Hollywood star thanks fans, studios, and theaters amid speculation this could be his final outing in the franchise.
Tom Cruise is celebrating the record-breaking box office debut of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth installment in the long-running action movie. The film earned an estimated $77 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., making it the highest domestic opening in the series’ 29-year history.
Cruise shared a heartfelt message on social media following the film’s success. “This weekend was one for the history books,” he wrote. “Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, artist, crew member, and every person working at the studios. To every theater and employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you.”
The actor also expressed gratitude to the studios behind the project. “To everyone at Paramount Pictures and Skydance, thank you for your many years of partnership and unwavering support. And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere—for whom we all serve and love to entertain.”
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning brought in $63 million during its standard three-day opening and surpassed the $61 million debut of Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2018.
“A record opening on the eighth iteration is remarkable,” said Chris Aronson, Paramount’s head of distribution. “It speaks to the longevity of the franchise. The spectacle that Tom and McQ [director Christopher McQuarrie] created is one-of-a-kind in today’s marketplace.”
The film, with a reported production budget of $400 million, is among the most expensive movies ever made. Ahead of its release, Cruise traveled around the globe for a promotional tour, including a high-profile premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Speculation has swirled that this could be Cruise’s final appearance as Ethan Hunt. However, the actor has remained noncommittal. When asked if this film marks the end of his journey with the franchise, he replied, “I’d rather people just see it and enjoy it. We’ve had an amazing time making it. It’s been a lot of fun, and I want you all to enjoy it. Everything has led to this moment.”
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is now playing in theaters nationwide, distributed by Paramount Pictures.
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