ACTION drama Top Gun: Maverick soars to a second huge weekend showing in North American theatres, taking in an estimated US$86 million (RM377 million), reported industry watcher Exhibitor Relations yesterday.

That “sensational” number for Paramount’s long-awaited Tom Cruise sequel places it among the top 10 highest-grossing second weekends in domestic box office history, reported Variety.

It took in US$151 million last weekend.

Boosted by its gripping visuals and unusually positive reviews – especially for a sequel – the Paramount/Skydance film earns US$257 million abroad, the latest sign of Hollywood’s recovery from a bleak pandemic period.

Maverick picks up the story of now-greying United States Navy test pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) as he trains young aviators for a mission to attack a nuclear facility in a rogue state.

Holding in second place is Disney’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, at US$9.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. The global take for the Benedict Cumberbatch film surpasses US$750 million in its five weeks out.

20th Century’s animated Bob’s Burgers Movie, based on a popular television show, holds tight in third place, taking in US$4.5 million.

In fourth, up one spot from last weekend, is Universal’s family-friendly animation The Bad Guys, at US$3.3 million.

Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: A New Era, based on the wildly popular British series, slips a spot to fifth place, earning US$3 million. – AFP, June 6, 2022.