The Memorial Day box office shattered records this year thanks to the powerhouse debuts of Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. According to early estimates, the long holiday weekend delivered the biggest Memorial Day opening in box office history, driven by overwhelming audience turnout.

Lilo & Stitch Soars to $183M U.S. Debut, $341.7M Globally

Disney’s highly anticipated remake of Lilo & Stitch stunned analysts by exceeding all projections, launching with a record-breaking $183 million four-day domestic total and a global bow of $341.7 million. The film dethroned Top Gun: Maverick ($160M) to claim the largest Memorial Day weekend opening ever (not adjusted for inflation), and also achieved Disney’s third-biggest global debut for a live-action title.

Initially expected to open at $120 million, rising fan interest, especially among Gen Z, Millennials, and Latino audiences, pushed that figure significantly higher. Surprisingly, 60% of ticket buyers were non-parents, showing the power of nostalgia for the beloved 2002 animated original. Internationally, Lilo & Stitch scored top openings in markets like China, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Lands Franchise-Best $77M U.S. Opening

Tom Cruise’s final Mission: Impossible film delivered the biggest domestic opening in the franchise’s history, earning $77 million over four days and $190 million globally. This performance marks a major rebound from the previous installment (Dead Reckoning), and solidifies Final Reckoning as a box office force, despite its massive $400 million production budget.

IMAX screenings and strong audience reception (A- CinemaScore, 80% Rotten Tomatoes) helped fuel the momentum. The movie drew a diverse audience, with strong attendance from both older fans and the key 18-24 demographic.

Holiday Box Office Hits New Heights

With the combined might of Lilo & Stitch and Final Reckoning, the overall Memorial Day weekend box office surpassed $325 million, breaking the previous $306 million record set in 2013 (Fast & Furious 6). Other strong performers included Final Destination: Bloodlines ($24M), Thunderbolts ($12M), and Sinners ($11.2M).

While the “Stitchin: Impossible” mashup may not match the Barbenheimer phenomenon, it has proven to be a cultural and commercial success, igniting global moviegoer excitement and delivering Disney and Paramount their strongest holiday showings in years.