In just 25 days,the long-delayed sequel toTop Gunhas taken a stunning $56.4 million. Now expected to doubleinitial cinema industry projections that it would take $30 million,it is closing in on the top five at the all-time box office.
Director Joseph Kosinski’s movie has become the second biggest hit since cinemas reopened earlier in the pandemic,behind onlySpider-Man:No Way Home,which has taken $81.1 million since opening just before Christmas.
Data from Numero,which compiles box office figures,shows thatMaverick returned to top position on the Australian chart on the weekend,taking $6.9 million,after being briefly surpassed whenJurassic World:Dominion opened the previous weekend.
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While it was heavily promoted,its success reflects positive reviews and excellent “word of mouth” – the industry term for recommendations to friends and family.
The movie,which has Tom Cruise’s Maverick training a new generation of fighter pilots for a high-risk mission,has already reached number nine in Australian box office history after overtakingThe Avengers ($53.5 million) andBohemian Rhapsody ($55.4 million).
It has been credited with drawing back both older viewers who are fans of the originalTop Gun and those who only go to cinemas rarely.
Globally,Maverick has taken $US887 million ($1.27 billion) and is expected to break $1 billion despite not being released in China.