Sorry, Vin Diesel… there’s a new Memorial Day Weekend box office champ. Though Tom Cruise had a great showing, it was a blue alien fromDisneywho set theaters alight.
For years now, the Memorial Day Weekend box office crown has belonged to the year of 2013. That year,Fast & Furious 6came roaring out of the gates on the way to over $117 million in the United States alone.Vin Dieseland family weren’t the only game in town, though.The Hangover Part III,Star Trek Into Darkness,Epic,Iron Man 3, andThe Great Gatsbyall did big numbers, fueling the domestic box office to over $314 million. Memorial Day Weekend is usually highlighted by huge tentpole movies that drive business, includingAladdinin 2019,X-Men: Days of Future Pastin 2014, andIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullin 2008. It’s not uncommon for the highest-grossing movie of the weekend to rake in over $100 million. What a weekend needs to drive it over the top is multiple movies doing well, and that’s what is happening here in 2025.
With early numbers coming in,Deadlineis reporting that2025’s Memorial Day Weekend is now the highest-grossing in history, with an estimated $322+ million being spent on films by hungry moviegoers. With the industry at large desperate for good news post-COVID, studios have to be hoping that a renewed interest in heading to theaters is more than just a blip. With streamers likeNetflixseemingly jacking up subscription prices whenever they can, heading out to the theater for a film isn’t as expensive a prospect as it has seemed in the past.
Lilo & StitchAndMission: Impossible — The Final ReckoningAre Fueling Record-Setting Box Office
Lilo & Stitchis leading the charge, with an $180+ million total in range. This’ll be music to Disney’s ears after an off year thus far, withCaptain America: Brave New World,Snow White, andThe Amateurall struggling to live up to expectations at the box office.Snow Whitebombed so hard, it’s been rumored that the Mouse House isscaling back its live-action remake business. Granted, that could easily turn around ifLilo & Stitchmanages to be the hit it’s looking like.
In second place isMission: Impossible — The Final Reckoningwith around $77+ million over the four-day weekend, besting the franchise record set by 2018’sMission: Impossible—Fallout. SellingFinal Reckoningas the last film in Tom Cruise’s mega-franchise certainly helped the picture put butts in seats, even if that doesn’t end up being the case. AsTop Gun: Maverickproved, Cruise can return to any franchise he wishes, and people will usually show up.
Also helping overall box office numbers this weekend areSinners,Thunderbolts*, andFinal Destination Bloodlines, each of which has been holding up well week after week. Ryan Coogler’sSinnersin particular has beena massive success for Warner Bros. Pictures. Its ongoing business has been driven by positive word-of-mouth and proves that adult-oriented original content still has a place in movie theaters, provided the product is good enough.
For their part,Disneywill be hoping they can continue the box office triumph ofLilo & Stitchlater in the year withThe Fantastic Four: First Steps,Tron: Ares,Zootopia 2, andAvatar: Fire and Ash.
