Blockbuster Movies Rake in Major Revenues over Memorial Day Weekend: Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch lead the pack
Hit Movies Take Over Theaters This Memorial Day Weekend
Summer's here and so are two major blockbusters, Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch, dominating cinemas nationwide. According to Variety, this Memorial Day weekend has smashed records, with the duo claiming the "largest Memorial Day holiday in history" at a whopping $341.7 million worldwide.
Lilo has far exceeded initial predictions, raking in a staggering $145.5 million domestically and surpassing Top Gun: Maverick's ($160 million) 2022 Memorial Day debut. It sits just behind Black Panther's ($242 million) Presidents Day 2018 domestic take, becoming one of Disney's biggest live-action remake debuts, trailing only The Lion King (2019) and Beauty & the Beast (2017). With a projected end-of-four-day weekend earnings of $183 million, this Hawaiian adventure seems set to continue its impressive streak.
On the other hand, Final Reckoning kicked off with $190 million worldwide, boasting a $127 million international audience due to its early release in territories like Australia and South Korea. By the weekend's end, its $63 million domestic take may surge up to $77 million, cementing a new record for the Mission: Impossible series. Both films have drawn rave reviews from both critics and audiences, tapping into the nostalgia factor that drives both movies: Lilo as a revival of Disney's 23-year-old classic, and Reckoning potentially serving as the last installment or Tom Cruise's last outing as Ethan Hunt.
Other hits onscreen include encore showings of Final Destination Bloodlines, Sinners, and Thunderbolts. It's been over a decade since Memorial Day weekends have been this busy at the theaters, marking a significant improvement from the weaker showings of Furiosa and Garfield in 2024.
Looking ahead, the summer season promises powerhouse releases such as Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later in June, followed by Superman and Fantastic Four in July. Share your thoughts on Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch in the comments below!
For more io9 updates, check out the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, the next steps for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Fun Fact: Lilo & Stitch has nearly tripled the worldwide box office earnings of the original animated film, which grossed $274.7 million.
Insight: The film's success has placed it among the top-grossing films of 2025 and set a new standard for Memorial Day weekend openings, with a domestic debut of $146 million and $344.7 million domestically as of the latest reports. Additionally, it holds the record for the best Memorial Day opening weekend in box office history.
- Gizmodo's coverage of the entertainment industry might include discussions about the outstanding success of the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, which has become one of Disney's biggest debuts, nearly tripling the earnings of the original animated film.
- As the future of movies unfolds, tech enthusiasts on io9 may be intrigued by the impressive technology demonstrated in the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible series, Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning, particularly its international box office earnings of $127 million.
- With the excitement surrounding these recent blockbusters, fans of movies-and-tv on io9 might also enjoy discussions about upcoming releases, such as Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later in June, or Superman and Fantastic Four in July, adding to the anticipated events in the future of entertainment.
