When you think of the career of Tom Cruise, certain images come to mind: You might see him dangling from an airplane, screaming “show me the money!”, or even dancing over the credits of Tropic Thunder. Whatever the combination, it’s likely one image is always present – Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, smiling from a cockpit as he satisfies “the need for speed.”
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Top Gun is streaming for free on Pluto right now, as is its 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Those who check it out will be reminded just why the original set the standard for summer action movies, as well as how it birthed the archetypal Hollywood superstar.
‘Top Gun’ is a Thrilling Story About the Drive to Succeed
Image via Paramount Pictures
The phrase “top gun” refers to the elite school for pilots in the US Navy, where Maverick is sent after a daring encounter with some enemy MiGs. Instead of falling in line with his disciplined classmates, his rebellious and reckless attitude puts him at odds with rival Iceman (Val Kilmer), as well as his instructors. The fire inside him, however, is exactly what makes him a great pilot, making him able to take risks in high-pressure scenarios that can turn the tide for his mission objectives. It also sparks a romance with civilian instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis). However, Maverick learns the cost of hubris when tragedy strikes. He must fight to regain his nerve as the stakes become higher for him in the air.
Arriving in the mid-’80s, Top Gun premiered when America was at its most dominant, and most confident. The striding machismo and patriotic swagger was typical of the decade’s love for flashy heroes who seemed like they could almost fight wars single-handedly. However, it was more than confidence that made this a classic.
Tony Scott’s Film Combined Music, Action, and Romance to Make the Perfect Blockbuster
Image via Paramount Pictures
British director Tony Scott worked on every aspect of the film to make a spectacle that appealed to every fan. The planes provided the excitement, as he shot real aircraft, set against the sun to make every moment look as slick as a music video. Of course, those shots would be accompanied by a terrific soundtrack, with a classic song for every moment. Pilots readied for takeoff to the pulse-quickening strains of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”, while Maverick’s romance with Charlie was underpinned by Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away.” In terms of style, pacing, and emotional beats, the movie had something for everyone.
Any fan of the film will happily provide you with a litany of memorable moments that have become part of pop culture history: Maverick riding his motorcycle alongside a jet taking off, or our hero chanting “I’ve got the need, the need for speed!” with his copilot and best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards) have become etched in the memories of all who have seen the film, along with countless quotes and moments that have been imitated by many blockbusters since. It is pure entertainment from beginning to end, and that enjoyment has only increased with time.
‘Top Gun’ Provided the Template for the Rest of Tom Cruise’s Career
When you look at some of the biggest roles of Cruise’s career, it’s likely that Maverick’s DNA is in there somewhere. Top Gun proved that he was at his best as a risk-taker who defied orders in the name of getting the job done. That exact idea is the basis of not just the majority of his adventures as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies, but also films like A Few Good Men, Minority Report, and even Jerry Maguire. He’s at his best when playing characters driven by their own conviction, rallying against conventional power structures in order to do what is right.
It also associated the actor with the kind of thrill-seeking that would become his trademark later in his career. Cruise can be seen in the cockpit, as opposed to a stunt double, in order to put the viewer in the heart of the combat. “I had three hops in the F-14 (fighter jet)”, he said during a 1986 promotional interview for the film. “A lot of footage you see when I’m flying, I’m in the F-14 really flying.” While at that point he was a passenger in the aircraft rather than pilot, it established him as someone who favored authenticity in his action scenes. Audiences did too, flocking to his movies with the knowledge that it was truly him doing these impossible feats, making the action feel more immersive.
Cruise would return to the role in 2023’s Top Gun: Maverick, a film that is a rare example of a delayed sequel that is worth the wait. However, the original movie set the standard both for the actor’s career and how entertaining Hollywood blockbusters could be. 40 years later, the action classic still has the power to take your breath away.
