‘Lilo & Stitch’ movie rode a high wave this Memorial Day weekend with a $145.5 million domestic debut|disneystudios|Instagram
Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch rode a high wave this Memorial Day weekend with a $145.5 million domestic debut. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise’s return as spy Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning raked in $63 million.
The Hawaii-based children’s movie churned out a massive theater turnout, especially from those who were kids at the time of the original 2002 cartoon release. Disney made the movie for its streaming service but saw a jump in sales of Stitch merchandise and decided to release it at the box office.
Meanwhile, Tom Cruise’s latest Mission: Impossible franchise draws in massive crowds too. It is suspected to be the last of Ethan Hunt’s missions. However, only time will tell if the movie will recover its $400 million budget.
Analysts say the movies, along with May releases—Final Destination: Bloodlines and Sinners—are on track to bring in $320 million, setting an all-time Memorial Day weekend record. In 2013, Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III and Star Trek Into Darkness brought in $314.2 million.
The movies have given a strong summer start for the theaters, which have had Q1 ticket sales crash 11% compared to 2024.