After a disappointing start to the summer box office with films like “The Flash,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Elemental,” Tom Cruise’s latest film “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is poised to revitalize theaters worldwide. The high-budget action-adventure is projected to earn at least $60 million during its opening weekend, potentially setting a new record for the long-running spy series. The current record is held by “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” with $61 million, followed by “Mission: Impossible II” with $57.8 million in 2000.
The seventh installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise is strategically releasing on a Wednesday to take advantage of Imax screens before Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” takes over on July 21. It is estimated that “Dead Reckoning Part One” will generate ticket sales of $85 million to $95 million in North America and $160 million internationally within its first five days, resulting in a strong global opening of $250 million.
With no major competition from other releases, “Dead Reckoning Part One” is the sole new wide release for the weekend. This lack of competition is further amplified by the declining interest in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which was overtaken by “Insidious: The Red Door” in its second weekend.
While “Mission: Impossible” films typically have modest opening weekends, they tend to have a long shelf life in theaters. The most recent installment, “Fallout,” generated $791 million worldwide and holds the title of the highest-grossing film in the franchise. To justify its massive $290 million production budget, “Dead Reckoning Part One” will need to demonstrate similar staying power. Additionally, a sequel, “Dead Reckoning Part Two,” has already been scheduled for June 2024, making audience engagement crucial for Paramount and the Impossible Mission Force.
The success of last year’s blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick,” which earned $1.4 billion globally, has raised expectations for the “Mission” franchise. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth will contribute to ticket sales for “Mission: Impossible 7.” Critics have hailed the film as a worthy addition to the action-packed series, with Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge stating that the thrilling stunts in the 2 hour and 43-minute-long movie keep the franchise feeling cutting-edge.
“Dead Reckoning Part One” is directed by Christopher McQuarrie and follows a 60-something Ethan Hunt and his IMF team as they battle against a powerful artificial intelligence entity called “The Entity.” The cast includes Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, and Henry Czerny.
