Tom Cruise jets to biggest opening weekend EVER as Top Gun: Maverick earns $151 MILLION opening

Tom Cruise was flying high over the weekend as his latest film Top Gun: Maverick soared to the top of the box office.

The legacy sequel became the 59-year-old action legend’s biggest opening weekend to date, earning a projected $151 million over the four day Memorial Day holiday period, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The opening suggests there will be clear sailing for the adoringly reviewed action flick, as it has nearly made back its reported $152 million budget. 

Soaring: Tom Cruise  and his latest film, Top Gun: Maverick, soared to the top of the box office, earning a projected $151 million over the four day Memorial Day holiday period

It’s the first time a film in his more than 40 years of acting a Tom Cruise release has opened to $100 million or more. 

The high speed sequel now holds the record as the second-biggest debut for this holiday weekend in cinematic history. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End still holds the top spot, with a bounty of  $153 million. 

Personal best:  It’s the first time a film in his more than 40 years of acting a Tom Cruise release has opened to $100 million or more

Sequel:  The Top Gun sequel was more than 30 years in the making with budget of $152 million

Top Gun: Maverick opened in 62 markets internationally. 

It was expected to rake in $248 million globally through the end of business Sunday.

Tom reprises his role as Navy flying ace Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell for the new action adventure. His freewheeling captain is called in to teach the most elite flyers in the Navy. 

Miles Teller, 35, co-stars as Lieutenant Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s late aviation, Goose. 

The teacher and student have a fraught relationship until they learn to trust each other enough to take on and, hopefully, survive,  a dangerous mission. 

The highly anticipated blockbuster has received a 97% rating from the critics at Rotten Tomatoes, with some critics claiming it is better than the original.  

Young blood: Miles Teller, 35, co-stars as Lieutenant Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s late aviation, Goose

Score: The highly anticipated blockbuster has received a 97% rating from the critics at Rotten Tomatoes, with some critics claiming it is better than the original

The sequel’s massive box office success suggests a recovery at the movies following a years-long slump from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The weekend top ten rounded out with Benedict Cumberbatch and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness coming in at number two with $16.4 million in its fourth week in theaters. 

The animated Bob Burger’s, based on the television show by the same name, debuted at a distant third with $12.6 million.

Still magic: Benedict Cumberbatch and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness still have the magic, coming in at number two with $16.4 million in its fourth week in theaters

Distant debut: The animated Bob Burger’s debuted at a distant third with $12.6 million

Downton Abbey: A New Era is holding strong at number four, earning $5.9 million and the family friend cartoon, The Bad Guys, rounded out the top five, pulling in $4.6 million. 

Sonic The Hedgehog continued its run in sixth place with $2.5 million, Michelle Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere All At Once is toughing it out at number seven with $2.51 million.

Fans are still discovering Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in the Lost City. 

The action romance scaled the cliffs with $1.79 million in eighth place. Men and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore complete the countdown with $1.2 million and $905,000, respectively. 

Holding strong: Downton Abbey: A New Era is holding strong at number four, earning $5.9 million

Top five: The family friend cartoon, The Bad Guys, rounded out the top five, pulling in $4.6 million