TOP GUN (1986) Revisited: Tom Cruise Movie Review

Here on JoBlo Originals, we're devoted Tom Cruise superfans. We've been counting down the YEARS to the release of Top Gun: Maverick and are pleased to say that it's everything we hoped it would be. With Tom Cruise back in the limelight, we decided now is the time to dive right into a show we've been planning for a while, Tom Cruise Revisited. In this ongoing series, we're going to revisit all of Cruise's biggest hits, and given that Top Gun: Maverick is about to come out, what better way to start than with the film that made him a legend - 1986's Top Gun.
Directed by the late Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, it's worth noting that Tom Cruise was already a star before this movie came out. Risky Business had established him back in 1983. But, Top Gun elevated him to superstar status, and it's a position he's held on to for thirty-six years.
In this episode, we look into how the film came to be. It all started with a magazine article and a slick commercial by Tony Scott. No one thought this would be the absolute megabit it became. We examine Cruise's iconic performance, the chemistry with Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer's role as Iceman, and of course, that iconic soundtrack by Harold Faltermeyer, with those great songs by Berlin, Kenny Loggins, Giorgio Moroder and more.
Do you think Top Gun holds up all of these years later? Let us know in the comments!
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#TomCruise #TopGun #topgunmaverick

[@trinaq]

Anthony Edwards was brilliant as Goose, despite most of the focus being on Cruise, Kilmer and McGillis. He's the heart of the movie, and you can understand why Maverick is devastated by his death. He was also great in "ER."

[@edkwon]

Edwards was the heart & soul of ER

[@grapeshot]

That flame out scene where Goose dies. I found out that the stunt pilot that did that stunt was killed and the plane and his body was never recovered because the plane crash into the Pacific Ocean.

[@xstatixtribalelectronicmus2787]

His name was Art Scholl He was filming to simulate the spin sequence and always flew with his dog. During the sequence something went horribly wrong and he radioed to the tower saying that. After him uttering those words the radio went dead silent. Really sad.

[@John-Doe-Yo]

@@xstatixtribalelectronicmus2787 noooo the dog died too? 😓

[@wrldtrvlr4vr]

That is sad

[@BP26P]

He also did the piston-engined aircraft stunts in Iron Eagle, released just months before Top Gun.

[@heroic5870]

@@John-Doe-Yo you give more of a shit over the dog than the pilot

[@scottknode898]

I am 35 years old and born in 1986, I am a big fan of Top Gun and have seen many times. My wife is also a fan and we watch every year. We had Take My Breath Away as one of our slow dance songs when we got married 10 years ago.

[@smitty16s]

Any veteran will agree the homoeroticism is funny in the movie, and is pretty accurate for how dudes in the military act. It’s always a game of chicken to see how far you can go.

[@edkwon]

It's not gay until someone flinches first?

[@jtgd]

@@edkwon ends up in a 40 year long loving close “friendship” where they behave like a married couple, because neither would chicken out

[@MrMojoman1976]

What’s interesting is that Legend opened about three weeks before Top Gun in the US . I couldn’t believe it was the same guy .

[@Dohsoda]

I have to admit, that Top Gun soundtrack is a really fun listen. Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick is one hell of a rock song 🤘🎸.

[@darthsygma1693]

This was the first whs tape that my older brother rented for our new videorecorder back in the 87 or 88. I watched it so many times that I still remember every single line so I didn't watched it for long time, then after years I found it on Prime and I thought "let's watch it in english": you know, in the italian dub during the last fight Mav just looks at Goose's dog tags without saying nothing, but when I saw that scene with him saying "talk to me Goose" I was about to cry. Only great movies make you feel those kind of emotions even after decades.

[@nathanslay6342]

The flying scenes in the movie also are awesome and the characters in it are also responsible for Top Gun being the classic it is today.

[@nathanslay6342]

Top Gun is awesome! I find it so charming! It’s a great product of the 80s that is still entertaining as heck and fun! I love the chemistry between Cruise and McGillis, as cheesy as it may be. I love the chemistry between Cruise and Edwards as well. It’s got great characters and I just connect with the whole story. It’s just really good!

[@ritalpha17]

Hey Chris I love watching these Revisited series! Please keep doing them and also keep narrating them too!

[@jackhackett80]

Never really thought about this, but I was 6 when this was released and my uncle who is also a plane enthusiast, watched this constantly. Had the soundtrack on cassette. I wore that tape out as an 8 year old

[@asifkhan4822]

This was the movie that made Cruise a megastar and skyrocketed recruitment into the Navy following the release of this film.

[@kilotun8316]

I love to say, 1986 gave us three of the best things that came out of the 80s; Top Gun, Transformers The Movie and Me. And man I remember watching this movie over and over again as a kid. Then I joined the Navy, watched it with my mates and found that they too were as entranced by it as I was. In hindsight, of course, it's kinda silly and we all realize we'd get cashiered if we ever did half the stuff Maverick does. Still doesn't stop us from dropping lines and references though.

[@DoctorJay184]

Iron Eagle was released before Top Gun, so it's hardly a "clone".

[@johnlee7164]

In the 80s, there was a general push from the US military to portray them as highly competent. It's a sort of re-branding after the 70s had painted the US marines as baby killers and forced conscriptors. The military had to sell the idea of being in service voluntarily, and movies were, and still are, one of the biggest ways to sell ideas. Nowadays, you get movies like Transformers and Avengers getting free military vehicles to rent for set dressing. or free fly-bys. as long as they are portrayed as benevolent and highly competent.

[@patfer1189]

This long revisit of the movie and no mention of the third character that became iconic with Top Gun? The F-14 Tomcat! Yes- it had been around for a decade at that point, and certainly appeared in other earlier films like The Final Countdown and inspired designs such as those in Macross, but it is undeniable that being at the center of the story as THE plane in this movie made it both cool and iconic (to the point that it is also featured in Top Gun Maverick more than 15 years after being retired). As a design the F-14 was unique and a standout at the time, but its presence in this blockbuster made it iconic, legendary, and admittedly a cultural icon. There have been many fighter jets over the decades and yet the Tomcat remains the most ingrained in people's minds thanks to this movie. It was the other 'character' who had its breakout film in Top Gun.

[@edkwon]

Swing wing variable geometry fighters forever!

[@blackamerican40]

It's going to weird to see Tom Cruise's arch enemy, Val Kilmer's character now, and knowing the health problems the actor has now.

[@lrts1lrts181]

This is a part of life, not everyone is like Clint Eastwood at older age, and previews of this film say that it doesn't shy away from Val's issues and threats them with respect.

[@danieldoherty8101]

I think the reason Scott got the gig was his advertisement for Saab, featuring jets and cars,

[@vjfperez]

This is probably the most influential and inspirational movie of all time. Not only it redefined the movie industry, but literally changed many peoples lives. Ask pretty much any pilot.

[@robvegas9354]

From memory it was compulsory to have this on video back in the day. Awesome movie! For a while used the sound track to test out PA systems at clubs when mixing bands.

[@JAFOpty]

Iron Eagle came out before Top Gun. (And Maverick is actually very similar to Iron Eagle II) 😎

[@shaggycan]

Giorgio Moroder is so underrated. Without him there is no Hans Zimmer.

[@charliereed9925]

Giorgio is still relevant to this day and has never been underrated in the music industry. He won many grammy awards, Golden Globe and an Oscar. He made famous the Iconic Donna Summer and produced many #1 hits for other musicians. He is also considered the pioneer Father of Electronica with the song I fell love. In 2014 he got some buzz cause of Daft Funk grammy album which was a tribute to him. Hans Zimmer said " I have to give credit to Giorgio; among the first to make us realize the importance of music in film."

[@itslouiemoo8018]

Can't wait to see the sequel considering it was filmed completely in IMAX. So it's going to look incredible.

[@jorgejimenez8947]

Was looking forward to this revisited before going to see Top Gun Maverick.

[@crumblebee6728]

I'd never seen it, watched the other night. it's fine, silly, low stakes - 7/10.. not surprised the new one seems to have surpassed it, the original was kinda cheesy and daft but super enjoyable.

[@ShawnPark]

Fantastic video! I am so glad you mentioned Wrath of Khan. I remember that being the first affordable VHS tape available and I was so happy when my Mom took me to the video store to purchase it. 😎

[@virgil3241]

This VHS was the one you used to test your home theatre back in the day, on a good 4 head Sony VHS.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

I just got a 1/48 scale MiG 28, but for some reason, it came with USAF stickers and now I’m confused.

[@nigeh5326]

Lol good one.

[@peterh3889]

Brilliant! Watching this with my morning coffee before heading into town to watch Maverick.. exceptional timing 👏🏻👊🏻👍🏻😊

[@wstine79]

I remember watching movie Magic special on A&E about Top Gun. Even though the planes were real, the exploding Jets were model ships blowing up in the air.

[@patfer1189]

The same with the 'flat spin'. All logical since the Navy wouldn't have wanted to destroy millions in government property. With that said the filmmakers got permission to fire one real (dummy/not armed) rocket from an F-14, which you can see in the final battle and it is the only wide shot of a rocket leaving the fighter (two more shots show the same rocket mid flight too, also wide shots). It is a rocket that doesn't hit the target in that final fight. I believe it was a Phoenix missile. off the top of my head, but may have been just a Sidewinder.

[@crooney82]

Man. Great review. I agree. The first Top Gun holds up. When you watch peope on KZbin watch it for the first time they almost always cry when Goose dies. I love the new one but it doesn’t have the vibes the old one did. This is due to the soundtrack.

[@nacho_ncam]

"Danger zone" is in the sequel?? Hell yeah 🤘

[@MrUnicorn44]

Loved the retrospective, but, on the sell-through issue, I think you'd find that both 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' and 'The Making of "Thriller"' were the first to be released at a lower price (and this is from someone who could walk into any store and order a copy, simply by leaving them the cash and a contact phone number for when it arrived. And trust me, I was buying a lot of new releases, rather than waiting for the cheaper version ... had well over 150 sitting on my bookcases, back in the mid to late 80s! None of this dealing with wholesalers business ... money is money and business is business; they're in the business of making money, remember!).

[@williamroberts8768]

Ironic, Top Gun Maverick relied on more practical effects to tell a story. A departure from movie studios, Marvel and Sony, today relying on CGI way too much to tell the story.

[@gregdennert4441]

It's still a great movie

[@ffnendhgrgd]

The reading that Maverick is closeted makes sense. He overcompensates by acting out, and it indirectly gets Goose killed. It's a powerful statement about the dangers of a closed-minded, hyper masculine society.

[@Gearparadummies]

Ask any fighter pilot: Goose died because of his actions: He ejected too soon. Being positioned behind, he was closer to the canopy than Maverick, so he hit it. As for the engine failure...The first set of engines on the F14A they´re flying was designed for the F-111 and was prone to stalling at high-G manoeuvers: 60 Tomcats were lost that way until the engines were replaced. So "powerful statements of closed-minded hyper masculine society" don´t apply here.

[@clarissawestbrook2203]

I just watched Top Gun: Maverick and it is fantastic!!!!! It definitely was worth the wait and a worthy sequel to the original 36 years later. Top Gun will always be a classic and will be always be associated with the greatest era in pop culture the 1980s. This was a good review of the original movie.

[@davee.9906]

I wanted to have hair like Val Kilmer after watching that movie but my mom wasn't about to give me money for dyed tips lol.

[@utparatrooper1]

A key reason that the Top Gun VHS was sold at that price point was because it was partially subsidized by the Pepsi commercial at the beginning of the tape. The commercial simulates the inverted flying scene in the movie. Raiders of the Lost Ark was another VHS that was released at an affordable price point of $39.95 (I bought one upon release).

[@shainewhite2781]

My dad and I are going to go see Top Gun Maverick next Friday.

[@laprepper]

I had top gun on vhs. Wanted to be a fighter pilot and spent a year in usaf rotc. Didn’t stay in. Will always wonder what my life would have been in the military. Thank you to all who have, do and will serve

[@Locadel2003]

Now the sequel is even better

[@Lagash]

Amazing review, bro! I really enjoyed it. Job job. I subscribe.

[@traestyles25]

I just watched Maverick and holy shit is it amazing! a great sequel.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I love Tom Cruise and his films.

[@Theggman83]

Wow.. I had all three of those VHS movies as a kid...

[@CSM100MK2]

My favorite Anthony Edwards role was the Bubble Man in Northern Exposure! i wish his career lasted longer

[@Tecnicos-qj8pb]

Love Top Gun!

[@neiltaylor6645]

I thought Iron Eagle was made first before top gun it just happened to be realised afterwards

[@ja37d-34]

One of my alltme favs!

[@komemiute]

Very very well written. Top video. ;)

[@kascnef]

that diet pepsi ad really helped sell the tape. pepsi would go on to promote e t as well which broke the vhs sales record set by top gun

[@levykatzman842]

I don't love top gun, I watch it once, thought it was fine.

[@DoctorQuackenbush]

Um, I got "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" for $39.99 each on VHS when they first were released (I did have to pre-order at my local video store.)

[@only257]

Love this movie 🍿

[@christophersandidge8257]

I loved Top Gun, when I was a kid. I'm now 40. I aged. Tom Cruise didn't. Jerk.

[@bigramz7547]

Iron Eagle came out before Top Gun. Firebirds came out after but was about helicopters?

[@wallyr.7854]

Amen, JoBlo, amen 👍🏻

[@STAUNCHTV]

I'd love to see you guys do Days Of Thunder as well, imo its better

[@Vaporvice84]

Iron Eagle is NOT a Top Gun clone. Iron Eagle was released in January of 1986. Top Gun was released in May.

[@MementoMorituri]

The plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies room.

[@bobcharlotte8724]

I LOVE Iron Eagle too!!!

[@vivek27789]

True.. Very True

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Top Gun is a classic. Tom Cruise was perfectly cast as the idiot fighter pilot Maverick. Tom Cruise had good chemistry with Kelly McGillis. Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards. The movie had a great cast. Goose's death scene was really sad. "Highway to the Danger Zone" is an awesome song by Kevin Loggins and it's epic and it sets the tone for the movie. Top Gun truly turned Tom Cruise into a Hollywood superstar.

[@neiltaylor6645]

Saw this twice in the cinema

[@thewiremother5912]

I still have my copy of Batman on VHS.

[@ivanildopereira3181]

Man, Nick Cage has always been crazy, huh? 😆

[@Oonagh72]

Have you all done a WTF Happened to Jennifer Beales?

[@J5mobile]

Hey you should do what happened to Ernie Reyes jr he played in the original Ninja Turtles

[@CornishCreamtea07]

High concept was considered bad? Haven't high concept Movies been around forever. There are plenty of pre-80s Movies that were very popular that are high concept.

[@_Nicocide]

Iron Eagle came out first tho...

[@jamesanderson6373]

Rest in Peace, Iceman.

[@NickolaiVolkov]

Hey, jackass! If this is a spoiler for the sequel, there's a special place for you!! 😡 What are you doing putting a spoiler on a review of the original film?!

[@nicktubara]

You can be my wingman anytime.

[@sonsofthewestredwhiteblue5317]

Because I was ‘inverted’.

[@gannon3578]

Was 14 when the first one came out and I still haven’t seen it

[@simonwoodthrillerwriter]

Never been a fan of this film and not for the reasons critics didn't like it. It's a good looking film. Where it falls down for me is with the human drama. It's over dramatic and cliched and dull. It's also one of those films where the best of the best act like petulant kids and not like professionals.

[@haidirwasli3692]

me watching dis after TopGun: Maverick

[@charlesking1438]

I am 52 years old, I was 16 when Top Gun came out but I have never seen this movie

[@redscorpion9325]

Check it out,watch the old Top Gun and the new Top Gun Maverick

[@tomhahnl1927]

Unpopular opinion, I liked 'Top Gun' more then 'Top Gun Maverick'

[@bonghunezhou5051]

🎥 I second that!

[@redscorpion9325]

I’m not sure how that’s unpopular 🤷🏾‍♂️People tend to like the original old Movie more anyways but I love Top Gun Maverick Movie but I still have to finish watching the other half of Top Gun (1986) later today to see which I like better

[@wayneblackney6009]

Top gun in Australia was $30.00

[@danielbain3613]

Didn't Iron Eagle come out first?

[@Crimson_Hawk_01]

Tom cruise is great. But no candle to Tom Hanks.

[@theoreticallyspeaking3377]

🤢🤢🤢

[@trevorjoneill707]

class class class

[@wayneblackney6009]

All videos unless a mini series was around $30

[@nikolausmoll9201]

Sadly said, Nicolas Cage (or his movies) did not change at all..

[@komangsurya9628]

Top tom cruise

[@TrinityFamilyFarms]

👏🏻🙏🏻😊

[@leehessey1154]

Wow thems some tight jeans 👖 😳

[@sarashaker6147]

#teamiceman 🤍🧊🏐❄️🔥😌💙

[@R1GAMBLER]

🛩️Maverick bent his knee to the CCP🇨🇳

[@johncowart9536]

8:48 "What is Jaws if not a roller coaster?" .....you clever son of a b*tch

[@wayneblackney6009]

Maverick was cool but Tom Cruise is an absolute loon

[@mauziki]

Could you bend your knee more to Tom Cruise? It became embarrassing by the end.

[@fairytalepurityanalyser6056]

Top Gun is a great white movie. Makes me proud to be white.

[@DoctorQuackenbush]

PLEASE STOP THE F-ING BACKGROUND MUSIC!

[@allnamesaretakenful]

Top Gun is Military Propaganda.