Lilo & Stitch Breaks Records at Holiday Box Office
Movie fans turned out in huge numbers this holiday weekend. The new live-action Lilo & Stitch along with the intense Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning have together earned $494.2 million worldwide. Audiences in the U.S. and Canada contributed $208.5 million to this total. Thanks to these strong showings, theaters are enjoying one of their best weekends in recent memory. Lilo & Stitch was a major draw for family audiences.
This weekend, Lilo & Stitch has captured the hearts of audiences everywhere. The film, about a lively blue alien who finds a new home with two sisters in Hawaii, has made $304.2 million worldwide by Sunday. Out of this, $145.5 million came from the U.S. and Canadian markets. The movie’s strong performance shows it’s connecting well with fans around the globe.
Excitement at movie theaters soared this holiday weekend. According to Comscore, a family film set a new record for ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada during the first three days, surpassing last year’s Top Gun: Maverick. This impressive performance helped bring ticket revenue to a record $262 million, marking a milestone for holiday box office results. Lilo & Stitch played a key role in this records.
View this post on Instagram
Fans have welcomed Lilo & Stitch as one of Disney’s most successful animated remakes. Only the 2019 The Lion King and the 2017 Beauty and the Beast made more money, earning $192 million and $175 million, respectively. This new film also brings new excitement to a popular series that earned $2.6 billion from merchandise last year and was watched for over a billion hours on Disney+. Its success shows the lasting appeal of these beloved stories.
Audiences flocked to theaters to catch Tom Cruise’s latest adventure as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible. The movie earned $190 million worldwide, with $63 million coming from the U.S. and Canada. Chris Aronson, Paramount’s top executive for domestic releases, said this opening outpaced the previous record set by Mission: Impossible – Fallout. It’s clear the series continues to thrill fans around the world. Meanwhile, Lilo & Stitch continued to lead among family audiences.
To wrap up the long-running movie series, Paramount launched a big advertising push. This included a tour around the world and a unique campaign featuring Tom Cruise. For the first time, a large part of the audience, more than 40%, was made up of young adults aged 18 to 34, instead of the usual older crowd.
Aronson explained that what makes the movie special is the hard work of Tom and the director, Christopher McQuarrie, who is also called McQ. He said their teamwork really made the film shine.
Movie theaters got a much-needed boost over the holiday weekend. The strong sales mark a positive kickoff to the summer season, which usually brings in between 35% and 40% of the year’s total box office revenue in the U.S. After a difficult March with ticket sales down nearly 45% from the previous year, this upswing offers hope for the months ahead. Titles like Lilo & Stitch are giving theaters a strong comeback.
The film industry views Memorial Day weekend as a key moment in the movie calendar. Many experts believe that movie performance during this period will help predict the summer season’s success, as several big films are scheduled to hit theaters. This weekend might offer a clear glimpse of what’s ahead.
This summer’s movie lineup offers something exciting for everyone. One of the upcoming titles, Ballerina, features Ana de Armas in a story tied to the John Wick universe. Audiences will also experience a live-action take on the hit animated film How to Train Your Dragon. Fans of science fiction can look forward to Jurassic World Rebirth, which adds a new chapter to the long-running series. These upcoming films promise to light up the big screen in the months ahead.
Exciting times lie ahead for movie theaters this summer. According to Daniel Loria from The BoxOffice Company, every weekend leading up to mid-August will feature at least one major film that could earn $100 million or more in U.S. ticket sales. As a result, cinemas could be looking at one of their best summers in a long time. Moreover, hits like Lilo & Stitch could help keep the momentum going.
The movie business is steadily recovering in North America. Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore notes that ticket sales have risen by 21% compared to last year. At that time, Hollywood strikes had slowed new film releases. Still, box office earnings remain about 29% below 2019 levels, before theaters closed and home streaming became more popular. Despite these challenges, the industry continues to bounce back, thanks in part to hits like Lilo & Stitch.
