Elvis & Top Gun: Maverick in a tight race for the number one spot at the box office following Friday’s estimates

It’s going to be a very close call at the box office if the Friday estimates are any indication. Elvis and Top Gun: Maverick are virtually neck and neck and Saturday business will determine who wins this very tight race for the number one spot.

Elvis grossed an estimated $12.7 million on Friday compared to the $8.25 million of Top Gun: Maverick. The reason the number one spot will be very close is that Top Gun: Maverick’s business tends to surge on Saturday and we will have to see if Elvis was frontloaded Friday based on an early rush. Deadline is calling it $31.5 million for Elvis and $30 million for Top Gun: Maverick but this could all flip by Sunday. Elvis also earned an “A-” CinemaScore which is promising for word of mouth moving forward.

In other Friday box office news, The Black Phone is overperforming based on estimates. The critically lauded horror film from director Scott Derrickson grossed $10.2 million which currently looks like a $23.2 million opening weekend. The film earned a “B+” CinemaScore which is very good for horror as they tend to land in the “C” range.

The only film making it seem like we won’t have 5 movies making $20 million+ this weekend is Lightyear. The Friday number comes in at $5.4 million which could mean a $17-19 million second weekend. That would mean a massive 64% drop from last weekend but let’s wait and see how this plays out. Family films also tend to surge on Saturday so it’s possible that Lightyear recovers.

Check back tomorrow for the full box office wrap-up!