Blockbuster Movies Earn Major Revenue Over Memorial Day Weekend: Mission: Impossible, Lilo & Stitch Lead the Pack
Holidays at the cinema just got lit, folks! Two blockbusters are murdering it in theatres this Memorial Day weekend, Mission: Impossible: The Last Standoff and Lilo & Stitch: Revived.
According to Variety, these flicks have been smashing records, making this Memorial Day the biggest ever at the box office. Worldwide, Lilo has raked in a staggering $341.7 million, soaring past predictions and leaving Top Gun: Maverick (which grossed $160 million across all four days in 2022) in the dust. Domestically, it's now the second-best holiday weekend start, with a phenomenal earnings of $183 million, just behind Black Panther's $242 million during Presidents Day 2018. By the end of the extended weekend, it's expected to hit $183 million.
Meanwhile, The Last Standoff opened with a world-wide earning of $190 million. Some of that revenue comes from its early release in countries like Australia and South Korea, which made up $127 million of the total. By the end of the weekend, its $63 million domestic earnings could swell to $77 million, an impressive record for the Mission: Impossible series. Both movies have received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, thanks to growing hype before their releases. Nostalgia plays a big role here, as Lilo is based on Disney's 23-year-old classic, and The Last Standoff could be the last rodeo for Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt.
Theatres are packed with movie-goers this weekend, including viewers catch holdover titles like Final Destination: Revelations, Sinners, and Thunderbolts. It's been a decade since we've seen such demand for movies during Memorial Day, and 2024's offerings of Furiosa and Garfield fell short in comparison. The summer season is warming up with releases like Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later in June, followed by Superman and Fantastic Four in July.
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Insights:
- Lilo & Stitch is now the film with the highest-grossing Memorial Day weekend opening in North America, earning $183 million.
- Mission: Impossible: The Last Standoff has a history of strong box office performances, with the franchise's first movie, released in 1996, being a significant Memorial Day weekend release.
The success of 'Lilo & Stitch: Revived' and 'Mission: Impossible: The Last Standoff' has revolutionized the Memorial Day weekend box office, setting new records. With 'Lilo & Stitch' overtaking 'Top Gun: Maverick' to become the highest-grossing Memorial Day opening in North America, earning $183 million, it's clear that this is a game-changer for movies-and-tv entertainment. Meanwhile, 'The Last Standoff' is making history within the 'Mission: Impossible' series, with domestic earnings expected to reach $77 million by the end of the weekend. To keep up with the latest updates on movies, technology, and entertainment, visit Gizmodo, Io9, and other trusted sources for the most exciting news in the future of 'Marvel', 'Star Wars', 'Star Trek', 'DC Universe', 'Doctor Who', and more.
