Despite being among many people’s favourite film, the Tom Cruise classic is leaving Netflix in May. The 1986 American action drama Top Gun is a film any movie lovers hold dear to their hearts. Top Gun follows hotshot fighter pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, played by Cruise, as he begins advanced training at The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School, where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills.
His cocky demeanour puts him at odds with the other pilots, particularly Tom Kasansky (Val Kilmer), as they find for the top pilot spot. But he is also in competition for attention of his beautiful flight instructor Charlotte Blackwood, played by Kelly McGillis.
After its release in 1986, Top Gun topped the box office charts for the year with $176 million, just edging out the action/comedy Crocodile Dundee. It has become known as one of the best summer popcorn movies of all time due to its soundtrack, showcasing of Cruise and ability to cater to both male and female audiences.
The film was nominated for various Academy Awards but only picked up the accolade for Best Original Song with Take My Breath Away by Berlin.
Top Gun Maverick, released in 2022, is the sequel to the original Top Gun movie and it also picked up an Oscar but this time for Best Sound.
Top Gun has many loyal fans and according to Michael Nazarewycz of Medium, it is “the best of the best’.
He said: “I’m hard pressed to locate a more complete Hollywood blockbuster than Top Gun.”
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an audience rating of 83%.
One fan wrote: “This movie stands the test of time and is still every bit as awesome now as it was 38 years ago.”
Another added: “A one-of-a-kind cinematic classic and quintessential 1980s movie.”
The film will leave Netflix on May 21.