Box Office Showdown: "Lilo & Stitch" and "Mission: Impossible" Battle for Top Spot
The Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be a thrilling one at the box office, with two highly anticipated blockbusters vying for the top spot. Disney’s live-action remake of "Lilo & Stitch" is currently in the lead, earning $55 million on its opening day and setting it up for the largest opening of the weekend.
A Strong Start for "Lilo & Stitch"
The film’s opening day earnings are the second largest of the year, just behind the $57.1 million earned by "Minecraft" in April. With a production budget of $100 million, "Lilo & Stitch" is poised to surpass the original animated film’s worldwide gross of $273 million. The movie’s popularity is likely due to the enduring appeal of the original animated feature, which has become a beloved classic since its release in 2002.
"Mission: Impossible" Gives Chase
However, Paramount’s "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning" is hot on its heels, earning $24.8 million on its opening day. The film, which stars Tom Cruise, is expected to earn $63 million over the three-day weekend and $77 million over the four-day holiday weekend. With a production budget of $400 million, the film has a lot riding on its success.
A Big Weekend for the Box Office
The Memorial Day weekend is typically one of the biggest of the year, and this year’s lineup is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. With "Lilo & Stitch" and "Mission: Impossible" leading the charge, the box office is expected to see a significant boost. Other films, such as "Final Destination: Bloodlines" and "Thunderbolts", are also expected to perform well, making for a competitive and exciting weekend.
Other Notable Releases
"Final Destination: Bloodlines" added $5.5 million to its total on Friday, bringing its predicted three-day total to over $19 million. The film is expected to cross the $100 million mark within the week, making it a successful revival of the horror franchise. Meanwhile, "Thunderbolts" earned $2.4 million on Friday, bringing its domestic total to over $164 million.
Smaller Releases Make a Splash
Other films, such as "Spirers" and "The Last Rodeo", are also making waves at the box office. "Spirers" added $2.4 million to its total on Friday, bringing its domestic gross to over $250 million. The film is expected to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, surpassing "The Hangover". "The Last Rodeo", meanwhile, earned $2.07 million on its opening day, with a predicted debut in the sixth spot.
A Competitive Weekend Ahead
With so many big films vying for attention, the Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Will "Lilo & Stitch" hold onto its top spot, or will "Mission: Impossible" come out on top? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – it’s going to be an exciting weekend at the box office.
