Top Gun (1986)
Up there with the best of the best.
For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 16 May 1986 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Romance |
| Director | Tony Scott |
| Starring | Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis and Val Kilmer |
| Runtime | 110 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 5.9/10 · Metacritic 50/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 59% · IMDb 7.0/10 · TMDB users 7.1/10 |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Box office | $357 million worldwide |
Where to watch Top Gun
Top Gun is streaming on Fubo in the US. It is also on Paramount+ ($13.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Paramount+ is $13.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 19 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Where to watch Top Gun in 57 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Albania | SkyShowtime |
| Andorra | SkyShowtime |
| Argentina | Paramount+ |
| Australia | Binge $19.00 AUD, Paramount+, ARD/ZDF |
| Austria | Paramount+, Canal+ |
| Belgium | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Bolivia | Paramount+ |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | SkyShowtime |
| Brazil | Paramount+ |
| Bulgaria | SkyShowtime €5.99 |
| Canada | Paramount+ |
| Chile | Paramount+, Clarovideo |
| Colombia | Paramount+, Clarovideo |
| Costa Rica | Paramount+ |
| Croatia | SkyShowtime €5.99 |
| Czechia | SkyShowtime 219 Kč |
| Denmark | SkyShowtime 89 kr DKK, Max 119 kr DKK |
| Dominican Republic | Paramount+ |
| Ecuador | Paramount+ |
| El Salvador | Paramount+ |
| Finland | Ruutu, SkyShowtime €6.99, Max €10.99 |
| France | Paramount+ |
| Germany | Paramount+ |
| Guatemala | Paramount+ |
| Honduras | Paramount+ |
| Hungary | SkyShowtime 2590 Ft |
| India | Jiohotstar |
| Indonesia | Prime Video Rp59000 |
| Ireland | Paramount+ |
| Italy | Skygo, Paramount+, Now TV |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Malaysia | Prime Video RM25.00 |
| Mexico | Paramount+, Clarovideo |
| Netherlands | Prime Video €4.99, SkyShowtime €9.99 |
| Nicaragua | Paramount+ |
| North Macedonia | SkyShowtime |
| Norway | SkyShowtime 89 kr NOK, Max 89 kr NOK |
| Panama | Paramount+ |
| Paraguay | Paramount+ |
| Peru | Paramount+ |
| Philippines | Prime Video ₱149 |
| Poland | SkyShowtime 24.99 zł |
| Portugal | SkyShowtime €6.99 |
| Romania | SkyShowtime 29.99 lei |
| Serbia | SkyShowtime 701 din |
| Singapore | Prime Video $4.99 SGD |
| Slovakia | SkyShowtime €5.99 |
| Slovenia | SkyShowtime €5.99 |
| South Korea | Watcha |
| Spain | SkyShowtime €6.99 |
| Sweden | SkyShowtime 89 kr SEK, Max 149 kr SEK |
| Switzerland | Paramount+ |
| Taiwan | Prime Video NT$290 |
| Thailand | Prime Video ฿149 |
| United Kingdom | Paramount+ |
| Uruguay | Paramount+ |
| Venezuela | Paramount+ |
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What kind of watch this is
Tony Scott directs Top Gun. It is 110 minutes of high-gain audio and low-stakes anxiety. The film treats the sky like a playground where the only rule is to fly higher than the guy next to you. It is loud, fast, and entirely unapologetic about its own machinery. You do not need to care about aerodynamics to enjoy the view from the cockpit.
What the critics said
Critics remain divided. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 59% approval rating as of January 2026, while Metacritic scores it 50 out of 100, signaling mixed reception. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 2.5 stars, noting the dogfights are exceptional but the bad parts are relentless. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune awarded 3 stars, praising the action but finding the romance out of place. The consensus acknowledges the aerial footage as memorable, though critics argue the dialogue lacks depth.
How it did with audiences
Top Gun cost $15 million and took $357 million worldwide. In film accounting, that is a landslide. In any other business, it is a miracle. Audiences rated it 7.0/10 on IMDb. It was the highest-grossing film of 1986, a record it held with the casual confidence of a pilot who knows the runway is endless. The numbers did the talking; the movie just flew.
Where it left its mark
John Davis called it a Navy recruiting video. It worked. People saw the movie and said, "Wow! I want to be a pilot." The Navy even set up booths in theaters to catch the enthusiasm. A popular claim says naval aviator enlistment jumped 500%, but modern analyses point to a more modest 8% total increase. The film helped rehabilitate the military's image after Vietnam, though the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General later linked its sexist depictions to the 1991 Tailhook scandal. It also inspired Misa Matsushima to become Japan's first female fighter pilot.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Top Gun.
Read more: Top Gun: Maverick
Sources
- Top Gun on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q110138 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Top Gun” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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