Lilo & Stitch (2002)
NZ release: 21 June 2002
Suitable for general audiences Rated on: 14 May 2002
What’s it about?
A lonely girl living with her older sister in Hawaii adopts a strange ‘dog’, completely unaware that it’s actually an alien scientific experiment named Stitch. Together they learn about family, belonging, and the Hawaiian concept of “ohana” — meaning no one gets left behind or forgotten.
The facts
- Directed by Dean Deblois & Chris Sanders
- Starring Daveigh Chase (Lilo), Chris Sanders (Stitch), Tia Carrere (Nani), David Ogden Stiers (Jumba), Kevin McDonald (Pleakley), Ving Rhames (Cobra Bubbles)
- English and Hawaiian languages
- Runtime: 85 minutes
- Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature
Why did it get this rating?
This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.
Low-level violence
The film contains mild cartoon fantasy violence including laser guns and explosions. The violence isn’t strong because of the animmation and humour used in the films. SFor example:
- Aliens shoot lasers at each other as a character tries to escape.
- A young girl asks a CIA agent if he has ever killed anyone. He replies with “we’re getting off the subject”, implying that he has.
- A character is knocked unconscious after being run over by a truck, but this is not graphic.
- Two girls get into a scuffle after one teases the other, leading to a punch to the face and a bite before they are quickly pulled apart.
Frightening scenes
Some younger viewers may find the appearance of certain aliens frightening, especially if they're sensitive to this type of content; however, most of the aliens are kind—or eventually become kind.
There are some intense, chaotic scenes, especially because Stitch is a very mischievous creature who tries to destroy everything he sees.
When content stays with you:
We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.
Further information
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