Tom Cruiseis reaching new heights with his long-awaited sequel.
Top Gun: Maverick, a follow-up to the 1986 original, earned an estimated $124 million at the domestic box office over the weekend, becoming Cruise’s biggest opening weekend yet, according toVariety. It’s also the movie star’s first film to debut to more than $100 million, and, including Monday’s holiday ticket sales, the Memorial Day weekend total is projected to be $151 million.
For Cruise, who also headlines theMission: Impossiblefranchise, his highest opening weekend prior toTop Gun: MaverickwasWar of the Worlds, which took in $64 million upon its debut back in 2005.
At theCannes Film Festivalearlier this month, the 59-year-old actor saidhe “never” considered doing a streamingrelease forTop Gun: Maverick, which had its big-screen rollout delayed because of the pandemic.
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“That was never going to happen. Ever,” said Cruise of the sequel’s streaming-debut possibility. “I make movies for the big screen.”
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Teller, 35, is among the actors cast as a new class of pilots, which includesGlen Powell,Greg Tarzan Davis, Jay Ellis, Monica Barbaro andLewis Pullman. Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm also star, and Val Kilmer reprises his role from the original.
Cruise did his best to warn the new recruits about theflying stunts they’d be performingin the film. “I was very clear in the beginning: ‘This is what it’s going to be like. It’s not for everyone,’ " he recently told PEOPLE for aTop Gunspecial edition. “I want people to enjoy the experience. ‘If you don’t want to be involved, totally, I understand.’ "
Said Pullman, 29, of Cruise, “Every one of the pilots has a story of him talking about what he thinks is great about them, what they can do with that quality. He teaches you, basically, howTom CruisebecameTom Cruise.”
Top Gun: Maverickis now playing in theaters.
source: people.com
