The new Lilo and Stitch live-action movie has been very popular this summer, but let us not forget about the charming original animated film that came out in 2002. Today we are sharing a Disney Sunday Movie Night guide to Lilo and Stitch (2002).
Like the other guides in our Disney Sunday Night Movies series, this guide is spent to be easy and low stress. Movie nights should bring your family or loved ones together and not stress you out or distract you with excessive prep. All of our movie night guides call for little or no prep and minimal supplies. Let us dive in with Lilo and Stitch!
What You Will Need for Your Lilo and Stitch (2002) Movie Night
For your Lilo and Stitch (2002) Disney Sunday Night Movie, we suggest collecting the following: the film, some paper and pencils (or crayons, markers, etc) and some Elvis music. That is it. If you want to incorporate some easy themed food into your night, you can see suggestions for that later in the post.
Now movie night starts with the movie, so time to…
Watch Lilo and Stitch
Disney’s animated film Lilo and Stitch (2002) is currently on Disney+. If you do not have this streaming service, we suggest borrowing the film from a friend or your local library. We are thrilled with how many films, even new releases, we can find at our own neighborhood library. And if they do not have the film we want, the librarians borrow it from another library. Seriously, check-out your library!
Disney+ also has several other Lilo and Stitch options including Stitch The Movie (2003), Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005), Leroy and Stitch (2006) and Lilo and Stitch the Series (2003). Sheesh: these two are popular! Thought we wrote the following guide with the 2002 film in mind, you could adapt some of the ideas for these other offerings or even the live action movie.
Conversation Guide for Lilo and Stitch Movie Night
The heart of our Disney Sunday Night Movie posts are our discussion guides. These questions and conversation prompts are meant to guide you into a discussion about Lilo and Stitch (2002). More than that, we hope this movie night guide will help you connect with your ‘ohana. To assist you in having a powerful conversation, here are some…
Helpful Tips for Leading a Discussion
We have a few quick tips to help everyone in your group feel comfortable sharing. We saw in the film how Lilo and Stitch often felt, well, alienated. So let us take some time to think about drawing in your fellow movie fans and helping them feel at home.
Create a Cozy and Comfortable Space
Try to create a welcoming space for everyone in your group. A simple but inviting environment can go a long way towards helping people feel comfortable inside and out. Gentle lighting and a seating arrangement where everyone can see each other is usually best. With our words and a cozy space, we let everyone know that their thoughts are valued.
Writing & Drawing Can Help People Share
Whether we have a room full or introverts or those prone to speaking before thinking, we find that making time for drawing or writing can be really fruitful. Before we ask our group to share, we read discussion questions out loud and give our group members five to ten minutes to draw or journal. Many people need individual time to process their thoughts before they share.
Group members might choose to show their writing and artwork, or they may just use it as a starting place for themselves.
Listen Well
When people choose to share something difficult, it can be hard to know how to respond. Just let that person know you are listening with empathy. Try to avoid the temptation to minimize a problem or offer suggestions right away. Be attentive and acknowledge their feelings. You can say things like, “How did you feel when that happened?” Or, “That sounds very hard. Thank you for sharing this with me.”
Reflection Questions for Disney Sunday Night Movie: Lilo and Stitch (2002)
Now on to our reflection questions for Lilo and Stitch movie night. As group leader, we suggest you read these questions aloud one at a time. After each question, give your group members time to think, write and even draw if they wish. After everyone has had time to reflect, invite each person to share their responses.
These questions are designed to start at the surface level and then prompt your group to go deeper. So time for this “Hawaiian roller coaster ride…”
- Imagine you are visiting the animal shelter with Lilo and Nani. Lilo finds Stitch, and you are drawn to another creature. Draw a picture or write a description of your new “pet.”
- Think about how your pet looks, sounds and acts. What would make you two good together? Share you thoughts with the group.
- Lilo and Nani have some very challenging experiences throughout the movie. They find ways to calm down or cheer up by spending time together, surfing and listening to music (plus dancing and singing to it).
- What are ways that you find peace or happiness when you are upset?
- Several times during the movie we hear “‘Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”
- What does this mean to you?
- By the end of the film, Stitch becomes part of Lilo’s ‘ohana. He is not Lilo’s brother or even from Earth, but he is very important to Lilo and she to him.
- Who are the members of your ‘ohana?
- Jumba and Pleakley watch Stitch as he adjusts to life with Lilo. Jumba observes that Stitch might become lost or confused because “I never gave him a greater purpose.”
- What do you think it means to have a greater purpose?
- Does Stitch find a greater purpose by the end of the film?
- How do you find purpose?
Lilo and Stitch Movie Night Challenge
After all this discussion about ‘ohana and the people (or dogs or little blue aliens) who are important to you, take a challenge from the little blue guy. Think of one person who has been ‘ohana to you: someone who has cut through your loneliness, loved you for you and forgiven you when you messed-up. The next time you see that person, let them know what they mean to you. Give them a specific example of a time they showed you the meaning of ‘ohana.
Whew! Those are some big ideas for a humorous film about a spunky girl and a blue alien “dog.” So let us loosen up a bit and…
Dance to Elvis Tunes
Stitch has some truly excellent Elvis routines in this movie, and Lilo is not to bad herself. Throw on some Elvis tunes and let your group rock-out. Sing, dance and bond with the help of the King.
Snack Suggestions for Lilo and Stitch Family Movie Night
We do not all have an appetite as large as Stitch has, but we still like to have some snacks with our Disney Sunday Night Movies. If you would like something too munch on as well, here are some easy suggestions:
- a peanut butter sandwich: this is the simplest of simple suggestions. When we first meet Lilo, she is explaining how she brings routinely a peanut butter sandwich to Pudge the fish. Why not make some peanut butter sandwiches for your own little school of fish? Just don’t give anyone tuna, or you would “be an abomination!”
- We rarely have a movie night without popcorn for everyone, and we even like to customize it for the movie of the night. You can read all about our suggestions in Easy Popcorn Hacks for Family Movie Night.
- This one is little trickier, but if you can get your hands on some shave ice, that would make a great snack!
- Anything blue! Celebrate Stitch with every blue food you can find: blue ice cream, blueberries, blue cheese blue sprinkles and even these funny guys.
Thank you for reading this guide to Disney Sunday Night Movie: Lilo & Stitch (2002).
We hope you found some easy ideas that will work for you. We have even more simple movie guides in our Disney Sunday Night Movies section (okay, feel free to watch them on other days of the week too) including Cars, Inside Out, and more. If you are thinking about going to Disneyland to try to track down Stitch, be sure to make use of your free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. Finally, please consider subscribing to our newsletter below. Thanks again for reading!
