'Top Gun: Maverick' Surpasses 'Black Panther' as Fifth-Highest Grossing Movie Domestically

After overtaking Avengers: Infinity War last month, Top Gun: Maverick has now passed Black Panther as the fifth-highest-grossing film in the history of the domestic box office.

The Tom Cruise-led movie returned to the top of the box office over Labor Day weekend, bringing in an additional $7.9 million USD between Friday and Monday and moving total ticket sales to $701 million USD, according to Variety. After 15 weeks, Top Gun: Maverick has officially passed Marvel's Black Panther, which earned $700.4 million USD at the domestic box office.

Maverick has long been ahead of Black Panther internationally and globally — the Joseph Kosinski-directed pic has accumulated $740 million USD overseas and $1.44 billion USD worldwide, while the Chadwick Boseman-starring superhero film peaked at $674 million USD overseas and $1.347 billion USD globally.

Notably, Top Gun: Maverick is the only movie to ever chart No. 1 at the domestic box office during both Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

“It’s without a doubt, that ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is a true cultural touchstone embodying the power of the cinematic experience,” said Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures, in a statement. “As we celebrate this enormous achievement and the film’s massive impact, we want to extend our gratitude to Tom Cruise, our filmmakers and cast, Paramount’s marketing and distribution teams, and the legions of both new and longtime ‘Top Gun’ fans who keep turning out to enjoy this remarkable movie.”

Now among the top five grossing films domestically, Top Gun: Maverick ranks behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($936 million USD), Avengers: Endgame ($858 million USD), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($811 million USD), and James Cameron's Avatar ($760 million USD).

Elsewhere in entertainment, Marvel has released a new deleted scene from Thor: Love and Thunder.