Hollywood is abuzz with a new controversy involving none other than Tom Cruise, who is reportedly irked by Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” taking up all the IMAX screens soon after the release of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.”
Cruise has reportedly been vocalizing his frustrations to Paramount executives and others involved, leading to a fascinating behind-the-scenes drama.
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” which marks the beginning of the end for Cruise’s iconic character, Ethan Hunt, is set to release on July 12, 2023.
However, just a week later, “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” are scheduled to hit the screens, with the former locking in all the IMAX screens in North America and other territories for three whole weeks.
This move has left Cruise worried about the potential impact on his film’s performance, especially given the fierce competition expected this summer with a major film release almost every week through mid-August.
Not one to back down, Cruise has been proactively campaigning to convince exhibitors to reconsider their plans, even personally calling around to exhibition and studio executives. His annoyance is somewhat understandable, given his film’s importance and the high-profile competition.
Still, it remains to be seen how much “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie,” and other summer blockbusters will impact “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” at the box office.
This drama between the stars and screens highlights the cutthroat nature of the movie industry, particularly during the summer release season, where each screen and each viewer can make a significant difference. The result of this unfolding saga will certainly be a defining moment in this summer’s box office faceoff.
