‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Becomes Tom Cruise’s Biggest Movie Release After Crossing Billion-Dollar Mark

Despite the 36-year gap between the original film and the sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick” proved its undying appeal when it officially joined the billion-dollar worldwide box office club this weekend.

It was a tough weekend at the domestic and international box office as big movies went all out in the competition for supremacy in terms of ticket sales. Tom Cruise’s latest action film, which hit cinemas on May 27, emerged triumphant when it officially crossed the $1 billion mark globally, Deadline reported.

“Maverick” achieved the milestone just 31 days after its release, an impressive feat in the pandemic era. On a personal level, it quickly became Cruise’s highest-grossing film ever.

The 59-year-old actor’s previous record was with “Mission: Impossible — Fallout.” The movie grossed $791 million in 2018. The first “Top Gun,” released in 1986, was also a big hit, earning $357.8 million worldwide, not adjusted for inflation.

The Joseph Kosinski-directed movie reportedly finished Sunday with an estimated domestic gross of $521.7 million and a $484.7 million overseas total. The figures included the $30.5 million domestic and $44.5 million overseas sales for the weekend.

The “Top Gun” sequel appeared to have enjoyed a boost in ticket sales during its fifth weekend due to its release in select Imax and premium large-format screens, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

The Paramount and Skydance flick is only the second Hollywood movie to make it to the billion-dollar club amid the ongoing pandemic. Sony and Disney’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” was the first to do so with its $1.89 million global gross.

“Maverick” is the first non-fantasy, action film to top the domestic summer box office (worldwide) since Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible II” all the way back in 2000, Forbes pointed out.

Paramount shared to THR that based on its data, more than 16% of “Maverick” viewers watched it in theaters more than once. Around 4% saw the film in cinemas four times or more.

Outside of “Maverick’s” impressive figures, “Jurassic World Dominion” added $43 million to its earnings, driving its global gross to $747 million. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ “Elvis” made $50.5 million when it debuted in 50 overseas markets.