Top Gun is unquestionably one of the most iconic action films of the 1980s. While we can’t help being suspicious whenever someone resurrects a movie this old–Top Gun is heading toward its fortieth anniversary in 2026–Top Gun: Maverick is everything we want from a new Top Gun movie and more, if the latest social media reactions are anything to go by.
The first reactions following the film’s debut at CinemaCon have been almost universally positive. Even the ones that point out how formulaic the movie seemed to them have glowing things to say. Leave some room for the CinemaCon effect with these responses; initial responses at the convention tend to be somewhat more positive than the actual reviews will end up being. Even so, the responses are almost universally glowing in tone, praising the movie’s aerial cinematography and star Tom Cruise’s performance,
Top Gun Maverick is going to completely blow away fans of the original and may even make some new ones along the way. Truthfully, even though the plot is very dependent on that of the original, I found the film to be better than the original in almost every way. #TopGunMaverick pic.twitter.com/t7P4VLxMeU
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) April 28, 2022
Folks, trust me when I say this is a legitimately GREAT film. Whatever your plans are for Memorial Day weekend, make #TopGunMaverick a part of them. I think I cried the whole friggin’ movie because I’m such a dork. Loved the cast, and it’s another classic @TomCruise performance. pic.twitter.com/NpHFUhdTHC
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) April 28, 2022
The bad news is that if you’re looking for negative responses, there really aren’t very many. Scott Mendelson from Forbes had less positive things to say, but still leaned in that direction:
#TopGunMaverick offers interesting parables for Tom Cruise asserting his movie star dominance in a changing industry, and some strong aerial footage. Alas, it’s otherwise a deeply generic/formulaic follow-up that’s dependent on “80s hit = cultural myth” nostalgia. #Cinemacon2022 pic.twitter.com/ROSKTVZZ33
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) April 28, 2022
After a bunch of COVID-related delays, Top Gun: Maverick debuts on May 27, 2022, directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Val Kilmer, and more. Cruise’s next film, the seventh Mission: Impossible movie, also got a title today. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will hit theaters on July 14, 2023.
