Lilo roars, Cruise returns, and vampires bite: US cinemas see massive Memorial Day box office boom
LOS ANGELES, May 26 — Theatres across North America are enjoying an exceptional Memorial Day holiday weekend, with two much-anticipated blockbusters bringing in an estimated box office total well over US$250 million, analysts said on Sunday.
Disney's family-friendly Lilo & Stitch earned an estimated US$183 million, a record for the four-day Memorial Day weekend, according to Variety.
The film has already taken in an additional US$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 US$77 million in ticket sales in the United States and Canada.
Gross called that an 'excellent' opening, likely the best ever in the series. Ticket sales, however, need to make up for a huge production budget estimated at US$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 US$24.5 million.
Kaitlyn Santa Juana stars as a young woman who must 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 US$11.6 million. Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan lead a motley bunch of misfits and antiheroes. The film has taken in more than US$350 million worldwide.
And in fifth was Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller Sinners, raking in US$11.2 million. The film has now earned US$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
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
Pavilion KL Brings Disney's Stitch To Life With 'Aloha Summer' This School Holiday
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is bringing the beloved Disney character Stitch to life this school holiday with its 'Aloha Summer' campaign, a tropical-themed experience celebrating the upcoming live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. Running until June 15, the campaign transforms the mall into a vibrant, seaside-inspired escape, featuring colourful installations, themed merchandise, interactive activities and special meet-and-greet sessions designed for visitors of all ages. Datuk Joyce Yap, chief executive officer (Retail) of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, said the collaboration with Disney aims to create memorable experiences for families throughout the school holiday season. 'Our 'Aloha Summer' campaign brings Stitch's playful energy to life in a way that connects both long-time fans and new audiences. Through this mall-wide activation, we're capturing the spirit of Stitch -- a blend of adventure, fun and heart -- while delivering the laid-back, sunny vibes of summer,' she said in a statement today. The Centre Court has been transformed into a vibrant island setting inspired by Stitch's Hawaiian home, featuring a variety of engaging pop-up booths and brand activations, including customisable merchandise by Parkson, a Stitch-themed vending machine by Miniso, collectible items from Metapark and a creative LEGO Stitch display at the iconic Spanish Steps. At the Connection precinct, Watsons is hosting a dedicated Lilo & Stitch-themed pop-up, offering limited-edition products, tropical-inspired gifts and exclusive shopping surprises. As part of the campaign, Maybank cardholders can enjoy special perks with exclusive redemptions, including a furry Lilo & Stitch pouch, a plush keychain blind box, or a puffy tote bag, subject to terms and conditions. Joyce added that the event is designed to go beyond the conventional retail experience by fostering meaningful connections and shared moments among families. 'We believe in turning everyday outings into treasured family moments. Whether it's laughing at Stitch's antics or enjoying our tropical setting together, these experiences help build emotional bonds and lasting memories,' she said.
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Cassie's friend testifies Sean ‘Diddy' Combs dangled her off balcony, hurled knife in violent outburst
NEW YORK, June 5 — A woman told US jurors Wednesday that hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs dangled her over a 17th-story balcony before throwing her onto furniture in an attack that left her traumatised and bruised. Bryana Bongolan testified in the music icon's ongoing federal criminal trial in New York that she was staying over with her friend Casanda 'Cassie' Ventura — Combs's ex and a key trial witness who recently delivered searing testimony of abuse and coercion. While she was at Ventura's place, Combs burst into the apartment and seized Bongolan on the balcony. Bongolan, a designer, said Combs repeatedly shouted with expletives that 'you know what you did' — and she said she repeatedly told him she did not. The witness also recounted an incident when she saw Combs hurl a knife at Ventura, which Bongolan said Ventura then threw back at him. Bongolan told prosecutors she did not go to the police out of fear: 'I was just scared of Puff,' she told the court, using another nickname for Combs. But a defence lawyer for the musician, who faces racketeering and sex trafficking charges, cast Bongolan as a drug abuser and unreliable witness whose story was shifting. Bongolan is among dozens of people who have filed civil suits against Combs in recent years, legal action she told jurors she took 'because I wanted to seek justice for what happened to me on the balcony.' Bongolan, who remains friends with Ventura, says the incident left her with post-traumatic stress, including recurring night terrors and paranoia: 'Sometimes I scream in my sleep,' she told jurors. Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland bluntly indicated that Bongolan was lying, and implied that the witness had compared notes with Ventura to get their stories straight as the two filed separate civil suits against Combs. Ventura alleged that she suffered harrowing abuse under Combs, her former on-and-off partner of more than a decade, opening the floodgates against the one-time music powerhouse when she first filed suit against him in November 2023. That suit was settled out of court in less than 24 hours. Westmoreland on Wednesday pushed the narrative that Bongolan's heavy drug use, including with Ventura, clouded her memories of the alleged events. Bongolan was testifying under an immunity order that protects her from incrimination if she speaks truthfully. She frequently responded to Westmoreland by saying she could not remember every detail — and the occasionally brusque defense questioning of her will continue Thursday morning. Afterwards, the prosecution is expected to call Jane — long-anticipated testimony from a woman who will speak under a pseudonym in relation to one of the sex trafficking charges against Combs. $100,000 in a paper bag Combs, 55, faces upwards of life in prison if convicted of crimes of sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors say he ran a criminal enterprise of high-ranking employees and bodyguards who enforced his power with illicit acts including kidnapping, bribery and arson. On Tuesday, a hotel security guard said he received $100,000 in a brown paper bag from Combs in exchange for now-infamous surveillance footage that showed the artist-entrepreneur violently kicking and dragging Ventura in a hotel. Jurors have repeatedly been shown the disturbing clip in open court. The security officer, Eddy Garcia, said he initially rebuffed an attempt from a Combs employee — Kristina Khorram, who has been described as the music heavyweight's 'right hand' — to obtain the video. After repeated calls, including from Combs himself, Garcia eventually agreed to sell the tape, with permission from his supervisor, who got a cut. ''Eddy, my angel, I knew you could help. I knew you could do it,'' Garcia recounted Combs telling him. Garcia — who was also speaking under an immunity order — testified that he signed a non-disclosure agreement. Last week a former assistant speaking under the pseudonym Mia described violent acts Combs committed against her and also recalled many times that she saw him beat Ventura. Now in its fourth week of testimony, witnesses have included alleged victims, former high-ranking employees as well as assistants and law enforcement officials. The trial in Manhattan is expected to last well into the summer. — AFP
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
LOS ANGELES, June 4 — Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return. 'I'm returning because I miss my boxing,' Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. 'Especially these situations — being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. 'I missed that. But it has been good for me — I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back.' Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. 'I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'' Pacquiao said. 'That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago — I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes.' Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. 'I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house — I have complete sport facilities in my house — that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power,' he said. 'Low-risk' comeback Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. 'I'm thankful for them for their concern,' Pacquiao told AFP. 'But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style.' Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as 'low risk'. 'Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring,' Sulaiman said. 'Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk.' Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. 'There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring,' Barrios said of Pacquiao. 'He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. 'And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight.' — AFP
