The recovery is well and truly underway at US movie theaters. Thanks to two major releases, Disney's live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise starring Tom Cruise, the North American box office set a new record for the Memorial Day long weekend.
According to Comscore estimates, the ten most popular films generated $326.7m between Friday and Monday in the US and Canada, surpassing the previous record of $314.3m set in 2013 with the release of the sixth installment of Fast & Furious.
Two complementary hits to boost attendance
The studios have focused on diversity: Lilo & Stitch attracted families with a remake of the 2002 animated classic about a mischievous alien adopted by two sisters in Hawaii. Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, billed as Ethan Hunt's last mission for Tom Cruise, appealed to fans of action and spectacular stunts.
"Two major studios released two very different films for very different audiences, proving once again that cinema remains an essential part of popular culture," commented Shawn Robbins, chief analysis officer at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory.
Previous releases still going strong
Other productions released in recent weeks continue to boost attendance. The film Minecraft, adapted from the famous video game, has now grossed $940.6m worldwide since its release in early April. The horror film Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has reached $339m. Both films are distributed by Warner Bros.
In all, ticket sales since the beginning of the year in the United States and Canada have reached $3.1bn, up 22% compared to 2023, although they remain 28% below 2019 levels, a year marked by the blockbuster Avengers: Endgame.
Global enthusiasm and solid prospects for the summer
Internationally, the figures are also impressive: Lilo & Stitch grossed $158.7 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to $314.7m, while Paramount's Mission: Impossible generated $205.5m worldwide, including $127m outside the US and Canada.
Theaters are hoping that this momentum will continue through the summer season, traditionally the most lucrative for the industry. Upcoming releases include a new Superman movie, a live-action adaptation of Dragons (How to Train Your Dragon), and F1, in which Brad Pitt plays a Formula 1 driver.
For an industry still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels, this record-breaking weekend marks a very encouraging turning point.
