Tom Cruise's latest blockbuster film has broken box office records across America. The movie "Top Gun: Maverick" was shown in the biggest ever number of North American movie theatres. The movie magazine "Variety" reported that 4,732 cinemas in the USA and Canada showed "Maverick". This makes it the widest release of all time. The movie also broke another record. It is the best Memorial Day opening film in history. It earned $156 million in the USA. This beats Johnny Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End". That movie earned $153 million in 2007. Maverick has also given Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise his first ever $100 million opening weekend at the box office.

Maverick is the sequel to the 1986 film "Top Gun". Cruise goes back to his role as US navy pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. The movie's production company Paramount was very happy that "Maverick" had done so well. Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution, said: "These results are ridiculously, over-the-top fantastic. I'm happy for everyone. I'm happy for the company, for Tom, and for the filmmakers." The movie has had rave reviews from critics. The "Independent" in the UK called it a "thrilling" blockbuster. Another UK newspaper, "The Telegraph," called it "absurdly exciting," and "unquestionably the best studio action film in years". At first, Cruise did not want to make the sequel. Now, he is happy he did.