Lilo and Stitch (2025)
A controversial trial is underway on the distant and vibrant planet of Turo. Dr. Jumba Jookiba, a brilliant but notorious alien scientist, stands before the Grand Council of the United Galactic Federation, charged with illegal genetic experimentation. The subject of his crimes? A formidable creature known only as Experiment 626—a small but highly dangerous lifeform engineered for chaos.
Designed with unmatched strength, intelligence, and adaptability, 626 is virtually indestructible and frighteningly aggressive. During the trial, Jumba smugly defends his creation, but the Federation is not amused. Despite his brilliance, Jumba is declared guilty and sentenced to imprisonment. As for 626, the Grand Council deems him too dangerous to exist freely and orders his exile to a secure asteroid prison.
Before the sentence can be fully carried out, however, Experiment 626 manages a daring escape. Hijacking a Galactic police cruiser, he outmaneuvers Federation officers, activates the ship's hyperdrive, and disappears into the vastness of space. His destination? An inconspicuous blue-and-green planet known to locals as Earth. The ship crash-lands in the remote Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i, causing quite a stir.
Determined to recapture the escaped experiment, the Grand Council reluctantly offers Dr. Jumba his freedom—on one condition: he must retrieve 626. To ensure success, Jumba is paired with an unlikely partner: Agent Pleakley, an eccentric and overly enthusiastic alien who claims to be an "Earth expert" despite never having visited the planet. The two are dispatched to Earth, tasked with locating and capturing 626 without alerting the native population.
Meanwhile, 626—battered from the crash—finds himself in unfamiliar terrain. Disoriented, he stumbles into a wedding reception, only to be promptly run over by a tourist trolley. Mistaken for a stray dog, he is taken to the local animal shelter and locked in a kennel, where his remarkable abilities are useless in such a confined space.
Elsewhere on the island, a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo Pelekai is going through her own struggles. Quirky, imaginative, and fiercely independent, Lilo finds it hard to fit in with other children. After being taunted by a classmate named Mertle during hula school, Lilo lashes out and pushes her off the stage, resulting in her suspension. At home, things are no easier. Lilo is being raised by her older sister, Nani, who barely keeps things together after their parents' tragic loss. Their strained relationship is put under further pressure when a visit from social worker Mrs. Kekoa reveals that Nani is at risk of losing custody of Lilo if their situation doesn’t improve within a week.
Hoping to lift Lilo’s spirits, their neighbor Tūtū suggests visiting the animal shelter to adopt a pet. There, Lilo spots 626, who cleverly disguises his appearance to avoid detection from Jumba and Pleakley, who are hot on his trail. Intrigued by the odd-looking “dog,” Lilo insists on adopting him. Seeing an opportunity to blend in and evade capture, 626 plays along. Nani reluctantly agrees, and they bring him home. Lilo names him “Stitch” after Nani jokingly says she'll need to stitch her car seat after the damage he caused.
The following day, Nani brings Lilo and Stitch to her job at a beachside resort, where her friend David Kawena also works. Though Stitch initially tries to behave, his instinct for destruction gets the better of him, and a fiery accident leads to Nani being fired. This setback draws the attention of Cobra Bubbles, a mysterious man posing as a social worker but who is, in fact, a CIA agent monitoring extraterrestrial activity. Alongside Kekoa, he warns Nani that she must find steady employment or risk losing Lilo for good.
Desperate, Nani embarks on a series of job interviews, but Stitch’s disruptive nature continues to sabotage her efforts. Lilo, noticing her sister’s distress, tries to help. She encourages Nani to apply for a surfing instructor position, which she secures. After her first successful shift, they all go surfing to celebrate. For a brief moment, things seem normal. That peace is quickly shattered when Jumba and Pleakley launch a chaotic jet ski chase in an attempt to recapture Stitch. Their recklessness causes a massive wipeout, nearly drowning Lilo as Stitch sinks deeper into the ocean.
Lilo is saved, but the incident has severe consequences. Kekoa informs Nani that the state can provide Lilo with proper healthcare and support—but only if Nani relinquishes her guardianship. Faced with an impossible decision, Nani reluctantly agrees, preparing for one last night with her sister. As Lilo sleeps, Stitch wanders outside, feeling a strange and unfamiliar emotion: guilt. Slowly realizing the damage he's caused, he decides to turn himself in and returns to the animal shelter.
Back in space, the Grand Councilwoman grows impatient with Jumba’s continued failure and cancels the deal. She sends an order for Pleakley to return Jumba to prison, but Jumba defies the order and resolves to capture Stitch himself—by any means necessary.
The next morning, Lilo runs away from home and finds Stitch back at the shelter. Their reunion is cut short when Jumba arrives and attacks, forcing them to flee to the Pelekai home. A violent battle erupts, resulting in the destruction of the house. During the fight, Jumba coldly reveals that Stitch has been using Lilo all along for protection, breaking the little girl’s heart and causing Stitch to surrender himself willingly.
Jumba drags Stitch aboard his ship, planning to erase the emotions and empathy that now confuse the once single-minded experiment. Unbeknownst to him, Lilo sneaks aboard and frees Stitch, and together they eject Jumba mid-flight. The ship crashes into the sea, trapping them underwater. In a final act of selflessness, Stitch pushes Lilo toward the surface and allows himself to sink, choosing her safety over his own survival.
David and Nani rescue Lilo, but she refuses to leave Stitch behind. While David swims Lilo back to shore, Nani dives deep to retrieve Stitch’s lifeless body. On land, Cobra Bubbles and Pleakley arrive. Acting quickly, David uses basic first aid to revive Stitch, restoring him just as the Grand Councilwoman arrives.
Prepared to recapture both Jumba and Stitch, she instead witnesses a changed creature—no longer a mindless weapon, but a member of a family. Moved by Stitch’s transformation and the strength of his newfound bond with Lilo and Nani, she allows him to remain on Earth, recognizing the Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana—family, where no one gets left behind or forgotten.
In the aftermath, Kekoa approves a new guardianship arrangement: David and Tūtū will serve as legal guardians, allowing Nani to stay close and support Lilo while pursuing her own dreams. She begins attending the University of California, San Diego, majoring in marine biology. Using Jumba’s leftover portal technology, she visits her family in Kaua‘i frequently.
Together, Lilo, Stitch, Nani, and their extended ‘ohana rebuild their home—stronger than ever—learning that even the most unlikely beginnings can lead to a family worth fighting for.
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