‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Crosses $1 Billion At The Box Office Becoming Tom Cruise’s Biggest Hit Ever

It took 30 years to convince Tom Cruise to make a sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun,” hit by Tony Scott, but the decision has definitely paid off. Today, “Top Gun Maverick” crossed the $ 1 billion mark worldwide, becoming Cruise’s highest-grossing film ever worldwide.  That’s also the second-highest grossing film since the pandemic began in March 2020. ‘Maverick’ has grossed $521.7 million domestically and $484.7 million in overseas markets.  

That global milestone crushes Cruise’s previously highest grossing film, “Mission: Impossible—Fallout” which grossed $787 million in  2018. This landmark also squashes the previously held domestic box office high mark of Cruise’s career: “War Of The Worlds” which raked in $234 million back in 2005.

READ MORE: Miles Teller Says He Had Jet Fuel And Flame Retardant In His Blood On The ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Set

The earning potential likely won’t stop anytime soon and several pundits like The Hollywood Reporter, and Forbes say the film could reach as high as $625 million domestically. That figure would surpass “Titanic” and make for the seventh highest grossing film of all time domestically.

The result, and the choice to be super patient, said to be all Cruise’s conclusion—‘Maverick’ was finished more than a year ago— may have paid off even more handsomely than expected. Puck News reported because of the first dollar gross deal he made, Cruise would stand to make over $100 million from the film.

The ‘Maverick’ success has a lot to do with its legs: Paramount reports that 16% of its audiences have seen the film more than once and would reinforce the idea that it’s indeed a crowd-pleasing blockbuster that keeps bringing them back for the theatrical experience.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski (“Spiderhead,” “Tron Legacy”), written in part by Christopher McQuarrie who is also a producer on the film (and screenwriters Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer), and made with Cruise who is also a creative producer on the film, one hopes that Hollywood takes away the right lessons from this film.

Sure, it’s a legacy sequel, but I think the bigger takeaway is that it’s the perfect four-quadrant movie they’re always trying to manufacture. ‘Maverick’ features a great story, but beyond its spectacular thrills and cinematic spectacle, it has heart, soul, romance, comedy, drama, something to say, and resonant themes about the old ways vs. the new ways and how old dogs can still teach new pups new tricks. It’s the total package and sure, while “Top Gun 3” could end up being a viable idea, one truly hopes that Cruise’s intention rings through: a thrilling, cinematic experience, rich in character, drama and spectacle that feels worthy of seeing on the big screen more than once.