Tom Cruise is riding high on the success of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which has started with big box office numbers in the eighth installment of the long-running series. The film pulled an incredible $63 million domestically over the established three-day weekend, and $77 million over the somewhat extended four-day Memorial Day holiday.
This achievement narrowly edges past the 2018 Mission: Impossible – Fallout debut of $61 million, marking the biggest opening in the series’ nearly three decades. Coupled with Disney’s Lilo & Stitch pulling in $341 million, the combined haul helped set a new all-time record for the Memorial Day box office weekend.
Paramount’s distribution chief, Chris Aronson, praised the milestone: “A record opening on the eighth iteration is remarkable. It speaks to the longevity of the franchise. The spectacle of what Tom and McQ [director Christopher McQuarrie] put on screen is one-of-a-kind in today’s marketplace.”
Tom Cruise’s Heartfelt Message to Fans and Partners
Following the impressive box office debut, Tom Cruise took to social media with a warm letter thanking everyone involved. His message extended far beyond just the cast and crew, showing deep appreciation for the studios, theaters, and especially the fans.
“This weekend was one for the history books!” Cruise wrote. “Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, every artist, every crew member, and every single person who works at the studios. To every theater and every employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you.”
He also singled out the studios behind the film: “To everyone that works at Paramount Pictures and Skydance, thank you for your many years of partnership and unwavering support.”
And his gratitude to fans worldwide was unmistakable: “And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere for whom we all serve and for whom we all LOVE to entertain. Sincerely, Tom.”
Is This Really the Final ‘Mission: Impossible’?
Folks have wondered if The Final Reckoning is really the final chapter in the Mission: Impossible story. Cruise has played coy when it comes to the future and has asked the audience to embrace the experience of the movie without putting too much of their energy into thinking about the next one.
At the French premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Cruise was asked point blank if this was his last Mission: Impossible movie. He responded, “I’d rather just people see it and enjoy and we’ve had an amazing time doing it and it’s been a lot of fun, and I just want you all to enjoy it.”
He added, “Enjoy this and know everything is the culmination has come to this moment right now.”
A Blockbuster Production with Global Buzz
The most recent project, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, was produced on a staggering budget of $400 million, making it one of the most expensive motion pictures in film history. Thanks to Cruise’s unwavering commitment to the franchise and his tireless press tour around the globe, all of this resulted in huge anticipation for the film’s release.
The film has the same returning cast and several thrilling sequences that critics and fans have praised, and it will close out a franchise that has been amusing and thrilling all around the world for almost 30 years.
What’s Next for Tom Cruise?
While the future of Mission: Impossible remains uncertain, Tom Cruise’s upcoming projects keep fans excited. Notably, the long-anticipated Top Gun 3 is in active development, with the story already locked in by writer-producer Christopher McQuarrie. Following the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick, which grossed $1.48 billion globally, expectations are high for the next chapter in that franchise.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is in theaters now, grabbing audiences with spectacular stunts and a proper conclusion to the Ethan Hunt saga. Thanks from Cruise, and the film’s record-breaking box office take all demonstrate why this franchise is a force in Hollywood.
