Just weeks after Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos labelled theatres “outdated,” moviegoers have made a clear statement with their wallets.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning drove the domestic box office to a historic $322 million, making it the highest-grossing Memorial Day weekend in history.
Lilo & Stitch soared with a $183 million domestic debut and $341.7 million globally, becoming one of Disney’s biggest live-action openings. Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible earned $77 million in the U.S. and $204 million globally, setting a franchise record and reinforcing Tom Cruise’s draw.
Industry analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted, “This weekend shows the essential nature of the moviegoing experience,” pointing to a renewed interest in theatrical releases post-strikes. The success was fuelled by smart counter-programming, with Lilo & Stitch drawing families and younger audiences, and Mission: Impossible appealing to action fans and older moviegoers.
With streaming also going strong, Hollywood’s bet on summer 2025 has paid off early, forecasting a possible $4.2 billion domestic season.
