Even though the box office started this year in a way that made the industry worry, it has turned around tremendously with hits like A Minecraft Movie and Sinners, while Thunderbolts* is also gearing up for what should be a big debut this weekend. The MCU release signals the start of the summer movie season at the box office, and it looks like it’s going to be one heck of a summer for tentpole releases. Memorial Day weekend is looking particularly strong with the arrivals of the live-action Lilo & Stitch redo and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, as early tracking indicates that it could be a record-breaking weekend at the box office.
Per Deadline, box office tracking suggests that Lilo & Stitch is likely to debut with $120 million over four days, while Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will be no slouch with a potential $80 million start. Should the low-end of this tracking maintain itself, the films will see a combined $200 million+ over the holiday. That’s only for those two releases, and when you throw in the other movies that should see some interest over the holiday, the industry could be gearing up for the biggest Memorial Day weekend at the box office.
Memorial Day Weekend Tends To Be a Big Box-Office Earner
Tom Cruise is already the king of Memorial Day weekend in one regard, thanks to Top Gun: Maverick, which holds the record for the best opening for a single film over the holiday with $160 million. When that film was released in 2022, the holiday generated $223.3 million for all films being tracked. Currently, the biggest Memorial Day weekend on record came in 2013 when Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover Part III helped the weekend pull in $314 million at the box office. Given the fact that some believe the Disney and Paramount releases will outpace their tracking, it comes as no surprise that there is confidence that another record is set to be broken.
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Lilo & Stitch, the live-action animated remake of the 2002 Disney film that has become a big fan favorite, showed strong signs after its trailer was released that it will be no Snow White. The trailer generated 158 million views in 24 hours, making it Disney’s second-most-viewed live-action trailer, trailing only 2019’s photorealistic take on The Lion King (224.6 million views in 24 hours). That movie went on to open with a massive $191.8 million opening weekend, putting Lilo & Stitch in great company.
Oddly enough, Cruise found himself in fun competition with Lilo & Stitch back in 2002 when the animated film opened alongside the actor’s film, Minority Report. The Disney film took second that weekend with $35.3 million, while Minority Report narrowly secured first place at $35.6 million. In the 2025 battle of box office opening weekends, Lilo & Stich will easily claim the title this time around, but both films will be a sign that the theatrical experience is alive and well.
Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning both hit screens on May 23.
Source: Deadline
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
