Blockbuster Earnings Over Memorial Day Weekend: Mission Impossible and Lilo & Stitch Score Big Returns
Turn the Tables on Memorial Day Weekend Movies
Flicker, flipper! It's a double whammy of blockbusters this Memorial Day weekend, with the release of two major Hollywood hits — Mission: Impossible – The Final Showdown and Lilo & Stitch — setting cinematic records!
According to Variety, this weekend's box office frenzy now holds the record for the "largest Memorial Day holiday in history," amassing a whopping $341.7 million worldwide. Lilo cruises past initial projections and has garnered a staggering domestic revenue of $145.5 million, even outdoing the mighty Top Gun: Maverick's (2022) Memorial Day haul of $160 million after four glorious days in the cinematic limelight. Domestically, Lilo snags the second-best Memorial Day weekend start behind Black Panther (2018) with a roaring $242 million take during Presidents Day.
Lilo isn't just floating by as Disney's run-of-the-mill live-action remake. It's one of the biggest debuts ever, and it's predicted to rake in an additional $183 million by the end of the four-day extravaganza. It trails just behind 2019's The Lion King and 2017's Beauty & the Beast, which grossed $191 million and $174 million, respectively, but don't underestimate this Hawaiian-themed adventure just yet!
Meanwhile, Final Showdown kicked off with a $190 million worldwide debut. With a week's head start in territories such as Australia and South Korea, its international audience contributed a hefty $127 million to its global haul. As the weekend draws to a close, it's poised to elevate its domestic gross from $63 million to an impressive $77 million, shattering the record for the Mission: Impossible series.
Both films have received rave reviews from both critics and audiences, riding the wave of notorious nostalgia. Lilo is a fresh take on the beloved 23-year-old animated classic, while Final Showdown might just be a swansong for the iconic Tom Cruise-led series.
Rounding out the weekend are holdovers like Final Destination Bloodlines, Sinners, and Thunderbolts. As cinema-goers flock to the theaters, it's been over a decade since we've seen such enthusiasm during Memorial Day, and a noticeable improvement from 2024's sluggish performances by Furiosa and Garfield.
As the summer season rolls on, get ready for Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, during June, followed by Superman and Fantastic Four in July. Share your thoughts on this weekend's big releases, Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch, in the comments below!
If blockbusters are your thing, keep your eyes peeled for the latest exciting releases from Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek. Curious about the future of the DC Universe? We've got you covered, as well as all you need to know about the timeline for Doctor Who.
- On Io9, delve into discussions about the future of technology, blockbuster movies, and entertainment, as this Memorial Day weekend is set to be remembered for the successful releases of 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Showdown' and 'Lilo & Stitch.'
- Gizmodo provides insights into the financial success of these two films, as 'Lilo & Stitch' surpasses initial projections and is poised to make an additional $183 million, standing just behind 'The Lion King' and 'Beauty & the Beast' in terms of domestic revenue.
- Despite 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Showdown' having a smaller domestic opening than 'Lilo & Stitch', its worldwide debut of $190 million, combined with strong international audience reception, positions it to surpass past records within the 'Mission: Impossible' series.
