Tom Cruise’s anticipated sequel Top Gun: Maverick dominated the Memorial Day weekend box office, taking in a record $156 million from 4,735 theaters over the four-day holiday — enough to trump Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’s $153 million take 15 years ago. The three-day total for Maverick stands at $126.7 million, per Deadline, which is the second-best start for a Paramount release after Iron Man 2 ($128.1 million).
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No matter how you slice it, the opening for Top Gun marks the best for Cruise, whose previous high mark was Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, which opened to $64.8 million over its first three days way back in 2005. Worldwide, the Jerry Bruckheimer produced sequel earned $124 million, propelling its global take to $248 million. With a rare A+ CinemaScore from audiences and strong reviews from critics, it’s likely Maverick will remain in the clouds for some time. On Imax, the pic grossed $10.4 million from 350 screens.
Elsewhere, The Bob’s Burgers Movie took in $14.7 million over its first three days and $18.1M through the 4-day holiday weekend, while Doctor Strange 2 earned another $21.8 million to raise its domestic cube to $376.1 million. Downton Abbey: A New Era dropped 63% in its sophomore frame, but still generated $7.7 million over the holiday to lift its total to $30.2M.
With Jurassic World: Dominion looming, it’ll be interesting to see how high Top Gun can fly in the wake of some stiff competition.
1.) Top Gun: Maverick (Par) 4,735 theaters Fri $51M, 3-day $120M, 4-day $146.2M/Wk 1
2.) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Dis) 3,805 theaters (-729), Fri $4.4M (-48%), 3 day $17M (-47%), 4 day $21.8M, total $376.1M, /Wk 4
3.) The Bob’s Burgers Movie (20th/Dis) 3,425 theaters, Fri $5.5M, 3-day $14.7M, 4-day $18.1M/Wk 1
4.) Downton Abbey: A New Era (Foc) 3,830 theaters (+10), Fri $1.7M (-77%), 3-day $6M (-63%), 4-day $7.7M, total $30.2M/Wk 2
5.) The Bad Guys (Uni) 2944 theaters (-761), Fri $1.2M (-18%), 3-day $4.8M (-22%), 4-day $6.4M, total $83.1M/Wk 6