The film “Top Gun: Maverick” earned $248 million U.S. at the global box office in its opening
weekend, officially kicking off the summer movie season.

In North American (U.S. and Canada) theatres, the sequel to the 1986 movie “Top Gun” earned
$124 million U.S., giving actor Tom Cruise the biggest domestic debut of his 40-year career.

Top Gun: Maverick also earned $124 million U.S. internationally, bringing its total opening
weekend haul to $248 million U.S. The studios behind the movie say they expect the film to
reach a $151 million U.S. total at the domestic North American box office for the four-day
Memorial Day weekend in America.

The film could have a strong hold in the coming weeks as it faces limited box office competition
until the June 10 release of movie “Jurassic World: Dominion.”

Tom Cruise has now generated more than $4.2 billion U.S. at the North American box office
since 1981 but had previously never had a film open above $65 million U.S. However, Cruise’s
movies are known for having longevity at the box office.

The big opening for “Top Gun: Maverick” is a positive sign for the box office, which is still
recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The film drew in older audiences, a coveted
demographic that has been slower to return to cinemas since they began to reopen last year.

Around nine million moviegoers are expected to see “Top Gun: Maverick” over its opening
weekend, according to industry tracking data. That is more than four times the two million
people who saw the original “Top Gun” in theaters during its debut weekend back in 1986.