‘Lilo & Stitch’ Outpaces ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ as Box Office Surges in U.K. and Ireland

Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” topped the U.K. and Ireland box office in its opening weekend, debuting with a strong £9.5 million ($12.9 million), according to Comscore.

Close behind in second place, Paramount launched “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” The latest instalment in the long-running Tom Cruise franchise, with $11.5 million. The box office benefited from a three-day holiday weekend, which also marked the beginning of the May half-term school holiday.

Warner Bros.’ “Final Destination Bloodlines” slipped to third but still held well with $2.2 million in its second weekend. The horror reboot has now reached $9.3 million. Universal’s “The Phoenician Scheme” debuted in fourth with $1 million.

“Thunderbolts*” landed in fifth for Disney, taking $781,138 to push its cumulative total to $20.1 million. It was followed closely by Warner Bros.’ “Sinners”, which grossed $461,938 this weekend, for a $20.5 million total.

Altitude’s “Ocean With David Attenborough” earned $127,689 in seventh, while Vue Lumière’s “Bluey At The Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection” continued its strong run with $63,630 in eighth, reaching a four-week total of $696,997.

Rounding out the chart is Indian Malayalam-language film “Narivetta”, released by Berkshire Dreamhouse, which opened in 10th with $58,826.

A broad mix of titles arrives in U.K. and Ireland cinemas this week. Opening wide on Friday May 30 is Black Bear’s “The Salt Path.” Adapted from Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir and directed by Marianne Elliott, the drama stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs as a couple who embark on a 630-mile journey along the southwest coast after a devastating medical diagnosis.

Sony Pictures opens “Karate Kid: Legends”, the franchise’s new-generation revival that reunites Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio while introducing Ben Wang in a lead role. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the action drama also stars Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen, and opens across more than 300 cinemas in the U.K. and Ireland.

Also opening wide is Altitude’s supernatural horror “The Ritual,” directed by David Midell and starring Dan Stevens, Al Pacino, Ashley Greene, and Patricia Heaton. Other new entries include Universal’s quirky comedy “The Ballad of Wallis Island” and Curzon’s Cannes title “Along Came Love.” New Wave unveils “Bogancloch,” a meditation on solitude and landscape from filmmaker Ben Rivers.

For families, Trafalgar Releasing brings “Peppa Meets The Baby Cinema Experience” to screens, offering toddler-friendly programming during the school break. Classic cinema also returns with Studiocanal’s 60th anniversary 4K restoration of John Schlesinger’s “Darling,” featuring Julie Christie’s Oscar-winning performance.

Dreamz Entertainment delivers Indian action-packed Telugu-language drama “Bhairavam.”