Tom Cruise and the Mission: Impossible franchise are each aging like a fine wine. As a big opening for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation proves, the older and more experienced each gets, the more moviegoers can’t seem to get enough of either.
After tallying $4 million from late night showings Thursday, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation from writer/director Christopher McQuarrie achieved liftoff on Friday to earn $20.3 million through its first 24 hours of release. For Cruise and the now five-film movie franchise, that opening day ranks second to none when judged against the other four M:I films.
Bolstered by an “A-” CinemaScore and stellar 93% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation should top $50 million through Friday and finish somewhere in the neighborhood of $52 million. Only Mission: Impossible II performed better for the franchise with a $57.8 million bow back in 2000.
Read our Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation review.
With an estimated price tag of $150 million, Paramount needed a strong domestic opening for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation given star Tom Cruise’s international appeal that will assuredly make the film an overseas sensation. Currently overseas markets are tracking to top $110 million through Sunday.
Amazon is already accepting Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Blu-ray and DVD pre-orders and I wouldn’t be surprised if the title cracks the top 10 there once word gets out that pre-orders are live.
On the other end of the earnings spectrum, New Line’s attempt to resurrect the Vacation franchise with Ed Helms playing Rusty Griswold has generated a 23% rotten score at Rotten Tomatoes and only earned $4.5 million on Friday in its third day of release. The sequel/reboot will barely top $20 million from Wednesday through Sunday and appears to be headed to home video not soon after reaching Wally World.
