Did You Hear? is a weekly examination of headlines in the entertainment industry and a take on what they could mean for the future of the industry and (often), the little geeky bubble that we occupy!
Lilo & Stitch Poised to Break Memorial Day Box Office Record
Yesterday Disney’s live action adaptation of the 2002 animated film, Lilo & Stitch, opened to preview audiences worldwide. And, per Deadline, audiences certainly turned out for yesterday’s previews:
Thursday night was beyond cute for Disney: Their live action take of 2002 toon classic Lilo & Stitch is grabbing around $14M in previews that started at 2PM, which is possibly a Disney record as far as previews go over Memorial Day weekend.
Considering Disney’s live action remake of Snow White bombed spectacularly earlier this year there was 
assuredly a lot of pressure on Lilo & Stitch to get butts in seat and it would appear the Hawai’ian/alien combo is poised for great success.
Historically, Lilo & Stitch will have to unseat 2007’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End to win highest grossing of Memorial Day weekend (the attraction adaptation movie garnering $153 million at the end of five days). Lilo & Stitch has already outstripped At World’s End $13 million Thursday opening, but inflation is also a factor in consideration.
With extra days available to not only audiences – but families – I’m surprised to admit I think Lilo & Stitch will probably pull it off. The movie has a unique hold in the hearts of millennials, many of whom saw the original animated movie with their own parents as children and teens and are now parents to children of their own. More so than Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, currently in second position at the box office which isn’t likely to make appropriate viewings for the five-year-olds of the world.
Thursday’s previews saw Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning in a distant second place with $8 million. I could argue it seems more likely to garner repeat viewings between now and Memorial Day from the more mature demographic it commands, however, I’m not sure if that is going to be enough to overcome Lilo & Stitch. Where Lilo & Stitch has already overcome its hurdle of the failed Snow White (as mentioned above), Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning has to contend with potentially low audience turnouts for Paramount following the failure of its predecessor, Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One as well as the stigma of being not the first ending to the franchise. 2011’s Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, anyone?
It is interesting to see two deep franchise films at the top of the heap this early in the Memorial Day box office. Lilo & Stitch is a remake and Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning is the eighth installment in a franchise. Neither has anything original or new to offer audiences. Both pacify viewers with familiar characters, tropes, music, and outcomes. They aren’t likely to challenge expectations. If I were feeling particularly sarcastic, I could make the case viewers may as well save themselves the cost of the movie ticket, parking, snacks, and possibly a babysitter, and stay home streaming the original Lilo & Stitch on Disney+ or any of the seven previous Mission Impossible movies on Paramount+ (and what feels like every other streaming service on the planet right now, including free options like Tubi and Pluto TV). In an era where the entertainment industry – and specifically the business of movie theatres – is in a state of flux and possibly danger, what does it say about us as an audience that we only want to see the same thing over and over and over again?
Regardless of whether Lilo & Stitch or Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning emerge victorious come Tuesday morning’s box office data, I suspect there’s a good chance we’ll have announcements of Lilo & Stitch 2 (remember, there’s an entire animated television show yet to adapt!), or another Ethan Hunt adventure (wouldn’t be the first time he’s come out of retirement … again!), at a comic convention this summer.
What will you be watching this long weekend? Comment your choice below!
