Large-scale earnings for film franchises Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch during the Memorial Day weekend.
Fire up those movie theater popcorn machines, folks! We've got a pair of blockbusters gracing our screens this holiday weekend - the action-packed "Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning" and the heartwarming "Lilo & Stitch." And it seems America can't get enough, with these flicks raking in some serious dough at the box office.
According to Variety, this wildly successful Memorial Day weekend has set a new record, making it the "largest Memorial Day holiday in history." "Lilo," which is based on Disney's 23-year-old classic and crushed initial predictions, earned a whopping $145.5 million in the U.S. alone – shoving "Top Gun: Maverick" from the top spot (which took home $160 million over four days in 2022). Second in rank only to "Black Panther's" Presidents Day 2018 earnings of $242 million, "Lilo" has set quite the benchmark. Its epic debut is even edging close to the $183 million it's projected to make by the end of the four-day weekend.
On the other hand, "Final Reckoning" kicked off with a worldwide total of $341.7 million. Its newfound fanbase for its international audience contributed to $127 million of that haul. As the weekend draws to a close, its domestic take could shoot up to $77 million, breaking records for the "Mission: Impossible" series.
Both movies have received rave reviews from both critics and audiences, probably due to their enchanting blend of nostalgia. "Lilo" draws inspiration from the original tale, while "Final Reckoning" may well be the series finale or the last to star Tom Cruise as our favorite Ethan Hunt.
The excitement doesn't end there. Moviegoers are still flocking to holdover films like "Final Destination Bloodlines, Sinners," and "Thunderbolts." It's been over a decade since theaters saw this much foot-traffic during Memorial Day weekend, and the entertainment doesn't stop here. Expect summertime fun with titles like "Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon," and "28 Years Later" in June, followed by "Superman" and "Fantastic Four" in July.
What are your thoughts on "Mission: Impossible" and "Lilo & Stitch"? Sound off in the comments below!
For more kid-friendly movie news, check out our coverage of the latest "Marvel," "Star Wars," and "Star Trek" releases, what's next for the DC Universe, and everything you need to know about the future of "Doctor Who."
References:
[1] Variety.com, "Box Office: Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' Tops Memorial Day Weekend with Record-Breaking $145.5M," May 30, 2025.
[2] Box Office Mojo, Disney's Live-Action Remakes.
[3] The Numbers, The Lion King (2019) Box Office.
[4] Box Office Mojo, Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" Earns $610 Million Worldwide in Two Weeks.
- These recent blockbusters have stirred up excitement in the technology-focused online publication Gizmodo, urging readers to keep an eye on the future of movie-making as both "Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning" and "Lilo & Stich" continue to shatter box office records.
- Following its record-breaking debut, "Lilo & Stitch" has also caught the attention of the entertainment-based website Movies-and-TV. Their writers are intrigued by the film's unique blend of nostalgia and innovative storytelling, contributing to its impressive earnings.
- Meanwhile, the tech-centric site io9 has expressed surprise at the resurgence of ticket sales in cinemas, commenting that older titles like "Final Destination Bloodlines, Sinners," and "Thunderbolts" are pulling audiences as well. With the summer movie season in full swing, the excitement generated by these films only hints at the entertainment possibilities ahead, as 2025 promises action-packed titles like "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Fantastic Four."
