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Summary
Summer 2023 was a special time at the cinema. The release of genre-oppositesBarbieandOppenheimeron the same day started a movement that boosted theater attendance phenomenally as fans flocked to enjoy the odd double feature. Now a clashing of new movie release dates could start a similar movement in Summer 2025.
TheBarbenheimereffect as it was dubbed, isn’t easy to replicate.BarbieandOppenheimerwere both highly anticipated projects from acclaimed directors, Greta Gerwig andChristopher Nolan, starring major actors giving career-best performances. The differences in genre, style, and story, offset each movie in a way that made a double screening a true experience. Debates were had over which movie to see first and whether to change outfits between screenings. Cinemas started programming the movies back-to-back. Even those who would never have normally seenBarbieorOppenheimerindividually went to see both, just to bea part of the Barbenheimer experience. Another event like this is not likely to happen overnight, but there are indications of another unique double feature occurring in Summer 2025.
Two Major Movies Will Release on the Same 2025 Date
Many have tried to replicate the Barbenheimer experience. Later this year,WickedandGladiator IIwill open opposite each otheron the same day. Some are calling this double feature 2024’s Barbenheimer, and with ticket pre-sales for both movies tracking well, it might be. 2025 also presents a packed slate of movies for the summer, but two disparate movies share a release date on Jul 26, 2025.
Lilo and Stitch
The live-action reboot ofDisney animation’s classic 2002 filmLilo & Stitchfinally has a confirmed release date for summer. The film has been met with some hesitation, as many are unsure how the visuals, particularly the design of Stitch and the aliens, will translate to live-action. But audiences will find out on Jun 20, 2025.
The live-actionLilo & Stitchcomes fromMarcel the Shell With Shoes OndirectorDean Fleischer Camp. It will star newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo, and Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, a role he reprises from the original film. Zack Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen will voice the alien duo Dr. Jumba and Agent Pleakley, with Sydney Agudong playing Lilo’s older sister, Nani. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is doing the visual effects on the film, and a first look at Stitch in live-action was revealed earlier this year at D23.
Mission: Impossible 8
Set to open oppositeLilo & Stitchon Jun 11, 2025, is theeighthMission: Impossiblefilm. TheM:Ifilm is yet to receive a subtitle, but with the mostrecent beingMission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, it’s expected the eighth film would pick up withDead Reckoning Part Two.The long-running spy franchise has been in action for over 25 years, with Tom Cruise appearing in every installment as Ethan Hunt, and undertaking even more daring stunts each time.
Mission: Impossible 8will be directed by regular director Christopher McQuarrie, and it’s expected thatM:Iregulars Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames will reprise their roles alongside Cruise.Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Onealso introduced a number of new actors to the series, including Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementioff, and Esai Morales, who are also likely to return.The Mandalorian’sKaty O’Brian andSeverance’sTramell Tillman have also been cast in unannounced roles. Filming has supposedly finished on theupcomingMission: Impossible 8, although no details about its plot have emerged.
Which Movie Will Be Bigger?
BothBarbieandOppenheimerachieved massive success, critically and at the box office, but which of the Summer 2025 movies has the best chance of winning over audiences? The reality is that it will be difficult to measure, as bothMission ImpossibleandLilo & Stitchhave very different target audiences.Lilo & Stitchwill no doubt draw in families and any adults nostalgic for the 2002 film. However, not all ofDisney’s live-action remakes have had the best reception, so that could be a detrimental factor inLilo & Stitch’ssuccess.
Mission: Impossibleon the other hand is a consistent winner at the box office, althoughDead Reckoning Part Onewas considered a failure given the film’s massive production budget. The seventh and eighthMission: Impossible filmswere initially expected to be the last in the franchise which, if true, would certainly draw a crowd for Ethan Hunt’s final appearance. However,Tom Cruise made comments during the promotion forDead Reckoningthat he wants to play Ethan Hunt until he’s in his 80s, so that may not end up being true.
TheLilo & StitchandMission: Impossible 8double feature would certainly provide an interesting experience at the cinema, and tick many of the same boxes as Barbenheimer, particularly the films' opposite genres. But whether the hype for each film is strong enough to replicate Barbenheimer remains to be seen. Neither film’s marketing campaign has kicked off in earnest yet, but some fans have already suggested names for the double features like “Stichion Impossible” or “Mission: Stitch”. Some have also pointed out how history appears to be repeating itself, as the originalLilo & Stitchfilm opened opposite anotherTom Cruise film,Minority Report, back in 2002. Whether the films can repeat the Barbenheimer experience will be determined when they are both released on July 18, 2025.
