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, Anthony Edwards

Paramount Pictures

1h 50m
- Action
- Drama

Release Date: May 16, 1986 | Wide

Pete Mitchell, call sign Maverick, is one of the most talented and reckless naval fighter pilots in the US Navy. He and his radar intercept officer, Goose, are sent to the elite Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar, where the country's best pilots compete to be number one. Maverick wants the top spot. He also wants the attention of an astrophysics instructor named Charlie. His attitude makes both harder than they need to be. An action drama about competition, ego, grief, and the cost of being the best!

Releases

Original Release | May 16, 1986

2013 3D Release | Feb 8, 2013

2021 Re-release | May 14, 2021

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

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Box Office Results

Updated as of Mar 10, 2026 11:50 AM ET

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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Sun May 24
Mon May 25
Tue May 26
Wed May 27
Thu May 28
Fri May 29
Sat May 30

Director & Top Cast

Tony Scott
Director

Tom Cruise
Maverick

Tim Robbins
Merlin

Kelly McGillis
Charlie

Val Kilmer
Ice

Anthony Edwards
Goose

Tom Skerritt

Viper

Michael Ironside

Jester

John Stockwell

Cougar

Barry Tubb

Wolfman

Rick Rossovich

Slider

Clarence Gilyard Jr.

Sundown

Whip Hubley

Hollywood

James Tolkan

Stinger

Meg Ryan

Carole

Adrian Pasdar

Chipper

Randall Brady

Lt. Davis

Duke Stroud

Air Boss Johnson

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.

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