Questions
When did Top Gun come out and who directed it?
Top Gun was released in the United States on May 16, 1986, and was directed by Tony Scott.
Who produced Top Gun?
It was produced by the powerhouse duo of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer.
Who stars in Top Gun?
Tom Cruise plays Maverick, with Kelly McGillis as Charlie, Val Kilmer as Iceman, Anthony Edwards as Goose, and Tom Skerritt as Viper.
How well did Top Gun do at the box office?
It earned about $360.6 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1986, and sold roughly 47.65 million tickets in North America during its initial run.
Is Top Gun based on a true story?
The screenplay was inspired by an article titled "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay, published in California magazine in May 1983, about the Navy’s real fighter weapons school.
Did anyone get hurt filming the flight scenes?
Sadly yes. Aerobatic pilot Art Scholl reportedly died while filming the flat spin sequence on September 16, 1985, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
Is it true a director wrote a personal check to keep filming?
Reportedly, when Tony Scott wanted a carrier to change course for better lighting and was told it would cost $25,000, he wrote the ship’s captain a check to keep filming a few more minutes.
Why is Tom Cruise never in shoes next to Kelly McGillis?
Kelly McGillis reportedly had to stay shoeless during scenes with Cruise so that their heights would match on camera.
Who sang the love song from Top Gun?
"Take My Breath Away" was performed by Berlin and written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe.
What about the "Danger Zone" song?
"Danger Zone" was performed by Kenny Loggins and helped drive soundtrack sales to 7 million copies in the US, with the album hitting number one on the Billboard 200.
Did Top Gun actually boost Navy recruiting?
Producer John Davis said the film worked as recruitment publicity. Popular claims of a 500% jump are overstated, with modern analysis pointing to a more modest total Navy enlistment increase of around 8%.
Was Top Gun a big deal on VHS?
Yes. The 1987 VHS release set a record with over 1.9 million units ordered before its March 11, 1987 launch, and it eventually sold about 2.9 million copies.
Has Top Gun been recognized as a classic?
In 2015 the US Library of Congress added Top Gun to the National Film Registry as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
When did the sequel come out?
Top Gun: Maverick was released on May 27, 2022, 36 years after the original, with Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprising their roles to widespread acclaim.
Did Top Gun inspire any real pilots?
Yes. The film reportedly inspired Misa Matsushima to become Japan’s first female fighter pilot.
