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Top Gun poster

Top Gun

109 minutes [ 1 ]

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Tom Cruise LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
Kelly McGillis Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood
Val Kilmer LT Tom "Iceman" Kazansky
Anthony Edwards LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw
Tom Skerritt CDR Mike "Viper" Metcalf
Michael Ironside LCDR Rick "Jester" Heatherly
John Stockwell LT Bill "Cougar" Cortell
Rick Rossovich LTJG Ron "Slider" Kerner
Tim Robbins LTJG Sam "Merlin" Wells
Clarence Gilyard LTJG Marcus "Sundown" Williams
Whip Hubley LT Rick "Hollywood" Neven
Barry Tubb LT Henry "Wolfman" Ruth
James Tolkan CDR Tom "Stinger" Jardian
Meg Ryan Carole Bradshaw
Adrian Pasdar LT Charles "Chipper" Piper
Duke Stroud Air Boss Johnson
Aaron and Adam Weis Bradley Bradshaw
Scott Altman Lt. Scott

Top Gun | The Rewatchables

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Producer credits not yet identified.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Beach volleyball, the final dogfight and the landing celebration lead a long list of favorites

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:23:22Read transcript
  • 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

What’s Aged the Best?

The soundtrack, rivalry, style and Tony Scott’s filmmaking

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:24Read transcript
  • 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

What’s Aged the Worst?

Maverick following Charlie into the women’s restroom

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:44Read transcript
  • 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

Apex Mountain

McGillis, Rossovich and Simpson–Bruckheimer are leading apex candidates

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:44Read transcript
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:43:46Read transcript
  • Cruise is proposed and reaffirmed
  • The military branches are offered jokingly, with repeated correction that the film concerns the Navy
  • Berlin gets a final aside without overturning Cruise

Mentions across The Rewatchables