Memorial Day Weekend Box Office Showdown

This Memorial Day weekend, two big movies are set to make a splash at the box office. "Lilo & Stitch" is leading the charge with a strong start, earning $55 million from Friday showings and previews. This remake is Disney's attempt to bounce back from the flop of "Snow White. "The original "Lilo & Stitch" was a hit in 2002, and this live-action version is expected to surpass that success right out of the gate. The movie has been well-received by audiences, earning an "A" grade from CinemaScore, which bodes well for its future earnings as summer vacation begins. Meanwhile, "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" is giving "Lilo & Stitch" a run for its money. This action-packed film brought in $24. 8 million on its opening day, setting a new franchise record. The "Mission: Impossible" series is known for its high-stakes action and impressive stunts, and this installment is no exception. The movie has a massive production budget of $400 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made. Despite some positive reviews, it hasn't quite reached the critical acclaim of previous entries in the series. The box office is heating up with more than just these two blockbusters. "Final Destination Bloodlines" is still drawing crowds, with a projected three-day gross of over $19 million. This horror sequel is on track to surpass $100 million domestically, which is impressive for a revival of a dormant franchise. "Thunderbolts" is also holding strong, with a domestic gross of over $164 million. This superhero team-up film has benefited from better reviews than its predecessor, "Captain America: Brave New World, " but it still has a ways to go to reach that film's domestic finish. "Sinners, " a vampire thriller directed by Ryan Coogler, is still making waves in its sixth weekend of release. The film has surpassed a $250 million domestic gross and is on track to become one of the highest-grossing R-rated features of all time. If it can surpass "The Hangover" and "Gravity, " it will be in the top 10 and the highest-grossing original release in North America since "Inception" in 2010. Two new films are also opening this weekend. "The Last Rodeo, " a family drama about bull riding, had a strong opening day with $2. 07 million from 2, 205 locations. The film has an "A" grade from CinemaScore, which is typical for an Angel Studios release. Meanwhile, "Friendship, " a bromance-gone-bad comedy starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, is expanding to 1, 055 venues in its third weekend. The film earned about $1. 6 million on Friday. This Memorial Day weekend could be the biggest ever for the box office. The current record was set in 2013, with titles like "Fast & Furious 6, " "The Hangover Part III, " and "Star Trek Into Darkness" bringing in $306 million. Whether or not records are broken, it's a significant bounce back from last year, which saw the worst Memorial Day weekend in over three decades. With so many strong releases, it's shaping up to be an exciting time for movie lovers.