Released back in 1986, the original Top Gun became an instant classic, with the movie now considered one of the defining films of the 1980s. From the characters to the aerial combat scenes to the memorable soundtrack, Top Gun inspired a wave of new, fresh action films that were brave enough to be just as daring as the Tom Cruise-led film.
36 years after the original Top Gun was released, both old and new fans were treated to one of the biggest cinematic events in recent history with Top Gun: Maverick, making as big, if not bigger, of an impact on the film industry and pop culture as a whole. Although the original Top Gun has so many redeeming qualities that make it beloved to this day, the sequel turns up just about every dial on that formula, creating an even bigger spectacle for audiences to enjoy. Here are 10 reasons why Top Gun: Maverick actually ended up better than the original film.
The Non-Stop Cinematic Rush
Due to Top Gun: Maverick being an action film through and through, intense, thrilling action sequences are a given, especially with the film revolving around the best fighter pilots in the world. In the original film however, one element that falls short is the amount of unnecessary downtime between big events, which ultimately hinders the ever-growing thrill.
Top Gun: Maverick by contrast does a great job of constantly maintaining the rush that only a film with high-octane, spectacular aerial sequences could provide. The sequel features quite a bit more airtime than the original, which even though it isn't all dogfighting, still allows for a cinematic rush that is carried through the essential plot development scenes.
It Stood Out in a More Competitive Industry
Despite there being many brilliant action films that were released around the same time as the original Top Gun, the industry was in a phase of experimenting with rapidly advancing technology. All kinds of films managed to be in the spotlight at the same time. The original most definitely stood head above shoulders among the rest in the second half of the '80s, but the modern-day movie industry is a much different place from what it was 40 years ago.
Today, massive franchises such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars dominate the film industry, typically capturing the spotlight whenever those films are released. While there is nothing wrong with these films being loved by audiences due to how expertly crafted most of them are, the fact that Top Gun: Maverick managed to swamp the box office for 8 weeks straight is a testament to how fantastic the movie truly is — nostalgia alone can't account for the massive popularity the film had. While it still offered the breakneck action pace you'll find in superhero films, Top Gun: Maverick broke the modern-day mold of franchises dominating the action/adventure genre.
Tom Cruise is Better than Ever
Tom Cruise's role as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in the original Top Gun is without a doubt one of his most iconic roles throughout his illustrious career, and was one of the films that solidified him as a top-tier talent in the movie industry. Cruise most definitely nailed his role as the young, hot-shot fighter pilot in the original film, and went on to perfect other action roles, such as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible series. And even though the Mission Impossible franchise holds some of Cruise's best stunts, he went all out for Maverick, flying planes himself and even becoming the first actor to ever do a real launch from and land on an aircraft carrier in a movie.
Throughout the film, the hot-shot elements of the young Maverick we all know and love from the original are still well and truly there for the character in the sequel, but the fact that he's aged a decent amount in the sequel (despite not looking it at all) means that a more mature Maverick was to be expected. Cruise managed to find the perfect balance between the high-flying, energetic Maverick of the original film and combine it with the maturity that naturally comes with age, which only solidified his character as one of the best leads across the action genre.
The Stakes Are Undeniably Higher and Clearer
Another key element where the original Top Gun doesn't quite manage to pay off is the final aerial battle where, even though the scene is as thrilling as an action finale should be, the stakes aren't nearly as high as the sequel. The original puts a heavy focus on the character's relationships with each other rather than building the story of the mission at hand, which the sequel manages to do perfectly.
Top Gun: Maverick also puts a heavy focus on its characters, but doesn't inform the audience about what the final mission is until after the rigorous training is complete. The end goal is extremely simple: blow up the enemy's incomplete uranium enrichment site before they can develop nuclear weapons. Not only does this make the end goal much more important than the original as the team tries to prevent a potential World War 3 situation, but the audience understands exactly what the goal is, how hard it is, and what is on the line — which is further emphasized through the specific training exercises.
The Beautiful Cinematography
One aspect that Top Gun: Maverick made sure to get right was the cinematography, with the team taking the utmost care to ensure each shot was as stunning as the previous, whether it was on the sand or above the clouds. The original was shot in the classic '80s style with a big focus on color and what has now become a nostalgic '80s look, and while the sequel honors the style of the original, it adds its own modern twists.
Combining the nostalgic aesthetic of the original film with the cutting-edge technology available today allowed Top Gun: Maverick to provide one of the most special, memorable cinematic experiences in recent history. The visuals played a huge role in riveting the audience and immersing them in each scene in the film, another element that sets the movie apart from many others in its genre.
A Much Better Love Story
One of the most prominent aspects of the original Top Gun is the relationship development of Maverick and Charlotte (Kelly McGillis). Although it still feels authentic, it follows just about every generic trope you'd expect from an action-film romance story. Top Gun: Maverick also features a love story, and it learns from the mistakes of the original to provide an even better romance.
Instead of Charlotte's character returning, the sequel introduces a new character in Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly. Although this story also follows conventional tropes, the chemistry flows so much better between Maverick and Penny. The two are no longer young adults, which naturally provides a different unfolding story than the original, but both the acting and improved script allowed their romance to develop in a more authentic way.
A Fantastic Script from Start to Finish
Keeping on topic with the script, it's not only the romance story that saw improvement from the original. The pacing of the first film breaks the movie up a little too much, making it easier to disconnect from the story. However, in the sequel, the pacing sees a drastic improvement, managing to develop each aspect of the story without disrupting another.
As well as the overall structure, the characters' dialogue makes them instantly enjoyable to watch. Each character beams with personality and qualities that make it easy to get behind them. The style of scene/sequence does make sure to honor the original through its use of Goose's son to connect the original to the new movie, and bring more depth and emotion to the events of the high-stakes action. With the impactful one-to-one conversations and the improved script, even viewers who hadn't seen the original Top Gun were engaged and invested in what would happen next.
Excellent Side Characters
The original definitely featured some excellent side characters, like 'Iceman' (Val Kilmer), their instructor 'Viper' (Tom Skerritt) and Goose's girlfriend Carol (Meg Ryan). But Top Gun: Maverick takes special care to develop a larger group of side characters, allowing audiences to learn more about them and grow closer to the characters compared to the first film.
Goose's son 'Rooster' (Miles Teller) is the main side character who plays a prominent role throughout the film, sharing an excellent, heartbreaking dynamic with Maverick which has a wonderful pay-off at the end. Additional characters such as 'Phoenix' (Monica Barbaro), 'Hangman' (Glen Powell), and 'Cyclone' (Jon Hamm) all received justice through excellent performances, allowing the side characters to be just as memorable and important as Maverick to complete the mission. They all grow into a family, and by the end, the audience feels included in that family too.
An Action Legend with Emotional Depth
As well as the sequel's side characters, Maverick is the man who goes through the most character development, much more than he went through in the original. Still dealing with the guilt and struggles of losing Goose all those years ago, Maverick spends much of the film facing his past through Rooster, whom Maverick didn't allow into the Top Gun program, fearing that he'd have the same fate as his father. We also learn that Maverick has turned down multiple opportunities for promotions, so that he can keep flying — or as a form of self-punishment, perhaps.
Watching Maverick go through all the emotions, from fearing Rooster will die to having complete faith in him as a pilot, adds so much depth to the lead character. As well as facing his past through Rooster, Val Kilmer's Iceman also plays a role in Maverick dealing with his struggles, as his rival of the first film is the reason that he finally faces his demons and decides to train the pilots, making for a wonderful, touching culmination of their story.
Alongside his character development, Top Gun: Maverick sees Maverick at his very best as a pilot, making him easily one of the coolest heroes in recent action history. Flying a fighter jet is no easy feat, so seeing Maverick maneuver his aircraft in a mind-bending way, outdoing all of the new younger pilots, cements him as a true action legend.
Incredible Aerial Sequences
The element of the sequel that made it such a special experience to watch in the cinema was the breathtaking aerial sequences. From the opening of the film where Maverick reaches Mach 10, to the training sequences, to the chaotic final battle, very few films have ever come close to the intricate, beautifully dangerous lengths Top Gun: Maverick went to in creating these sequences.
The cinematography and sound design came together perfectly to give the audience the most authentic perspective that the pilots go through in the film, with the cast all being in the jets themselves, making it so much more immersive and impressive. A spectacular fighter jet battle is something that many had been itching for ever since the release of the first film, with Top Gun: Maverick more than delivering some of the best action sequences of all time.
There is no question at this point that Top Gun: Maverick surpassed the original movie, while still honoring it and drawing inspiration and style from it. Will this kick off more aerial dogfighting movies, or more emotional roles for Tom Cruise, or perhaps a spin-off series? We can only hope.
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