Extreme Change to ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Ending Leaves Fans Furious

*Spoiler Alert! This article contains spoilers for Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch*

It has been more than two decades since Disney first introduced audiences to Lilo & Stitch, the quirky, heartwarming animated film that quickly became a modern classic. With its unique blend of alien chaos and Hawaiian culture, the story of a lonely girl and her genetically engineered blue friend carved out a special place in the Disney canon.

In the years since its 2002 release, Lilo & Stitch has grown in stature and affection, standing apart from other Disney titles thanks to its emphasis on themes like family, belonging, and the bond between siblings.

So, when Disney announced a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, it wasn’t surprising that emotions were running high. Fans hoped to see their favorite moments faithfully recreated, while others were open to updates, as long as they preserved the emotional depth of the original.

Now that the film is officially in theaters, a passionate conversation has erupted—not over visual effects or casting, but about a major change to the story’s ending. And this change has left fans deeply divided.

As with many Disney live-action remakes, the Lilo & Stitch update comes with notable differences. While films like Cinderella (2015) and The Jungle Book (2016) were embraced for their imaginative takes, others like Pinocchio (2022) and Dumbo (2019) faced criticism for unnecessary changes or tonal shifts. This new version of Lilo & Stitch has found box office success, but it hasn’t avoided controversy.

Related: Is ‘Lilo & Stitch’ About to Dethrone ‘Endgame’ as Disney’s #1 Movie?

Much of the debate centers on the film’s ending. In the animated original, Nani—Lilo’s older sister and guardian—fights to keep custody of her sister following their parents’ tragic deaths. The conclusion of that film reinforced the theme of ‘Ohana: the Hawaiian concept that family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. Despite obstacles, Nani remains with Lilo, and they form a new kind of family that includes aliens, a social worker, and a lot of love.

In contrast, the live-action remake introduces a subplot where Nani is offered a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, San Diego, which she initially declines in order to care for Lilo. By the film’s end, however, Lilo encourages her sister to pursue her dream.

Nani ultimately decides to give custody of Lilo to their neighbor Tūtū and leaves for UCSD to study Marine Biology. Thanks to alien technology, Nani can visit often without the burden of long-distance travel.

This change has become the lightning rod for debate. Some fans feel that the ending undercuts the heart of the original story, while others argue that it expands on what family and love really mean.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, author Mariah Rigg expressed deep concern about what this new ending symbolizes. She said:

“The original movie was so much about being against the carceral system in terms of foster care, Stitch’s imprisonment and the colonial system as a whole in Hawaii. I was fully surprised at the remake’s ending, in terms of Nani leaving the state altogether, because I feel like that really contributes to the narrative of displacement of Hawaiians from their ancestral lands. Obviously, there is all this discourse on how ‘‘Ohana means family’ is not really represented in that ending, but in an even larger way, it’s harmful on how it contributes to that narrative of the displacement of Hawaiians from Hawaiian lands.”

Rigg’s comments highlight broader cultural concerns about the impact of storytelling choices, particularly in a film so closely tied to Hawaiian identity and themes of belonging.

On the other side of the conversation is Forbes writer Laura Sirikul, who defends the new ending as a reflection of personal growth and sacrifice. In her words:

“The ending is actually paying a service to the phrase, as Nani herself doesn’t get left behind in her life and her dreams. Nani is a person, and those aspirations shouldn’t be forgotten or abandoned. Before Lilo became her responsibility, Nani had dreams of studying Marine Biology at the University of California, San Diego (which she got into with a full ride before her parents died). She used to surf with friends, and her potential boyfriend, David (Kaipo Dudoit). She gave it all up to be her sister’s keeper. People often forget about the caretakers and the burnout that they suffer, as well as the sacrifices they make.

The film also makes it a point that Nani never made Lilo feel small about it either. She never resented Lilo, or purposely made Lilo feel like a burden. They would scream at each other like siblings do, but make up in the end, with Nani telling Lilo that she loves her. Nani was an excellent sister, and doing the best she could as an unexpected mother. Nani isn’t the villain in this story, and shouldn’t be made to be one because she is given a chance to live her dream.”

Related: Family Gets Forgotten as Live-Action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Cuts Major Character

Director Dean Fleischer Camp has also addressed the change, saying the revised ending is more grounded in reality. He noted that under Nani’s continued financial hardship, the state would likely still be involved, and that those who related to the new ending most were people who had lived through similar family situations.

The film, currently playing in theaters, has proven to be a hit with audiences, pulling in over half a billion dollars and holding a 93% audience score. Still, the conversation around the ending shows no signs of slowing down.

Do you believe the new ending honors or betrays the message of ‘‘Ohana’? Did you connect with the remake’s updated story, or do you wish Disney had stayed closer to the original? Let us know in the comments, and follow Disney Dining for the latest on Disney news, reviews, and more.