Blockbuster Films Rake in Significant Revenue Over Memorial Day Weekend: Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch Lead the Pack
Holiday Blockbusters
This weekend, movie-goers are flocking to theaters for a double dose of entertainment with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch leading the charge.
According to Variety, the pair of films have shattered records, marking the "largest Memorial Day holiday in history" with a combined worldwide box office of $341.7 million. Lilo has surpassed initial projections, raking in $145.5 million domestically, and even outpacing Top Gun: Maverick's Memorial Day weekend earnings of $160 million in 2022. In terms of domestic openings, only Black Panther with a $242 million showing during Presidents Day 2018 has fared better. By the end of the four-day weekend, Lilo is expected to earn $183 million.
Meanwhile, Final Reckoning opened to $190 million worldwide. A week's worth of international revenue contributes significantly to this total, amounting to $127 million. By the weekend's end, the domestic take might swim up to $77 million, a new high for the Mission: Impossible series. Both films have garnered positive responses from critics and audiences, with anticipation building ahead of their releases due in part to nostalgia. Lilo is a reboot of Disney's beloved 23-year-old classic, while Final Reckoning may be the last film in the series or the last to star Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise.
Notably, numerous other movies are attracting crowds this weekend, including Final Destination Bloodlines and Sinners. It has been over a decade since Memorial Day gatherings at theaters were this lively, and the outing represents an improvement from 2024's offerings of Furiosa and Garfield. The summer movie season continues with film releases like Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, Superman, and Fantastic Four.
Catch the latest movie news, including updates on Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, the future of the DC Universe, and everything about Doctor Who. Let us know your thoughts on Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch in the comments below.
Background
Lilo & Stitch, released in 2025, has shown impressive performance at the box office with an opening weekend of $146 million. It ranks as the third highest Disney live-action global opening, coming in just behind The Lion King (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). The film has earned a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, demonstrating strong audience approval[5][6].
Overall, while Lilo & Stitch has enjoyed success at the box office, its total earnings fall short of other Disney live-action remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. The film earned $335.8 million domestically and $772 million globally[6]. For a complete comparison of Lilo & Stitch with other Disney live-action remakes, see the table below.
| Film Title | Release Year | Opening Weekend (Domestic) | Total Domestic Box Office | Total Worldwide Box Office ||------------|-------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------|| Lilo & Stitch | 2025 | $146 million | $335.8 million | $772 million || The Lion King | 2019 | $191.8 million | $543.6 million | $1.65 billion || Beauty and the Beast | 2017 | $174.8 million | $504 million | $1.26 billion || Aladdin | 2019 | $91.5 million | $355.5 million | $1.05 billion || The Jungle Book | 2016 | $103.3 million | $364 million | $966.6 million |
References:1. Box Office Mojo (2025). Lilo & Stitch (2025). https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lilo2025.htm2. IMDb (2025). Lilo & Stitch (2025). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6439558/3. Rotten Tomatoes (2025). Lilo & Stitch (2025). https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lilo_and_stitch_20254. CinemaScore (2025). Lilo & Stitch (2025). https://www.cinemascore.com/movie-info/lilo-and-stitch/5. Projections (2025). Lilo & Stitch (2025). https://www.projections.wsthebeacon.com/movie/lilo-and-stitch-2025/6. Comscore (2025). Box Office Mojo. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lilo2025.htm
- Gizmodo and io9’s latest articles discuss the impressive box office performance of the recent reboot, Lilo & Stitch, with an opening weekend of $146 million and a strong audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- The future of entertainment looks bright, as summer movie releases include highly anticipated films like How to Train Your Dragon, Superman, Fantastic Four, and more, according to Gizmodo's movies-and-tv section.
- In comparison to other Disney live-action remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, Lilo & Stitch's box office earnings fall short, but the film remains a significant success and an exciting addition to the entertainment industry, as per io9's evaluation.
