Oscars: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Should Be Taken Very Seriously

The weekend box-office for “Top Gun: Maverick” dropped just 15 percent, adding another $44 million to its domestic tally. That's the second-highest fourth weekend behind only “Avatar” with $50 million.

The film now has $473 million in the bank stateside. The film is closing in on $900 million globally. It will probably finish as one of the top 10 highest grossers of all time.

Since Cruise’s contract stipulates that he get 10% of the film’s overall gross, the actor has already made $55 million off “Top Gun: Maverick.”

As much as I’m mixed on the film, how can we not call this a potential Best Picture nominee at this point? SAG nominations for Tom Cruise and the entire ensemble are more than possible.

The film has hit a chord with audiences, critics and the industry. I know so many moviegoers who made it their first film back in theaters since COVID began. It’s become a phenomenon. How can we not take this film seriously come Oscar time. If “Avatar 2” doesn’t satisfy expectations in December, then “Top Gun: Maverick” should be able to coast to a Best Picture nomination.

Of course, then there’s the Tom Cruise question. He hasn’t really been part of an Oscar contender since “Magnolia,” we don’t really know if his Scientology baggage will be a factor here. I believe it won’t, but who’s to say.

There’s also four big contenders, from directors who rarely miss, skipping fall fests entirely and being released at the end of the year: Steven Spielberg’s “The Fablemans,” Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon,” Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and David Fincher’s “The Killer.” How these films play out will Also determine the fate of ‘Maverick’.