Kickoff to Summer Blockbuster Season
The summer blockbuster season is officially back, with 2025 making a grand entrance through the premieres of Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. The former is another live-action remake of a cherished Disney animated classic, while the latter signifies a potentially conclusive chapter for Tom Cruise's legendary character, Ethan Hunt.
Early Box Office Results
Preview screenings held on Thursday night have offered insights into initial box office performance. Preliminary reports indicate that Lilo & Stitch has generated approximately $14 million, though expectations are set for this figure to increase as official numbers are finalized later today. Estimates project that this live-action adaptation will achieve a remarkable $150 million during its four-day opening weekend, given its substantial $100 million production budget.
In contrast, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning has experienced a strong turnout as well, with preview earnings reaching around $8 million. This strong early showing is bolstered by a strategic title change from its previous subtitle, Dead Reckoning Part Two, to a more impactful moniker designed to heighten audience anticipation.
Tom Cruise's Franchise Conclusion?
While early reactions are promising, reports suggest that Tom Cruise was initially dissatisfied with the title modification. This change was deemed essential by studio executives seeking to recoup a hefty estimated $400 million production budget. Current projections for its opening weekend hover between $75 million and $85 million, which would notably surpass the previous franchise record of $61 million set by Mission: Impossible - Fallout in 2018.
A Busy Season Ahead
Looking ahead to the upcoming weeks, it remains uncertain how Karate Kid: Legends will compete against these summer titans. However, June promises to be an exciting month filled with a variety of releases, including John Wick: Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, Elio, F1: The Movie, and M3GAN 2.0, amid other smaller titles.
July is gearing up to be particularly competitive, with major releases such as Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps vying for box office supremacy.
Tom Cruise Looks to the Future
In a recent interview, when posed with questions about whether Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning truly marks the end for his character, Cruise remarked, "They don't call it final for nothing. For me, it's never goodbye. It's like, 'We'll see you again.'" He expressed his enthusiasm for filmmaking, stating, "I actually said I am going to make movies into my 80s; actually, I am going to make them into my 100s. I will never stop doing action, I will never stop doing drama, comedy films, I am excited."
Critical Reception
As the anticipation builds, critical reception for both movies has started to surface. Currently, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning holds an
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