





























© BrunoPress
0 / 30 Fotos
"The need for fees"
- At the real Top Gun School, staff members can be fined US$5 for quoting the movie.
© Public Domain
1 / 30 Fotos
Improv skills - In one scene in the hangar, Ice Man (played by Val Kilmer) coughs "bull****" and makes his peers laugh. This was ad-libbed, and the reactions are genuine.
© BrunoPress
2 / 30 Fotos
Career hit for Kilmer - Kilmer actually didn't want to star in 'Top Gun,' but was forced to due to contractual obligations. It's become one of his biggest roles.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Tough cookie - Anthony Edwards was reportedly the only actor who wasn't sick after flying in the fighter jets.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Charlie and Pete - At one point, Charlie has an "older man" date. He is based on Pete Pettigrew, a retired Top Gun instructor who was the film's technical consultant.
© BrunoPress
5 / 30 Fotos
New recruits - The U.S. Navy installed recruiting booths in major cinemas, and had the highest application rate in years.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Firepower - The U.S. Navy set up two missile shots to be used in the movie. The shots were filmed from many different angles, so they could be used at various points in the film.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
True romance - In one scene, Charlie tells Maverick that she didn't want anyone to know she was falling for him. Tom Cruise forgot his line, so he kissed her character instead. This was ad-libbed, and used in the final cut.
© BrunoPress
8 / 30 Fotos
New heights - Tom Cruise reportedly wore lifts to match the height of Kelly McGillis.
© BrunoPress
9 / 30 Fotos
Charlie's inspiration - Kelly McGillis is based on Christine Fox, a flight instructor who rose through the ranks of the Pentagon.
© Public Domain
10 / 30 Fotos
From the skies to space - At one point, a F-14 pilot named Scott Altman puts the middle finger up to a MiG pilot. Altman went on to become a NASA astronaut who piloted two missions.
© Reuters
11 / 30 Fotos
Scott Altman - Scott Altman actually performed Maverick's stunts during filming.
© Reuters
12 / 30 Fotos
Evan? - Maverick's real name was originally Evan in an early script for 'Top Gun.' It was changed to Pete, named after Pete Pettigrew.
© BrunoPress
13 / 30 Fotos
Art Scholl R.I.P.
- During the production, stunt pilot Art Scholl was killed, aged 54. After completing a flat spin, his camera plane plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. "I have a problem - I have a real problem," were his last words.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Buzzing the tower
- Navy pilots drew straws to see who would "buzz the tower." Lieutenant Bozo got to do it, and flew so low that Michael Ironside (pictured) saw the plane's cockpit.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Backseat ride - Actors who played F-14 crew got the chance to ride backseat in the planes.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Special request - Grumman, the company that produces the F-14, was asked by Paramount to install special cameras into the planes.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Test ride - Tom Cruise apparently shrugged the film off at first, but Jerry Bruckheimer convinced the actor to ride along with the Navy. After spinning around in the sky, Cruise said: "I'm in. I'm doing the movie. I love it. This is great."
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Cruise control - Cruise joined Lieutenant Bozo the first time he rode in an F-14. The pilot flew Cruise around, who was feeling mightily sick. "They don't call me 'Bozo' for nothing," the Lieutenant said.
© BrunoPress
19 / 30 Fotos
In character
- Maverick and Iceman had real tension. Apparently, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer refused to socialize and spent their time apart while on set.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Lived experience - At the graduation ceremony, a mustached Top Gun instructor named Heater can be seen behind Maverick.
© BrunoPress
21 / 30 Fotos
In character
- It's said that Tom Cruise kept to himself during filming, so that he could stay in character.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Professional advisor - Admiral Robert Willard is the pilot who gets "flipped off" by Maverick and Goose. He was actually the lead flight choreographer for the film.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
'Top Gun 2' origins - A script for 'Top Gun 2' was actually completed shortly after the film was released. However, Tom Cruise reportedly didn't want a sequel, and other problems stalled the project. Eventually, however, 'Top Gun: Maverick' came to be.
© BrunoPress
24 / 30 Fotos
Goose's real name
- Only superfans know Goose's real name: Nick Bradshaw. You can see his name on a flight patch on top of his dresser.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Spoilers ahead! - Watch out: the following facts contain spoilers. In one original cut, Maverick pays tribute at Goose's grave. The version was never released.
© BrunoPress
26 / 30 Fotos
Deleted scenes
- Originally, Goose would have died in a fiery crash atop an aircraft carrier. However, the U.S. Navy stepped in and objected, and the death scene was changed.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Pentagon approval - The Pentagon had an important role in the production. They reportedly wanted the Navy portrayed in a positive light, and didn't want Goose's death scene to reflect badly on standard military practice.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Tony Scott R.I.P.
- Reportedly, director Tony Scott started working on 'Top Gun 2' back in 2012. Sadly, he took his own life a day before meeting up with Tom Cruise. Also revisit the 30 most essential cult films of all time
© BrunoPress
29 / 30 Fotos
© BrunoPress
0 / 30 Fotos
"The need for fees"
- At the real Top Gun School, staff members can be fined US$5 for quoting the movie.
© Public Domain
1 / 30 Fotos
Improv skills - In one scene in the hangar, Ice Man (played by Val Kilmer) coughs "bull****" and makes his peers laugh. This was ad-libbed, and the reactions are genuine.
© BrunoPress
2 / 30 Fotos
Career hit for Kilmer - Kilmer actually didn't want to star in 'Top Gun,' but was forced to due to contractual obligations. It's become one of his biggest roles.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Tough cookie - Anthony Edwards was reportedly the only actor who wasn't sick after flying in the fighter jets.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Charlie and Pete - At one point, Charlie has an "older man" date. He is based on Pete Pettigrew, a retired Top Gun instructor who was the film's technical consultant.
© BrunoPress
5 / 30 Fotos
New recruits - The U.S. Navy installed recruiting booths in major cinemas, and had the highest application rate in years.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Firepower - The U.S. Navy set up two missile shots to be used in the movie. The shots were filmed from many different angles, so they could be used at various points in the film.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
True romance - In one scene, Charlie tells Maverick that she didn't want anyone to know she was falling for him. Tom Cruise forgot his line, so he kissed her character instead. This was ad-libbed, and used in the final cut.
© BrunoPress
8 / 30 Fotos
New heights - Tom Cruise reportedly wore lifts to match the height of Kelly McGillis.
© BrunoPress
9 / 30 Fotos
Charlie's inspiration - Kelly McGillis is based on Christine Fox, a flight instructor who rose through the ranks of the Pentagon.
© Public Domain
10 / 30 Fotos
From the skies to space - At one point, a F-14 pilot named Scott Altman puts the middle finger up to a MiG pilot. Altman went on to become a NASA astronaut who piloted two missions.
© Reuters
11 / 30 Fotos
Scott Altman - Scott Altman actually performed Maverick's stunts during filming.
© Reuters
12 / 30 Fotos
Evan? - Maverick's real name was originally Evan in an early script for 'Top Gun.' It was changed to Pete, named after Pete Pettigrew.
© BrunoPress
13 / 30 Fotos
Art Scholl R.I.P.
- During the production, stunt pilot Art Scholl was killed, aged 54. After completing a flat spin, his camera plane plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. "I have a problem - I have a real problem," were his last words.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Buzzing the tower
- Navy pilots drew straws to see who would "buzz the tower." Lieutenant Bozo got to do it, and flew so low that Michael Ironside (pictured) saw the plane's cockpit.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Backseat ride - Actors who played F-14 crew got the chance to ride backseat in the planes.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Special request - Grumman, the company that produces the F-14, was asked by Paramount to install special cameras into the planes.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Test ride - Tom Cruise apparently shrugged the film off at first, but Jerry Bruckheimer convinced the actor to ride along with the Navy. After spinning around in the sky, Cruise said: "I'm in. I'm doing the movie. I love it. This is great."
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Cruise control - Cruise joined Lieutenant Bozo the first time he rode in an F-14. The pilot flew Cruise around, who was feeling mightily sick. "They don't call me 'Bozo' for nothing," the Lieutenant said.
© BrunoPress
19 / 30 Fotos
In character
- Maverick and Iceman had real tension. Apparently, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer refused to socialize and spent their time apart while on set.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Lived experience - At the graduation ceremony, a mustached Top Gun instructor named Heater can be seen behind Maverick.
© BrunoPress
21 / 30 Fotos
In character
- It's said that Tom Cruise kept to himself during filming, so that he could stay in character.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Professional advisor - Admiral Robert Willard is the pilot who gets "flipped off" by Maverick and Goose. He was actually the lead flight choreographer for the film.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
'Top Gun 2' origins - A script for 'Top Gun 2' was actually completed shortly after the film was released. However, Tom Cruise reportedly didn't want a sequel, and other problems stalled the project. Eventually, however, 'Top Gun: Maverick' came to be.
© BrunoPress
24 / 30 Fotos
Goose's real name
- Only superfans know Goose's real name: Nick Bradshaw. You can see his name on a flight patch on top of his dresser.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Spoilers ahead! - Watch out: the following facts contain spoilers. In one original cut, Maverick pays tribute at Goose's grave. The version was never released.
© BrunoPress
26 / 30 Fotos
Deleted scenes
- Originally, Goose would have died in a fiery crash atop an aircraft carrier. However, the U.S. Navy stepped in and objected, and the death scene was changed.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Pentagon approval - The Pentagon had an important role in the production. They reportedly wanted the Navy portrayed in a positive light, and didn't want Goose's death scene to reflect badly on standard military practice.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Tony Scott R.I.P.
- Reportedly, director Tony Scott started working on 'Top Gun 2' back in 2012. Sadly, he took his own life a day before meeting up with Tom Cruise. Also revisit the 30 most essential cult films of all time
© BrunoPress
29 / 30 Fotos
Fast facts about 'Top Gun'
'Top Gun: Maverick' has earned several Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture
© BrunoPress
It was a long time coming, but the long-awaited 'Top Gun' sequel finally arrived. 'Top Gun: Maverick' quickly became a smash hit, and even a critical darling, earning accolades like a just announced Best Picture nomination from the Academy Awards.
Indeed, it's been over 35 years since 'Top Gun' first flew into theaters, with iconic characters, quotes, stunts, and songs. But if you haven't yet revisited Maverick and the crew, why not take a look back on the '80s classic? Find out everything there is to know about the hit flick with these fast facts and interesting trivia. Click on!
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