The Memorial Day weekend proved to be a significant period for the box office, with Disney's live-action hybrid "Lilo & Stitch" and the eighth installment of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, titled "Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning," leading the charts. The two films contributed to a total of $145 million in ticket sales over the weekend, a notable increase of over 115% compared to the same timeframe last year.
"Lilo & Stitch" secured the top position with an impressive $63 million from 4,410 theaters in North America, bringing its domestic total to $280.1 million and global earnings to $610.8 million. The film's success allowed it to surpass "Sinners," which has earned $267.1 million domestically and $350.1 million globally, even as it continued to perform well in its seventh weekend.
In second place, "Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning" generated $27.3 million from 3,861 theaters, bringing its domestic total to $122.6 million. However, the film's performance is down 57% from its opening weekend, and with a production budget of $400 million, profitability remains uncertain. Its global earnings now stand at $353.8 million.
The new release "Karate Kid: Legends" debuted strongly, earning an estimated $21 million from 3,809 locations. The film features Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio and has received a favorable A- CinemaScore from audiences. In fourth place, "Final Destination: Bloodlines" continued its success with $10.8 million, while the horror film "Bring Her Back" rounded out the top five with $7.1 million.
Looking ahead, the summer box office appears promising, with May expected to close with $973 million, a 75% increase from the previous year.