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Lilo and Stitch

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Cute story, great characters, fabulous soundtrack.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Strong female and minority characters.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Some peril and scary looking creatures, no one hurt.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Lilo and Stitch was written by Nell Minow

Parents need to know that this movie is rated PG for some action and peril that may be too intense for the youngest children. The loss of Lilo's and Nani's parents in a car accident is handled quietly and sensitively, but still may be upsetting for some children. They may also be concerned about the idea that a social worker might want to remove Lilo from her sister's home if he does not think she can take care of her. Female characters, including Nani and the leader of Stitch's planet, are strong and independent.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about Lilo's definition of a family: "No one gets left behind." Why didn't the other girls want to play with Lilo? Are there things that Lilo and Nani could have talked about with each other that would have made them feel better? Why didn't Stitch stay the destructive monster he was designed to be? Did anything surprise you in the scenes at the end that showed what happened to Lilo and Stitch and Nani?
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More on Lilo and Stitch

What’s the Story?

LILO & STITCH opens on a far-away planet with all kinds of monstrous-looking creatures. One of them, a scientist, has been experimenting with genetics, and has created an indestructible destruction machine called 626 in the form of a mischievous-looking little blue guy. The scientist is thrown in jail, but the experiment escapes and races off to a planet they refer to as "E-Arth." So, the scientist and an expert on Earth are sent after him to capture him with a minimum of fuss. 626 lands in Hawaii and disguises himself as a dog. He is adopted by a tiny little girl named Lilo who is grieving the loss of her parents. She names him Stitch and teaches him that even a creature designed to destroy can learn to create.

Is It Any Good?

Lilo & Stitch has a cute story, endearing characters, a sensational soundtrack of Elvis classics, and glorious hand-painted animation. At its heart, it's just an old-fashioned story of a child and a pet. But this is not the usual movie child and it is definitely not the usual pet. The Hawaiian location and gorgeous visuals give it a fresh feeling. Instead of the usual wasp-waisted Disney heroine, there's attractive but believable-looking Nani, Lilo's sister, who is struggling to grow up quickly so that she can care for Lilo the way her parents did.

Lilo is irresistibly adorable and her relationship with her sister is a believable mixture of affection, resentment, and connection. Both are deeply affected by the loss of their parents and torn between fearing another loss and just wanting to get it over with. Ving Rhames adds just the right note of wry authority to his role as the social worker with a surprising past, and Jason Scott Lee is fine as the friend who would like to be more.

Movie Details

Studio: Disney, Directors: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Run time: 85 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/21/2002, DVD release: 12/3/2002
MPAA Rating: PG for some peril and scariness

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great alternative family movie

    My daughter and I love this movie. The message of everyone's family being different, but loving each other the same is great. She loves the soundtrack and wants to visit Hawaii! (and so do I)

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Loved it

    I saw this when I was 5! and I loved it!

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Enjoyable lovable movie about Hawaiian girl and her friend, an alien called Stitch. Occasional cartoon violence, but very humorous.

  4. I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Disney has finally done well after a while.

    Recently, Disney hasn't made that great of movies. This movie was great, even being a teenager I loved it. My sister was 4 when she saw it and it was a favorite of hers then. The sequel wasn't that good and the show is worse. If only they could have made the sequel better.... (This one rocked tho).

  6. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Highly enjoyable, beautiful and unique

    The movie trailers did not appeal to me and did not really describe well what the movie is about. When I saw it on video with my 6 and 9 year old, I was delighted with the beauty and color of the Hawaiian setting. The music is great, the emphasis on family togetherness is wonderful, without being sugary, like Disney often is. The creature, Stitch, is a complex character and believable. I found it a very positive film with believable characters. There are some noisy and frightening scenes because the characters are in danger. But it is not excessive, I feel. It might seem more intense in a movie theatre if a young child is sensitive to loud noises, like my youngest is.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title pause for age 8 and give it 0.0

    too scary for a four year old

    Enter Review Here I saw good reviews in the paper but I had to walk out because it was too frightening for my four year boy.

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 0.0

    Desensitize Fear

    This movie is so scary and violent. My husband and I previewed this for our kids and will not allow our children to watch. Stitch this cute character is very violent and a cute young girl Lilo adopts him and changes him. This is a dangerous message to girls that girls can change dangerous people to good. I do not recommend unless the child has a clear understanding of behaviour types and that no one can change anyone who is dangerous.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 2.0

    violent & chaotic

    I can't understand why people say this movie is about peaceful beautiful Hawaii. The nice scenes of Hawaii last about 5 minutes, the entire rest of the movie is chaotic, violent, & disturbing: an aggressive rabid-appearing alien, long drawn out chase sequences involving shooting, a mean "social-worker" threatening a young woman with losing guardianship of her sister. Watching this movie stressed me out - not what I expect from children's entertainment. My kids are not timid or overly sensitive, but I won't let them watch this movie - the chaotic & threatening world that it portrays simply isn't fun to watch.

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 3.0

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Cute film, OK for kids 5+

    Sexual Content (Not an Issue): None. Violence (Pause): Some peril. Language (Not an Issue): None. Social Behavior (On): Friendship and tolerance are major themes of the movie. Strong female and minority characters. Commercialism (Not an Issue): None. Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Not an Issue): None.

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    It was great!!!

    This movie isthe best! It sould have been rated G.

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 2.0

    Uneccessarily vioolent

    What a dissapointment for me. I thought that this would be a sweet animated movie about a nature loving people and little girl. It was filled with aliens and violence with undertones of sexuality and drug use that may go over the heads of the lilttlest viewers who are terrified by the violence, but into the psyche of those who are old enough to handle the unneccesary mayhem. Not entertaining for adults. It's good for no ages.

  15. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 2.0

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