Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible Drive Record $326M Memorial Day Box Office

On May 26, 2025, movie theatres in the U.S. and Canada set a historic benchmark, grossing $326.7 million over the Memorial Day weekend, the highest ever for the holiday, per Comscore. Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning led the charge, defying streaming scepticism and signalling a robust theatrical resurgence.

Lilo & Stitch debuted with $145.5 million over three days and $183 million through Monday domestically, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick’s $160.5 million Memorial Day record from 2022, per Variety. It earned $341.7 million globally, including $158.7 million internationally, ranking as Disney’s third-best live-action remake opening, behind The Lion King ($191.7 million) and Beauty and the Beast ($174.8 million). Its $100 million budget and “A” CinemaScore ensure strong legs, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Mission Impossible (ou pas) : quand Lilo & Stitch écrasent Tom Cruise !https://t.co/rWBbEsG2DJ
#Mac4Ever #Disney #DisneyPlus #MissionImpossible #TomCruise pic.twitter.com/LCHFYExoUI

— Mac4Ever (@Mac4ever) May 27, 2025

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” the eighth instalment in Tom Cruise’s franchise, had an impressive opening weekend, grossing $63 million domestically over three days and $77.5 million by Monday. This marked the highest opening for the series, surpassing “Fallout,” which earned $61.2 million. Globally, the film totalled $204 million, with $127 million coming from international markets, despite its $400 million budget, according to Deadline. Additionally, it received solid reception, reflected in an “A-” CinemaScore and a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as reported by Reuters.

Strong box office results challenge Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ claim that theatres are “outdated,” underscoring the impact of diverse programming. Analyst Paul Dergarabedian emphasised, “This weekend proves the moviegoing experience is essential,” as families flocked to Lilo & Stitch (with a 64% female audience) and action fans (63% male) supported Mission: Impossible, according to CNN. The domestic box office has surged 22% year-to-date to $3.3 billion, fueled by post-2023 strike recovery and various releases, reports Comscore.

Box office analyst Dr. Lisa Tran from UCLA states, “Counter-programming and nostalgia drove this record weekend, setting a strong tone for a projected $4.2 billion summer season.”

According to The Washington Post, summer 2025 could match 2023’s $4.03 billion with upcoming releases like Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth.