Disney's Lilo and Stitch breaks box office records against Tom Cruise's latest film

On May 26, 2025, in the United States, Disney's live-action remake of Lilo and Stitch achieved significant commercial success, grossing a remarkable $341 million globally during its opening weekend. This extensive sum established Lilo and Stitch as one of the year’s highest-grossing films, second only to A Minecraft Movie, which also had an impressive opening. The film opened to massive domestic ticket sales of approximately $145.5 million, solidifying its position as the second-largest Memorial Day opening in history, following The Lion King in 2019. Meanwhile, the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, starring Tom Cruise, also performed well but lagged significantly behind Lilo and Stitch at the box office. The eighth film in the long-running series recorded ticket sales of around $190 million globally, with $63 million earned domestically over the holiday weekend. This figure set a franchise record, surpassing the earnings of the previous movie, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which made $61 million during its opening weekend in 2018. Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend has been a crucial period for movie studios, with family-oriented films often performing particularly well due to the holiday's emphasis on family entertainment. The successful launches of both Lilo and Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning contributed to a record Memorial Day weekend box office total, exceeding $325 million, which revitalized the industry compared to the previous year's earnings of just $132 million across all films. The release of Lilo and Stitch marks another entry in Disney's trend of live-action adaptations of their animated classics. While it has received mixed reviews from critics, it nevertheless captured the audience's attention, proving to be a financially successful venture for the studio. The film’s stars, including Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, and young Maia Kealoha, have contributed to its appeal, helping it maintain a strong box office performance amidst competition. In summary, this Memorial Day weekend resulted in both films becoming notable releases of the year, showcasing how Disney's consistent strategy of rebooting beloved animations can yield substantial box office success. The contrast between family films and action-packed adventures highlights shifting audience preferences, with lighter, family-friendly movies currently resonating more with audiences. Overall, the weekend's events signal a promising recovery for theaters as audiences return to cinemas in greater numbers following earlier industry challenges.