TOP GUN: MAVERICK
Starring: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Monica Barbaro, Bashir Salahuddin, Charles Parnell, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer
Director: Joseph Kosinski
NICK
As someone with no particular connection to the original Top Gun, I was curious if Maverick would be for me. Boy, was it! This film is solid from top to bottom. The aerial scenes are exceptional, the new crop of pilots blend together well, and the emotional beats are such that they don’t require an attachment to the original film. This is both a tribute to its predecessor and a film that improves on it in every way. Also, props to Tom Cruise for still finding a way to have multiple running scenes in a film about flying. Never change.
QUENTIN
After seeing a few early reactions call it “the perfect blockbuster,” I was growing concerned that Top Gun: Maverick was getting overhyped, and while I wouldn’t go as far as to call it “perfect,” there isn’t much to hate about it either. It boasts phenomenal aerial sequences, a story that is surprisingly organic, a decent amount of humor, and even a few strong emotional beats. One could definitely nitpick a few things (like why do we need Jennifer Connelly’s character?), but it’s best if you just find the biggest screen possible, sit back, and let your need for speed be satisfied in thrilling fashion.
PAIGE
Grab your popcorn and hold on tight because Top Gun: Maverick soars! It’s not just the best legacy sequel ever, it's even better than the original with no one flying on autopilot. It’s a fantastic follow-up, and one that delivers the most extraordinary aerial sequences I’ve ever seen. It’s also filled with tons of nostalgic moments harking back to the 1986 classic, and let's be real, I’d be Tom Cruise’s wingman anytime because I’ve got the need… the need for speed after watching this film!
JACOB
Top Gun: Maverick is the kind of movie that movie theaters were made for. A perfect summer sequel, the likes of which just don’t get made anymore, that is not simply an appropriate tribute to its late-80s source material, but an elevation of it in almost every form. While it may be one set-piece short of calling itself action-packed, there’s no shortage of thrills delivered by the action we’re given. The aerial sequences are perhaps the best ever put to film, and within all of it, the heart is never once lost. The original’s director, Tony Scott, would be exceedingly proud.
ADRIANO
Top Gun: Maverick is incredible. As someone who doesn’t like the original film, this sequel greatly improves on it in just about every possible way. For one, this movie actually has a plot that is engaging and easy to follow. While the film does have moments of nostalgia, it isn’t reliant on them to tell its story. It’s also more character focused and has more emotional depth than I would’ve guessed, while the flight sequences are jaw-dropping. I couldn’t tell what was CGI and what was practical, but either way, I was impressed. An excellent summer blockbuster that requires the biggest screen imaginable.
