“Lilo & Stitch”, Disney’s latest live-action remake, is making waves at the box office with an impressive global debut of $341 million. This figure includes a remarkable $157.8 million generated from international markets. Notably, this opening weekend marks the second-largest for the year, trailing only behind the Warner Bros. video game adaptation, “A Minecraft Movie”, which amassed $313 million over its first three days.
The ticket sales for “Lilo & Stitch” also position it as the third-best start for Disney’s live-action reboots. This follows the monumental successes of “The Lion King” in 2019 and “Beauty and the Beast” in 2017, both of which grossed over $1 billion. With excellent word-of-mouth and a broad appeal spanning generations, “Lilo & Stitch” is poised to reach similar box office heights.
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, this reboot captures the story of a mischievous alien who crash-lands in Hawaii and forms a unique bond with a young girl and her older sister. The film’s heartwarming themes and vibrant visuals resonate with audiences, contributing to its box office triumph.
The top earning territories during its opening weekend include Mexico, which contributed $23.7 million, followed by the United Kingdom with $12.9 million and Brazil at $11.1 million. This international success highlights the film’s widespread appeal across different cultures and markets.
This weekend also saw the debut of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, a film produced by Paramount and Skydance, which kicked off with a robust $190 million worldwide. Out of this total, $127 million came from 64 overseas territories. Paramount began rolling out this highly anticipated film internationally a week prior, folding those preview screenings into the initial numbers.
The biggest markets for “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” include Korea with $12.7 million, Japan at $11 million, the U.K. contributing $10.7 million, and India with $9 million. The film is set to open in China on May 30, which is expected to further boost its global earnings.
In North America, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” achieved a series-best opening of $63 million over the weekend, with an estimated total of $77 million through the Memorial Day holiday. This four-day weekend is projected to drive the film’s total ticket sales above $200 million globally.
As one of the most expensive films ever made, with a staggering $400 million production budget, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” must become a box office juggernaut to achieve profitability. Directed by franchise veteran Christopher McQuarrie, the film continues the thrilling saga of MI6 agent Ethan Hunt, who races against time to thwart a rogue artificial intelligence known as the Entity.
With strong performances from both “Lilo & Stitch” and “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, the box office landscape is buzzing. As audiences flock to theaters, both films are set to make significant impacts in the coming weeks, showcasing the enduring appeal of well-crafted stories and beloved characters.
