Blockbuster Hits "Mission: Impossible" and "Lilo & Stitch" Bolster Memorial Day Box Office Earnings
In a remarkable turn of events, the Memorial Day weekend box office in 2025 witnessed a historic high, thanks to the exceptional performances of two major Hollywood releases - "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" and "Lilo & Stitch."
According to Variety, the combined earnings of these two films have set the standard for Memorial Day weekend earnings, reaching an unprecedented $341.7 million worldwide. "Lilo & Stitch" notably surpassed initial projections and usurped the previous record holder, "Top Gun: Maverick," which had earned $160 million in 2022. Domestically, "Lilo & Stitch" currently stands at $145.5 million, marking the second-best holiday weekend opening behind "Black Panther" in 2018. By the end of the four-day weekend, it is projected to reach $183 million.
"Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" also made an impressive start, accumulating $190 million worldwide. A week-long release in territories such as Australia and South Korea contributed to the international earnings of $127 million. Domestically, the film is expected to increase its opening weekend collection to $77 million, a new record for the Mission: Impossible series.
Both films have been met with strong critical and audience acclaim, bolstered by the growing anticipation prior to their releases. "Lilo & Stitch," based on a 23-year-old Disney classic, and "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," potentially marking the finale of the series or the last with Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt, have been driving audiences to the theaters.
Other films, including "Final Destination Bloodlines," "Sinners," and "Thunderbolts," continued to draw crowds during the weekend. Variety reported that it has been over a decade since people flocked to theaters as much during Memorial Day, marking a significant improvement from the weaker showings in 2024.
The summer film season is gearing up with releases like "Ballerina," "How to Train Your Dragon," and "28 Years Later" in June, followed by "Superman" and "Fantastic Four" in July.
For more updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who releases, stay tuned to io9. Share your thoughts on "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" and "Lilo & Stitch" in the comments below.
- "Gizmodo, in their entertainment section 'movies-and-tv', discussed the historic Memorial Day weekend box office earnings, attributing it to the successful releases of 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' and 'Lilo & Stitch', stating that the combined earnings surpassed the previous record by a substantial margin."
- "In the aftermath of the record-breaking Memorial Day weekend, 'io9' predicts a promising future for the summer film season, with notable releases like 'Ballerina', 'How to Train Your Dragon', and '28 Years Later' slated for June, followed by 'Superman' and 'Fantastic Four' in July."
- "With 'Lilo & Stitch' surpassing the earnings of 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' setting a new record for the Mission: Impossible series, the future of technology-driven, captivating entertainment appears to be in good hands."
