The Memorial Day weekend saw a massive surge in movie attendance, breaking several records.  The weekend saw a lot of people heading to the movies.  This was a big deal for the movie industry, especially after a slow start last year.  The summer movie season kicked off with a bang, which is great news for cinema operators.  This is because the summer months are usually the most profitable time for movies.  It was a huge improvement from last year, which had the worst Memorial Day showing in three decades.  The industry is hoping this strong start will carry through the rest of the summer.

    One of the big winners was Disney's live-action remake of "Lilo & Stitch. "  The movie pulled in a whopping 145. 5 million dollars in its first weekend and an estimated 183 million dollars through Monday.  This was a huge success, especially considering it beat out Tom Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick" from 2022.  The movie also had a strong international showing, bringing in 158. 7 million dollars for a global start of 341. 7 million dollars.  Disney spent a lot on this movie, but it looks like it will pay off.  The movie has been well-received by audiences, with an "A" grade on CinemaScore exit polls.  This is a big deal for Disney, especially after the lackluster performance of their "Snow White" remake earlier this year.

    Another big winner was "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. "  The eighth installment in the franchise brought in 63 million dollars over the weekend and an estimated 77 million dollars through Monday.  This was a series-best opening for the franchise, which has been going strong for nearly 30 years.  The movie has been well-received by audiences, with an "A-" grade on CinemaScore.  However, the movie is one of the most expensive ever made, with a budget of 400 million dollars.  It remains to be seen if the movie will make enough to justify its massive budget.

    The Memorial Day weekend also saw strong showings from other movies.  "Final Destination Bloodlines" brought in 19 million dollars over the weekend and an estimated 24. 5 million dollars through Monday.  The horror movie has been a steady performer, bringing in 94. 6 million dollars in North America and 187 million dollars worldwide after just two weekends.  "Thunderbolts" brought in 9. 5 million dollars over the weekend and an estimated 12 million dollars through Monday.  The Marvel movie has grossed 171 million dollars domestically and 353 million dollars globally after four weeks in theaters.  However, it remains to be seen if the movie will turn a profit theatrically against its 180 million dollar production budget.  "Sinners" brought in 9. 1 million dollars over the weekend and an estimated 11. 2 million dollars through Monday.  The vampire thriller has been a box office juggernaut with 339 million dollars globally.

    The Memorial Day weekend was a big deal for the movie industry.  It showed that people are still willing to go to the movies, especially for big, spectacle-filled films.  It also showed that the industry is still capable of breaking records and setting new benchmarks.  However, it remains to be seen if this strong start will carry through the rest of the summer.  The industry will be watching closely to see if the momentum continues.

MOVIE THEATER ATTENDANCE

Memorial Weekend: A Box Office Bonanza

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