Lilo and Stitch Box Office 2025: Disney’s Delight Outshines Tom Cruise’s Final Mission

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Disney has once again captured the spotlight with its live-action remake of Lilo and Stitch, dominating the box office and leaving even Hollywood icon Tom Cruise trailing behind. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Lilo and Stitch not only exceeded industry expectations but also carved out its place in cinematic history with a record-breaking global opening.

The film raked in an astonishing $341 million worldwide, making it the second-highest opening of 2025, just behind A Minecraft Movie. In the U.S. alone, it shattered records for the Memorial Day weekend, a feat that speaks volumes about the film’s cross-generational appeal and Disney’s box office dominance.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning: A Hit, But Not Enough

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise’s swan song as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning also made waves, grossing $190 million globally. While impressive, the numbers were not enough to dethrone Lilo and Stitch from its box office perch. Cruise, who has portrayed the daring secret agent since 1996, has suggested this might truly be the end of the line for the franchise, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s the final! It’s not called ‘final’ for nothing.”

However, many fans and critics remain skeptical about whether this is really Ethan Hunt’s last mission. The film received a spectrum of critical responses — The Guardian hailed it as a “wildly entertaining adventure,” while Mashable criticized it for potentially going out with a “fizzled whimper.”

The Magic of Lilo and Stitch

The new Lilo and Stitch movie, a reimagining of the beloved 2002 animated classic, features Maia Kealoha as Lilo, with support from Courtney B. Vance and Zach Galifianakis. Stitch, the mischievous alien, is brought to life with eye-popping CGI that blends seamlessly with the real-world Hawaiian setting.

As with many Disney remakes, reviews have been mixed. The Daily Beast praised it as “jovial, zany, and sweet,” while The Times dismissed it as a “mind-numbing abomination.” Still, audience enthusiasm is high, and the numbers speak for themselves — Lilo and Stitch now holds the title of third-best live-action Disney opening ever, just behind 2019’s The Lion King and 2017’s Beauty and the Beast.

A Trend in Tinseltown: Remakes vs. Original Blockbusters

The success of Lilo and Stitch adds fuel to Hollywood’s ongoing debate: are audiences more drawn to nostalgic remakes or original action blockbusters? While Mission: Impossible is part of a long-standing franchise, Lilo and Stitch proves that heartfelt storytelling combined with modern visuals can still pack a powerful punch at the box office.

Whether you’re team Cruise or team Stitch, one thing is clear — 2025’s box office race is heating up, and Disney just raised the stakes.

About Post Author

Catherine Robert

Catherine Roberts is a seasoned news editor and writer at TheNewsTimes.co.uk, bringing her extensive expertise to the forefront of journalism. With a passion for storytelling, she has been engaging audiences through her insightful blog for the past five years, covering a wide range of topics with clarity and depth.

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