Beach volleyball, the final dogfight and the landing celebration lead a long list of favorites
In the discussion (12)
- The bar rendition of You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ is both appealing and absurd
- Mallory finds the public seduction simultaneously attractive and uncomfortable
- The Great Balls of Fire double date establishes Goose’s family and friendship before his death
- Beach volleyball receives an extended discussion of clothes, watch-checking, competitive stakes and implausible logistics
- Goose’s death remains emotionally effective on repeat viewing
- Iceman’s condolence scene and exaggerated breathing are favorites
- The graduation’s immediate deployment raises questions about all the other graduates
- The blue-lit love scene is discussed as both erotic and bizarre
- The elevator scene is nominated as the strongest chemistry between Cruise and McGillis
- The final landing, celebration and Iceman’s acceptance of Maverick are favorites
- The Viper training sequence and communal shower scene receive nominations
- Final choices include the dogfight, volleyball and post-battle celebration; no single unanimous scene is established
The soundtrack, rivalry, style and Tony Scott’s filmmaking
In the discussion (14)
- Buzzing the tower became part of everyday vocabulary
- Charlie’s Porsche is admired
- The soundtrack and electric-guitar anthem retain their appeal
- Kenny Loggins’s run of movie-theme songs is discussed
- Meg Ryan and Anthony Edwards have convincing chemistry
- Maverick and Iceman’s rivalry is compared to Bird and Magic
- Tom Skerritt balances authority, warmth and intimidation
- The character-by-character end credits are praised
- The panel credits the low-priced Top Gun VHS release and Pepsi marketing with expanding home-video ownership
- Aviators, bomber jackets, jeans and mustaches remain iconic
- Cruise’s sex-symbol image and the forbidden romance are discussed
- Call signs and practical aerial effects hold up
- Tony Scott’s glossy blockbuster direction is praised
- Tim Robbins’s tiny role is a source of continuing surprise
Maverick following Charlie into the women’s restroom
In the discussion (10)
- The restroom pursuit is criticized as invasive and unacceptable
- Aerial scenes lose some impact on a small screen, though modern home viewing helps
- The later careers of Skerritt and Rossovich are debated, with counterexamples
- The vague enemy and global-war implications of the final fight are questioned
- Sending a traumatized Maverick into combat is criticized
- Maverick’s first-date shower request and departure lead to a long disagreement about his intentions
- McGillis’s performance and the romantic chemistry are criticized
- Charlie’s harsh consolation dialogue is singled out
- The wine and salad scene is treated as awkward
- The discussion returns to the restroom pursuit as the leading choice
Meg Ryan, with Michael Ironside as an alternative
In the discussion (4)
- Kilmer and Edwards are ruled too prominent for the award
- Meg Ryan’s Carol is the leading choice
- Michael Ironside’s Jester receives an alternative nomination
- The room returns to Meg Ryan
McGillis, Rossovich and Simpson–Bruckheimer are leading apex candidates
In the discussion (7)
- Tom Skerritt is debated against Alien
- Kelly McGillis’s Witness–Top Gun stretch is accepted
- Rick Rossovich is accepted
- The Navy is debated against Zero Dark Thirty
- The Beverly Hills Cop–Top Gun run is accepted for Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer
- Cruise and Kilmer are rejected as being at their apex here
- Beach volleyball is debated against Karch Kiraly
Tolkan, Cruise’s crying and Kilmer’s grief breathing
In the discussion (4)
- James Tolkan’s scenes are nominated
- Cruise’s crying is nominated
- Kilmer’s exaggerated grieving breaths are nominated
- No final single choice is established
A ten-episode Netflix remake is rejected
In the discussion (1)
- The panel immediately rejects the proposed television format
Most Rewatchable Scene
