Written by Nikhil Mohan

Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ has shattered expectations with an impressive $341.7 million global debut, including the extended U.S. holiday Monday. Without Monday’s numbers, the worldwide total for the Friday-to-Sunday frame stands at $304.2 million, with international markets contributing $158.7 million.

Thanks to this strong opening, The Walt Disney Studios has surpassed the $2 billion mark globally in 2025, reaching $2.083 billion — the first studio to do so this year.

Meanwhile, Paramount and Skydance’s ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ also soared to new franchise records across the board: domestically, internationally, and globally. Its international take from 64 markets is $127 million, which is 7% ahead of ‘Dead Reckoning’ on a like-for-like basis. Including Monday’s holiday, the film’s global launch stands at $204 million, or $190 million through Sunday alone. Even based on just the three-day domestic performance, it marks the biggest worldwide opening ever for the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise.

Now let’s break it down:

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ delivered the third-largest global opening weekend for a Disney live-action title, trailing only ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast.’

Its $158.7 million international debut marks the top studio launch of the year so far and ranks as the fourth-highest Disney live-action international opening in comparable markets using current exchange rates.

Compared to past releases, the film opened:

- 139% ahead of ‘The Little Mermaid’

- 70% above ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

- 44% ahead of ‘Aladdin’

The film claimed the No. 1 spot in nearly all major territories, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Australia, China, Brazil, and Mexico.

It now holds the biggest 2025 opening weekend to date in countries like France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, along with strong showings in several smaller markets. Latin America was especially strong, with ‘Lilo & Stitch’ topping charts in every territory and setting new Disney live-action opening records across the region.

Across Asia-Pacific, the film earned $23.6 million. Highlights included No. 1 openings in Australia, China, New Zealand, and Thailand. In China, social media sentiment is high, with scores of 9.5 on TPP and 9.2 on Maoyan. However, performance in Asia was softer in places like Korea—traditionally a stronghold for Tom Cruise films. Japan, another Cruise-favored market, has yet to see the film's debut (scheduled for June 6).

Top international markets for ‘Lilo & Stitch’:

1. Mexico – $23.7M

2. UK – $12.9M

3. Brazil – $11.1M

4. France – $10.7M

5. Italy – $9.2M

Hong Kong opens this week, with Japan to follow.

Over to the Mission at hand:

Tom Cruise’s latest installment also scored big in IMAX, generating $31 million globally — another high for the franchise. IMAX accounted for 14.2% of the weekend’s global total. The film, shot using IMAX Certified Digital Cameras, is now the second-largest global Memorial Day opening ever in the format, behind Cruise’s own ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’

International IMAX earnings hit $15.7 million, marking the biggest offshore IMAX debut for both Cruise and the franchise, covering 28 markets.

Top markets include:

- Korea – $12.7M (No. 1 without needing previews)

- Japan – $11M (also No. 1 without previews)

- UK – $10.7M

- India – $9M

- France – $7.8M

- Australia – $7.7M

China’s release is scheduled for May 30, where ‘Final Reckoning’ is currently leading presales.

It was a weekend to remember for the global box office, with strong showings across genres and regions, led by Disney’s emotional alien adventure and Tom Cruise’s relentless action spectacle.

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