Tom Cruise faced a tough battle at the box office with his movie “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” when it went up against the massive success of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” In its second weekend, “Dead Reckoning Part One” saw a significant drop of 64 percent, earning only $19.5 million. This was the worst performance for any film in the Mission: Impossible franchise.
The box office for the weekend of July 21-23 was historic, with “Barbenheimer” making a huge impact. The combined revenue of the two films was the fourth-largest of all time. “Barbie” raked in an impressive $155 million, while “Oppenheimer” followed with $80.5 million. No one in Hollywood anticipated such an overwhelming turnout for these movies.
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“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” was the seventh installment in the popular franchise from Paramount and Skydance. It had hoped to earn around $25 million in its second weekend, but the competition from “Barbenheimer” took a toll on its box office performance.
Now, the question arises as to whether “Dead Reckoning Part One” can bounce back and enjoy a long and successful run, similar to other films in the Mission: Impossible series. Despite the challenging competition, Hollywood executives, including those from rival studios, are not ruling out the movie just yet. “Dead Reckoning Part One” has received better critical acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes than “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” and audience exit scores have been strong.
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The Mission: Impossible films have never been known for mega-openings, but there were high expectations for “Dead Reckoning Part One” after the massive success of Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” which earned $160.5 million during its opening weekend in 2022.
The “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” effect was strong internationally, with a larger percentage of global gross coming from the foreign box office for the Mission franchise. “Dead Reckoning Part One” earned an additional $55 million from 72 markets in its second weekend, bringing its foreign tally to $252.1 million and a global total of $370.9 million through Sunday. The film performed exceptionally well in Asia, where “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” faced less competition.
“Dead Reckoning Part One” also had to contend with losing Imax and premium large-format screens to “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” These formats carry a significant upcharge, which can impact a film’s overall box office performance. Additionally, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike halted the production of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two,” adding further challenges to the franchise.
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Despite the tough competition and unexpected challenges, industry insiders remain hopeful for the future of the Mission: Impossible series. Tom Cruise’s dedication to the theatrical experience and the franchise’s popularity among audiences bodes well for its continued success. As the box office landscape continues to evolve, moviegoers can look forward to the release of “Dead Reckoning Part Two” in 2024, and the continuation of the action-packed and thrilling Mission: Impossible series.
