
The large Thursday haul marks the biggest preview for Paramount Pictures and the highest preview for the Memorial Day holiday. Of the $19.3 million, Imax screens accounted for $4.1 million, or 21.2% of the overall amount. The figure sets a best-ever mark for a Paramount title and a Tom Cruise movie, and it’s in the top 10 Imax results of all time.
The long-delayed sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” could become the first movie of Cruise’s career to open to $100 million. Thanks to positive reviews, high anticipation and heaps of nostalgia, “Top Gun: Maverick,” co-produced and co-financed by Skydance, is projected to rake in $85 million to $100 million over the long Memorial Day weekend.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with theater owners. The people that serve the popcorn, the ones who make this [happen],” he said. He also called theater owners to say, “Please, I know what you’re going through. Just know we are making ‘Mission: Impossible,’ and ‘Top Gun’ is coming out.”
Simply put: “I make movies for the big screen,” Cruise said.