This holiday weekend, two blockbuster films, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch, are dominating the box office. If you haven’t caught them yet, now is the perfect time to dive into these cinematic spectacles.
Both movies are making waves, setting records for Memorial Day weekend. According to Variety, they collectively generated a staggering $341.7 million worldwide. Lilo & Stitch has far surpassed initial forecasts, grossing $145.5 million domestically, breaking the record previously held by Top Gun: Maverick, which made $160 million last year over the same weekend. To put that into perspective, this makes Lilo‘s domestic debut the strongest since Black Panther, which raked in $242 million during Presidents Day in 2018. It’s shaping up to be one of Disney’s top live-action remakes, right behind 2019’s The Lion King and 2017’s Beauty & The Beast.
Final Reckoning has also made its mark, opening at $190 million worldwide. Interestingly, it debuted a week earlier in select international markets, contributing $127 million to its overall earnings. By the end of the weekend, its domestic total could soar from $63 million to as high as $77 million, setting a record for the franchise. Both films have received positive feedback from both critics and audiences, bolstered by a sense of nostalgia—Lilo taps into a beloved classic, while Final Reckoning potentially concludes Tom Cruise’s legendary portrayal of Ethan Hunt.
Moviegoers are eager to return to theaters, with anticipation also surrounding holdovers like Final Destination Bloodlines, Sinners, and Thunderbolts. As noted by Variety, it’s been over a decade since Memorial Day weekend has seen such high attendance, a significant rebound from last year’s weaker offerings like Furiosa and Garfield. And the summer film lineup continues to heat up with upcoming titles such as Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, and 28 Years Later in June, followed by Superman and Fantastic Four in July.
Have you seen Mission: Impossible or Lilo & Stitch? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
What is the box office performance of Lilo & Stitch during the holiday weekend?
Lilo & Stitch is projected to earn $183 million by the end of the four-day holiday weekend, making it one of the top debuts for Disney’s live-action adaptations.
How did Final Reckoning perform compared to previous films in its series?
With an expected jump to $77 million in domestic sales, Final Reckoning is on track to set a new record for the Mission: Impossible series.
What factors contributed to the success of these films this weekend?
The success is attributed to nostalgia, strong marketing momentum, and positive critical and audience reception.
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