In a significant shift for viewers on Paramount Plus, Pedro Pascal Gladiator II surpasses Top Gun Maverick on Paramount Plus, ending Tom Cruise’s run as the platform’s most-watched film. The change signals a new moment for both stars, reflecting changing tastes and momentum between major Hollywood icons.
Historic Rivalry in Streaming Popularity Emerges
Tom Cruise and Pedro Pascal have both achieved remarkable acclaim in recent years, with their respective projects consistently landing in the spotlight. While Cruise recently premiered the eighth and final installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Pascal has demonstrated striking versatility, starring in releases such as The Last of Us and Materialists, and is anticipating his role in Fantastic Four: First Steps. These two actors remain relentless, launching new projects while their previous works continue to spark interest and debate within the entertainment industry.
At the heart of their streaming rivalry are two standout films: Top Gun: Maverick and Gladiator II. Despite being separated by genre and style, both works have reached impressive levels of viewership, driving a competition for the top spot on Paramount Plus and stirring conversation about their respective legacies.
Distinctive Achievements of Top Gun: Maverick and Gladiator II
Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick, following in the footsteps of the 1986 classic, emerged as an iconic sequel that established new benchmarks for the action genre and the actor himself. The film not only resonated with longstanding fans but also outperformed its predecessor’s success, earning a blockbuster $1.4 billion globally. According to The Numbers, these record-breaking figures made Top Gun: Maverick the centerpiece of Cruise’s filmography and a dominant force in 2022’s box office landscape.
In contrast, Gladiator II, led by Pedro Pascal, carved its own legacy despite facing lower box office numbers, collecting roughly $460 million worldwide as stated by The Numbers. The film quickly became a cultural phenomenon upon its 2024 release, pairing its star-studded cast with the buzz of opening alongside Wicked. This simultaneous release event echoed the cultural phenomenon of “Barbieheimer,” amplifying Gladiator II’s profile and contributing to its strong reception and continued engagement by global audiences.
Pedro Pascal’s Momentum and Shifting Industry Fortunes
Though box office performance is a traditional measure of cinematic impact, streaming data can reveal evolving dynamics once theatrical runs conclude. Gladiator II’s ascendancy over Top Gun: Maverick as the most-watched movie on Paramount Plus points to the extraordinary attention Pedro Pascal is currently commanding. As Pascal consistently delivers celebrated performances and maintains a compelling presence in popular culture, audiences seem eager to revisit or discover his movies, reinforcing his status among this generation’s leading stars.
Meanwhile, Cruise’s influence endures, yet the intense current focus on Pascal’s work means that, at least within the realm of streaming, the scales have tipped. The continued consumption of Gladiator II, long after its initial release window, highlights a momentous shift in audience preferences, and intensifies discussion about where both actors now stand in Hollywood’s evolving hierarchy.
Ongoing Access and What the Trend Reveals
Both Top Gun: Maverick and Gladiator II remain accessible to viewers on Paramount Plus, offering ongoing opportunities for fans to engage with the performances that define Tom Cruise and Pedro Pascal’s careers. The recent change in viewership ranks between these films may reflect broader transformations in entertainment consumption, star power dynamics, and the interplay between theatrical performance and streaming popularity.
With Pedro Pascal Gladiator II surpasses Top Gun Maverick on Paramount Plus, the industry witnesses a moment where digital metrics reshape legacy and prestige. Whether this signals a lasting change or a passing trend, Hollywood observers will continue watching closely to see how public interest and industry status evolve as both actors pursue their next chapters.
