Tom Cruise Regains Box-Office Crown With 'Oblivion'

(MTV) - Tom Cruise is back in business.
Following the underwhelming performance of "Rock of Ages" and the so-so domestic tally of "Jack Reacher," mega-star Tom Cruise is #1 at the box-office again thanks to "Oblivion," the only major new release in theaters over the past weekend.
Cruise managed to shake off the sting of his last two pictures with his latest outing, proving that the man who brought us "Top Gun" and "Risky Business" is definitely still in the game.
The second film from "Tron: Legacy" director Joseph Kosinski took in an estimated $38.2 million, which includes grosses from screenings that began at 7 p.m. Thursday. The sci-fi epic opened a week earlier in several overseas markets, where it has now collected $112 million. Next month, "Oblivion" will reach China and Japan, as well.
The overall weekend may have been down from last year, but Cruise celebrated his biggest non-sequel debut since "War of the Worlds" and his fifth highest ever behind that sci-fi flick and the first three installments of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Cruise recently told MTV News that making "Oblivion" made him feel like a teenage kid again. "That bubble ship — who doesn't want that bubble ship?" he said.
In just 381 theaters, "Home Run" managed to score $1.36 million. On the opposite end of the spectrum from the Christian-themed movie, Rob Zombie's occult heavy "The Lords of Salem" made just $622,000 as it debuted in 354 locations. It's the lowest debut for the rocker/director ever.
"The Place Beyond the Pines," which reunited Ryan Gosling with "Blue Valentine" filmmaker Derek Cianfrance, made $4.75 million as it expanded to 1,542 theaters.
Last weekend's #1 film, "42," was #2 with $18.23 million. The Jackie Robinson biopic has collected $54 million. With no other kid-friendly competition in sight, "The Croods" stayed in third place with $9.5 million for a five-week $154.9 million total. "Scary Movie 5" made just $6.3 million in its second weekend for a $22.9 million total; "Scary Movie 4" made $40.2 million in its opening weekend alone and went on to gross over $90 million in North America back in 2006.
Despite a B- CinemaScore from audiences, "Oblivion" seems to have a chance to cross the $100 million mark domestically. If it does, it'll be the first time for a non-"Mission: Impossible" Cruise flick since "War of the Worlds," unless his extended cameo in "Tropic Thunder" (which made $110 million in 2008) is included. "Oblivion" would join "Identity Thief," "The Croods," "G.I. Joe Retaliation" and mega-hit "Oz: The Great and Powerful" on the short list of movies to crack $100 million thus far in 2013. Of course, in two weeks, "Iron Man 3" is sure to do big business.