'Lilo & Stitch' smashes Memorial Day records
Theatres across North America are enjoying an exceptional Memorial Day holiday weekend, with two new much-anticipated blockbusters bringing in an estimated box office totaling well over $250 million, analysts said on Sunday.
Disney's family-friendly Lilo & Stitch earned an estimated $183 million, a record for the four-day Memorial Day weekend, according to Variety.
The film has already taken in an additional $158 million internationally, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported.
"This is a sensational opening," placing the film among the top three Disney live-action remakes, said David A Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.
Maia Kealoha (as Lilo), Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B Vance and Zach Galifianakis star, while Chris Sanders again provides the voice of the chaos-creating blue alien Stitch.
Paramount's new spy thriller Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - the latest, and ostensibly last, in the hugely successful Tom Cruise series - opened to an estimated $77 million in ticket sales in the United States and Canada.
Gross called that an "excellent" opening, probably the best ever in the series. Ticket sales, however, need to make up for a huge production budget estimated at $400 million.
In third, dropping two spots from its opening last weekend, was Warner Bros and New Line's horror film Final Destination: Bloodlines, at $24.5 million.
Kaitlyn Santa Juana stars as a young woman who has to deal with the grisly aftereffects of her grandmother having long ago cheated Death.
Fourth place went to Disney and Marvel's superhero film Thunderbolts, at $11.6 million. Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan lead a motley bunch of misfits and antiheroes. The film has taken in more than $350 million worldwide.
And in fifth was Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller Sinners, raking in $11.2 million. The film has now earned $259 million domestically to become one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever, according to Variety. afp
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood address feud rumours after 'The White Lotus' season 3
After The White Lotus Season 3 wrapped up, rumours of a feud between Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood began circulating. Fans noticed the two stars, who played Rick and Chelsea, weren't following each other on Instagram, leading to speculation about tension between the co-stars. In a joint interview with Variety, both actors addressed the rumours head-on, clarifying there was no bad blood between them. Goggins became emotional as he expressed his deep admiration for Wood, stating, "There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman madly, and she is so important to me." Wood echoed similar sentiments, dismissing the social media focus as "irrelevant." The Instagram unfollow, Goggins explained, was part of his emotional process after filming. "I needed to begin to process saying goodbye to Rick and Chelsea," he said, revealing he needed some space after wrapping the show. Wood supported his decision, saying she understood completely. Both actors laughed off the feud rumours, with Goggins even re-following Wood on Instagram during the interview. "It's all so ridiculous," he added, emphasising their enduring friendship. They also shared a bittersweet moment, recalling a tender love scene between their characters that was cut from the final edit. Despite the rumours, it's clear that Goggins and Wood share a lasting bond, both on-screen and off, proving the reports of a feud were much ado about nothing.
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
'Carrie' going from page to Prime
Great news for horror lovers: Amazon has officially announced that it will be producing a series based on Carrie, one of Stephen King's most iconic and widely acclaimed novels, originally published in 1974. As reported by Variety, the show is described as a "bold and timely reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie White (Howell), who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father's sudden and untimely death, Carrie finds herself contending with the alien landscape of public high school, a bullying scandal that shatters her community, and the emergence of mysterious telekinetic powers." Cast and crew The upcoming series will be directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, known for his work on projects such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Flanagan will also serve as executive producer, showrunner, and writer, alongside Trevor Macy as executive producer. The show, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime, adding to the platform's growing list of original horror content. In April, in an interview with Variety, Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios, said: "Carrie is an iconic story that has withstood the test of time with continued cultural relevance. With Mike Flanagan at the helm and the accomplished team assembled, including executive producer Trevor Macy, this provocative series is sure to captivate our global customers." According to Variety, ten actors have already been confirmed as series regulars. Leading the cast as the titular character Carrie White, Summer H Howell brings with her an impressive background in the horror genre. She began her acting career at the young age of eight, when she was cast as Alice in the cult horror film Curse of Chucky (2013), directed by Don Mancini. Since then, Howell has gone on to appear in several other horror and thriller films, including Cult of Chucky (2017), The Midnight Man (2016), All Fun and Games (2023), and Spirit in the Blood (2024), among others. Her experience in the genre gives hope for a stellar performance in the lead role. Playing her mother, Margaret White, is Samantha Sloyan who has been a recurring collaborator of Flanagan. She has starred in his shows The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Midnight Club, and Midnight Mass. Sloyan also appeared in Flanagan's 2016 film Hush. Joining them are Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, Thalia Dudek as Emaline, Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin, Josie Totah as Tina, Arthur Conti as Billy, and Joel Oulette as Tommy. According to Variety, the Carrie series was first reported to be in development at Amazon in October 2024. After several months of planning and pre-production, the show officially received the green light in April 2025. Amazon has ordered a total of eight episodes for the first season, with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver, Canada, in the coming weeks. A rich legacy King's Carrie has previously been adapted multiple times. The first adaptation was directed by Brian De Palma in 1976, starring the award-winning actor Sissy Spacek. A sequel to the 1976 film, titled The Rage: Carrie 2, was released in 1999. It was directed by Katt Shea and featured Emily Bergl in her debut role. In 1988, a musical theatre adaptation by the Royal Shakespeare Company was performed five times at the Virginia Theatre before closing. This proved to be one of Broadway's most infamous failures, losing $7 million. However, in 2012, an off-Broadway revival of Carrie as a musical was staged to more favourable reviews. Later, in 2018, the popular television series Riverdale aired an episode inspired by the musical. In 2002, another adaptation of Carrie was produced as a television film, also filmed in Vancouver. It was created by Trilogy Entertainment Group and MGM Television, intended as a pilot for a potential TV series. In 2013, Carrie was adapted again for film, this time directed by Kimberly Peirce. This version featured a star-studded Hollywood cast, with Chloë Grace Moretz as the titular character and Julianne Moore as Margaret White. The ensemble also included Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort, and Alex Russell.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Tom Cruise wing walking stunt inspired by TikTok video in Mission: Impossible Final Reckoning
During a Cannes Masterclass, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning director Christopher McQuarrie revealed how one of the film's biggest stunts was inspired by an unexpected source: a TikTok video. While discussing the movie, McQuarrie shared that he casually showed the video to Tom Cruise, expecting a laugh. Instead, Cruise confidently declared, 'I could do that!' This sparked the creation of the now-famous scene where Cruise performs wing walking on an airplane. McQuarrie explained the back-and-forth process with Cruise, highlighting their collaborative approach. He said they began the film by discussing what each wanted to include — Cruise was eager to do wing walking, while McQuarrie had planned a submarine sequence. The director humorously noted how their ambitious ideas often challenge each other, with Cruise pushing boundaries and McQuarrie sometimes questioning the feasibility. The stunt faced skepticism from professional wing walkers, many of whom doubted it could be achieved safely. However, the production team persevered, consulting with experts and designing the sequence to be both thrilling and realistic. This daring stunt fits Cruise's reputation for performing his own high-risk action scenes. Throughout the Mission: Impossible franchise, he has completed similarly dangerous feats, including hanging off the side of a commercial jet and extended underwater breath holds. Early reactions to The Final Reckoning suggest the film offers fewer action scenes than previous installments, but the ones featured are impactful and memorable. McQuarrie's insight into the wing walking stunt reassures fans that the movie delivers exciting moments worthy of the franchise's legacy.
