Top Gun, the all-American pre-“woke” movie classic, was released on May 16, 1986. The film featured young U.S. Navy pilots in a “Danger Zone” of love and Cold War combat, and quickly became a box office sensation. Starring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, the movie’s award-winning soundtrack and thrilling aerial scenes helped solidify its place as an instant classic. The film’s impact on pop culture was significant, with phrases like “Talk to me, Goose” and “You can be my wingman any time” becoming part of American idioms.
Despite receiving some lukewarm reviews from critics, Top Gun was a massive success in theaters, drawing 46 million viewers in North America alone. The film’s romantic storyline between Cruise and McGillis resonated with audiences, leading to the revival of the song “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.” Additionally, the hit single “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin became a chart-topping success, winning Academy and Golden Globe Awards for Original Song of the Year. The enduring popularity of Top Gun inspired a hit sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” released 36 years later.
Top Gun’s impact extended beyond the movie itself, helping to propel Tom Cruise to stardom and making him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The film drew inspiration from earlier works like the 1929 silent movie “Wings,” which featured a similar action-romance storyline about World War I flying aces. While Top Gun did not win the Best Picture Oscar in 1987, it had a lasting influence on American cinema and popular culture. The film’s themes of slick aerial heroics and unabashed patriotism resonated with audiences then and continue to do so today.
The success of Top Gun cannot be understated, with the film becoming the top-grossing movie of 1986 and turning Tom Cruise into a Hollywood powerhouse. The film’s iconic soundtrack and memorable scenes have endured over the years, with phrases like “wingman” and “Talk to me, Goose” remaining part of everyday language. Despite some criticisms from reviewers like Roger Ebert, Top Gun’s impact on American culture and cinema is undeniable, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and audiences.
The enduring popularity of Top Gun led to a hit sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” released in 2022. The film continued the legacy of its predecessor, featuring slick aerial heroics and unabashed American patriotism. While some critics may have had reservations about the film’s plot and character development, audiences embraced the sequel as a fitting tribute to the original classic. As the legacy of Top Gun continues to resonate with audiences, it serves as a reminder of a bygone era of blockbuster filmmaking and unapologetic American pride in Hollywood.
