Over the extended Memorial Day weekend, Hollywood witnessed a dramatic box office showdown between two cinematic giants—Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s high-octane Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning starring Tom Cruise. While both films collectively boosted North American box office earnings to a massive $260.8 million by Sunday, it was Disney’s family-friendly adaptation that triumphed with a commanding lead.
Tom Cruise reprised his iconic role as Ethan Hunt, possibly for the final time, in the eighth installment of the Mission Impossible series. Backed by an aggressive global promotion campaign with premieres in major cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Cannes, London, and New York, Paramount left no stone unturned. Cruise even surprised fans with personal appearances at screenings in Texas. These efforts paid off, as the film secured a new franchise record by grossing $77 million in domestic box office revenue and totaling $204 million globally in its four-day debut. The franchise, which began in 1996, has now surpassed $4 billion in total box office earnings.
Despite this milestone, Mission: Impossible 8 was outshone by Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. The live-action remake of the beloved 2002 animated film, which tells the heartwarming story of a Hawaiian girl and her mischievous alien companion Stitch, surged to the top of the box office. With domestic ticket sales of $145.5 million and a worldwide total of $341 million, it delivered a powerful blow to its competition.
One major advantage for Lilo & Stitch lies in its compact 90-minute runtime, allowing theaters to schedule more showings compared to the longer Mission Impossible movie. This gave Disney a crucial edge over the holiday weekend.
Disney also revealed that the Lilo & Stitch brand has grown into a retail phenomenon, generating $2.6 billion in merchandise sales in its last fiscal year—a massive jump from $200 million just five years ago. This massive growth, coupled with a strong online fanbase, has made Stitch one of Disney’s most profitable and beloved characters.
As both films continue to run in cinemas and with Mission Impossible gearing up for a China release, all eyes remain on how the box office race evolves in the coming weeks.