Will Top Gun: Maverick Be Tom Cruise's Biggest Film Success?

The first installment of the Top Gun series was a massive success both at the box office and in establishing Tom Cruise as a bona fide superstar. However, when it comes to determining whether Top Gun: Maverick will secure the title of Cruise’s biggest film success, the criteria for 'biggest' can be defined in multiple ways: in terms of money earned, profit, critical acclaim, or even popularity.

Defining 'Biggest'

The term 'biggest' can be somewhat subjective. Is it the film that made the most money? The one that earned the highest profit? Or might it be the movie that is considered the best critically? These are all valid metrics, but they can yield different answers.

Box Office Performance of Top Gun: Maverick

To date, Top Gun: Maverick has been performing exceptionally well, averaging a revenue of $1.5 million per day for the last 11 days, according to Box Office Mojo. As of July 25th to August 4th, the movie is still in over 3,000 theaters. For it to surpass Avatar, it would need to maintain this performance and continue for another 944 days, earning an additional $1.4 billion.

Despite its impressive performance, some argue that Top Gun: Maverick might not necessarily be Tom Cruise's biggest film success purely in terms of box office earnings. As movie theaters decline, the potential for wider distribution across various mediums could mean future releases might reach even larger audiences. This shift could redefine what it means to be a 'biggest' film in the context of long-term cultural impact.

Tom Cruise's Reputation and Future Prospects

Many industry experts and viewers alike believe that Top Gun: Maverick will surpass the success of the original film. While some argue that the only other films by Tom Cruise that could come close to its box office performance are the Mission: Impossible series, especially the movie “Fallout,” the inflation-adjusted figures still place Top Gun: Maverick as the biggest box office hit by Tom Cruise to date.

It is worth noting that while box office receipts are important, they do not necessarily reflect the quality of the acting or the critical reception of the film. In terms of the latter, Top Gun: Maverick has received generally positive reviews, solidifying its status as a standout release in Cruise's career.

Conclusion

While the future is uncertain, given the current trajectory of Top Gun: Maverick and Tom Cruise's continued success, it is almost certainly a possibility that this film will be considered Tom Cruise's biggest box office success. However, if we were to measure success not just by box office receipts but by the film's long-term cultural impact and reach, it might still hold that prestige.

Only time will tell, and for now, whether you are a Tom Cruise fan or not, the potential of Top Gun: Maverick to redefine what it means for a film to be a success should not be underestimated.