Top Gun(1986)

Name: Top Gun
Director: Tony Scott
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: May 16, 1986
Cast: Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer

Paramount Pictures

1h 50m
- Action
- Drama

Release Date: May 16, 1986

The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and col... Read all

Release Details

Original Release | May 16, 1986 | Wide

2013 3D Release | Feb 8, 2013 | Limited

2021 Re-release | May 14, 2021 | Limited

2026 Re-release | May 13, 2026 | Wide (Paramount Pictures International)

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Box Office Results

2026-03-10T11:50:01.877Z

All Releases (4)
Total US & Canada:
$180,258,178
Total International
$177,030,000
Total Worldwide:
$357,288,178

Total US & Canada:
$168,040,072
Total International
$130,056
Total Worldwide:
$168,170,128

Current Showtimes

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Mon Sep 7
Tue Sep 8
Wed Sep 9
Thu Sep 10
Fri Sep 11
Sat Sep 12
Sun Sep 13

Director & Top Cast

Tony Scott
Director

Tom Cruise
Maverick

Tim Robbins
Merlin

Kelly McGillis
Charlie

Val Kilmer
Ice

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo,Dolby Digital,DTS-ES,Dolby Digital EX,Dolby Atmos

Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English

Summaries

Plot Summary

Top Gun is a 1986 American action drama directed by Tony Scott and written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., inspired by the 1983 California magazine article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay. The film stars Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a cocky and gifted naval aviator who attends the US Navy's elite Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar. Kelly McGillis plays civilian astrophysicist Charlie, Anthony Edwards plays Goose, Maverick's radar intercept officer and best friend, and Val Kilmer plays the calm, competitive rival Iceman. The supporting cast includes Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, John Stockwell, Tim Robbins, and Rick Rossovich. The film was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. The score is by Harold Faltermeyer, with the soundtrack including "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins and "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin. The aerial sequences were filmed using actual F-14 Tomcats with unprecedented access granted by the US Navy. Top Gun was released in the United States on May 16, 1986, by Paramount Pictures, and became the highest-grossing film of 1986 domestically, earning $179.8 million in the US and $357.1 million worldwide against a $15 million budget. The film received a theatrical re-release on May 13, 2026. Core themes include ambition, ego, competition, grief, loyalty, and the cost of recklessness. The film launched Tom Cruise to a new level of stardom and is credited with significantly increasing US Navy recruitment following its release.

Storyline

US Navy Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, call sign Maverick--an impetuous, daredevil pilot ace--is accepted into Top Gun, Miramar's elite Fighter School. But there, the impulsive young pilot will have to compete with the best of the best, including Iceman, a brilliant and highly competitive fellow student. Now, Mitchell must give his all; however, his father's mysterious and untimely demise still haunts him. Can Maverick prove his worth to Charlie, the flying school's no-nonsense astrophysics instructor? Will he be able to suppress his wild nature to win the prestigious Top Gun Trophy? — Nick Riganas Devil-may-care navy pilot Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is sent to Miramar Naval Air Station for advanced training. Here he vies with Tom Kasansky (Val Kilmer) for the coveted "Top Gun" award. When not so occupied, Mitchell carries on a romance with civilian consultant Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). Shaken up by the death of a friend, Mitchell loses the Top Gun honor to Kasansky. Worried that he may have lost his nerve, Mitchell is given a chance to redeem himself during a tense international crisis involving a crippled US vessel and a flock of predatory enemy planes. The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and collected Iceman (Val Kilmer). But Maverick isn't only competing to be the top fighter pilot, he's also fighting for the attention of his beautiful flight instructor, Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). — maschzentertainment Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is an expert United States Naval Aviator. When he encounters a pair of MiGs over the Persian Gulf, his wingman is clearly outflown and freaks. On almost no fuel, Maverick is able to talk him back down to the carrier. When his wingman turns in his wings, Maverick is moved up in the standings and sent to the Top Gun Naval Flying School. There he fights the attitudes of the other pilots and an old story of his father's death in combat that killed others due to his father's error. Maverick struggles to be the best pilot, stepping on the toes of his other students. — John Vogel

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Top Gun actually increase Navy recruitment?

Was it filmed with real military aircraft?

What happened during production?

Did the original cast return for Top Gun: Maverick?

When was it released?

Fun Facts

While filming aboard the USS Enterprise, director Tony Scott wanted to shoot jets backlit by the sun, but the ship changed course and the light shifted. When he asked the captain to turn back, he was told it would cost $25,000. Scott wrote the check on the spot and got exactly five more minutes of footage