Top Gun (1986)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Melvin W

  
  Maverick: You don't have time to think up there. If you think, you're dead.  "Up there with the best of the best." There's a lot of people who hate Top Gun and a lot of people that love it. It's clear why. If you love movies that are pure popcorn… More
  Maverick: You don't have time to think up there. If you think, you're dead.  "Up there with the best of the best." There's a lot of people who hate Top Gun and a lot of people that love it. It's clear why. If you love movies that are pure popcorn entertainment then Top Gun is for you, as it is extremely entertaining and fun. If you need a movie to have real story and characters, then this isn't for you, as it is more about aerial maneuvers than it is about story or character. As it is I enjoyed Top Gun for just how fun it is. It's a fast paced movie with a lot of plane action. I know it isn't a great movie when it comes to filmmaking, but it does what Tony Scott means for all of his movies to do; it entertains. He doesn't make movies that are going to make it on AFI lists. He makes movies that are going to be fun, and he does a good job at doing that. Top Gun is just another example of Scott doing what he does best. The film is definitely at it's best when it is in the air as the aerial sequences are just amazing. On the ground is where the problems lie for many. Obviously there's a lot of man cliches at work down there, and a lot of the time what we watch and listen to is ridiculous, but I still can't say that it wasn't fun to watch. Then there's the romance, which was weirdly underplayed and overplayed at the same time, but it didn't ruin the movie by any means. The acting isn't perfect, but really it doesn't need to be. Movies like Top Gun don't call for Oscar level acting. They call for loud screams and stupid one liners and on that level the cast succeeded.  Top Gun has sort of gotten itself to classic action status. There are so many people(mostly guys that were in there teens to twenties in the eighties) that just love the hell out of this movie. The movie is well known for the call names Maverick and Iceman and for some of the iconic lines said. Still I don't think anyone out there who loves this movie would argue with me saying it is pretty stupid. It uses an overused story, overused characters, and falls back on overused songs. Still I have to say I enjoyed it, even though I really wish I could just say I hate it. I guess I'm sort of in the middle on this one. Top Gun is a classic guy movie. It isn't going to win any intelligence awards, but for pure visuals and cinematic excitement, it isn't too bad. It's a perfect movie to watch when you just want to have fun and not have to think about deep characters or a storyline that has some source of originality. 

• Candy R

  
  Great film from the 80's. They were so cool! Navy pilots in training.

• Brad W

  
  Top Gun is not great in my opinion, I think its a bit too popular but thats just me. The story is boring and really cheesy, I was never once getting into it. The cast wasnt great either, not Tom Cruises best. The plane scenes were pretty cool, I enjoyed that. Overall im not a huge… More
  Top Gun is not great in my opinion, I think its a bit too popular but thats just me. The story is boring and really cheesy, I was never once getting into it. The cast wasnt great either, not Tom Cruises best. The plane scenes were pretty cool, I enjoyed that. Overall im not a huge fan of this movie, it was boring.

• moon r

  
  High school cheerleading for the Naval fighter pilot set (it was made during the gung-ho military / Reagan years), but with one helluva air show thrown in. Cruise became box office bigtime with this and then there's that loud soundtrack of 80's gold: You Take My Breath… More
  High school cheerleading for the Naval fighter pilot set (it was made during the gung-ho military / Reagan years), but with one helluva air show thrown in. Cruise became box office bigtime with this and then there's that loud soundtrack of 80's gold: You Take My Breath Away.

• Eric A

  
  Pretty routine movie, but a classic in alot of ways I guess. One of the few movies I like Tom Cruise in.

• Bethany M

  
  Another amazing 80's film! Tom Cruise was fantastic in this!

• Conner R

  
  Top Gun always has been and always will be one of my favorite movies of all time. It showcases Tom Cruise in a way that no movie ever quite has before or after. He is seen as what you might call the perfect human being. Charm, good looks, volleyball skills and singing are just a few… More
  Top Gun always has been and always will be one of my favorite movies of all time. It showcases Tom Cruise in a way that no movie ever quite has before or after. He is seen as what you might call the perfect human being. Charm, good looks, volleyball skills and singing are just a few of his talents. His main feature is being the greatest pilot of all time; soaring the skies in his F-14A Tomcat. Now a lot of people are out to get Tom Cruise and either claim that he's a bad actor or that he's just a freak, but my guess is that it's only jealously that clouds the minds of these non-believers that he is a gift to mankind. I don't think anyone else has as much awesome aspects about themselves and Top Gun only proves this beyond the shadow of a doubt. He commands the screen as hotshot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and delivers one grand performance. Next to him, you have a soirée of supporting cast members that do a great job here including Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Tom Skerrit and Anthony Edwards. Kelly McGillis also fares well as his instructor/squeeze, who can't resist the dashing good looks and charisma of her pupil. A lot of flack also gets thrown Tony Scott's way as well in terms of his directing style, but it's hard to pick apart Top Gun and see anything but beauty. It is shot in a way that makes you see the true power of these fighter pilots and their respecting aircrafts. Even when there isn't pulse pounding action occurring, you still get the full treatment. Even during your average game of volleyball, there is intensity oozing out of the screen. Now some people also have the theory that Top Gun is just about some kind of made up love story between Maverick and Iceman, but to me that's just a childish remark and a weak attempt at trying to make a movie belittled. Anyone who actually takes the time to watch this epic masterpiece would know that it's anything but that. Top Gun is essentially the definition of a fun summer movie, but also contains a lot of heart and genuine storytelling. We can relate to these larger than life characters because they are so well played out and so well written. It's had not to get wrapped up in all the visuals and surprisingly effective Kenny Loggin's Academy Award-Winning soundtrack that brings you right into the story. The fact is, some people may never get Top Gun; which is fine. However, those who do get it know how unbelievable cool it is and share the admiration for this great piece of movie-making. Top Gun isn't just some stupid, soulless, blockbuster at all. It has a true purpose and has real emotions running through its adrenaline pumping veins.

• Alice S

  
  GOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!! All right, so it seems that everyone's over this movie now - and its 25th anniversary coming on the heels of US's biggest "America! Fuck yeah!" moment of the last decade just adds fuel to misguided fire - but I missed the '80s, so let me… More
  GOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!! All right, so it seems that everyone's over this movie now - and its 25th anniversary coming on the heels of US's biggest "America! Fuck yeah!" moment of the last decade just adds fuel to misguided fire - but I missed the '80s, so let me enjoy it. Very exciting flying. Some hilarious homoerotic under - over - tones? A good-hearted, sacrificial best friend. A darling and kooky Meg Ryan in a bit part, "Hey Goose, you big stud! Take me to bed, or lose me forever!" Incessant music video montages for three '80s hits. Oh so much tongue. And I'll still say Tom Cruise is a pretty fine actor. He may be a nut-job, but he's got the face for it. He's got the quivering jaw, the bloodshot eyes, shrink-wrapped in tears, the gaze that looks right through you.

• Jennifer X

  
  Top Gun is filled with cheese.

• AJ V

  
  This is one of the only movies about guys in the army that I actually like. Cruise is awesome in this movie! It's sort of a modern version of From Here to Eternity, but with more action and romance. I loved it.

• Roy G

  
  Tom Cruise classic still revs engines.

• Spencer S

  
  There's a ton of hype circulating around this film for its 80's flair, killer soundtrack, and the pure awesomness that is an action movie with fighter pilots, but overall it overwhelmed me. Between the strangely tense scenes between McGillis and Cruise with Berlin in the… More
  There's a ton of hype circulating around this film for its 80's flair, killer soundtrack, and the pure awesomness that is an action movie with fighter pilots, but overall it overwhelmed me. Between the strangely tense scenes between McGillis and Cruise with Berlin in the background and the the constant yelling matches between Maverick and his superiors, it was one big guy fest. The only truely great thing about this movie was Maverick's relationship with Goose, and that last moment between him and his partner's dog tags.

• Dorian G

  
  What can I say? "This is giving me a hard on." I gotta say I have been skeptical of this movie ever since my roommate in college said it was awesome. I thought it looked like a turd until I sat down to watch it today. The acting was pretty good if not sometimes very childish… More
  What can I say? "This is giving me a hard on." I gotta say I have been skeptical of this movie ever since my roommate in college said it was awesome. I thought it looked like a turd until I sat down to watch it today. The acting was pretty good if not sometimes very childish and i'm not sure why a lot of scenes are of men in showers or in tighty-whities or especially playing beach volleyball. Come on Goose why can't you take your shirt off?? Not manly enough? That explains why he got smashed on the canopy and Maverick goes unscathed. I thought the female counterparts were smokin' in this 80's film and Tom was pretty damn good which is because he hadn't started jumping on Oprah's couches yet. If you like some pretty cool aerial stunts and sweaty men then Top Gun will give you your "need for speed."

• Jeff "

  
  Top Gun is simply put a mindless action film. The acting is decent at best, but the action sequences are very entertaining. A film not for everyone, this film is mostly for people who have a fascination with jet fighters. I'm a Military brat with a passion for aircraft, so I… More
  Top Gun is simply put a mindless action film. The acting is decent at best, but the action sequences are very entertaining. A film not for everyone, this film is mostly for people who have a fascination with jet fighters. I'm a Military brat with a passion for aircraft, so I enjoyed it. A flawed film of course, Top Gun still manages to be an enjoyable ride and offer an awesome viewing experience to the viewer. The dialogue is quotable, and sometimes it's so bad it's great. Top Gun is very cheesy, but is nonetheless a fun film. This film is the perfect example of a film that you need to shut off your brain to enjoy. It's obviously not the best film out there, and this borderlines on the fine line of guilty pleasure. Where the film lacks in good story, it more than makes up for it's entertaining dog fighting sequences. And as many reviewers here have stated previously, this film isn't the best, but it does somehow bring back a feeling of why the 80's were a fun time. Top Gun is like I've said a mindless action film, so if you haven't seen this film don't go expecting a solid storyline to go along with the film, because you won't find it. The plot is paper thin, and Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, does what he does best, he sugar coats his action films with loads of action to cover up the mediocre plot. Not saying he's a bad producer, but he has managed top deliver some films with minimal or no plot at all. Pearl Harbor bring another example and Armageddon being another. If your looking for a fun action film from the 80's, then you should check out Top Gun. Not a memorable film, but still enjoyable nonetheless..Top Gun can be summed up as a film that emphasizes on the mood of the 1980's. The films high concept tends to be shallow at times, but in the end; who cares? Top Gun is the perfect example of an action film not to be taken seriously, heavily flawed, arrogant but still pretty entertaining. However this is a film that won't appeal to many,and for, I can't entirely recommend it, but I can't entirely dismiss it as utter garbage. When you combine a minal plot, with one dimensional characters who try to sexy on screen then you have Top Gun. Entertaining but only if you can forget the corny dialogue. An average actioner for me.

• Emile T

  
  Guilty pleasure + Tom Cruise with aviator glasses.

• KJ P

  
  It was sort of a basic storyline, but it was one hell of a fun ride! I recommend it to someone who isn't going to pay attention to the story, and just focus on the thrills of the planes! Good Film!

• Lenny M

  
  Val baby as Iceman, coolest role literally, that was bad. Tom pre-scientology, love it.

• Lewis C

  
  Top Gun is 50% awesome and 50% pure cheese. This movie takes a horribly cliche story and covers it with all the things that make little boys want to be jet pilots when they grow up. Cool names like Maverick and Iceman, awesome aviator glasses, sweeping shots of jets screaming through… More
  Top Gun is 50% awesome and 50% pure cheese. This movie takes a horribly cliche story and covers it with all the things that make little boys want to be jet pilots when they grow up. Cool names like Maverick and Iceman, awesome aviator glasses, sweeping shots of jets screaming through clear blue skies, and Danger Zone playing every five minutes....what's not to love? Well, like I said earlier, the story that goes along with all the cool stuff can't quite keep up to speed. There's something about a girl and a dad and a tragedy, blah blah blah. It's all just filler to get from one scene with jets to the next.

• Anthony L

  
  I remember getting all upset when Anthony Edwards died and then being angry with the film for making me upset unnecessarily. I also remember hating Tom Cruise. Not much has changed since 1986!

• Jason O

  
  I grew up in the 80's, but I didn't really watch Top Gun until a few years ago. I definitely saw what all the fuss was about when just about everybody mentioned Top Gun as one of their favorite movies of all time. To say the least it's a damn good movie. I couldn't… More
  I grew up in the 80's, but I didn't really watch Top Gun until a few years ago. I definitely saw what all the fuss was about when just about everybody mentioned Top Gun as one of their favorite movies of all time. To say the least it's a damn good movie. I couldn't find hardly any flaws in it. My favorite kind of movie is a good action movie with fast paced action and although most people consider Top Gun more of a drama movie, it also has a lot of top notch action and suspense in it as well. Cruise and McGillis do a great job acting and so did all the supporting cast. I can't think of many more sequences in any movie that are more awesome than when Maverick, Iceman, Viper and the rest of the flyers take to the air close to the end of the movie and do their job against their enemies. Top Gun also is great in the drama area. It seems like Cruise and McGillis are in a real relationship throughout the movie. Not to mention that the soundtrack to Top Gun couldn't have possibly been any better for the movie. If you like movies with fast paced action sequences with a little bit of drama added in, then Top Gun is one you can't afford to miss. It's one of the classics and one of the top 3 films of the eighties. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. One of the best classics of the 80's, period, and still one of Cruise's highlights, possibly still his best.

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