Top Gun turned 40 in 2026, and Maverick is not done yet. In April, Paramount confirmed at CinemaCon that Top Gun 3 is officially in development, with a script well underway, Tom Cruise returning as Pete Mitchell and Jerry Bruckheimer back as producer.
Time to feel the need for speed all over again. Here is the story of the 1986 classic and its blockbuster 2022 sequel. Find more film tribute designs in our Movies collection.
Top Gun Fact File
| Title | Top Gun |
|---|---|
| Release | 16 May 1986 (US) |
| Director | Tony Scott |
| Producers | Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
| Main cast | Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt |
| Setting | The US Navy Fighter Weapons School |
| Filmed at | NAS Miramar, California and NAS Fallon, Nevada |
| Runtime | 109 minutes |
| Signature item | Maverick's aviator sunglasses and flight jacket |
Key Films
| Year | Title | Director | Worldwide gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Top Gun | Tony Scott | About $360m |
| 2022 | Top Gun: Maverick | Joseph Kosinski | About $1.45-1.5bn |
| TBC | Top Gun 3 | Not announced | In development |
Grosses are rounded worldwide box office figures in US dollars, including re-releases where reported, and vary between sources.
Taking Off in 1986
Directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, Top Gun follows Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a hot-shot naval aviator sent to the elite Fighter Weapons School.
Tom Cruise led the cast as Maverick, with Kelly McGillis as instructor Charlie Blackwood, Val Kilmer as rival Iceman and Anthony Edwards as Maverick's best friend and radar intercept officer, Goose.
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Filming and the Soundtrack
Filming began in Oceanside, California, before moving to Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Much of the flying was captured at NAS Fallon in Nevada, giving the film its real jet footage.
The soundtrack was just as big. Kenny Loggins sang Danger Zone, and Berlin's Take My Breath Away won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
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A Box Office Phenomenon
Made for around $15 million, Top Gun grossed about $360 million worldwide and became one of the defining films of the 1980s. In 2015 it was added to the US National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
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Top Gun: Maverick and Beyond
Thirty-six years later, Joseph Kosinski's Top Gun: Maverick arrived in May 2022. Miles Teller played Goose's son Rooster, with Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and Glen Powell joining the squadron. The sequel grossed roughly $1.5 billion and earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, winning Best Sound.
Val Kilmer returned as Iceman in what became his final film role. He died in April 2025, aged 65. Top Gun 3 is now in development, though no director or release date has been announced.
Awards
Top Gun (1986)
- Academy Award, Best Original Song: Take My Breath Away
- Added to the US National Film Registry, 2015
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
- Academy Award, Best Sound
- Six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture
Behind the Scenes
Tom Cruise also produced Top Gun: Maverick alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, Christopher McQuarrie and David Ellison. Christopher McQuarrie confirmed in 2025 that he was writing the third film.
FAQs
When did Top Gun come out?
Top Gun was released in the US on 16 May 1986, which made 2026 its 40th anniversary.
Who directed Top Gun?
Tony Scott directed the original. Joseph Kosinski directed Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
Where was Top Gun filmed?
At Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego and NAS Fallon in Nevada, with early scenes in Oceanside, California.
Did Top Gun win an Oscar?
Yes. Take My Breath Away by Berlin won Best Original Song. Top Gun: Maverick later won Best Sound.
How much did Top Gun: Maverick make?
It grossed roughly $1.45 to $1.5 billion worldwide, depending on the source and re-releases.
Is there going to be a Top Gun 3?
Yes. Paramount confirmed in April 2026 that Top Gun 3 is in development with Tom Cruise returning. No release date has been set.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Tom Cruise Career Story and Back to the Future Film Story.
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