Top Gun: Maverick has made more at the US box office than The Avengers.
The film may have debuted almost two months ago, but after another lucrative weekend, the recent Top Gun sequel has managed to surpass Marvel’s first superhero team-up.
Earning a staggering $623.8 million domestic, Top Gun: Maverick has become the ninth highest-grossing film of all time in the US (not accounting for inflation). It would have to make $653 million to pass the next title on the list, Jurassic World.
Starring Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick takes place decades after the events of the first film. The highly-anticipated sequel sees the return of iconic pilot, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Returning to the Top Gun school for one last mission, it looks as though Mav will put all his skills to the test as he teaches a new Top Gun class how to fly.
Of course, it had already done incredibly well at the box office – becoming Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing blockbuster ever – not to mention earning its place as Paramount’s highest-grossing film of all time.
And with the re-release of the film’s IMAX version last month, Top Gun: Maverick managed to climb even higher, topping the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. In fact, Top Gun: Maverick has earned a massive $1.24 billion to date.
The film has benefitted from a huge following online where it proved to be highly popular upon its release. Rave reviews and a long box office run have helped the film earn its place among the heavy hitters.
IGN’s own review says that “Top Gun: Maverick is an out-of-bounds blast of afterburner fumes and thrillseeker highs that's sure to please audiences looking for a classic summer blockbuster. Director Joseph Kosinski doesn't lose the ‘80s nostalgia of movies that were light on reason and huge on chest-beating heroism. The fresh graduate faces are all aces, fighter jet choreography exceptional, and pursuit of excitement at Mach levels.”
Whether Top Gun: Maverick will continue its ascent remains to be seen, but it’s unlikely at this point that the sequel will break into America’s top six, which are currently: Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($936.6 million), Avengers: Endgame ($858.3 million), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($804.7 million), Avatar ($760 million), Black Panther ($700 million) and Avengers: Infinity War ($678 million).
Read more about Top Gun: Maverick with our explainer of Top Gun: Maverick's ending, a US Navy fighter pilot reacting to Top Gun, and the top 10 aerial dogfights of all time.
Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise as Maverick alongside Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Ed Harris, Danny Ramirez, Manny Jacinto, and Greg Tarzan Davis.
Joseph Kosinski directed the film based on a script by Christopher McQuarrie, Ehren Kruger, and Eric Warren Singer.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.