Hollywood’s Memorial Day weekend has shattered records, raking in a stunning $322 million, led by Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Tom Cruise-led Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning.
Lilo & Stitch Surfs to #1
Disney’s highly anticipated Lilo & Stitch remake opened to a massive $180 million over the 4-day holiday, making it the biggest Memorial Day debut in history, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick’s $160.5M. With $55M Friday earnings, the film also notched the best Memorial Day Friday ever.
Fans flocked to see the nostalgic favorite, driven by millennial enthusiasm and family appeal. Key demographics included a strong Latino turnout (41%) and millennials under 35 (79%).
The movie earned:
- $14.5M in Thursday previews (Disney’s biggest ever for Memorial Day)
- CinemaScore: A
- Audience approval: 90% positive on PostTrak
With massive social buzz (552M reach) and strong walk-up ticket sales (45%), Stitch’s return proved to be both a cultural and box office phenomenon.
Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning Holds Strong
Tom Cruise’s eighth Mission film, Final Reckoning, also delivered a franchise-best opening with $77 million over four days, including a $25M Friday. Though trailing Lilo & Stitch, the film still sets records within its own series, surpassing Fallout‘s $61.2M. The lengthy 2h49m runtime didn’t deter fans seeking premium formats like IMAX.
Key stats:
- CinemaScore: A-
- 79% definite recommend
- Biggest demo: Adults 55+ (29%)
- Social media reach: 847M, boosted by Tom Cruise’s 47.2M fans
Although its production budget reportedly ranged $300M–$400M, Paramount is only on the hook for half, with expectations of long-term value through digital and streaming platforms. Cruise’s enduring appeal and the promise of high-octane stunts continue to drive global excitement.
Industry Outlook: $4.2 Billion Summer Predicted
With this historic weekend, Comscore forecasts the 2025 summer box office to hit $4.2 billion, a 14% rise from last year. This would mark only the second post-Covid summer to cross the $4B mark (after 2023).
Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian calls the season “epic,” emphasizing its significance following pandemic-era disruptions and 2024’s strike-related delays. He highlighted that the next 16 weeks are stacked with blockbusters poised to reinvigorate moviegoing on a global scale.
Other Box Office Highlights
- Final Destination: Bloodlines earned $24M, crossing $94.1M total
- Thunderbolts added $11.5M, reaching $173.7M total
- Sinners held well with $11M, totaling $258.8M
- New entry The Last Rodeo debuted at $6.4M, playing strong in the Bible Belt
Bottom Line
This Memorial Day weekend not only delivered a record-breaking box office haul, but it also reaffirmed audiences’ appetite for theatrical blockbusters, especially when nostalgic favorites and action-packed franchises share the spotlight. With Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible leading the charge, summer 2025 is off to a fiery start.
