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Top Gun Maverick took off at the box office this weekend — setting a new record in the process.
The sequel to the 1986 blockbuster, which has Tom Cruise reprise his most iconic role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, made an estimated $156 million domestically for its four-day opening weekend, according to Paramount (PGRE).
That gives the film the record for biggest opening over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, overtaking “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” which made $153 million in 2007.
“Maverick” surpassed expectations at the ticket booth this weekend. Analysts forecast the film to make closer to $80 million for its weekend opening and $150 million over the four-day holiday.
It’s easily Cruise’s biggest debut at the box office over his 40-year career and marks the star’s first $100 million opening.
On top of all of that, “Maverick” is the third-biggest debut of the year behind two superhero films, Marvel’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and Warner Bros.’ “The Batman.”
“Top Gun: Maverick,” which garnered a stellar 96% score on review site Rotten Tomatoes, now has a clear runway to rack up even more success at the box office.
There’s not another major film on the docket until Universal’s “Jurassic World: Dominion,” which opens June 9.