By Sunday afternoon, “Elvis” and “Top Gun: Maverick” were in a dead heat for the top spot with $30.5 million each, with the Elvis Presley biopic making its debut as “Maverick” entered its fifth week in theaters and joined the billion-dollar club at the global box office.
According to Deadline, data compiled by box office analytics firm EntTelligence gives “Maverick” the edge with 2.5 million admissions, compared with Elvis’ 2.4 million admissions, but industry average weekend estimates projected “Elvis” to rake in $30.1 million to “Maverick’s” $29.96 million.
Meanwhile, two other films, newcomer “The Black Phone” and “Jurassic World Dominion,” have each grossed at least $20 million, followed closely by “Lightyear” with nearly $18 million, Variety reported.
Final figures incorporating Sunday’s grosses will be released Monday.
“It’s beyond encouraging,” Universal’s president of domestic distribution Jim Orr told the entertainment news outlet, adding, “It’s a great sign that people really want to be back in theaters.”
Opening weekend expectations for “Elvis,” which stars newcomer Austin Butler as Presley, hovered closer to $25 million. While final figures are expected to help the Baz Luhrmann-directed flick surpass an opening tally of nearly $26 million for “Rocketman,” the 2019 biopic celebrating singer Elton John, “Elvis” will come nowhere near Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which debuted with slightly more than $51 million in 2018.
“I’m less concerned with who’s number one and who’s number two, and I’m more concerned that we hit this big number given that this audience has been the slowest to return to movie theaters,” Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros., told The Associated Press.
According to a recent National Research Group study, 88% of moviegoers are “very or somewhat comfortable” going to the movies as COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions have slowly lifted, compared with about 59% one year ago, Variety reported.
The following figures, compiled by Comscore, represent estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters:
1. (Tie) “Elvis,” $30.5 million.
1. (Tie) “Top Gun: Maverick,” $30.5 million.
3. “Jurassic World: Dominion,” $26.4 million.
4. “Black Phone,” $23.4 million.
5. “Lightyear,” $17.7 million.
6. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” $1.7 million.
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Harper Presley Lockwood, from left, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley, Riley Keough and Finley Presley Lockwood, family members of the late singer Elvis Presley, pose after placing their hands in cement at a ceremony in honor of the Presley family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Lisa Marie Presley, from left, Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough, family members of the late singer Elvis Presley, place their hands in cement during a hand and footprint ceremony in their honor on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Priscilla Presley, former wife of the late singer Elvis Presley, speaks during a hand and footprint ceremony in honor of the Presley family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Priscilla Presley, former wife of the late singer Elvis Presley, left, and her granddaughter Riley Keough, sign their names in cement during a ceremony honoring the Presley family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Priscilla Presley, former wife of the late singer Elvis Presley, left, looks on as her daughter Lisa Marie Presley, speaks during a hand and footprint ceremony in their honor on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late singer Elvis Presley, places her hands in cement during a ceremony on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Riley Keough, granddaughter of the late singer Elvis Presley, places her hands in cement during a ceremony on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Lisa Marie Presley, left, Priscilla Presley, center, and Riley Keough, second right, family members of the late singer Elvis Presley, pose with director Baz Luhrmann, second left, and actor Austin Butler, right, members of the film "Elvis," during a ceremony in honor of the Presley family, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Director Baz Luhrmann, left, and actor Austin Butler, from the film "Elvis," speak during a hand and footprint ceremony for Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough, family members of the late Elvis Presley, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Actor Austin Butler, a cast member from the film "Elvis," speaks during a hand and footprint ceremony for Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough, family members of the late Elvis Presley, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Riley Keough, granddaughter of the late singer Elvis Presley, waves to the crowd as she attends a ceremony honoring the Presley family with their hands in cement on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony The handprints of Priscilla Presley, the former wife of the late singer Elvis Presley, appear in cement following a ceremony in honor of the Presley family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Harper Presley Lockwood, from left, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley, center, Riley Keough, third right, and Finley Presley Lockwood, right, family members of the late singer Elvis Presley, pose with director Baz Luhrmann, third left, and actor Austin Butler, second right, members of the film "Elvis," during a ceremony in honor of the Presley family, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony The handprints of Riley Keough, granddaughter of the late singer Elvis Presley, appear in cement following a ceremony in honor of the Presley family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Priscilla Presley, former wife of the late singer Elvis Presley, left, and her granddaughter Riley Keough, sign their names in cement during a ceremony honoring the Presley family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Jerry Schilling, former manger for Elvis Presley, from back row left, director Baz Luhrmann and actor Austin Butler, from the film "Elvis," look on as members of the Presley family, from front row left, Harper Presley Lockwood, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley, Riley Keough and Finley Presley Lockwood show their hands after placing them in cement during a ceremony in their honor on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Presley family hand and footprint ceremony Natasha Bassett attends a hand and footprint ceremony for Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough, family members of the late singer Elvis Presley, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)