These 3 big-ticket films will be fighting for audience's love at the box office this month

This month will witness one of the most significant clashes at the box office in recent memory. Pitted against each other are two heavyweights — Tom Cruise, the star of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One releasing on July 12, and iconic filmmaker Christopher Nolan, whose ambitious Oppenheimer premieres a week later (July 21). Adding further intensity to the competition, Greta Gerwig’s highly-anticipated Barbie also arrives on the same date (July 21). As anticipation builds, the question remains — who will win the ‘battle of July’ in Hollywood? The answer is far from simple as the conflict spans across many fronts, adding complexity to the situation.

Superstar Tom Cruise is being credited for ‘saving’ Hollywood after his last summer outing, Top Gun: Maverick, grossed a phenomenal $1.5 billion worldwide. Even the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg was overheard saying that Cruise was ‘saving Hollywood’ as the film industry was trying to rebound from the pandemic. So Tom Cruise seemed geared up to repeat the success with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning till Oppenheimer dropped a bomb. While Hollywood has experienced big box office clashes in the past, director Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated drama exploring the genesis of the atom bomb holds a distinct advantage. This battle extends beyond mere content and star power; it is a fight for screens and theatres.

It’s now generally believed that the best way to enjoy big, action packed, VFX-heavy films like Mission: Impossible and Oppenheimer are in IMAX theatres. Viewers making the effort to visit a theatre for a major movie expect it to witness it on the most expansive screen available. Therefore, it is crucial for filmmakers to ensure that their movie secures a substantial amount of IMAX screen time. And that’s where Oppenheimer took a lead as Universal Studio negotiated a rare agreement for Oppenheimer to control IMAX’s entire North American footprint for three full weeks. In simple words, Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning will remain in the IMAX theatres for nine days before being replaced by Oppenheimer for next three weeks.

Over the years, Christopher Nolan has been a fervent advocate of IMAX, hailing it as “the best film format that was ever invented”. This strong endorsement from Nolan might be one of the reasons why IMAX, despite Tom Cruise’s earnest attempts to alter the situation, chose to uphold their commitment to Nolan. In an interview, the CEO of IMAX expressed that Nolan holds a special place in the heart of IMAX due to his utilisation of IMAX cameras and his active promotion of the format.