Move aside Tom Cruise, Top Gun: The Next Generation is flying in. Thanks to Cruise's popular movies Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, people all over the world know the US Navy's pilot training program Top Gun. But for the first time ever, viewers are going to get a look at the real Top Gun, courtesy of National Geographic.

Teaming with production company Rex, National Geographic is getting unprecedented access to the Top Gun training program as US Navy student pilots go through the demanding, adrenaline-fueled training program to become part of the Navy's elite strike fighter pilot team.

Here is everything that we know right now about Top Gun: The Next Generation (working title for the docuseries).

Top Gun: The Next Generation release date

There is no info at this time for when Top Gun: The Next Generation is going to premiere. That could very well indicate the series is going to be held until some time in 2024. When any news regarding the docuseries' premiere becomes available, we'll update you here. 

When the series does debut, it is likely going to be available to watch on the National Geographic TV channel as well as the Disney Plus streaming service.

Top Gun: The Next Generation cast

In addition to showing incredible aerial footage, Top Gun: The Next Generation is going to focus heavily on the young pilots who are taking part in the training program to become some of the best pilots in the world. However, at this time, no information has been shared on the individuals that are taking part in the series. 

Top Gun: The Next Generation plot

Here is the official synopsis for the docuseries:

"The series follows a group of officers as they push their limits on the grueling Advanced Flight Training Program. For the first time ever, they will be embarking on some of the most challenging flight tests possible including landing on an aircraft carrier at sea. The elite nature of the course means that only a minority — the very best — will make it to the top to fly the world’s most advanced jet — the F-35C Lightning II.

"The emotional character-led stories will primarily be told through the perspective of a diverse range of Navy student pilots. This first-time access will allow the series to follow the prospective naval aviators every step of the way — in the air, in the classroom, off-base and at home — as we discover who's got what it takes to make it to the F-35C."

Tom McDonald, executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content for National Geographic, said about the series: "With Nat Geo's exclusive unprecedented inside access, this series promises to be an exhilarating, visually jaw-dropping and fascinating journey into the intensely competitive world of elite flying."

Top Gun: The Next Generation trailer

There's no trailer for Top Gun: The Next Generation right now. When one becomes available online we'll add it here. 

Vigil season 2 will see Suranne Jones head into the danger zone as the plot switches from submarines to fighter jets.

Vigil's first series attracted more than 13 million viewers, making it the UK's most-watched new TV drama launch since Bodyguard, and it even managed to land an International Emmy award overseas. If you missed out on what some would call one of the best BBC dramas to air in recent years, you can stream it on BBC iPlayer). 

Vigil season 2 will reunite with Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) for another twisty investigation. This time, though, they're swapping the submarines for a high-flying new investigation into the British air force. 

In a brief synopsis of what's to come, the BBC teased: "Following multiple unexplained fatalities at a Scottish military facility, Silva and Longacre are tasked with uncovering the cause. Entering the hostile and closed ranks of the air force, the pair must face the deadly warfare of tomorrow as they fight for their own future."

Of the new series, Suranne Jones has teased: "I'm thrilled to be joining the Vigil team again and continuing our story. We have brilliant new scripts and some amazing additions to the cast. Buckle. It's quite a ride". 

Rose Leslie added: “I’m delighted to team up with Suranne again and continue Amy and Kirsten’s adventures through a second series of Vigil. Tom Edge has created another gripping case for us to grapple with in a whole new setting.”

A release date for Vigil season 2 has not been confirmed at the time of writing, though the BBC has revealed that filming for the second season will commence in Scotland and Morocco this Spring. 

Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie aren't the only stars making a return, either. They'll be joined by His Dark Materials star Gary Lewis who's reprising his role as DSU Robertson. 

Further cast info confirms that Romola Garai (Becoming Elizabeth), Dougray Scott (Crime), Amir El-Masry (SAS Rogue Heroes), David Elliot (The Liberator), Chris Jenks (Sex Education), Tommy Sim'aan (The Midwich Cuckoos) Oscar Salem (House of the Dragon), Jonathan Ajayi (Noughts + Crosses) and Hiba Medina (in her first major TV role) will all play key roles in the new, six-part series.  

By far one of the biggest movies of 2022, Top Gun: Maverick has finally flown its way onto streaming services, making it a lot easier to watch from home.

Since its release on May 27, Top Gun: Maverick has been smashing box office records for Paramount, and has given Tom Cruise yet another jewel in his crown of hits. So it's very likely that you'll want to catch it or, by the box office success, probably re-watch it at home.

The original 1986 Top Gun helped launch Cruise to superstardom and has remained one of the actor’s most popular movies — with plenty of memorable quotes, an iconic score with some great original music and instantly recognizable characters.

You can stream the original Top Gun right now on Paramount Plus, but Top Gun: Maverick is the attention-getter right now. Here is everything you need to know on how to watch Top Gun: Maverick.

Is Top Gun: Maverick streaming?

Yes! Top Gun: Maverick made its streaming debut on December 22 in the US, UK and many other regions.

You can stream the movie on Paramount Plus, which costs just $4.99 or £6.99 per month for its lowest tier. This service offers a seven-day free trial so you can test out the platform.

There's also a Paramount Plus channel on Prime Video, which costs the same and lets you see Paramount's content amongst your other Prime content.

However, you can watch Top Gun: Maverick at home through other channels, as it's available on for purchase or rental via digital on-demand on platforms like Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV and more. With a digital purchase of the movie, fans also get more than 110 minutes of bonus content.

Top Gun: Maverick on Blu-ray/DVD

4K, Blu-ray or DVD copies of Top Gun: Maverick are available. Here is all the bonus content that the DVD (and digital) copy of the movie has to offer:

Cleared For Take Off — witness the most intense film training program as the cast prepare themselves for filming while pulling multiple G's in a fighter plane.
 
Breaking New Ground: Filming Top Gun: Maverick — prepare to take flight as you go behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew of Top Gun: Maverick on a journey to capture the most spectacular aerial sequences ever!
 
A Love Letter to Aviation —Tom Cruise shares his passion for aviation as he pilots his own aircraft, a vintage World War II P-51 Mustang, which would have been the Top Gun aircraft of its day.
 
Forging the Darkstar — pushing the limits beyond Mach-10, the future of aviation is unveiled through an impressive experimental aircraft specially designed for the movie.
 
Masterclass with Tom Cruise – Cannes Film Festival—Tom Cruise discusses his incredible career at the flagship event of the 75th Cannes Film Festival.
 
"Hold My Hand," Lady Gaga Music Video — watch Lady Gaga's music video for her standout lead single hit on the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack.
 
"I Ain’t Worried," OneRepublic Music Video — check out the music video to the original new song from OneRepublic.
 
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Teaser Trailer: we all share the same fate. Watch the official teaser trailer for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One starring Tom Cruise. Coming to theatres 2023.

Top Gun: Maverick in movie theaters

Top Gun: Maverick concluded its first run in movie theaters in early November earning $1.48 billion globally, easily making it the biggest movie of the year. Not only that, it currently sits at No. 5 for the US box office's all-time.

Everything else you need to know about Top Gun: Maverick

We mentioned WTW’s glowing review for Top Gun: Maverick, but we’re not the only ones who have loved it. The movie has a 97% "Certified Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 78. It has also earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Top Gun: Maverick takes place 30 years after the events of Top Gun and sees Cruise’s Pete "Maverick" Mitchell coming back to the Top Gun school to train a new group of pilots for a dangerous mission. There he must also come face to face with his past. 

Joining Cruise as part of the Top Gun: Maverick cast is Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer.

Watch the trailer for Top Gun: Maverick right here:

More than 35 years after the original Top Gun, the Tom Cruise blockbuster has gotten a sequel in Top Gun: Maverick.

In the original, Top Gun (1986), a young Cruise stars as the hot-shot pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, as he and his co-pilot Goose (Anthony Edwards) take part in the Navy’s top school for elite fighter pilots. Maverick likes to push it to the limit, but that ends up getting him in trouble and his confidence gets shaken following a tragic accident. But the happy ending prevails and he saves the day and gets the girl.

Top Gun remains a fan-favorite to this day, thanks to numerous factors including a star-making turn from Tom Cruise, memorable supporting characters like Anthony Edwards' Goose and Val Kilmer's Iceman, fantastic '80s tunes like "Danger Zone" and "Take My Breath Away" and incredible aerial sequences. Talk about a sequel has been swirling for years and now its here.

Here is everything you need to know about Top Gun: Maverick.

How to watch Top Gun: Maverick

After being a box-office behemoth (it is the no. 1 movie at the 2022 global box office with $1.48 billion) movie fans can watch Top Gun: Maverick at home. It's available in most regions on Paramount Plus.

Here's how to watch Top Gun: Maverick right now.

Top Gun: Maverick awards and nominations

After dominating the boxoffice, Top Gun: Maverick hopes to dominate awards season too. Here are the nominations and awards that Top Gun: Maverick has earned to date:

Academy Awards

• Best Picture (nominee)
• Best Adapted Screenplay — Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie, Peter Craig, Justin Marks (nominees)
• Best Editing (nominee)
• Best Original Song — "Hold My Hand" (nominee)
• Best Sound (nominee)
• Best Visual Effects (nominee)

Golden Globes

• Best Picture: Drama (nominee)
• Best Song — "Hold My Hand" (nominee)

Critics Choice Awards

• Best Picture (nominee)
• Best Actor — Tom Cruise (nominee)
• Best Cinematography (nominee)
• Best Editing (nominee)
• Best Visual Effects (nominee)
• Best Song — "Hold My Hand" (nominee)

London Critics Circle Awards

• Film of the Year (nominee)

National Board of Review

• Best Film
• Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography — Claudio Miranda

New York Film Critics Circle

• Best Cinematographer — Claudio Miranda

American Film Institute

• AFI Movie of the Year

People's Choice Awards

• The Movie of 2022 (nominee)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films

• Best Action/Adventure Film (winner)
• Best Actor — Tom Cruise (winner)
• Best Director — Joseph Kosinski (nominee)
• Best Editing  (nominee)
• Best Special Effects (nominee)

Top Gun: Maverick plot

Top Gun: Maverick takes place more than 30 years after the events of Top Gun. Maverick is now working as a test pilot and actively attempting to dodge the advancement in rank that would force him to stop flying.

However, his career ends up taking him back to the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics School — otherwise known as TOP GUN — where he has to confront his past as he is charged with training a new squadron of fighter pilots.

How long is Top Gun: Maverick?

Top Gun: Maverick has a runtime of two hours and 10 minutes.

What is Top Gun: Maverick rated?

Top Gun: Maverick is rated "PG-13" for US audiences (parents required for anyone under 13) and "12A" for UK moviegoers (suitable for children 12 and over).

Top Gun: Maverick cast

Tom Cruise will be just shy of 60 when Top Gun: Maverick is released, but there is no way Hollywood was going to make Top Gun 2 and not have him back in the cockpit of a fighter jet. Maverick remains one of Cruise’s most iconic roles, so you just can’t have a Top Gun movie without the star reprising the character.

Cruise isn’t the only cast member returning from the original film. Maverick’s frenemy is back, as Val Kilmer will once again play Iceman. Anyone who has seen the documentary Val on Prime Video knows that Kilmer currently uses a voice box to speak after battling throat cancer. Despite his health concerns, Cruise was adamant that Kilmer would return for the sequel.

There will also be plenty of new faces in Top Gun: Maverick. Key to the plot is Miles Teller, who will be playing Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s old co-pilot Goose. Other new members of the cast include Jennifer Connelly as Penny Benjamin, Jon Hamm as Cyclone, Glen Powell as Hangman, Monica Barbaro as Phoenix, Jay Ellis as Payback, Lewis Pullman as Bob, Charles Parnell Warlock, Bashir Salahuddin as Hondo and Ed Harris as Read Admiral Chester "Hammer" Cain.

Find out more about the Top Gun: Maverick cast right here.

• Tom Cruise's best stunts — from Mission: Impossible to Edge of Tomorrow
• Fifteen of the best Tom Cruise movies — from Risky Business to Top Gun 2

Top Gun: Maverick reviews — what critics said

Top Gun: Maverick is one of the best reviewed movies of the year. It was quickly labeled a "perfect summer blockbuster" and something that needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Official reviews were just as glowing, including What to Watch's Top Gun: Maverick review, which called the movie a "stratospheric sequel" and one that both pays tribute to the original but also surpasses it.

Top Gun: Maverick has a 96% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 78 on Metacritic.

Tom Cruise spoke with What to Watch sister publication Total Film about the movie in an issue earlier in 2022:

Top Gun: Maverick Royal Premiere

Straight from their Cannes screening, the stars headed to London for a Royal Film Premiere. Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly and more walked the red carpet alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Check out pictures from the Top Gun: Maverick UK premiere.

Top Gun: Maverick global premiere

The Top Gun: Maverick global premiere took place on May 4 in San Diego, with the red carpet being held on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum. Not only that, Tom Cruise arrived to the premiere flying a helicopter and landing on the flight deck. Take a look at some of the pictures from the global premiere and quotes from the stars.

Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack — Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone"

Almost as important as which of the cast members would return, fans want to know if Top Gun's iconic theme song, "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins will be part of Top Gun 2. 

The good news is the answer is yes. Kenny Loggins confirmed on Rob Lowe's podcast, Literally with Rob Lowe, that "Danger Zone" would play in Top Gun: Maverick. So listen to those engines road and get ready to ride back into the danger zone when the movie comes to theaters.

Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack — Lady Gaga "Hold My Hand"

The first new song we've heard about for the soundtrack is from Lady Gaga who wrote a brand new song for Top Gun: Maverick, called "Hold My Hand." We expect this to be the Top Gun 2 equivalent to the original movie's love ballad, Berlin's "Take My Breath Away."

Check out the official music video for "Hold My Hand" right here:

Here's what Lady Gaga had to say about writing the song for Top Gun: Maverick.

Top Gun: Maverick trailer

Check out all of the trailers released for Top Gun: Maverick directly below:

Paramount has also released a feature that looks at the training that Tom Cruise and the other actors did so that the flight sequences they do in the movie would look and feel authentic. Check it out below:

Another feature details the F18s, the incredible aircrafts that the actors (along with the Naval pilots assisting them) actually flew in for the movie.

Top Gun: Maverick posters

Check out the movie posters for Top Gun: Maverick:

How to watch Top Gun

If you've never seen Top Gun and want to watch it before seeing Top Gun: Maverick or if you've seen the 1986 movie 100 times and just want to watch it again, you can do so right now on Prime Video or Paramount Plus.

More on Top Gun: Maverick

• Tom Cruise sends heartfelt message to Top Gun: Maverick fans
• Does Val Kilmer talk in Top Gun: Maverick?
• James Corden is the new Goose in Top Gun-inspired Late Late Show clip
• James Corden gets Top Gun call sign

Top Gun: Maverick has earned a whopping $1bn (£810m) across the global box office, making it the most successful film of 2022 so far, and Tom Cruise has thanked fans for their ongoing support.

Tom Cruise plays Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a test pilot and flight instructor, who trains a group of graduates for a specialized mission in Top Gun: Maverick, which has attracted fans of all ages to the cinema. 

Following the news that the film has been a massive box office success, Tom has reached out to fans, studios and exhibitors to thank them for supporting the industry. 

In a social media post, Tom Cruise wrote: "To all the films in release, to all the studios, and to all the exhibitors: congratulations. To the audience: thank you for venturing out and allowing us to entertain you. See you at the movies."

Top Gun: Maverick was released 36 years after the original Top Gun, and Tom is joined by an all-star cast to bring the story back to the big screen. Whiplash star Miles Teller plays Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Maverick's late RIO and best friend, Nick "Goose", who was a fan favorite in the original film.

Miles has also reached out to fans for supporting the film, writing: "Feeling the love for Rooster and #TopGunMaverick. We share this moment together, thank you"

Top Gun: Maverick also saw the return of the legendary Val Kilmer as ADM Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, and they found a touching way to ensure he could still be included in the film despite his throat cancer which has impacted his ability to talk.

Other stars included Jennifer Connelly as Penelope "Penny" Benjamin, Maverick's rekindled love interest, Jon Hamm as VADM Beau "Cyclone" Simpson, and Ed Harris as RADM Chester "Hammer" Cain, Maverick's superior, and Lady Gaga was featured on the soundtrack so it really is a star-studded film!

Speaking about her work being featured, Lady Gaga said: "When I wrote this song for Top Gun: Maverick, I didn’t even realize the multiple layers it spanned across the film’s heart, my own psyche, and the nature of the world we’ve been living in. I’ve been working on it for years, perfecting it, trying to make it ours."

Meanwhile, in our spoiler-free 5-star review of Top: Gun Maverick, we said: "Follow-ups are a regular part of our cinematic diet but now we have the game-changer we’ve been waiting for. This is how it’s done."

Top Gun: Maverick is still available in cinemas worldwide.

James Corden and Tom Cruise already took to the skies once on The Late Late Show to promote Top Gun: Maverick and the duo are back at it again, but this one definitely feels more like Corden’s speed and he even gets his own call sign.

Top Gun: Maverick has been out in movie theaters for a few weeks now and has not only been one of the biggest summer blockbusters of 2022, but is the biggest movie in Tom Cruise’s career (in terms of box office). Part of Cruise’s push for the movie ahead of its release was a stop by The Late Late Show with James Corden, where he took the talk show host flying in real-life fighter jets, much to Corden’s chagrin. However, it looks like that wasn’t the only sketch the pair shot.

The clip below begins with Corden in his studio saying that Top Gun: Maverick is the biggest movie in the world right now before he gives audiences a look at some work he said he did before the cast made the movie. 

In the clip we see Top Gun: Maverick castmates Jay Ellis, Monica Barbaro, Glen Powell and Cruise flying in bad CGI planes (not everything can have the production quality of Top Gun: Maverick), checking in for an apparent mission by stating their call signs (Maverick, Payback, Phoenix and Hangman). Corden is with them and reveals his call sign to be objectively less cool Honey Butter. Things go even more off the rails from there, take a look.

It’s an enjoyable skit from Corden and company, even if it is an obvious extra push to from Paramount, the studio behind Top Gun: Maverick, and CBS, which of course airs The Late Late Show (both fall under Paramount Global), as the movie has been out for two weeks already. But hey, Corden, Cruise and the rest of the cast appear to be having a good time with the bit, so it makes it easier to swallow as some harmless fun. 

Let’s just hope that if there ever is a Top Gun 3, Honey Butter doesn't make the cut among the best of the best pilots.

Top Gun: Maverick is now playing exclusively in movie theaters around the world.

The original Top Gun movie is full of iconic moments: highly trained pilots maneuvering their fighter jets gracefully through the air, singing karaoke in a dive bar, Tom Cruise riding his motorcycle along the tarmac and volleyball. Yeah, volleyball. Believe it or not, one of the most talked about and memorable scenes from the movie almost cost director Tony Scott his job.

Oscar-nominated editors Chris Lebenzon and Billy Weber worked on the original film and in a recent episode of THR’s Behind the Screen podcast they reflect on how the volleyball scene enraged Paramount executives.

"The studio was so pissed off," Weber said. "The head of production, Charlie McGuire, he said, 'I'm gonna fire him' … because he spent a whole day shooting this scene."

The "him" in question is legendary filmmaker Scott and the ire came about because the equally legendary volleyball scene was only written as a paragraph in the script. Spending an entire day on a scene that seemingly had so little significance in the larger plot of the movie was unheard of at the time. Even now, the cost of one day of filming would generally prohibit that kind of time and energy to shoot a volleyball game... unless it's for a Tom Cruise movie.

Scott's vision for the scene was to shoot it like a commercial. "That scene was scripted as a real game," Lebenzon, who also worked on Top Gun: Maverick, noted. "They kept score and everything."

"And then of course it turns out it's one of the most famous scenes in the movie," Weber added.

Before the movie's release, Cruise was a rising star but he hadn’t quite reached the superstardom he's known for. Scott had yet to direct a massive hit; he'd go on to direct box office blockbusters like True Romance, Crimson Tide and Spy Game. Top Gun, of course, is the film credited with putting them both on the map. These days, Cruise's star power alone gives him the latitude to do whatever he likes on a film set. Not only is he one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, but studios trust his judgement. 

Looking back, Paramount's anger was reasonable enough in that moment, but we can all agree that Scott's vision was spot on. Thankfully, Scott held his ground and created a masterpiece set to the catchy tune of Kenny Loggins' "Playing with the Boys."

Top Gun would not have been the same without the volleyball scene, even if it had absolutely no bearing on the plot whatsoever. It's why there's a beach football scene in Top Gun: Maverick and we're not complaining. 

Top Gun is a memorable movie not just for the incredible aerial sequences and quotable lines, but because of the fantastic call signs associated with the characters — Maverick, Goose, Iceman. With the new Top Gun: Maverick cast playing another group of hotshot pilots, we’re going to have plenty of new call signs to enjoy.

Of course, one we won’t have to learn is Maverick, as you can’t have a Top Gun movie with Tom Cruise’s iconic character. But who is joining Cruise/Maverick in the sky? Here’s who’s who in the Top Gun: Maverick cast.

Tom Cruise as Maverick

We don’t need much of an introduction for Tom Cruise or Maverick. Cruise is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, leading franchises like Mission: Impossible and giving great performances in movies like The Color of Money, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia, just to name a few. 

Maverick, meanwhile, is one of his most iconic characters; a cocky but brilliant fighter pilot who loves to push things to the limits. Even though Top Gun: Maverick, one of the biggest new movies in 2022, takes place 30 years after the events of Top Gun, it doesn’t look like Maverick has lost a step at all.

Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Leading the way among the new cast is Miles Teller. Teller is best known for movies like Whiplash, The Spectacular Now and the Divergent franchise; he also currently stars in the Paramount Plus original series The Offer.

If the name Bradshaw sounds familiar that’s because it was Goose’s (Anthony Edwards) real name in Top Gun. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw is Goose’s son, which is sure to make things a little uneasy when Maverick is assigned as Rooster’s Top Gun instructor.

Glen Powell as Hangman

Glen Powell has built a solid start to his career with roles in movies like Hidden Figures, Set It Up and Everybody Wants Some, but he’s poised to take off after Top Gun: Maverick, as he plays the new character of Hangman.

Per Powell, Hangman is a cross of Maverick and Iceman — being a bit of a lone wolf like Maverick and boasting the ego of Iceman. "He knows he’s the best and he’s not here to make friends, he’s here to be team leader."

Monica Barbaro as Phoenix

Monica Barbaro has been on your TV screens for years, appearing in shows like UnREAL, Chicago P.D. and Stumptown, just to name a few. With Top Gun: Maverick, she is making the jump to the big screen in a big way.

Barbaro’s character Phoenix is the lone woman among the Top Gun recruits, but that’s not what defines her. Speaking at the global premiere,"[E]veryone really cared about making her a strong, capable, talented woman who … she’s a fighter pilot, she just happens to be a woman," said Barbaro. 

Jay Ellis as Payback

Insecure fans will recognize Jay Ellis, who played Lawrence Walker on the comedy series. Some of Ellis’s other credits include Escape Room, Mrs. America and The Game.

In Top Gun: Maverick, Ellis plays Payback. In behind-the-scenes interviews he said that his character, and the others, "want to be the best. And by competing against the best they then make themselves better and then they ultimately become this team and this unit together."

Danny Ramirez as Fanboy

Danny Ramirez previously got a taste of big budget action playing Joaquin Torres on Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but there’s little to compare to a massive summer blockbuster like Top Gun: Maverick.

As for his character Fanboy, Ramirez said he is just so joyous to be at Top Gun because it’s something he’d been dreaming about all his life. "He knew what we wanted to do from day one, he went and did it."

Greg Tarzan Davis as Coyote

When Tarzan is part of your name, you’re just destined for show business. Currently starring as Dr. Jordan Wright in Grey’s Anatomy, he’ll also be a part of the cast of Mission: Impossible 7 with Tom Cruise.

Similarly, when you’re playing a character named Coyote, there may be certain expectations to have a big personality. "When [Cruise] was selecting me for the process, he said, 'this young man is wild, I want him.' And I was like, alright, yeah, I’ll live up to the name of Coyote."

Lewis Pullman as Bob

Bob is an unusual call sign for one of Top Gun trainees, though as Lewis Pullman has teased that while Bob is more quiet and socially awkward than his fellow pilots, there may be a hidden meaning behind his moniker.

Pullman currently stars in the Prime Video series Outer Range and has previously starred in Catch-22, Bad Times at the El Royale and Battle of the Sexes.

Jennifer Connelly as Penny Benjamin 

Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly needs little introduction. The star of A Beautiful Mind, Requiem for a Dream and, more recently, the TV series Snowpiercer, has been at the Hollywood game a long time.

In Top Gun: Maverick, Connelly plays Penny Benjamin, who has a romantic history with Maverick. Benjamin was mentioned in the first movie and per Connelly has an on-and-off relationship with Maverick. "You get the sense that they sort of come together, they have this sort of fiery romance then it falls apart. But they keep coming back to each other."

Jon Hamm as Cyclone

Jon Hamm continues to be a very busy man, as the Mad Men star takes on the role of Cyclone in Top Gun: Maverick. As we see in the trailer, Hamm’s Cyclone is one of the superior officers to Maverick at Top Gun. As is usual with Maverick, he has some difficulties with those above him and that won’t change with Cyclone.

"Someone’s got to make the rules and someone’s got to break the rules and you can’t have one without the other,” said Hamm. “So that’s a big part of the dramatic tension of the film."

Bashir Salahuddin as Coleman/Hondo

Salahuddin plays Coleman/Hondo in Top Gun: Maverick, who has the less heralded role of a plane mechanic, but as he details, no less important — saying you can’t have one without the other. He is also a good friend to Maverick, describing Hondo as the Watson to Maverick’s Sherlock Holmes.

As for Salahuddin’s credits, he is a star and writer out South Side and recently starred in Cyrano and The Dropout.

Charles Parnell as Warlock

While Warlock was not a character in the original 1986 movie, Charles Parnell believes his character was a contemporary of Maverick in those days. "He was one of the guys in Maverick’s class that you didn’t see in the film. Then their paths diverged," Parnell said.

Parnell is most likely recognized from his vast work in TV. Since 2000 he has appeared on shows like Law & Order, All My Children and The Last Ship.

Val Kilmer as Iceman

Iceman was Maverick’s top rival in Top Gun, but by the end of the movie they respected each other and worked together to save the day. It was a breakout role for Kilmer and remains among one of the actor’s most beloved performances.

Though Kilmer has openly been battling throat cancer — including needing a voice box after having surgery — he is set to return to the role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick. The trailer hints that he is responsible for bringing Maverick back to Top Gun, though how much of him we’ll see in the movie is unclear.

Also in the movie are Ed Harris as Rear Admiral and Manny Jacinto as Fritz.

Top Gun: Maverick releases worldwide on May 27. Tickets are now available.

Say what you want about Tom Cruise — it's probably true. The best Tom Cruise movies also happen to be some of the best movies, period. He's one of the greatest living actors. He's overrated. He's underrated. He's way too old to be doing his own stunts. Scientology. Motorcycles. He's an anachronism. He's immortal.

You can argue for and against any and all of those things — and that's just for starters. But it's hard to argue that Tom Malpother Cruise IV hasn't been one of the most fascinating actors of a generation. Maybe not as prolific as, say, Kevin Bacon (the two are just four years apart in age) — but right up there in terms of range.

From the sweaty adrenaline cliché that is Top Gun (and the equally sweaty sequel, Top Gun: Maverick) to the likes of the nearly indescribable Vanilla Sky or Eyes Wide Shut, the dude has range — even if it seems like in many ways he's merely playing different versions of himself. But that's what makes a good actor. We know that it's Tom Cruise in a fighter jet, or as a Vietnam War veteran. Or as an oversexed doctor. Or as a Pre-Crime cop. Or as a hotshot lawyer, backed by one hell of a lawyer.

Maybe you can argue that Tom Cruise is even better at choosing roles than he is as an actor. Maybe that's what distinguishes our list of the best Tom Cruise movies.

In any case, it's one hell of a list. Let's go through it. We've chosen date order — because we've got no hope of actually choosing between these babies.

Taps (1981)

The cadets of Bunker Hill Academy love their school, and when condo developers plan to bulldoze it, the cadets become the ultimate NIMBYs. They occupy the school, ending in a real-live war game these young men might not have bargained for.

This is not a "Tom Cruise" movie in the sense that his name is not above the fold. It's a George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton (with a little Sean Penn thrown in for added spice) movie on that score. But the hotheaded, gung-ho David Shawn that Cruise delivers is one of his rare bad guys, a hint that there is more behind those eyes than endless variations on Joel from Risky Business. With the exception of Magnolia, no one since has really had Cruise dig into the wound-too-tight, jagged edges he shows here.

The Outsiders (1983)

Francis Ford Coppola's coming-of-age teen drama, The Outsiders is a hidden gem with a call sheet featuring the prime of 1980s acting talent including Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe and Diane Lane. The film, adapted from S.E. Hinton's novel, focuses on the class rivalry between groups from a small town in Oklahoma — the working-class Greasers and the wealthy Socs (short for socials). Tom Cruise only has a small role but, as scrappy greaser Steve Randle, he showcases his ability to switch off his megawatt movie star smile and sink into a character part.

The Outsiders made stars of its young "Brat Pack" talent, including one Tom Cruise — who despite his fleeting appearance in the film would go on to become arguably the biggest movie star in the world.

Risky Business (1983)

What's your first memory of Tom Cruise? Is it of the young man in an Oxford shirt and briefs, falling for (and falling under the spell of) the one and only Rebecca De Mornay? If so, you're absolutely not alone.

But it's also easy to forget that Risky Business isn't Tom Cruise's first movie. Even if it's a standout in a sea of memorable roles.

All the Right Moves (1983)

Released the same year as Risky Business, All the Right Moves, is often overshadowed by its slicker, sexier cousin. It shouldn't be.

For teens who grew up in coal and steel towns like this — or in any one-company, one-industry town — this movie was the celluloid version of the struggle to find a different path in a place that only offers so many choices. This Tom Cruise hero has flaws and he doesn't just skate by on that big smile. Plus he has a great foil in the criminally underrated Craig T. Nelson.

Top Gun (1986)

I feel the need ... the need ... to quote this movie within an inch of its life. There's just something about the swagger that actors like Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer and Tom Skerritt have playing fighter pilots, that's ridiculously badass.

And let us not forget the late, great Goose — Anthony Edwards with hair! And James Tolkan and his threat to have Maverick flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong. And Michael Ironside reminding us that you never — ever — leave your wingman.

Cocktail (1988)

Cocktail is what you get if you combine Risky Business with Top Gun. Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) is just a guy looking to make his way in the world, but intent on doing it his own way. That's right, bartender man. He is... dangerous.

Don't let anyone tell you Cocktail isn't a good movie. It's got great Aussie actor, Bryan Brown, as Brian's grizzled mentor, Elisabeth Shue as Brian's long-suffering girlfriend, a tropical island for a backdrop and a cracking soundtrack that includes The Beach Boys "Kokomo". Enjoy.

Rain Man (1988)

The last thing Charlie Babbitt wants is a brother — let alone one with autism. But that's what he discovers he has. In Rain Man, Tom Cruise is slick, charming and awful and yet strangely empathetic. It was a revelation. Not least because he manages to give that masterful performance alongside Dustin Hoffman. The Dustin Hoffman.

Rain Man is a rare example of a box office smash hit that also hits the right note with critics, winning four Academy Awards including Best Picture. Sadly the Best Actor role went to Tom Cruise's acting partner, Hoffman. Good try though.

Days of Thunder (1990)

It's Top Gun on four wheels. Cole Trickle may just be the most NASCAR name ever. And this may well be the most Tom Cruise movie of them all. Speed. Danger. Silly names. Nicole Kidman. (As in the future ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise.)

Plus Robert Duvall. Randy Quaid. Carey Elwes, just a couple of years out from The Princess Bride and sandwiched between Glory and Hot Shots!. And the ageless Michael Rooker. It's also probably the best use of the Spencer Davis Group in a film — right when Steve Winwood was getting big as a solo act.

A Few Good Men (1992)

One of the most memorable movie scenes ever comes from this flick — and it wasn't even Tom Cruise's line that capped it. That's OK — if you've got to play second fiddle to someone, let it be Jack Nicholson.

The military courtroom drama is a little tough for anyone who knows anything about courtrooms to watch — there's absolutely no way a lawyer anywhere would be allowed to behave that way. But art doesn't always imitate life and so a little deus ex machina and dialog by one of the best in the business — Aaron Sorkin — gave Tom Cruise yet another notch on his dramatic acting belt.

Plus an insolent (is there any other kind?) Kiefer Sutherland, the always awesome J.T. Walsh, Kevins Bacon and Pollak, Demi Moore and a baby Noah Wyle.

Jerry Maguire (1996)

This is the epitome of mid-1990s movies. Tom Cruise stars as Tom Cruise in love. Renee Zellweger does her schtick. Cameron Crowe does his thing with the script and behind the camera.

And it has that Sorkin-esque speech that feels like it was made for Tom Cruise. Plus Cuba Gooding Jr. in a role that makes you wonder where the rest of his career went.

Mission: Impossible (1996)

There's something about the first movie in this franchise reboot that maybe doesn't hold up so well 25 years later. But that's OK. Tom Cruise holds his own as Ethan Hunt alongside (and against) the likes of Jon Voight, Jean Reno and Ving Rhames. And it paved the way for something like 17 sequels, with casts that have morphed over two decades.

But it still manages to keep the soul of the original movie — and of the original M:I series.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

What the hell is this movie about? Is it about Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman? (Very much so.) Is it about some weird secret sex party society in New York? (Most definitely.) Is it about the fallout between those two things? (Yep.)

It's also about this being Stanley Kubrick's final film before he died. And it's about Chris Isaak's baby doing a bad, bad thing.

Vanilla Sky (2001)

This is one of those trailers that absolutely does not do the movie — or Tom Cruise — justice. (Same goes for Cameron Crowe, who wrote it.) Sure it captures the Tom Cruise who can do no wrong, get any woman he wants, drive the coolest car — you know, standard Tom Cruise stuff. And, sure, it captures the broken and confused Tom Cruise. And it captures the nexus between those things.

But damned if I can make sense of it two decades later. Still, it's an excellent Tom Cruise movie.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

There's just something about this movie that makes it watchable every time it's on. Maybe it's Tom Cruise as a PR flak in the military as it's combating a crazy alien invasion. Maybe it's Emily Blunt and her badass triceps. Maybe it's the late Bill Paxton's drawl. "Edge of the knaaaaaaf."

You know how this movie is going to turn out. You know Tom Cruise will be OK and save the day and everything will work itself out. And you know that look he gives at the very end of the movie means something — you just don't know what.

Or maybe it's just the mere idea of Tom Cruise ending up in a situation in which he's not in total control and doesn't know what's going to happen.

Top Gun Maverick (2022)

A whopping 36 years after the first Top Gun film, Tom Cruise is back with more death-defying aerial action and he hasn't let the fact that he's approaching his 60th birthday slow him down. We've got all the stunts, quips, bonding and spectacle of the first film with added anticipation and nostalgia. In fact, our (spoiler-free) review of Top Gun: Maverick described it as "a stratospheric sequel" where the only negative point was how long we've had to wait for it. 

In a crazy world, where not much seems to make sense, watching Tom Cruise back in the saddle as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is comfortingly familiar yet excitingly entertaining. See it on the biggest screen you can.

More Tom Cruise

• Tom Cruise's best stunts — our picks of his best death-defying feats.
• Top Gun: Maverick guide
• Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning guide
• Edge of Tomorrow review

Tom Cruise often says his movies are made for the fans and are meant to be seen on the big screen. Apparently, he’s one of those fans. Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival where Top Gun: Maverick is screening, Cruise revealed that he frequents multiplexes to watch the latest movies.

Top Gun: Maverick was included as a special screening at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, taking place between May 17-28. During a talk about his career at the festival, Cruise revealed that he sometimes goes to the movies in secret "with my cap on" and sits "in the audience with everyone." So who knows, maybe we should all be keeping an eye out for Tom Cruise when we get our tickets for Top Gun: Maverick.

Releasing worldwide on May 27 (with an early screening in the US on May 24 and a UK release on May 25), Top Gun: Maverick is one of the most anticipated 2022 summer blockbusters. The movie picks up 30 years after the events of 1986’s Top Gun and finds Cruise’s Maverick returning to the flight school to teach a new group of pilots, where he will be forced to come face to face with his past. 

Early word is strong for the movie, with it scoring a 97% "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes (as of May 18). What to Watch’s review praised it as a "stratospheric sequel" that pleases both fans of the original and a new generation getting introduced to the "Danger Zone."

That doesn’t mean it has been smooth sailing for Top Gun: Maverick. The movie was originally planned to release in the summer of 2020 until the pandemic threw that into a loop. A couple of more delays occurred before things finally settled on the May 27, 2022, release date. But was there ever any thought of doing what so many other movies did over the last couple of years and either premiere Top Gun: Maverick on a streaming service like Paramount Plus or some kind of hybrid release? Not according to Cruise.

Again speaking to the crowd at Cannes, Cruise said, "That’s not going to happen. Ever."

"I’ve spent a lot of time with theater owners," added Cruise. "The people that serve the popcorn, the ones that make this [happen]."

Explaining what he told theater owners that were struggling during the pandemic, Cruise said: "Please, I know what you’re going through. Just know we are making Mission: Impossible and Top Gun is coming out," referring to the in-production Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning slated to be released in 2023.

So Cruise is fully backing movie theaters even as streaming continues to cement its place with viewers. One reason it seems is because he enjoys going to the movies as much as he does making them.

Tom Cruise and the rest of the stars of Top Gun: Maverick have landed in San Diego for the global premiere of the long-awaited sequel to 1986’s Top Gun. Of course, we can’t all be there to enjoy the glamour of the night, so What to Watch has compiled the photos of the stars on the red carpet, as well as soundbites from the event.

Despite it being more than 30 years since the original, Top Gun: Maverick is one of the most anticipated 2022 movies and a major summer blockbuster. While May 4 marked the official global premiere of the movie, those in attendance at the 2022 CinemaCon event at the end of April got to see Top Gun: Maverick and their first reactions were incredibly positive.

Top Gun: Maverick finds Cruise’s Pete "Maverick" Mitchell still living on the edge as a test pilot and dodging the rank advancement that would ground him from flying. However, when he is brought back to Top Gun to train a new group of hot-shot Navy pilots, Maverick must come face to face with his past. In addition to Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick stars Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Manny Jacinto, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Lewis Pullman, Jean Louisa Kelly, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer.

Paramount Pictures went all out for the premiere, taking place on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum, organized a fly over and Cruise making his entrance flying a helicopter with the Top Gun: Maverick logo emblazed on its side and landing it on the deck of the Midway. 

Top Gun: Maverick releases exclusively in movie theaters worldwide on May 27. Before that though, enjoy these pictures from the global premiere at the USS Midway Museum.

Here are some quotes from the premiere’s live stream: 

On training for Top Gun: Maverick
"You go over, you get dressed, you get your G-suit on, they throw you in the plane, you go through a punch of checks, they shoot you off the tarmac and all of a sudden you’re in the air doing like 700, 800 miles per hour and then it just kicks in, man. It’s exhilarating, it’s beautiful." - Jay Ellis

"It was one of the most challenging and fruitful things I’ve ever gotten the chance to do. I was pretty sure I was incapable of doing what they were asking of us. ... [Tom Cruse] gave us everything that we needed that I think he had hoped he would have had on the first one." - Lewis Pullman

"We lost some actors because when he told them what he wanted to do in the jets they said, wait a second, I’m not going to do that. I have a hard time getting in a commercial jet, let alone an F18." - Jerry Bruckheimer

"You have to pass this thing called the dunker… It doesn’t sound nice. … I don’t even want to talk about it. … you get strapped to a chair and then you get blindfolded and then it’s simulating if you were in a plane still attached to the seat once you land in the water." - Miles Teller

On new characters
"When he was selecting me for the process, he said, 'this young man is wild, I want him.' And I was like, alright, yeah, I’ll live up to the name of Coyote. And I think I did that." Greg Tarzan Davis on Coyote

"Someone’s got to make the rules and someone’s got to break the rules and you can’t have one without the other. So that’s a big part of the dramatic tension of the film." - Jon Hamm on Cyclone and Maverick's relationship

"She’s such an incredible woman and I was so lucky that Paramount and Tom and Jerry and Joe, everyone really cared about making her a strong, capable, talented woman who … she’s a fighter pilot, she just happens to be a woman. She’s the best." - Monica Barbaro on Phoenix

Overcoming fear of flying
"I lied about not being afraid of flying. I had to sign the waiver saying I was not afraid and I was absolutely terrified. I have to take two glasses of wine and my bose headphones to take a commercial flight. So for me to even think about the F18 it was not possible until it was possible." - Danny Ramirez

"I actually was doing a scene with Tom, we were in the plane but we were just supposed to sit on the tarmac and he just started talking about how great aerobatic flying is and had I done any aerobatic flying. Then I thought should ask him, 'Am I about to do any aerobatic flying.' He said, 'really elegant and graceful, just some graceful rolls.'... He's a great pilot." - Jennifer Connelly

Seeing the movie on the big screen
"This is why you make movies. It’s big, it’s epic, it’s adventurous, it’s romantic. It’s got everything you’d want and I just can’t wait to unleash it on the world." - Glen Powell

"It felt celebratory to me. And I feel like that’s what we want right now. Going to a movie theater and seeing a spectacle of a movie that also has a lot of heart that pulls you in and is moving. I think it’s deeply satisfying." - Jennifer Connelly

"I love entertaining an audience and I love learning and pushing all my skills as a storyteller and an actor." - Tom Cruise

The legacy of Top Gun
"The filmmakers really wanted to get it right and they made us understand that we weren’t just actors working on a movie, we were like people who were chosen and selected for what we brought to the table to make sure that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts." - Bashir Salahuddin

"You know if you’re getting into a Tom Cruise movie you better bring it." - Charles Parnell

"Tom, the way that he described what we were trying to do with this film was that we were trying to hit a bullet with a bullet. And that really talks about how precise we need to be to make a sequel to Top Gun 30-some years later and to be able to have that film sit on the shelf next to the original. That’s extremely difficult." - Miles Teller

"Everyone thinks what Top Gun is, and of course it’s this great summer experience, and what it became to audiences and through the generations is something I couldn’t even imagine at the time we were making it. I knew it was special, but who knows that, how it transcends the generations." - Tom Cruise

Top Gun: Maverick is set to fly into theaters worldwide on Friday, May 27, but movie fans eager to sit down for the long-awaited sequel can make their plans right now, as Top Gun: Maverick tickets are now on sale. In fact, you get tickets to be some of the first to watch Top Gun: Maverick as Paramount is hosting early screenings of the movie across the US on Tuesday, May 24.

What is being billed as "Top Gun Tuesday" by the studio, there will be a special pre-opening fan event for Top Gun: Maverick that includes an early access screening of the movie at 7 pm local time in Dolby Cinema, IMAX and other premium large formats at participating theaters all across the country. In addition, those who attend the special screenings will get an exclusive, limited edition Maverick enamel helmet pin and collector’s poster; those who purchase online through select exhibitors will also get a Top Gun: Maverick collector’s NFT.

For more information on the early screening, visit TopGunMovie.com. You can also purchase tickets (for the early screening or general) through your local movie theater or Fandango.

One of the biggest summer blockbusters and most anticipated 2022 new movies in general, Top Gun: Maverick arrives 36 years after the original Top Gun helped to make Tom Cruise a star. This new movie picks up with Maverick 30 years after the events of the last movie, continuously pushing the envelope as a test pilot and trying to avoid advancement in rank that would ground him. He is brought in to train a new group of Top Gun recruits for a dangerous mission, bringing him face to face with his past.

In addition to Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick stars Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Manny Jacinto, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Lewis Pullman, Jean Louisa Kelly, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer. Joseph Kosinski directs.

On top of all that, Top Gun: Maverick also features a brand new song from Lady Gaga written specifically for the movie, "Hold My Hand." Top Gun’s anthem "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins is also set to be part of the soundtrack again.

Early word on the movie has been strong. After screening at the 2022 CinemaCon event in Las Vegas at the end of April, first reactions for Top Gun: Maverick said it was the "perfect summer blockbuster" and an exhilarating big screen experience.

Again, Top Gun: Maverick releases exclusively in movie theaters to all on May 27.

More on Top Gun: Maverick

• Top Gun: Maverick: everything you need to know
• Top Gun: Maverick trailer
• Tom Cruise shares Top Gun: Maverick dream

If you were on the fence about Top Gun: Maverick perhaps the reactions from the movie's first public screening will convince you. The long-awaited sequel to 1986's Top Gun got its first-ever public screening at the 2022 CinemaCon convention, an annual gathering of movie theater owners, and those in attendance were quick to share their thoughts about the Tom Cruise movie. By the sound of things Top Gun: Maverick may turn out to be one of the best 2022 movies.

Top Gun: Maverick sees Cruise return to his iconic role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Taking place 30 years after the events of Top Gun, Maverick is now working as a test pilot and actively attempting to dodge the advancement in rank that would force him to stop flying. However, his career ends up taking him back to Top Gun, where he must confront his past as he is charged with training a new squadron of fighter pilots.

In addition to Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick stars Jennifer Connelly (Snowpiercer, Labyrinth), Miles Teller (The Offer), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Monica Barbaro, Glen Powell, Manny Jacinto (Good Girls), Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Lewis Pullman, Jean Louisa Kelly, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer, reprising his role as "Iceman."

The movie is set to be a big summer blockbuster, releasing in theaters worldwide on May 27 (Memorial Day weekend for the US). It gets its first official premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France, which takes place May 17-28.

While we still have a little bit of a wait before official reviews come in for Top Gun: Maverick, the reactions to the screening at CinemaCon were incredibly enthusiastic. Some early reactions are calling the movie "the perfect blockbuster" and "a big-screen spectacle," while some are already labeling it as one of the best movies of the year.

There were some who were more reserved in their reactions or even tempering expectations a bit:

Movie fans have just a few weeks before getting to see what Top Gun: Maverick is all about for themselves. As befitting the big-screen blockbuster spectacle, the action movie is playing exclusively in movie theaters.

But they won't have to wait that long for Top Gun: Maverick-related content, as Lady Gaga's new song for the movie soundtrack is out on May 3.

We know Tom Cruise feels the need for speed, but with Top Gun: Maverick the actor told What to Watch’s sister publication Total Film that he wants audiences to get that feeling too after they see the movie when it premieres on May 27.

In a pair of tweets promoting its latest issue that will be released on Thursday, March 31, Total Film shares two new looks at Tom Cruise in the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 favorite Top Gun, along with a pair of quotes.

In one, Cruise says, "I want audiences to walk away saying, 'aw, yeah! I want to fly an F/A-18,'" speaking of the planes that Cruise and his character Maverick fly in Top Gun: Maverick.

Cruise also talked about the timing of the sequel, saying, "It was going to be now or never." He added that his top goal is for audiences "to have a blast."

Top Gun: Maverick sees Cruise reprise his role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Taking place 30 years after the events of the first movie, Maverick now works as a test pilot, actively trying to dodge the advancement in rank that would force him to stop flying. However, his career ends up taking him back to Top Gun, where he must confront his past as he is charged with training a new squadron of fighter pilots.

That past primarily comes in the form of Miles Teller’s new character, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s old co-pilot Goose.

Other members of the Top Gun: Maverick cast include Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Manny Jacinto, Monica Barbaro, Jean Louis Kelly, Raymond Lee, Jay Ellis, Charles Parnell and one more familiar face, as Val Kilmer’s Iceman from the original movie is also slated to appear. Joseph Kosinski, who previously worked with Cruise on Oblivion, is directing.

Top Gun: Maverick is one of the biggest blockbusters of 2022, as it finally will be hitting the big screen after multiple release date shifts because of the pandemic. 

Before general audiences get to see it, Top Gun: Maverick will get its world premiere as part of the Cannes Film Festival, taking place in France from May 17-28.

Check out all the other big movies you can expect this year with What to Watch’s 2022 new movie guide.

Get ready to fly back into the danger zone, as the Keny Loggins classic song “Danger Zone” is officially confirmed to be part of the long-awaited Tom Cruise Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. The song by Loggins is one of the most recognizable features of the classic ‘80s movie, so fans are sure to be happy to hear that it will once again play as a de facto theme song for Maverick as he soars through the air.

Loggins confirmed the exciting news when he recently was on Rob Lowe’s podcast, Literally with Rob Lowe. Lowe asked Loggins if he was involved in Top Gun: Maverick, to which the Grammy-winning musician said he was “finally” able to say that “Danger Zone” would play in the sequel. Though apparently, he has known for a while.

Loggins told Lowe that a few years ago when he and Tom Cruise were both on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (surprisingly the only time the two have ever met, per Loggins) he asked Cruise straight up: “So, yes or no? Is ‘Danger Zone’ in the new movie?” To which he said Cruise replied, “We can’t do Top Gun without ‘Danger Zone.’”

In case you need a quick refresher, Top Gun starred Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a hotshot Navy pilot who attends the best flight combat training school, known as Top Gun. Featuring multiple aerial sequences, “Danger Zone” was played during a number of these. Check it out in the music video below.

Top Gun was nominated for four Oscars when it was released, including one win for Best Original Song. However, “Danger Zone” was not the recipient of that award. Instead, it was the love song “Take My Breath Away”, by Berlin, that took the trophy. All due respect to “Take My Breath Away,” a memorable song in its own right, but “Danger Zone” has stood the test of time in the culture, including being part of a long-running joke on the hit animated series Archer.

“Danger Zone” won’t be the only bit of nostalgia in Top Gun: Maverick. In addition to Tom Cruise reprising his leading role, Val Kilmer is slated to return as Maverick’s frenemy Iceman. New cast member Miles Teller’s character also has a connection to the past, as he plays Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s copilot Goose.

Here is the synopsis of Top Gun: Maverick:

“After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.”

Top Gun: Maverick, after a couple of pandemic-related delays, is scheduled for take-off only in movie theaters on May 27. And we can't wait.

The avalanche of release date changes continues, this time with Paramount's A Quiet Place II and Top Gun: Maverick (co-produced with Skydance). This isn't the first move for either production since the pandemic began, but neither have hit the "indefinitely" mark just yet. A Quiet Place II will be headed to April 23, 2021, and Top Gun: Maverick will shift to July 2, 2021. 

The more curious of the two moves is the Top Gun sequel. Both have jumped out significant enough dates for the studio to hope that they're far enough on the other side of COVID to open, but Top Gun has shifted from a holiday release to a summer one.

Though no one loves hearing news of these delays, this will likely work out in Paramount's favor. Top Gun: Maverick would have done well will a holiday release, but it's undoubtedly a summer movie. As for A Quiet Place II, April may feel a bit early in the year for the film, but horror has plenty of early-in-the-year success stories. The big concern for Krasinski's sequel is that it's currently competing against an already stacked weekend on April 23rd. Monster Hunter, The Asset, Ron's Gone Wrong, and Last Night in Soho are all already slated to release on that date.