Reports indicate that Tom Cruise, the star of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, feels frustrated as Oppenheimer and Barbie are encroaching on the film’s screen time, leading to a potential box office clash.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One marks the beginning of the end for Cruise’s iconic character, Ethan Hunt, with the film’s mission beginning on July 12, 2023. However, a mere week later, on July 21, the highly anticipated releases of Oppenheimer and Barbie will hit theaters, creating a competing environment.
According to a report from Puck, Cruise is displeased by the fact that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One might lose access to key IMAX screens rather swiftly, primarily due to Oppenheimer. Although Cruise’s blockbuster will initially enjoy an IMAX release during its first week, Oppenheimer has secured an exclusive deal, granting it access to all IMAX screens in the United States for the first three weeks of its premiere.
Furthermore, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will have to contend with Barbie, which is set to debut on the same day as Oppenheimer.
The struggles faced by Mission: Impossible 7 reflect the highly competitive landscape of the summer box office. As detailed in the report, numerous high-profile films are scheduled for release almost every week until mid-August, starting with the recent release of Fast X.
Alongside Oppenheimer and Barbie, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One must also navigate the presence of other significant contenders like Haunted Mansion, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Meg 2: The Trench, and Gran Turismo, all of which will hit theaters within a month of the latest Mission: Impossible installment.
The intense competition among these major blockbusters places Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in a challenging position. Despite the film being the longest-running entry in the franchise and serving as the beginning of its finale, its box office performance is likely to be influenced by the simultaneous releases of other films.
Oppenheimer, in particular, holds a significant advantage with its exclusive IMAX screenings, potentially impeding the performance of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
Cruise’s frustration regarding losing IMAX screens to Oppenheimer is understandable, considering the competitive nature of this summer’s film releases. Ultimately, the impact of Oppenheimer, Barbie, and other high-profile films on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’s box office success remains to be seen.
