2nd June 2023, Mumbai: Tom Cruise is reportedly not happy with the IMAX distribution situation for his upcoming film, Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One. After losing three weeks of IMAX exclusivity due to competition from Christopher Nolan’s film, Oppenheimer, Cruise has been pushing exhibitors to prioritize his movie over Nolan’s on large-format screens. Sources claim that Cruise has expressed his displeasure to Paramount executives, as well as others, about the IMAX scheduling conflict.
The issue stems from the fact that Nolan is closely associated with IMAX and shot Oppenheimer entirely with IMAX large-format cameras. Universal, the distributor for Oppenheimer, secured an exclusive three-week IMAX window for the film. However, Cruise, known for being persistent in getting what he wants, has voiced his frustration, feeling that he should be given priority as the one who “saved” theaters during the pandemic. Cruise believes that Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is likely to outperform Oppenheimer overall, making a case for him to have the best screens.
Cruise’s previous film, Top Gun: Maverick, earned a significant portion of its global box office gross from IMAX theaters. As premium large-format screens and their upcharges have become crucial for event spectacle movies like Mission: Impossible, Cruise is determined to secure as many non-IMAX premium large format (P.L.F.) screens as possible. He has been actively screening the film for exhibitors, hoping to convince them to switch their plans from showing Oppenheimer or Barbie, which Warner Bros. scheduled as a direct competitor to Nolan’s film.
In his efforts to secure the best screening options, Cruise has taken a hands-on approach. He has personally called exhibition and studio executives, even asking rivals to relinquish P.L.F. screens or adjust their release dates for the sake of the entire theatrical business. However, it is unlikely that other studios would make such concessions. Cruise’s representative, Amanda Lundberg, and Paramount have declined to comment on the matter.
With IMAX accounting for just over a third of the large-format screens in the U.S., Cruise is focusing on securing non-IMAX P.L.F. screens for his film. His determination to ensure Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One receives the best possible screening opportunities showcases his commitment to the theatrical experience and his belief in the film’s potential success.