Why Disney Fans Are Angry About the Lilo & Stitch Remake

Spoiler Alert!

The Lilo & Stitch live-action remake is finally out and it’s stirring up a lot of feelings. While some fans are enjoying the updated visuals and nostalgic throwbacks, others are not holding back their disappointment. Two particular plot changes have sparked a wave of backlash across Reddit and TikTok:

• Nani gives up custody of Lilo to go to college
• Jumba is reimagined as the main villain, replacing Gantu

And let’s just say… longtime fans are not thrilled.

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Nani Giving Up Lilo? Fans Say That Breaks the Whole Message

One of the most emotional reactions has come from the decision to have Nani, Lilo’s older sister and guardian, give her up so she can pursue college. It’s a complete 180 from the original, where Nani sacrifices everything to keep their family together.

Reddit threads have been flooded with angry and emotional responses. One top comment reads:

“This completely ruins the message of the movie. Nani would never leave Lilo behind. That’s not her.”

Others questioned the logic of the plot:

“Why not go to college in Hawaii? It’s not like she has to go to the mainland.”

Over on TikTok, creators echoed the frustration. Viral videos voiced disbelief and heartbreak, with captions like:

“Wait… Nani gives up Lilo?? Ohana who??”

For many, this wasn’t just a character development choice, it felt like a betrayal of the film’s core: Ohana means nobody gets left behind. And in this version, Lilo gets left behind.

@malxo04 What happened to “Ohana means family”💔🙁#fyp #foryo #viralvideo #disney #liloandstitch #liloandstitchliveaction #cobrabubbles ♬ original sound - malxo04

Jumba as the Villain? Internet Says “No Thanks”

Another change that left fans scratching their heads was the swap of the film’s main antagonist. In the original, Gantu played the militaristic villain role, while Jumba was a chaotic (but eventually lovable) figure who ended up joining the family.

But in the live-action? Jumba steps into the primary villain role. Cue the disappointment.

Reddit users called it “a total character rewrite”, saying:

“They took our weird scientist uncle and made him evil. Why?”

TikTok videos jokingly dubbed it a “massacre of the original dynamics”, using memes and throwbacks to show just how off it felt. One viral post simply read:

“They made Jumba the villain. That’s it. That’s the post.”

Fans seem to agree: removing Gantu and flipping Jumba’s arc made the story feel flatter and less emotionally rich.

Final Verdict from the Fans?

Many feel the remake misses what made Lilo & Stitch special in the first place. The original was messy, heartfelt, and deeply rooted in the idea of chosen family, flaws and all. While remakes are bound to introduce changes, these particular twists feel, to some, like they sacrificed heart for drama.

As one TikTok comment put it:

“Sure, it’s more realistic. But we didn’t come here for realistic. We came for ohana.”