The 2025 Memorial Day weekend marked a historic box office, driven by Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning starring Tom Cruise.

Lilo & Stitch grossed an estimated $183 million domestically over the holiday, setting a new record for the biggest Memorial Day weekend opener, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick’s $160 million in 2022. The film, with a $100 million budget, also earned $341.7 million globally, fueled by strong appeal among families, Gen Z, and younger Millennials, particularly teenage girls and women, with 41% Latino and Hispanic audiences. It scored a 72% Rotten Tomatoes rating and an “A” CinemaScore.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opened with $78 million domestically over four days, a franchise-best, beating Fallout’s $61.2 million. It grossed $190 million worldwide, with a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score and an A- CinemaScore. The film’s success was boosted by Cruise’s star power and a strong social media presence, though some criticized its fan-service-heavy approach.

Together, the films propelled the weekend to a record $325 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales, topping 2013’s $314 million. The diverse audience appeal (Lilo & Stitch for families and younger viewers, Mission: Impossible for adults over 25) drove this success, signaling a robust recovery for theaters post pandemic.

LINK IS HERE