Cruising: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ takes off during Memorial Day weekend opening

Pete Mitchell is taking off to unprecedented heights this weekend.

>> Read more trending news

Tom Cruise’s envelope-pushing, legendary Navy test pilot character in “Top Gun: Maverick” opened at 4,735 locations in time for the Memorial Day weekend and is projected to earn $150 million in domestic box office ticket sales, Variety reported.

It is the widest theatrical release in North American history, and the 1983 sequel to “Top Gun” is bringing in record-breaking numbers for Paramount Pictures, the entertainment outlet reported.

The movie’s three-day projected haul of $123 million -- and the four-day prediction of $150 million -- would top the record of $139 million set by Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” in 2007, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Those projected figured would also be a record for Cruise, whose previous best was a $64.8 million opening for “War of the Worlds” in 2005, Variety reported.

“Top Gun: Maverick” lifted off quickly, drawing $51.8 million on Friday -- a number that included a $19.3 million haul on Thursday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Those numbers were records for Paramount Pictures, whose previous high was $51.2 million for “Iron Man 2″ in 2005, Variety reported.

In “Top Gun: Maverick,” Val Kilmer reprises his role as rival “Iceman,” while Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and Ed Harris also star, the entertainment outlet reported. Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman and Monica Barbaro play the roles of young pilots that Cruise’s character is training for combat.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 19

Photos: Kate Middleton, Prince William join 'Top Gun: Maverick' stars on red carpet Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, are accompanied by star actor Tom Cruise, right, as they attend the "Top Gun Maverick" UK premiere at a central London cinema, on Thursday, May 19, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

©2022 Cox Media Group