Theater counts: Top Gun: Maverick soars into theaters as the widest release in history

May 26, 2022

After 36 years, the wait is finally over as Top Gun: Maverick arrives in theaters, and does so in high-flying fashion as it is propelled to the top of the all-time widest release chart by debuting in 4,735 theaters. Tom Cruise returns as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he is tasked with training a new group of Top Gun recruits to go on a dangerous mission, while confronting elements from his past. Top Gun: Maverick isn’t the only wide release hitting theaters this week however as The Bob’s Burgers Movie enters the fray in 3,425 locations.

After initially set to open in 2019, the sequel to the 80s blockbuster fighter pilot movie was delayed numerous times for varying reasons. The film finally made its premiere at CinemaCon in late April. Along with Cruise, the $170 million movie from Paramount Pictures co-stars Top Gun newcomers Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, and Jennifer Connelly among others, as well as Val Kilmer from the original film. Only one film has been able to crack the top 10 on the widest release list since 2019, and that is the current box office leader, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which landed at number seven with 4,534 locations three weeks ago. Prior to Top Gun: Maverick’s release, the top six widest openers all were 2019 releases, including previous record holder, The Lion King with 4,725 theaters. Given the prognosis for the theatrical business in the early days of the pandemic, breaking the all-time record is a remarkable testament to the durability of the industry.

Top Gun: Maverick will also be available on IMAX screens across North America.

As previously mentioned, the animated musical comedy, The Bob’s Burgers Movie comes to town this week. The film follows the Belcher family as they struggle to keep their business alive when unfortunate circumstances get in their way. Rounding out the top five this week is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 3,805 theaters, last week’s newcomer in Downton Abbey: A New Era, showing in 3,830 cinemas, and lastly, The Bad Guys playing in 2,941 locations.

Once again there is plenty to choose from in the limited release category this week. The Portuguese drama The Tsugua Diaries will be available at Lincoln Center in New York tomorrow, before branching out to other locations next week. Also releasing this week is the Greenwich Entertainment documentary, A Taste of Whale. The film follows two opposing groups; proud Faroese whalers on one side, and young, passionate Sea Shepherd activists on the other. Lastly, the comedy Dinner in America lands in theaters. The comedy starring Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs follows an on-the-lam punk rocker (Gallner), and a young woman obsessed with his band (Skeggs) as they go on an unexpected journey together through the decaying suburbs of the American Midwest.

Note: The theater counts for Everything Everywhere All at Once and Men are estimates from Box Office Pro.

Theater Counts for May 27

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, The Lion King, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downton Abbey, Top Gun, Doctor Strange, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Kyle Gallner, Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Lewis James Pullman, Emily Skeggs