & Stitch' 4K Blu-Ray |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2025/04/01/disney-announces-restored-and-remastered-lilo--stitch-4k-blu-ray/ |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=2025-04-01 |date=2025-04-01 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

====Altered scene====
A scene where Nani chases Lilo was modified for the UK release in order for the film to secure a [[British Board of Film Classification#Current certificates|U (Universal) certificate]] from the [[British Board of Film Classification]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Bravia|url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4868|title=Lilo & Stitch (Comparison: BBFC U - US DVD)|website=Movie-Censorship.com|access-date=2020-03-26|df=mdy-all|archive-date=April 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408060453/https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4868|url-status=live}}</ref> In the original, Lilo hid in a clothes dryer, which was changed to a commode with a cupboard that has a pizza box used as a "door" to avoid influencing children to hide in dryers.<ref name="CinemaBlend edited scene">{{cite web|last=Holmes|first=Adam|title=Yes, Disney Apparently Edited A Lilo And Stitch Scene, And Fans Are Freaking|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2493332/yes-disney-apparently-edited-a-lilo-and-stitch-scene-and-fans-are-freaking|website=CinemaBlend|access-date=2020-03-26|date=2020-03-25|df=mdy-all|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326074029/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2493332/yes-disney-apparently-edited-a-lilo-and-stitch-scene-and-fans-are-freaking|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBFC 2002">{{cite web|url=https://darkroom.bbfc.co.uk/original/391d718a1f0e2138ae171c9ff349ff67:86d2056697ae1f50e778c15147c4461e/bbfc-annual-report-2002.pdf|title=BBFC Annual Report 2002|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=2025-04-29|date=2002|quote=The dangers of children climbing into kitchen electrical equipment, typically fridges and laundry machines, are self-evident to all but the very young. Any children’s film that presents this scenario is likely to be a candidate for cuts. The animated feature ''Lilo & Stitch'' contained a scene where the heroine, being chased by her sister, clambers into a tumble-drier to hide. No mention is made of the dangers of this act when she is discovered, and the Board requested a cut to remove the unacceptable footage for ‘U’. The Disney company, once alerted to the dangers that the scene presented for the young, chose to re-shoot so that audiences now see Lilo hiding in a harmless cupboard. The newly-created safe version of the incident was incorporated into all prints of the finished work, and the potential harm was averted.|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The UK edit has since become the standardized version of the film across all regions, as it would be used for the film's [[Disney+]] release,<ref name="CinemaBlend edited scene"/> the 2022 Blu-ray release, and 2025 [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] release, as well as nearly all digital releases from 2025 onward.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Lilo & Stitch'' opened in second place earning $35.3 million in its first weekend, ranking narrowly below [[Tom Cruise]]'s ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Natale |first=Richard |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-24-et-natale24-story.html |title='Lilo,' 'Minority Report' Tussling Over Top Spot |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 24, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321220932/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-24-et-natale24-story.html |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> During its second weekend, it fell to third place, behind ''Minority Report'' and ''[[Mr. Deeds]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=DiOrio |first=Carl |url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/box-office/mr-deeds-up-adam-1117869179/ |title='Mr. Deeds' up & Adam |work=Variety |date=June 30, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323042440/https://variety.com/2002/scene/box-office/mr-deeds-up-adam-1117869179/ |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the opening of ''[[Men in Black II]]'' the week after, ''Lilo & Stitch'' remained in third place.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.screendaily.com/independence-day-record-tumbles-to-mibii/409844.article|title=Independence Day record tumbles to MIBII|website=[[Screen Daily]]|date=July 7, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321164620/https://www.screendaily.com/independence-day-record-tumbles-to-mibii/409844.article|archive-date=March 21, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

Meanwhile, ''Lilo & Stitch'' continued to draw in families while other major summer blockbusters like ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' and ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'' were still in wide release and dominating the box office.<ref name="BigScreen" /> Additionally, it went on to compete against the [[Warner Bros.]] live-action/animated hybrid film, ''[[Scooby-Doo (film)|Scooby-Doo]]'', along with [[Matt Damon]]'s action film, ''[[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|The Bourne Identity]]''.<ref name="BigScreen">{{cite news |last=Valdespino |first=Anne |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-01-et-valdespino1-story.html |title=The Big Screen Keeps Pulling Us In |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 1, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326190036/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-01-et-valdespino1-story.html |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film earned $145.8 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $127.3 million internationally, totaling $273.1 million worldwide.<ref name="mojo" />

In the UK, ''Lilo & Stitch'' collected $2.4 million during its opening weekend, ranking in first place ahead of ''[[Signs (2002 film)|Signs]]'' and ''[[My Big Fat Greek Wedding]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/lilo-stitches-top-slot-but-my-little-eye-sparkles/4010764.article|title=Lilo stitches top slot, but My Little Eye sparkles}}</ref> The film would be overtaken by ''[[Red Dragon (2002 film)|Red Dragon]]'' in its second weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/box-office-gets-red-hot-as-dragon-flies-to-the-top/4010839.article|title=Box office gets red hot as Dragon flies to the top|access-date=December 31, 2022|archive-date=December 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231043616/https://www.screendaily.com/box-office-gets-red-hot-as-dragon-flies-to-the-top/4010839.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the end of its theatrical run, ''Lilo & Stitch'' earned $145.8 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $127.3 million internationally, totaling $273.1 million worldwide.<ref name="mojo" /> It became the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2002, behind [[20th Century Fox]]'s ''[[Ice Age (2002 film)|Ice Age]]''. They were the only two animated films to approach the $100 million mark that year domestically.<ref>{{cite news |title=2002 Yearend: Movies' fantastic year |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/12/08/2002-Yearend-Movies-fantastic-year/64131039378219/ |access-date=March 26, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=December 8, 2002 |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326184832/https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/12/08/2002-Yearend-Movies-fantastic-year/64131039378219/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Box Office Mojo]] estimates that the film sold over 25 million tickets during its original run.<ref name="mojo" />

===Critical reaction===
''Lilo & Stitch'' received positive reviews upon release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Gael |date=October 3, 2018 |title=Lilo & Stitch live-action remake reportedly coming from Disney |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/lilo-stitch-live-action-remake-reportedly-coming-from-disney/ |access-date=March 17, 2025 |work=[[CNET]] |quote=it earned positive reviews and a bit of a cult following.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Arechiga |first=Rebecca |date=November 16, 2022 |title=A 'Lilo & Stitch' tour of the Hawaii island that inspired Disney's film |url=https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/lilo-stitch-tour-kauai-hawaii-17574368.php |access-date=June 27, 2024 |work=[[SFGate]] |quote=It’s been more than 20 years since Disney released "Lilo & Stitch" to both critical acclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dutta |first=Raajwrita |date=June 25, 2024 |title=National Stitch Day 2024: Date, History, Significance, and How To Celebrate Here |url=https://www.thequint.com/lifestyle/national-stitch-day-2024-date-history-significance-and-how-to-celebrate-here#read-more |access-date=June 27, 2024 |work=[[The Quint]] |quote=Lilo & Stitch was released in 2002, and received critical acclaim}}</ref> [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 149 reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critics consensus reads, "Edgier than traditional Disney fare, ''Lilo and Stitch'' explores issues of family while providing a fun and charming story."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lilo_and_stitch|title=Lilo & Stitch (2002)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-date=December 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206204711/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lilo_and_stitch|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/lilo-stitch|title=Lilo & Stitch|work=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=January 7, 2012|archive-date=May 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503045828/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/lilo-stitch|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Lilo &" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=July 5, 2021|archive-date=March 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325050302/https://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film {{frac|3|1|2}} stars out of 4, writing: "It's one of the most charming feature-length cartoons of recent years—funny, sassy, startling, original and with six songs by Elvis. It doesn't get sickeningly sweet at the end, it has as much stuff in it for grown-ups as for kids, and it has a bright offbeat look to it."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lilo-and-stitch-2002 |title=Lilo and Stitch (2002) |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 21, 2002 |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520183252/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lilo-and-stitch-2002 |via=[[RogerEbert.com]] |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote: "Looser and less obviously formulaic in its fresh approach to our hearts, the brash [film] has an unleashed, subversive sense of humor that's less corporate and more uninhibited than any non-Pixar Disney film has been in time out of mind. With its hand-drawn characters and its use of watercolors for backgrounds (the first time the studio's done that since the 1940s), this is a happy throwback to the time when cartoons were cinema's most idiosyncratic form instead of one of its most predictable."<ref>{{cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-21-et-turan21-story.html |title=A Welcome Break From Disney Formula |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 21, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929041426/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-21-et-turan21-story.html |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |url-access=limited |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine felt the film is "a bright, engaging bauble with half a dozen Elvis Presley songs for Mom and Dad, and just enough sass. Stitch sticks his tongue into his nose and eats his snot to keep the tweeners giggling ...after a lag in the early sister scenes, Lilo reveals its own very American verve and wit, along with a smart story sense that marks the best animated features, traditional or computerized."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,263026,00.html |title=Stitch in Time? |magazine=Time |date=June 16, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027085151/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C263026%2C00.html |archive-date=October 27, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Claudia Puig]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' noted the colors "are ultra-vibrant and rich, appropriate to the Hawaiian setting. Best of all, the movie has an endearingly cheeky attitude sometimes missing from more earnest Disney tales. Witty, touching and well paced, ''Lilo & Stitch'' is ideal family fare, but little more."<ref>{{cite news |last=Puig |first=Claudia |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2002/2002-06-21-lilo-stitch.htm |title='Stitch' will keep you in stitches |work=USA Today |date=June 20, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917073419/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2002/2002-06-21-lilo-stitch.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Desson Thomson|Desson Howe]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' also praised the film's use of watercolors, writing it is "appealing. It's easy, rather than flashy, on the eyes. And there's some sort of relief in that, in this world of hyper-powerful computer-generated imagery."<ref>{{cite news |last=Howe |first=Desson |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/06/21/lilo-may-leave-kids-in-stitches/919a6f5a-267a-4e55-ae5f-aabc00bc4bd3/ |title='Lilo' May Leave Kids in Stitches |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 21, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322182613/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/06/21/lilo-may-leave-kids-in-stitches/919a6f5a-267a-4e55-ae5f-aabc00bc4bd3/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]], reviewing for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', argued the "animation in ''Lilo & Stitch'' has an engaging retro-simple vivacity, and it's nice to see a movie for tots make use of Elvis Presley, but the story is witless and oddly defanged. Stitch gets discovered by Lilo, a temperamental Hawaiian girl who's the whiniest of whiny brats. These two become friends in theory only: There's so little connection between them that just about the only thing sustaining the movie is its vague ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|E.T.]]'' outline."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/06/28/lilo-stitch-3/ |title=Film Review: 'Lilo & Stitch' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 28, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204080308/https://ew.com/article/2002/06/28/lilo-stitch-3/ |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' felt Sanders and DeBlois "keep things moving briskly while commendably avoiding any special sentimental '[[It takes a village|We Are a Village]]' point-making, despite the obvious opportunity. Character designs are familiar enough, but backgrounds possess an unusual pastel quality that gives the film an inviting atmosphere all its own."<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/lilo-stitch-1200549065/ |title=Film Review: Lilo & Stitch |work=Variety |date=June 16, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616155218/https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/lilo-stitch-1200549065/ |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast, [[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''[[San Francisco Gate]]'' felt ''Lilo & Stitch'' was more appropriate for a television series, writing the directors "find themselves locked into the structure of a feature film. They're forced to tell the story of Lilo and Stitch's relationship, to give it shape and a sense of arrival. Since this is a kid's movie, the relationship can only head in the direction of schmaltz. So the promising anarchy of the first 10 or 15 minutes is suppressed."<ref>{{cite news |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/A-girl-and-her-mad-dog-Animated-Lilo-could-2806154.php |title=A girl and her mad dog / Animated 'Lilo' could have been great short |work=San Francisco Gate |date=June 21, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216092908/https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/A-girl-and-her-mad-dog-Animated-Lilo-could-2806154.php |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Peter M. Nichols states that through the character of [[Nani Pelekai|Nani]] and her struggles, the film appeals to older children better than such attempts by the studio to do so as ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'', ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]'', and ''[[Treasure Planet]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The New York Times Essential Library: Children's Movies|first1=Peter M.|last1=Nichols|year=2003|publisher=Henry Holt and Company|location=New York|isbn=0-8050-7198-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/childrensmoviesc00nich/page/152 152–154]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/childrensmoviesc00nich/page/152}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{main|Lilo & Stitch (2002 soundtrack)}}

The film's soundtrack, ''Lilo & Stitch: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack'', was released by [[Walt Disney Records]] on June 11, 2002, on [[CD-DA|Audio CD]] and [[Compact Cassette]].

The soundtrack contains two original songs from the film written by [[Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu]] and [[Alan Silvestri]] (the film's composer), and performed by Hoʻomalu and the [[Kamehameha Schools]] Children's Chorus. It also contains five songs by American singer [[Elvis Presley]], and two of his songs re-recorded by contemporary artists. These songs were performed by American singer [[Wynonna Judd|Wynonna]] ("[[Burning Love]]") and Swedish group [[A-Teens]] ("[[Can't Help Falling in Love]]").

On June 23, 2003, the soundtrack album was [[RIAA certification|certified Platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for sales of 1 million units.<ref name="riaa"/> On March 17, 2023, the song "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" received Platinum certification from the RIAA for reaching 1 million certified units.<ref name="riaa-hrcr"/>

"Baby You Belong" by [[Faith Hill]] was used as the theme song in the Japanese version. In North America the song was simply an album track with no connotation to the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wmg.jp/faith-hill/discography/1001/ | title=Faith Hill / フェイス・ヒル「ベイビー・ユー・ビロング～『リロ＆スティッチ』イメージ・ソング」 &#124; Warner Music Japan }}</ref>

==Legacy==
===Spin-off media===
{{main|Lilo & Stitch (franchise)}}
On August 26, 2003, Disney released a direct-to-video sequel, ''[[Stitch! The Movie]]'', which served as the pilot to a television series titled ''[[Lilo & Stitch: The Series]]''. This series ran for 65 episodes between September 20, 2003, and July 29, 2006. The series carried on where the film left off and charted Lilo and Stitch's efforts to capture and rehabilitate [[List of Lilo & Stitch characters#Jumba's genetic experiments (Stitch's cousins)|Jumba's remaining experiments]]. The series, as well as the original parts of the franchise that focused on Lilo Pelekai and were set in Hawaii, ended with the television film ''[[Leroy & Stitch]]'', which aired on June 23, 2006.

On August 30, 2005, ''[[Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch]]'', another direct-to-video sequel to the film, was released. In this film ([[Sequel#Interquel|set between]] ''Lilo & Stitch'' and ''Stitch! The Movie''), Stitch has a glitch because his molecules were never fully charged (this is contrary to an original opening, "Stitch's trial", which was seen on the DVD release of ''Lilo & Stitch''). Lilo wants to win the May Day hula contest like her mother did in the 1970s, but Stitch continues to have outbursts. Lilo gets increasingly mad at Stitch as his glitch causes more problems for her and ruins her chances of winning the competition. She thinks Stitch is not cooperating properly, until she finds out that Stitch is dying. The ''Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch'' DVD also contained a short film, ''[[The Origin of Stitch]]'', that served as a bridge between ''Stitch Has a Glitch'' and ''Stitch! The Movie''.

In March 2008, Disney announced an [[anime]] based on the ''Lilo & Stitch'' franchise aimed at the Japanese market titled ''[[Stitch!]]''. The anime, which ran as a series from October 2008 to March 2011, features a Japanese girl named Yuna Kamihara in place of Lilo, and is set on a fictional island in [[Okinawa Prefecture]] instead of Hawaii. This series was produced by [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]] for its first two seasons, and [[Shin-Ei Animation]] for its third season and two post-series specials in 2012 and 2015.

From March 27 to April 6, 2017, an English-language Chinese animated television series based on the franchise titled ''[[Stitch & Ai]]'' aired in China with a Mandarin Chinese dub. It was produced by Anhui Xinhua Media and Panimation Hwakai Media. Like with the ''Stitch!'' anime, it features a local girl named Wang Ai Ling instead of Lilo, and is set in the [[Huangshan]] mountains. Unlike ''Stitch!'', however, this series was originally produced in English in co-operation with American animators (including those who worked on ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'') and then dubbed into Mandarin Chinese; the original English production aired in Southeast Asia during February 2018.

===Live-action adaptation===
{{Main|Lilo & Stitch (2025 film)}}
In October 2018, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' reported that [[Walt Disney Pictures]] was developing a live-action remake of ''Lilo & Stitch'' to be produced by ''[[Aladdin (2019 film)|Aladdin]]'' producers [[Dan Lin]] and Jonathan Eirich and written by Mike Van Waes.<ref name="live-action-thr">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lilo-stitch-live-action-disney-remake-works-1148811|title='Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Remake in the Works at Disney (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2018-10-03|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en|df=mdy-all|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221139/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lilo-stitch-live-action-disney-remake-works-1148811|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, it was reported that [[Jon M. Chu]] entered talks to direct the film and that it was unclear if the film would be released in theaters or on [[Disney+]]. In July 2022, [[Dean Fleischer Camp]] replaced Chu as the film's director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/lilo-stitch-live-action-movie-director-marcel-the-shell-1235064201/|title='Lilo & Stich' Live-Action Pic At Disney Taps 'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On's Dean Fleischer-Camp To Direct|first=Justin|last=Kroll|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 14, 2022|access-date=July 14, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714222407/https://deadline.com/2022/07/lilo-stich-disney-marcel-and-the-shell-director-1235064201/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2023, [[Zach Galifianakis]] joined the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lilo-and-stitch-live-action-movie-remake-zach-galifianakis-1235328908/ |title=Zach Galifianakis to Star in 'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Movie (Exclusive) |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first1=Borys |last1=Kit |first2=Beatrice |last2=Verhoeven |date=February 17, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2023 |archive-date=February 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217220130/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lilo-and-stitch-live-action-movie-remake-zach-galifianakis-1235328908/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/lilo-and-stitch-zach-galifianakis-cast-pleakley/ |title=Zach Galifianakis Cast in Disney's Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' |website=The Wrap |first=Drew |last=Taylor |date=February 17, 2023 |access-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218003346/https://www.thewrap.com/lilo-and-stitch-zach-galifianakis-cast-pleakley/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 31, 2023, it was announced that Maia Kealoha was cast as Lilo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disneys-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-movie-finds-its-lilo-1235365091/|title=Disney's Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' Movie Finds Its Lilo|first=Beatrice|last=Verhoeven|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=April 2, 2023|archive-date=May 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511152623/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disneys-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-movie-finds-its-lilo-1235365091/|url-status=live}}</ref> Further cast members were announced that April, including Sydney Agudong as Nani,<ref name=":0"/> [[Courtney B. Vance]] as Bubbles,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Beatrice |date=2023-04-19 |title=Courtney B. Vance Cast as Cobra Bubbles in Disney's Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lilo-stich-casts-courtney-b-vance-cobra-bubbles-1235392189/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420000448/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lilo-stich-casts-courtney-b-vance-cobra-bubbles-1235392189/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Billy Magnussen]] in an undisclosed role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2023-04-12 |title='Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Disney Movie Adds Billy Magnussen |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/lilo-stitch-live-action-movie-adds-billy-magnussen-1235322982/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419180706/https://deadline.com/2023/04/lilo-stitch-live-action-movie-adds-billy-magnussen-1235322982/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kahiau Machado was originally cast as David, but was later replaced by Kaipo Dudoit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Beatrice |date=2023-04-17 |title=Disney's Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' Casts Nani's Love Interest, David (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disney-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-nani-boyfriend-david-1235376947/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504041338/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disney-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-nani-boyfriend-david-1235376947/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 21, 2023, Galifianakis was confirmed to play Jumba, and Magnussen was confirmed to play Pleakley, while Chris Sanders entered in final negotiations to return as the voice of Stitch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/chris-sanders-stitch-in-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-1235399164/|title=Chris Sanders in Final Talks to Return as Voice of Stitch in Disney's Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' (Exclusive)|first=Beatrice|last=Verhoeven|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 21, 2023|accessdate=April 21, 2023|archive-date=May 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509233421/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/chris-sanders-stitch-in-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-1235399164/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tia Carrere]], the original voice actress of Nani, was announced to play Mrs. Kekoa, while [[Amy Hill]], who voiced Mrs. Hasagawa in the original, will portray a new character named Tūtū.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/lilo-and-stitch-remake-cast-chris-sanders-tia-carrere/|title=Ohana Means Family: Two Major Original 'Lilo & Stitch' Cast Members Are Joining the Live-Action Movie|first=Justin|last=Klawans|work=Collider|date=April 21, 2023|accessdate=April 21, 2023|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422094005/https://collider.com/lilo-and-stitch-remake-cast-chris-sanders-tia-carrere/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2024, the film was shifted to a summer 2025 theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kuznikov |first=Selena |title=''Lilo & Stitch'' Live-Action Remake Gets First Look at CGI Stitch and 2025 Release |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/lilo-and-stitch-live-action-first-look-date-1236063723/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=August 9, 2024 |date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> Two months later, the film was given a release date of May 23, 2025 in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |last2=McClintock |first2=Pamela |title='Freakier Friday,' Live-Action 'Lilo & Stitch' Set 2025 Release Dates |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/freakier-friday-live-action-lilo-and-stitch-release-dates-1236030318/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 11, 2024 |date=October 11, 2024}}</ref>

===Video games===
There were three official games released in 2002 to coincide with the film: ''[[Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise|Disney's Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise]]'' for [[PlayStation]] and [[Microsoft Windows]], ''[[Disney's Lilo & Stitch (Game Boy Advance video game)|Disney's Lilo & Stitch]]'' for [[Game Boy Advance]], and ''[[Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626]]'' for [[PlayStation 2]]. Stitch is also a summonable character in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts III|III]]'', and appears along with his homeworld in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' for the [[PlayStation Portable]]. Lilo and Stitch both appear in the [[Nintendo 3DS]] game ''[[Disney Magical World]]'' and [[Disney Magical World 2|its sequel]]. Stitch is also a playable character in the [[Disney Infinity (series)|''Disney Infinity'' series]] in the second game, ''[[Disney Infinity 2.0]]'', and the series' third and final game, ''[[Disney Infinity 3.0]]''. He was also a meet and greet character in ''[[Kinect: Disneyland Adventures]]''. Some characters of the film are playable characters in the game ''[[Disney Magic Kingdoms]]''. Stitch also appears as a playable character in the mobile game ''[[Disney Mirrorverse]]'', and as an unlockable villager ''[[Disney Dreamlight Valley]]''. Lilo, Stitch, Jumba, Gantu, and (from ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'') Angel are playable racers in ''[[Disney Speedstorm]]'', which also features a track environment based on the film's depiction of Kauaʻi.

==See also==
{{Portal|Disney|Film|Animation|Cartoon|Comedy|United States
}}
* [[List of films featuring extraterrestrials]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=Sanders 1|Credited as "Based on an idea by"}}
{{efn|name=Sanders 2|Chris Sanders was credited as "Christopher Michael Sanders" (his full name) for his voice role as Stitch.}}
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Wakabayashi  |first=Hiro Clark |title=Lilo and Stitch: Collected Stories from the Film's Creators |year=2002 |publisher=Disney Editions |isbn=978-0-7868-5382-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|https://movies.disney.com/lilo-stitch}}<!--Older official site: http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/liloandstitch/index.html , archived at the Wayback Machine -->
* {{IMDb title|0275847}}
* {{mojo title|lilostitch}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|lilo_and_stitch}}

{{Lilo & Stitch}}
{{Chris Sanders}}
{{Dean DeBlois}}
{{Disney theatrical animated features}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lilo and Stitch}}
[[Category:Lilo & Stitch (franchise) films]]
[[Category:2000s science fiction comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2000s children's animated films]]
[[Category:2002 American animated films]]
[[Category:2002 children's films]]
[[Category:2002 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2002 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:2002 science fiction films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s buddy comedy films]]
[[Category:American children's animated comic science fiction films]]
[[Category:American children's animated comedy films]]
[[Category:American children's animated drama films]]
[[Category:American comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American surfing films]]
[[Category:Animated buddy films]]
[[Category:Animated films about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Animated films about friendship]]
[[Category:Animated films about orphans]]
[[Category:Animated films about sisters]]
[[Category:Children's comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Annie Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Animated films about children]]
[[Category:Films about dysfunctional families]]
[[Category:Animated films about families]]
[[Category:Films about pets]]
[[Category:Films adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Films adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Films directed by Chris Sanders]]
[[Category:Films directed by Dean DeBlois]]
[[Category:Films produced by Clark Spencer]]
[[Category:Films scored by Alan Silvestri]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Chris Sanders]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Dean DeBlois]]
[[Category:Impact of the September 11 attacks on cinema]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:English-language buddy comedy films]]