Big Earnings at Memorial Day for Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch
This Memorial Day weekend, folks are flocking to theaters to catch two blockbusters: Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. These movies are making history, with Lilo & Stitch smashing records and outpacing Mission: Impossible in the box office race.
According to Variety, the duo has made this Memorial Day the biggest in history, raking in a fascinating $341.7 million worldwide. Lilo & Stitch has crushed its initial projections and taken over the top spot from Top Gun: Maverick (which earned $160 million in 2022). Domestically, it falls just short of Black Panther's 2018 Presidents Day gross of $242 million, claiming the second-best holiday weekend start. As of now, it's anticipated that Lilo & Stitch will hit $183 million by the end of the four-day weekend.
On the other hand, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opened with a solid $190 million worldwide, with $63 million of that coming from the U.S. By the end of the weekend, it's likely to boost that number up to $77 million, marking a new record for the Mission: Impossible series. Both movies have received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, thanks in part to growing excitement before their releases.
Nostalgia plays a big role in the success of these films. Lilo & Stitch is based on the popular 1996 Disney classic, while The Final Reckoning marks the possible last film for Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt or just the end of the series as we know it.
But moviegoers haven't stopped there. Other popular titles like Final Destination Bloodlines, Sinners, and Thunderbolts are also drawing crowds. It's been over a decade since Memorial Day viewing was this high, and 2024's weaker showing of Furiosa and Garfield is a distant memory.
Upcoming summer releases include Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later in June. July features Superman and Fantastic Four. Share your thoughts on Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch* in the comments below.
For more entertainment news, check out the release dates for the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek installments. Find out what's next for the DC Universe on both film and TV, and stay updated on the future of Doctor Who.
- Gizmodo and io9 are discussing the unexpected success of the movies, with Lilo & Stitch outpacing Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at the box office.
- In the realm of movies-and-tv, entertainment, Lilo & Stitch's Memorial Day weekend earnings have made history, eclipsing Top Gun: Maverick's 2022 gross and becoming the second-best holiday weekend start domestically.
- As the future of entertainment unfolds, eager anticipation surrounds upcoming summer releases like Fantastic Four and a mystery title, 28 Years Later.
