Top Gun

Top Gun, box-office hit motion picture about a young pilot attending the United States Navy’s elite school for fighter pilots. Released in 1986, the film stars Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, who earned the nickname “Maverick” because of his brash aerial maneuvers. Maverick competes with Tom Kasanzky (played by Val Kilmer) to earn the honor of being first in the class, the top gun. Maverick falls in love with a civilian instructor (Kelly McGillis) at the school. The film features some impressive footage of jets careening around the sky as the young pilots learn how to fight and then actually engage in combat. Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock’s song “Take My Breath Away” earned an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Director

• Tom Scott

Cast

• Tom Cruise (Lieutenant Pete Mitchell)
• Anthony Edwards (Lieutenant Nick Bradshaw)
• Kelly McGillis (Charlotte Blackwood)
• Tom Skerritt (Cmdr. Mike Metcalf)
• Val Kilmer (Tom Kasanzky)
• Michael Ironside (Dick Wetherly)
• Rick Rossovich (Ron Kerner)
• Barry Tubb (Henry Ruth)
• Whip Hubley (Rick Neven)
• Clarence Gilyard, Jr. (Evan Gough)
• Tim Robbins (Sam Wills)
• John Stockwell (Cougar)
• James Tolkan (Stinger)
• Meg Ryan (Carole)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Song (1986): Giorgio Moroder—Music, Tom Whitlock—Lyrics, “Take My Breath Away”
• Golden Globe Award for Best Song (1987): Giorgio Moroder—Music, Tom Whitlock—Lyrics, “Take My Breath Away”

Quote

• Maverick: “I feel the need—the need for speed!”