More than 20 years on from the original animated Lilo & Stitch movie, young cinemagoers are now getting to experience a fresh take on the alien’s adventures in Hawaii thanks to the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake. Somehow, Disney has managed to nail this new interpretation of the classic story, despite the key character being a furry, feral critter from outer space. It shouldn’t work in live-action, but it does.
So, if watching that new Disney movie has got you hankering for more of the same, here are 10 cute alien movies to watch after Lilo & Stitch, plus details on where you can stream them. From ‘80s hits and ‘90s nostalgia to more recent underrated, animated gems, we’ve got plenty to keep the kids (and adults) occupied.
Chicken Little (2005)
In a riff on the classic folk tale, this Disney flick has its titular character being the only one who seems to understand the severity of the situation as UFOs descend on planet Earth. In many ways, Chicken Little almost feels like a forgotten treat among the House of Mouse’s catalogue, but it’s a sweet, silly little movie that deserves your attention.
Sure, the animation style is slightly dated now, but that hardly matters when you embrace this little hero and his big story. It’s not flashy, and there’s no princess, but Disney B-movies can be just as much fun as the prime pictures.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Let’s be honest, you say cute alien movies, you think of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial immediately, right? There’s a good reason for that, too. This movie rocks! From the impressive design of the endearing alien at the heart of the story to the surprisingly emotional twists and turns in the tale with the magic of Steven Spielberg’s filmmaking, this is a bona fide classic in every single way.
You’ve very likely already seen E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but if you’re reading this trying to find something to show your child after Lilo & Stitch, there is no better option, really.
Space Jam (1996)
OK, the caveat to this one is, the aliens involved are not that cute. In fact, they’re quite literally monsters. But, the slapstick comedy and silly vibes of the Looney Tunes ensemble keeps things light and child-friendly in this ‘90s cult classic.
Space Jam gets a lot of hate these days, for some reason, but what’s not to like? Michael Jordan and Bill Murray play basketball with Bugs Bunny and his crew to defeat a team of no-good aliens doing the bidding of an evil, money-mad fiend voiced by Danny DeVito. If you’re not sold on that, we feel bad for you.
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
DreamWorks Animation has put out some great stuff since the turn of the century, and while the likes of Shrek steal the headlines, there’s a lot to love about Monsters vs. Aliens. As the title suggests, there’s plenty of unusual characters and out-of-this-world action in this 2009 flick, and it’s all brought to life by a stellar voice cast, including Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon, and Hugh Laurie.
The stakes are high, but the film never loses sight of its playful approach to storytelling, with jokes aplenty and a great dynamic between the group of characters chosen to defend Earth from alien invaders.
Escape from Planet Earth (2013)
You’d be forgiven for never even hearing of this movie before, and we’re not about to sit here and tell you that Escape from Planet Earth is going to change your life or anything. But, will it pass 90 minutes for you and the family and leave you with a smile on your face? Absolutely.
It’s a fun twist on the idea of aliens coming to Earth, with these extraterrestrials desperate to stay away from our planet at all costs. Plus, any film that has Brendan Fraser voicing a cavalier hero called Scorch Supernova is worth the time of day, surely?
Home (2015)
In a similar vein to Escape from Planet Earth, 2015’s Home is another perfectly serviceable and fairly charming animated alien movie where the visit to the third rock from the sun is not exactly desirable. In fact, Oh (voiced by Jim Parsons), has been shunned from his home planet and is forced to seek refuge on Earth.
There, he meets Tip (voiced by Rihanna), and the pair go on a daring quest to salvage Oh’s reputation and find Tip’s missing mother. It’s cute, has a great soundtrack, and again, will only take up about 90 minutes of your day.
The Iron Giant (1999)
Now we’re talking. The Iron Giant is not only probably the best film on this list, it’s one of the best animated movies of all time. Expanding on the impeccable short story from Ted Hughes, this Brad Bird effort is a film brimming with life and love and tonnes of heart.
Young Hogarth Hughes encounters the titular alien robot (voiced with a surprising amount of emotional weight by Vin Diesel), and the pair prove what it really means to be a hero, and a friend. The Iron Giant is a sublime piece of animation; it’ll make you laugh, smile, cry, and imbue you with a sense of adventure. It’s sheer movie magic.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)
Anyone who’s familiar with the Wallace and Gromit movies will know all about this cheeky little sheep, and he’s not done too bad after stepping out of the shadow of those Aardman Animation stalwarts, either.
The first movie in this series was great fun, and the follow-up, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, is equally full of warmth and humour, but it also ramps up the stakes with a full-scale alien invasion. Luckily, Shaun and his flock are on hand to save the day but not after causing plenty of mischief with their new, alien friends.
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
A childhood staple for many growing up in the ‘80s, Flight of the Navigator offers up all those warm, Amblin vibes that we know and love from that era. It’s full of charm and evokes that adventurous spirit that any great, child-friendly sci-fi movie needs to have.
Anyone who’s a fan of Paul Reuben’s work as Pee Wee Herman will love this, too, as his energy helps to bring a sense of levity to proceedings. More than anything, though, this movie is just an astounding achievement in visual effects and production design, especially for its time.
Muppets from Space (1999)
It is always an absolute delight to be in the presence of the Muppets, and Muppets from Space is no exception to that. While this late ‘90s flick has all the usual quirks and endearing qualities we’ve come to expect from Jim Henson’s creations, it’s refreshing for this story to give Gonzo the spotlight for once, as he hopes to find out more about his origins.
That journey of self-discovery takes him through outer space, encountering all kinds of weird and wonderful creatures along the way. It’s absolutely madcap at times, from talking sandwiches to covert government experiments, but that’s what we love about the Muppets.
Where To Watch The Best Cute Alien Movies Like 'Lilo & Stitch' Online
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