Tom Cruise has cemented himself as a household name in the entertainment world thanks to his action-star persona. While he has explored a variety of genres as an actor, his action projects remained on top, due to their critical and commercial success.
Among his films, Top Gun: Maverick (2022) garnered immense acclaim, particularly standing out for revitalizing theaters in a way that no other film had done post-pandemic.
Post-Pandemic Movies That Entered the $1 Billion Club
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film industry faced a critical period as theatres were closed, leaving release schedules to be thrown into chaos. Given that the future of cinema felt uncertain, movies were unable to resurge the hype of the theatrical experience.
Since box-office numbers have been a significant factor in a movie’s success, a selected few managed to defy the odds and surged past $1 billion at the global box office.
Here’s a list of 8 movies (via Culture Crave) that crossed the $1 billion benchmark post-pandemic, marking a significant achievement in the cinematic world.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – $1.9 Billion
Tom Holland starring in the titular role, is the first major blockbuster to hit theaters after the pandemic. It was a complete delight for Spider-Man fans as the movie brought several iconic characters including Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s web-slingers. Spider-Man: No Way Home is available on Netflix.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – $2.31 Billion
James Cameron‘s Avatar sequel has been awaited for a long time, delivering groundbreaking visual effects and a captivating story. becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time. It is available on Disney+.
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) – $1.004 Billion
The final installment in the Jurassic World trilogy combined the franchise’s nostalgia with modern blockbuster action. Its massive box-office success served as a fitting conclusion to the iconic saga. It is available to watch on AppleTV.
Barbie (2023) – $1.44 Billion
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s Barbie was a surprise hit, which appealed to both younger audiences and adults, making it a cultural phenomenon. Its success is further elevated due to the Barbenheimer phenomenon as Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer was released on the same date. Barbie is available on Max.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) – $1.36 Billion
Belonging to one of the most beloved video game franchises, the 2023 movie was a nostalgic treat for fans. It remained faithful to its source material, becoming a box-office smash worldwide. It is available to watch on Prime Video.
Inside Out 2 (2024) – $1.59 Billion
Pixar’s long-awaited sequel to Inside Out won audiences’ hearts once again with its exploration of emotions and the human experience. Thanks to its storytelling arc and visuals, it secured a place in the $1 billion club, proving that Pixar’s magic is still out there.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) – $1.029 Billion
The anticipated team-up between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in their respective superhero roles became a massive hit. With its signature blend of humor, action, and meta-commentary, the movie featured interesting cameos, bringing an interesting banger for the MCU. The global box-office figures are taken from The Numbers.
Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick Revitalized Theatres Despite Being of Non-Superhero Genre
After 1986’s Top Gun, Tom Cruise reprised his Maverick role in the action movie, making it nothing short of spectacular. Apart from delivering thrilling action sequences, just what we can expect from Cruise’s movies, it balanced the tough work with an emotional touch.
By crossing the $1 billion mark, it became the first non-superhero movie post-COVID, signaling the power of traditional action movies’ resurgence. Fans took to X to celebrate the movie’s inclusion in the prestigious list, particularly for the fact that it has no relation with the superhero genre.
Check the tweets here.
His Maverick return brought authenticity and intensity to the screen, drawing both old fans and new viewers, due to the nostalgia for the 1986 original. The movie garnered immense acclaim, thanks to its high-octane action sequences and minimal use of CGI.
Top Gun: Maverick is available to stream on Paramount+.
