The Memorial Day weekend of 2025 has kicked off with a cinematic bang, as Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning have stormed the box office, setting the stage for what could be the biggest Memorial Day weekend in history. The two films, appealing to vastly different audiences, have created a complementary clash reminiscent of 2023’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, driving massive ticket sales and breathing new life into the summer movie season. Here’s a detailed look at their opening day performances and the records they’re poised to shatter.
Lilo & Stitch Steals the Show with Record-Smashing Debut
Disney’s live-action remake of the 2002 animated classic Lilo & Stitch has exceeded all expectations, raking in an impressive $55 million on its opening day, including $14.5 million from Thursday previews alone. This marks the biggest Memorial Day weekend preview for Disney, surpassing Solo: A Star Wars Story, and the largest preview of 2025 to date, outpacing Captain America: Brave New World. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the film follows a young Hawaiian girl, Lilo (Maia Kealoha), who adopts a chaotic alien, Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders), sparking an intergalactic adventure filled with heart and humor.
The film’s opening day haul positions it as the second-biggest domestic opening of 2025, just behind A Minecraft Movie’s $57.1 million debut in April. Projections estimate a four-day holiday weekend gross of $170 million to $180 million domestically across 4,410 theaters, which would dethrone Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick ($160.5 million in 2022) as the biggest Memorial Day weekend opener ever. Internationally, Lilo & Stitch has already earned $56.3 million through its first three days in 50 markets, including record-breaking opening days in France ($2.2 million), Italy ($1.4 million), Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Spain. This brings its global debut to a staggering $275 million to $285 million, making it one of Disney’s most successful live-action remakes, rivaling The Lion King ($191 million in 2019) and Beauty and the Beast ($174 million in 2017).
The film’s success is fueled by nostalgia, particularly among Gen Z and younger Millennials who grew up with the original animated film and its TV spinoff. Its diverse audience, with 41% Latino and Hispanic moviegoers, 34% Caucasian, and 10% each Asian American and Black audiences, has driven strong word-of-mouth, reflected in an A CinemaScore, 90% positive on PostTrak, and a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score. Social media buzz, with a reach of 552 million across platforms, highlights the appeal of Stitch’s design and the casting, including Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, and Zach Galifianakis. With a modest $100 million production budget (plus $100 million in marketing), Lilo & Stitch is poised for profitability and has already sparked sequel demand, with 61% of audiences wanting more.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Sets Franchise Records
Not to be outdone, Paramount and Skydance’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth and potentially final installment in Tom Cruise’s iconic action franchise, delivered a franchise-best opening day of $24.8 million, including $8.3 million from Thursday previews, surpassing 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout ($22.8 million). The film is projected to gross $77 million to $78 million over the four-day holiday weekend across 3,857 theaters, setting a new franchise record for a three-day opening by topping Fallout’s $61 million. Internationally, the film has earned $75.9 million through Friday across 64 markets, with a global total of $100.7 million so far, outpacing its predecessor, Dead Reckoning, by 8% at the same point.
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning sees Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt racing against a rogue AI, the Entity, with death-defying stunts involving submarines and biplanes. Despite a hefty $400 million production budget—one of the most expensive films ever due to COVID delays, Hollywood strikes, and inflation—the film is resonating with audiences, earning an A- CinemaScore, 89% positive on PostTrak, and a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score, though it’s the lowest critical score for the franchise since Mission: Impossible III. The film’s social media reach of 847 million, bolstered by Cruise’s 47.2 million followers and global premieres in Cannes, London, Seoul, and New York, has amplified its buzz. Older audiences, particularly those over 55 (29%) and men over 25 (52%), are driving ticket sales, with 55% citing love for the franchise and 47% drawn by Cruise’s star power.
A Record-Breaking Memorial Day Weekend
The combined might of Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is fueling what could be the biggest Memorial Day weekend ever, projected to surpass the 2013 record of $314 million set by Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover Part III. Early estimates suggest a $322 million to $350 million total domestic haul for the four-day frame, a sharp rebound from 2024’s lackluster $132.2 million, led by Furiosa and Garfield. The complementary appeal of a family-friendly adventure and a high-octane action thriller has created a “Stitchpossible” moment, drawing families, teens, and older action fans alike.
Read Also: Tom Cruise’s Wildest Stunt Yet: Struggling to Breathe in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Looking Ahead
Both films are well-positioned for strong legs at the box office. Lilo & Stitch benefits from summer school breaks and positive audience reception, while Mission: Impossible has secured 400 IMAX screens for three weeks, appealing to premium format viewers. However, The Final Reckoning faces a steeper financial climb due to its massive budget, needing to approach or exceed Fallout’s $791 million global gross to break even. With upcoming blockbusters like Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth, the summer of 2025 is off to a roaring start, signaling a robust recovery for theaters.
In a weekend defined by nostalgia and spectacle, Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning have proven that Hollywood’s big bets can still pay off, delivering a box office bonanza that’s anything but impossible.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter