Blockbuster Box Office Hauls Over Memorial Day Weekend: Mission Impossible and Lilo & Stitch Top Earners
Heading Out to the Movies? Don't Miss This Weekend's Blockbusters
Get ready, movie lovers! This Memorial Day weekend, two blockbusters are taking the box office by storm: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch. And let us tell you, these films are hitting it out of the park.
According to Variety, this holiday weekend has set a new record for the biggest Memorial Day box office in history, with a staggering worldwide revenue of $341.7 million. Lilo & Stitch, in particular, has exceeded expectations in a major way. The current domestic take of $145.5 million surpasses Top Gun: Maverick’s $160 million take in 2022 and ranks as the second-best holiday weekend opening, behind Black Panther’s $242 million during Presidents Day 2018 [1][2][3]. By the end of the four-day weekend, Lilo is expected to have earned $183 million.
Meanwhile, The Final Reckoning opened with $190 million worldwide. A week prior, the movie was released in Australia, South Korea, and other territories, contributing to the international audience's $127 million share of the total haul. Within the U.S., the film could see its domestic take jump from the initial $63 million to $77 million by the weekend's end, setting a new record for the Mission: Impossible series [2].
Both films have received strong critical and audience acclaim, thanks in part to the growing excitement surrounding their releases [4]. Nostalgia is a significant factor fueling both movies' success, with Lilo & Stitch based on Disney's classic 23-year-old animated film, and The Final Reckoning potentially being the last installment in the Mission: Impossible series or the final film featuring Tom Cruise's iconic Ethan Hunt character.
Other notable films still in theaters include Final Destination: Bloodlines, Sinners, and Thunderbolts. Indeed, it's been over a decade since such a high number of moviegoers flocked to theaters during Memorial Day, and the 2024 showings of Furiosa and Garfield were no match for this year’s strong lineup [5]. The summer season offers even more exciting releases, such as Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, and the highly anticipated comebacks of Superman and Fantastic Four in July [6].
So, what did you think of Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
If you're eager for more entertainment news, check out the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, the future of the DC Universe on the big and small screens, and all things Doctor Who [6].
Sources:[1] Variety[2] Box Office Mojo[3] Deadline Hollywood[4] Rotten Tomatoes[5] The Hollywood Reporter[6] io9
- If you're interested in more than just movies, make sure to also check out the latest news and updates from Io9 on technology, entertainment, and more.
- Interestingly, the success of movies like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch has revived the movie-going tradition during Memorial Day, surpassing the records set by films like Top Gun: Maverick and Black Panther.
- Gizmodo reports that the upcoming summer blockbusters, including Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, and the return of Superman and Fantastic Four, are expected to continue the impressive trend of high-grossing movies, following in the footsteps of this year's box office juggernauts.
