On a budget of $15 million, Top Gun grossed over $350 million worldwide and was the highest-grossing film of 1986. Critics were mixed, with Roger Ebert saying, “the good parts are so good, and the bad parts are so relentless.” Regardless, the film became a cultural icon that’s influenced numerous other movies and TV shows. In 2010, 24 years after the original, Paramount offered producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott a sequel. Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer were interested in reprising their roles, but unfortunately, plans stopped after Scott’s death in 2012. In 2017, Tom Cruise announced that Joseph Kosinski, who he worked with on 2013’s Oblivion, would be directing the sequel. The film was initially scheduled for release in 2019 but saw numerous delays for additional filming and the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, 36 years after the original, Top Gun: Maverick soared into theaters in May 2022.
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Synopsis
Following the first film’s events, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) now works as a test pilot. He gets assigned by Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain (Ed Harris) to NAS North Island as a TOPGUN instructor. Once there, he meets with Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson (Jon Hamm) and Rear Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell). They tell Maverick that he’s there to train some of their best pilots for an upcoming mission. Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller) is among these pilots, and he blames Maverick for his father’s tragic death. At the same time, Rooster has to deal with the overly arrogant Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin (Glen Powell). As training continues, Maverick meets up with his ex-girlfriend Penelope “Penny” Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly). With pressures rising and time running out, Maverick has to pull it together to ensure the mission’s success.
Review
As beloved as the first film is, most people can agree that it’s a product of its time. So when Paramount announced a sequel made decades later, only the hardcore fans seemed interested. More often than not, sequels made years after the fact tend to never live up to the original. Thankfully, not only does Top Gun: Maverick live up to its predecessor, but it exceeds the original in many ways. The movie uses nostalgia to draw you in, but thankfully, it’s not shoved down your throat like other legacy sequels. Even though watching the original would help, you could go into this without seeing the first one without being confused. Also, this film has much higher stakes than the first film, where the only stake was making top rank. You care here because the characters are trying to prevent a nuclear explosion that could ignite another world war.
Like always, Tom Cruise is just as energetic and charismatic as ever, but he also has moments of humanity. It’s interesting seeing Maverick racked with guilt over his friend’s death and how it puts him at odds with Rooster. Speaking of, Miles Teller is great as Rooster, who not only looks almost precisely like Goose but acts like him. The scenes between him and Cruise are some of the best, and you can feel the tension between them. Jennifer Connelly does a good job, but her romance with Cruise falls flat like in the original. Val Kilmer also gets a scene with Cruise, and while it’s his only on-screen appearance, it’s a touching moment. The aerial scenes are even more exciting, and Joseph Kosinski does Tony Scott proud with his top-notch cinematography. Overall, Top Gun: Maverick is a rare instance where the sequel outshines the original in every way.
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