Honestly, trying to figure out the lilo & stitch movies in order is a bit of a headache. You’d think Disney would make it easy—1, 2, 3, done. But they didn't. Instead, they released a "sequel" that's actually a pilot, a "number 2" that takes place before the first sequel, and a series finale that actually feels like a finale. If you watch them in the order they hit shelves, you're going to be very confused why Stitch is suddenly dying in one movie and then perfectly fine, hunting cousins in the next.
The vibe of the franchise shifts too. The original 2002 film is a masterpiece of watercolor backgrounds and emotional trauma. Then, the sequels lean hard into the "monster of the week" energy.
If you want the story to actually make sense, you have to ignore the years on the box. Here is the definitive way to watch the experiment 626 saga without losing your mind.
The Chronological Lilo & Stitch Movies in Order
Most fans agree that the release dates are a lie. To get the actual narrative arc of Lilo and Stitch growing up, you have to jump around a bit.
1. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
This is where it all starts. If you haven't seen this, you’re missing out on the best hand-drawn animation Disney did in the early 2000s. We meet Stitch, a genetic experiment designed for chaos, who crashes in Hawaii and gets adopted by a lonely girl named Lilo. It’s heavy. It deals with grief, social workers, and the threat of family separation. Basically, it’s the heart of the whole franchise.
2. Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005)
Here is the first big mistake people make. Even though this came out three years after the original and after another movie called Stitch! The Movie, it takes place right after the first film.
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Stitch is living with Lilo, but his molecules weren't fully charged when he was created. He starts glitching out—literally turning back into a monster. It’s surprisingly dark. Dakota Fanning takes over the voice of Lilo here, replacing Daveigh Chase. If you watch this later, the absence of the other 625 experiments makes zero sense, so watch it second.
3. The Origin of Stitch (2005 Short)
Technically a short film found on the Stitch Has a Glitch DVD, but it’s essential lore. It bridges the gap by showing Jumba’s secret journals. It’s only a few minutes long, but it sets the stage for the explosion of "cousins" that defines the rest of the series.
4. Stitch! The Movie (2003)
This is not really a movie. It’s a 60-minute pilot for the TV show. It introduces Dr. Hämsterviel (the tiny, angry rabbit-like villain) and Experiment 625 (Reuben), who loves sandwiches. The plot is simple: Jumba’s other 625 experiments get activated and scattered across Hawaii. This is the "inciting incident" for the entire television run.
5. Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003–2006)
Okay, it’s a show, not a movie, but you can’t skip it if you want the full story. Over two seasons, Lilo and Stitch hunt down the "cousins," give them names, and find where they belong. It’s like Pokémon but with more Elvis and alien spit.
6. Leroy & Stitch (2006)
This is the true "The End." After catching all the experiments, Lilo and Stitch are rewarded by the Galactic Alliance. But Hämsterviel creates a new, red version of Stitch named Leroy. It features a massive battle with every single experiment ever shown. It’s the perfect capstone to the Hawaiian era of the franchise.
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What About the 2025 Live-Action Remake?
The 2025 Lilo & Stitch live-action movie is its own beast. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (the guy behind Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), it retells the 2002 story but with a hyper-realistic CGI Stitch.
Wait, what changed? * The Ending: In the remake, the "Ohana" is physically split up for a bit. Nani (Sydney Agudong) is encouraged to go to San Diego for school, while Lilo stays with a new neighbor character, Tūtū.
- Jumba's Role: He stays more of a villain throughout, which is a big departure from the "lovable uncle" vibe he eventually gets in the animated sequels.
- Cobra Bubbles: He's much more of a "men in black" CIA type here than the social-worker-with-a-heart-of-gold we knew.
If you’re doing a marathon, think of the 2025 movie as an alternate universe. It doesn't lead into the sequels; it’s a standalone reimagining.
The Weird International Spin-offs
If you’re a completionist, the rabbit hole goes deeper. After Lilo grows up and goes to college, Stitch ends up in other parts of the world.
- Stitch! (Anime): Set in Japan. Stitch meets a girl named Yuna. It ran for three seasons and has a very different, more "action-anime" feel.
- Stitch & Ai: Set in China. Stitch befriends a girl named Ai in the Huangshan mountains.
Most Western fans consider these "optional" or non-canon because they lack the core Lilo and Nani relationship that made the original so special.
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Why the Release Order is a Trap
If you watch by release date, you’ll see Stitch! The Movie first, where all the experiments are released. Then you’ll watch Stitch Has a Glitch, where... none of those experiments exist and nobody mentions them. It feels like a massive continuity error because it is.
The reason? Disney Toon Studios and the TV animation team weren't really talking to each other. They produced both projects at the same time. Stitch Has a Glitch was meant to be a "pure" sequel to the original film's tone, while the others were meant to build a brand for the Disney Channel.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Marathon:
- Stick to Chronological: Watch Lilo & Stitch -> Stitch Has a Glitch -> Stitch! The Movie -> The Series -> Leroy & Stitch.
- Don't Skip the Shorts: The Origin of Stitch is on Disney+ under the "Extras" tab of the second movie. It explains why Jumba created Stitch in the first place.
- Visual Quality Drop: Prepare yourself. The first movie was a theatrical release with a massive budget. The sequels were "direct-to-video," so the animation is flatter and less detailed.
- Voice Changes: Daveigh Chase (Lilo) wasn't available for the second movie, so Dakota Fanning stepped in. She does a great job, but the voice change is noticeable if you watch them back-to-back.
To get the most out of your rewatch, start with the 2002 original to ground yourself in the emotional stakes, then move through the 2005 sequel to see the "family life" phase before the chaos of the 625 experiments takes over the narrative in the later films.