Top Gun: Maverick isn’t just flying high – it’s still in the stratosphere. Two years after landing on Paramount+, Tom Cruise’s monster hit is back at #1 on the platform’s most-watched list, proving once again that America can’t resist a little speed, sweat, and a whole lot of aviator sunglasses. It also helps that Maverick is, well, kind of perfect. Top Gun: Maverick was described by multiple critics as “the movie every American needs to see,” and that’s not hyperbole. With its thunderous IMAX jet sequences, sweaty beach sports, and Cruise’s relentless need for speed, it somehow turned a decades-old military sequel into a spiritual experience. And now it’s doing it all over again on streaming.
After grossing more than $1.4 billion at the global box office off a $170 million budget, the film became the biggest hit of Cruise’s career – by a mile. It also scored a sky-high 96% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a jaw-dropping 99% from audiences. Everyone from your dad to your niece watched it. Twice. And now they’re watching it again on the Fourth of July, as one would expect.
As if Cruise wasn’t already dominating enough, his Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is still wrapping up its theatrical run while Top Gun: Maverick holds the throne on Paramount+. And don’t forget Collateral – the Cruise-Jamie Foxx thriller from 2004 – is also trending again on the streamer. There’s even talk that Cruise could reteam with Brad Pitt, who recently said he’s down to work with Tom again… just maybe not on a plane.
Will We Get ‘Top Gun 3’?
Director Joseph Kosinski, who also helmed the 2013 sci-fi flick Oblivion with Cruise, confirmed in a recent interview that Top Gun 3 is not only happening – it’s aiming even higher.
“It’s a big idea that I spent almost a year developing — working with some friends at the Navy and Lockheed. Ehren [Kruger]’s into it now, so we’ll see how it comes along… the idea is so ambitious. That’s what’s exciting to me.”
Top Gun 3 is currently being written by Kruger and longtime Cruise collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, who also weighed in on the process, saying, “It wasn’t hard” to crack the story. So yeah, things are moving fast. No 36-year wait this time. Whether you’re watching for the dogfights, the drama, or just to see if Glen Powell’s teeth really are that white – now’s the time to jump back into the cockpit.
Top Gun: Maverick is streaming now on Paramount+.
