Action drama "Top Gun: Maverick" has soared to a second huge weekend showing in North American theaters, taking in an estimated $86 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

That "sensational" number for Paramount's long-awaited Tom Cruise sequel placed it among the top 10 highest-grossing second weekends in domestic box office history, Variety reported.&nbsp;It took in $151 million last weekend.

Boosted by its gripping visuals and unusually positive reviews -- especially for a sequel -- the Paramount/Skydance film has earned $257 million abroad, the latest sign of Hollywood's recovery from a bleak pandemic period.

'Maverick'&nbsp;picks up the story of now-greying US Navy test pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Cruise) as he trains young aviators for a mission to attack a nuclear facility in a rogue state.

Holding in second place was Disney's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," at $9.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. The global take for the Benedict Cumberbatch film has surpassed $750 million in its five weeks out.

20th Century's animated 'Bob's Burgers Movie,'&nbsp;based on a popular television show, held tight in third place, taking in $4.5 million.

In fourth, up one spot from last weekend, was Universal's family-friendly animation "The Bad Guys," at $3.3 million. &nbsp;

Focus Features' "Downton Abbey: A New Era," based on the wildly popular British series, slipped a spot to fifth place, earning $3 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"Everything Everywhere All at Once" ($2 million)

"Sonic the Hedgehog 2" ($1.7 million)

"The Lost City" ($1.4 million)

"Crimes of the Future" ($1.1 million)

"Watcher" ($815,000)

Action drama "Top Gun: Maverick" has soared to a second huge weekend showing in North American theaters, taking in an estimated $86 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

Action drama "Top Gun: Maverick" has soared to a second huge weekend showing in North American theaters, taking in an estimated $86 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. That "sensational" number for Paramount's long-awaited Tom Cruise sequel placed it among the top 10 highest-grossing second weekends in domestic box office history, Variety reported. It took in $151 million last weekend. Boosted by its gripping visuals and unusually positive reviews -- especially for a sequel -- the Paramount/Skydance film has earned $257 million abroad, the latest sign of Hollywood's recovery from a bleak pandemic period. 'Maverick' picks up the story of now-greying US Navy test pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Cruise) as he trains young aviators for a mission to attack a nuclear facility in a rogue state. Holding in second place was Disney's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," at $9.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. The global take for the Benedict Cumberbatch film has surpassed $750 million in its five weeks out. 20th Century's animated 'Bob's Burgers Movie,' based on a popular television show, held tight in third place, taking in $4.5 million. In fourth, up one spot from last weekend, was Universal's family-friendly animation "The Bad Guys," at $3.3 million. Focus Features' "Downton Abbey: A New Era," based on the wildly popular British series, slipped a spot to fifth place, earning $3 million. Rounding out the top 10 were: "Everything Everywhere All at Once" ($2 million) "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" ($1.7 million) "The Lost City" ($1.4 million) "Crimes of the Future" ($1.1 million) "Watcher" ($815,000)

Tom Cruise's film 'Top Gun' again soars to top of N.America box office

Weeks ahead of the release of the highly anticipated film 'Top Gun: Maverick', veteran actor Val Kilmer took to Twitter to share a "special throwback" picture featuring members of the original 'Top Gun' cast.&nbsp; 
 
"Here's a very special throwback from the OG Top Gun. Pictured here are the actual Navy Airforce Top Gun Advisors!" the 62-year-old captioned the image. 
 
The photo also features actors Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards and other members of the Navy Air Force.&nbsp;

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here's a very special throwback from the OG Top Gun. Pictured here are the actual Navy Airforce Top Gun Advisors! <a href="https://t.co/5G7IaFPoXd">pic.twitter.com/5G7IaFPoXd</a>
— Val Kilmer (@valkilmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/valkilmer/status/1525264671833456640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Tom Cruise will return to the franchise as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, along with Val Kilmer returning as Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-top-gun-maverick-director-reveals-meg-ryan-and-kelly-mcgillis-were-never-considered-for-the-sequel-478364">'Top Gun: Maverick' director reveals Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis were never considered for the sequel</a> 
 
Kilmer and Cruise’s co-stars, Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis were reportedly not asked to return in the sequel film.&nbsp; 
 
'Top Gun Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski had earlier shared in an interview that the makers never had planned to bring back the female characters played by Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis in the 2022 sequel. &nbsp; 
 
During an interview with Insider, Kosinski said, "Those weren't stories that we were throwing around."

'Top Gun: Maverick' will be releasing worldwide on May 27.&nbsp;

Weeks ahead of the release of the highly anticipated film 'Top Gun: Maverick', veteran actor Val Kilmer took to Twitter to share a "special throwback" picture featuring members of the original 'Top Gun' cast.

Weeks ahead of the release of the highly anticipated film 'Top Gun: Maverick', veteran actor Val Kilmer took to Twitter to share a "special throwback" picture featuring members of the original 'Top Gun' cast. "Here's a very special throwback from the OG Top Gun. Pictured here are the actual Navy Airforce Top Gun Advisors!" the 62-year-old captioned the image. The photo also features actors Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards and other members of the Navy Air Force. here's a very special throwback from the OG Top Gun. Pictured here are the actual Navy Airforce Top Gun Advisors! pic.twitter.com/5G7IaFPoXd — Val Kilmer (@valkilmer) May 14, 2022 × Tom Cruise will return to the franchise as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, along with Val Kilmer returning as Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky. 'Top Gun: Maverick' director reveals Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis were never considered for the sequel Kilmer and Cruise’s co-stars, Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis were reportedly not asked to return in the sequel film. 'Top Gun Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski had earlier shared in an interview that the makers never had planned to bring back the female characters played by Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis in the 2022 sequel. During an interview with Insider, Kosinski said, "Those weren't stories that we were throwing around." 'Top Gun: Maverick' will be releasing worldwide on May 27.

Val Kilmer shares a 'special throwback' photo of the original 'Top Gun' cast

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Tom Cruise's film 'Top Gun' again soars to top of N.America box office

Val Kilmer shares a 'special throwback' photo of the original 'Top Gun' cast