Disney's LILO & STITCH Remake Sparks Fan Fury Over the Ending; What Happened to Ohana? — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

28-05-2025

Disney's live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch is now playing in theaters. It had a strong Memorial Day opening weekend, and while the studio made an effort to recapture the emotional core of the original, one big change has longtime fans calling foul.
For a lot of fans, the way the movie ends is not just a creative liberty, it's a betrayal of what the original film was all about… ohana.
At first glance, the remake plays it safe. The dynamic between Lilo and Nani, sisters holding onto each other after their parents' death, remains central. Nani is still nineteen, still fiercely protective, still trying to keep her fractured family together despite the looming pressure from child services.
If you're watching with nostalgia goggles, you might be lulled into thinking, 'Okay, they kept the heart.' But, then the third act hits.
In the original animated film, the emotional climax hinges on Nani refusing to give up custody of Lilo. It's not just a plot point; it's the entire emotional spine. Her willingness to fight for her sister, to sacrifice her own dreams to preserve their bond, is what made their relationship so powerful.
In the live-action version, though, that bond ends with a handshake and a goodbye.
Lilo stays in Hawaii with neighbors as Nani heads off to college in San Diego. It's a major rewrite of the original ending, and for many fans, it completely undercuts what made Nani such a beloved character.
'Nani not giving up custody of Lilo and fighting for her WAS the point,' one fan, @inkfycreates, posted online. 'Nani and Lilo [bonding] due to Stitch WAS the point.'
Another fan, @JemStarGold, critisized the change as a misguided attempt to modernize Nani, saying: 'This feels like an attempt to girlboss Nani by giving her more ambitions, but they so easily could have just expanded on what the original implied.
'Show that she was an aspiring professional surfer before she had to take care of Lilo, then have her pursue it again at the end.'
They're not wrong. This isn't about hating on ambition or character growth, about how they went about doing it. The original film didn't need to show Nani giving up everything forever. But it did make it clear that her first priority was Lilo.
The live-action version flips that dynamic, and in doing so, loses the very thing that made Nani such a hero to so many.
Yes, the movie is doing well at the box office. Yes, audiences are showing up. But that doesn't mean fans aren't allowed to be disappointed when the soul of a story is stripped away in the name of reinvention.
The live-action Lilo & Stitch is in theaters now, and if you're curious, it's worth seeing for yourself. Just don't be surprised if the ending leaves a sting.
Let us know what you think! Did Disney make the right call, or did they miss the ohana mark entirely?