Blockbuster Film Success: Mission: Impossible, Lilo & Stitch Earn Large Memorial Day Income
Let's Talk Movies: Memorial Day 2025 edition
This Memorial Day weekend, two blockbusters are dominating the box office: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning and the reboot of Lilo & Stitch. It seems like it's been ages since people headed to theaters in such numbers during Memorial Day, as pointed out by Variety.
Turns out, this is the biggest Memorial Day weekend in history, raking in a whopping $341.7 million worldwide, according to Variety. Lilo & Stitch has stormed past initial projections and even overshadowed Top Gun: Maverick (with a domestic haul of $160 million in 2022), making it Memorial Day's best opening weekend ever, domestically. It's the second-best Memorial Day weekend start, trailing only behind Black Panther's record-breaking Presidents Day 2018 take of $242 million. By the end of the four-day weekend, Lilo & Stitch is projected to make $183 million.
Lilo & Stitch's success is a testament to the enduring popularity of Disney's beloved classics, while Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is giving fans a thrilling send-off to the series, or the last to star Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt, depending on how you look at it. Reckoning kicked off with a worldwide total of $190 million, thanks to its early release in territories like Australia and South Korea. The domestic box office may see an increase to $77 million by the end of the weekend.
Lilo & Stitch's box office success follows hot on the heels of other successful Disney adaptations, such as 2019's The Lion King and 2017's Beauty and the Beast. While not specifically tied to Memorial Day weekend, these films have demonstrated Disney's knack for dominating the box office.
As we head into the summer season, blockbusters like Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later are on the horizon, along with Superman and Fantastic Four. Let us know what you thought of Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch in the comments below.
On the side note, here's a fun fact: Lilo & Stitch has set a new Memorial Day weekend opening record, surpassing the previous high held by Top Gun: Maverick. Over the years, some other notable Memorial Day weekend openings include films like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. In terms of recent performances, Lilo & Stitch has outshone Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning during the same weekend, demonstrating a strong appeal for Disney's live-action adaptations.
Looking forward to summer's movie lineup, keep track of the latest news on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and the DC Universe. Don't forget to mark your calendar for the future of Doctor Who.
- Gizmodo and io9 are likely discussing the future of technology and entertainment, given the successful Memorial Day weekend of movies, with Lilo & Stitch setting a new record, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick's previous high.
- Besides Lilo & Stitch, other Disney adaptations like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast have also demonstrated a knack for box office dominance, hinting at what could be expected from upcoming films like Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later.
- With the success of Lilo & Stitch, fans might look forward to other upcoming blockbusters in the Movies-and-TV category, such as Superman, Fantastic Four, Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and the DC Universe, as well as the future of Doctor Who.
