Is Top Gun Based on a True Story? Ending Explained and Review
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Apr 13, 2023
Top Gun
Directed by Tony Scott, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and distributed by Paramount Pictures, Top Gun is an American action film released in 1986. The movie's screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., based on an article titled "Top Guns" written by Ehud Yonay and published in California magazine three years earlier. Tom Cruise stars as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Together with his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant (junior grade) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards), they are selected to train at the United States Navy's Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, and Tom Skerritt also appear in supporting roles.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from film critics upon its release on May 16, 1986, Top Gun was a massive commercial success, grossing $357 million worldwide against a production budget of $15 million. The film's visual effects and soundtrack were highly acclaimed, with the latter becoming one of the most popular movie soundtracks to date, achieving 9× Platinum certification. Top Gun also won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for "Take My Breath Away" performed by Berlin.
In 2015, the movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". A sequel titled Top Gun: Maverick was released in 2022, 36 years after the original film, and surpassed it both critically and commercially.
Is Top Gun Based on a True Story?
The 'Top Gun' movies are not based on a true story, but they do contain elements that are inspired by real life. The United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, nicknamed TOPGUN, is a real training program that inspired the film. The program was established in 1969 in Miramar, San Diego, to improve the US Navy's fighter pilot tactics during the Vietnam War. In 1996, TOPGUN was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada and merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, which is now known as the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center.
The original 'Top Gun' film was inspired by Ehud Yonay's article 'Top Guns', which recounted the experiences of fighter pilots at Miramar and included aerial photography by Charles "Heater" Heatley. Producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer acquired the rights to the article, and screenwriters Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. wrote the screenplay. Despite rumors that Warren Skaaren was involved in the project, he was not credited.
Epps attended multiple declassified TOPGUN classes at Miramar and even flew with fighter pilots to gain insight into the process before writing the first draft. However, the producers were not satisfied with it and made significant changes before it was finalized for the screen.
Although the project received approval from the US Navy, it came at a cost. The plot, setting, and characters underwent significant alterations to meet the Navy's requirements. For instance, in the script, the opening dogfight takes place in Cuba, but in the film, it is over international waters. The character of Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (played by Kelly McGillis), Maverick's love interest in 'Top Gun,' was based on Christine "Legs" Fox, a civilian mathematician who worked for the Center for Naval Analyses. Initially, the character was written as a gymnast, but after Simpson and Bruckheimer met Fox, they decided to change it.
Top Gun Ending Explained
The climax of Top Gun serves as a powerful reminder of the contrast between theoretical and practical expertise, as the newly graduated pilots embark on a rescue mission. Iceman and his colleague, Hollywood, are deployed first, with Maverick serving as a backup. Iceman expresses concerns about Maverick's mental state, but the commander has faith in the highly skilled pilot. Upon arriving at the conflict zone, Iceman and Hollywood discover that there are not two enemy MiGs, as initially reported, but six.
The control tower immediately sends in Maverick. When Hollywood is shot down, Maverick experiences a similar jet wash as the one that killed Goose. Although his plane remains intact, Maverick's confidence wavers, and he considers retreating. However, encouraged by his comrades, he clings to Goose's dog tags for inspiration. Realizing that Goose would have wanted him to be brave, Maverick regains control of the situation and refuses orders to abandon Iceman, who is in dire straits.
Maverick valiantly shoots down three enemy planes and rescues Iceman, who himself takes down one. As the crew on the base celebrates their safe return, Iceman applauds Maverick's actions, and the two start what seems to be a promising friendship. Maverick throws Goose's dog tags into the ocean, perhaps symbolically returning them to his friend who was buried at sea.
At this point, Maverick has regained his confidence and realized that he no longer needs a physical reminder of his friend to feel his presence and support. Despite "Top Gun" is an action-packed thriller, the core of the film lies in Maverick's personal growth, transforming from a recklessly confident pilot to one who understands the consequences of unnecessary risks. Through this process, he gains a new friend in Iceman, played with panache by Val Kilmer, and a lover.
Following his heroic rescue mission, Maverick is given the opportunity to choose his next posting, and he selects to become an instructor at the Top Gun school in Miramar. In the end, Charlie surprises Maverick at a bar in Miramar, and the two warmly reunite.
Top Gun Review
Tom Cruise returns to the big screen in a quintessential blockbuster, showing off his evergreen good looks and captivating smile. While the movie's overt machismo may be silly, it's still exhilarating. From the glistening first shots of aircraft carriers launching planes, accompanied by Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone," it's clear that the world of Top Gun remains unchanged, and neither has Cruise. Despite testing jets in the Mojave Desert, Maverick still sports his jacket, aviator shades, and, most importantly, his "need for speed," which made him a sensation in 1986.
He retains his penchant for rebellion, which has kept him from being promoted above captain, as demonstrated in the opening Mach 10 sequence, which surpasses Philip Kaufman's The Right Stuff with a smug grin. So long, serious film enthusiasts. Ed Harris' forward-thinking rear admiral (nicknamed the "Drone Ranger") grumbles that Maverick's kind is on the verge of extinction before begrudgingly calling him back to the Top Gun program, not to fly but to teach the "best of the best" how to demolish a uranium enrichment plant at breakneck speed, a feat requiring two consecutive miracles. Maverick protests, "I'm not a teacher, I'm a fighter pilot," but, naturally, he's capable of being both.
As expected, Maverick wastes no time in disregarding the rules and encourages his fresh-faced team to push their limits, stating that he intends to test them. The training sequences are set to classic songs, with young pilots performing push-ups on the runway. Jennifer Connelly's character serves drinks and provides love interest sass, while Miles Teller's character Rooster plays the piano, triggering a flashback of Maverick mourning the loss of Anthony Edwards's Goose.
This is where the heart of the movie lies, with Rooster being Goose's son, and Maverick being hesitant to send him on a mission due to his past mistakes. Cruise's character is torn between potentially losing Rooster on the mission or losing him forever if he doesn't send him. It's a tough decision.
Cruise has said that making a Top Gun sequel is like trying to hit a bullet with a bullet, which is something Maverick himself would say. However, with the help of director Joseph Kosinski and screenwriters such as Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise has succeeded in delivering an air-punching spectacle that reminds audiences why going to the cinema is better than watching Netflix at home.
Top Gun Summary
The story follows young US Navy pilot Pete Mitchell, aka "Maverick," as he trains aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. While on a practice mission with his best friend and Radar Intercept Officer, Goose, and wingman, Cougar, they spot two hostile MiG-28 aircraft in their airspace. Maverick and Goose manage to drive off one of the planes, but the other almost shoots down Cougar, leaving him shaken and unable to follow orders.
As they prepare to land, Maverick notices his friend's condition and defies orders to fly back up and provide support. With Maverick's help, Cougar regains his composure and lands safely. The incident prompts Cougar to quit, but Maverick and Goose are promoted to the elite Navy Fighter Weapons School, aka "Top Gun," where they receive special training for the best fighter pilots. Excited about their promotion, Maverick and Goose head to Top Gun where they meet other elite pilots, including Maverick's rival, Iceman.
The training program is intense and competitive, with Maverick pushing himself to the limits to prove he's the best. Along the way, he develops a romantic relationship with his civilian instructor, Charlie, and learns valuable lessons about teamwork and leadership. The final test, a simulated dogfight, pits Maverick against Iceman and tests not only their flying skills but also their ability to work together as a team.
Is Top Gun Based on a True Story - FAQs
Top Gun was released on May 16, 1986.
Top Gun was directed by Tony Scott.
Top Gun follows the story of a young US Navy pilot named Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, who is sent to the Navy Fighter Weapons School in Miramar to receive special training. The film also features Maverick's romantic relationship with a civilian woman named Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood and his rivalry with fellow pilot Tom "Iceman" Kazansky.
Yes, the US Navy provided extensive cooperation and technical assistance to the filmmakers, allowing them to film on aircraft carriers and use real Navy aircraft in the movie.