7 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Top Gun, 37 Years Later

Top Gun may be a cult classic, but some of its elements are just difficult to get through on rewatch. Directed by Tony Scott, the film catapulted Tom Cruise to a new level of success as he played daredevil pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. While the film was supposedly an ensemble, Maverick was clearly its protagonist, with his experience at TOPGUN academy driving the film’s narrative. Both a box office hit and critical success for Paramount, the 1986 film has also been selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, further proving its significance.