Superheroes and horror are no longer the only games in town at the pandemic box office.
In a promising sign for the summer box office, Paramount and Skydance’s Top Gun: Maverick scores as the second-best Memorial Day opening day of all time with three-day projected domestic sales of $124 million and $151 million over four days. Pirates of the Caribbean: Apocalypse remains the record holder with a Friday-to-Monday treasure of $153 million, according to Disney. (There was confusion all weekend about pirate‘ numbers.)
The film kicked off with a whopping $51.8 million on Friday — including $19.3 million in preview — when it hit theaters in more than 4,700 theaters in North America.
MaverickThe debut was also the career best for Tom Cruise, and the first time he had a film gross $100 million or more.
Abroad, Top Gun 2 is doing equally impressive business, as it does not operate in China or Russia. The film has grossed $124 million from 62 markets for an initial global cume of $248 million through Sunday.
The release of the long-awaited sequel to the iconic 1986 film was a defining moment for the box office recovery, which has so far been largely fueled by superhero fare. Supported by men between the ages of 18 and 34.
More than 70 percent of Top Gun 2Audiences are over 25, including 55 percent over 35, 38 percent over 45 and 18 percent over 55. Ticket buyers awarded the film an A+ CinemaScore. And Imax monitors and premium formats contributed a whopping 37% of total sales, while Top Gun 2 performed well throughout the country.
Heading into the holiday weekend, Paramount has managed to soften expectations, as tracking shows the film opens with more than $92 million. However, many pundits believe the critically-acclaimed sequel could soar north of $100 million domestically. But tracking – one of Hollywood’s favorite pastimes – has gone awry in the age of the pandemic. Exhibitors were particularly optimistic about the painting and had thought it could hit $125 million to $150 million.
The film’s release was delayed for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cruise, a relentless promoter, has been on a global marketing tour in recent weeks to see him stop at a world premiere in San Diego, the Cannes Film Festival, a a Royal-sponsored screening in London and another in Japan.
Cruise may be one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but his movies – including Mission Impossible movies – have never shown the kind of mega-opening that superheroes or other franchises can enjoy (think Jurassic World or Fast and furious). Instead, his movies can play and play.
Up to now, in 2005 War of the Worlds ranks as Cruise’s top domestic opening with a three-day total of $64.9 million, followed by 2018 Mission: Impossible – Fallout at $61.2 million, according to Comscore, and not adjusted for inflation. The rest of his films all grossed under $60 million.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick sees Cruise return as the talented and confident Captain, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
The film currently has a stellar rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, co-stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell and Ed Harris, while Val Kilmer also makes a brief appearance as “Iceman.” , Maverick’s arch-nemesis -turned-you. The film also features Lady Gaga’s ballad “Hold My Hand,” while the production team included Jerry Bruckheimer, who directed the 1986 film.
Looking to deliver counter-show, Disney released 20th Century’s Bob’s Burger Movie in more than 3,400 theaters in North America. Picture PG-13, based on the hit TV show loved by teenage girls, posted three-day lows of $12.6 million and $15.7 million for four.
More will come.
May 28, 8:15 a.m.: Updated with revision numbers.
May 29, 8:10 am: Updated with revision numbers.
