History of Top Gun in Timeline
Top Gun (1986) follows Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise), a talented but reckless naval aviator, and his Radar Intercept Officer, Goose, as they train at the Navy's Fighter Weapons School, also known as "Top Gun." Maverick's daring flying and unconventional attitude clash with the rigid structure of the program, creating friction with fellow pilots, particularly Iceman (Val Kilmer). Amidst intense aerial combat training and competition, Maverick falls for civilian instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis). The film explores themes of rivalry, loss, and redemption as Maverick confronts his past and strives to become the best pilot while grappling with the dangers of aerial combat.
May 1983: "Top Guns" article published
In May 1983, California magazine published the article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay, which served as the primary inspiration for the film Top Gun. The article featured aerial photography and detailed the life of fighter pilots at Naval Air Station Miramar.
June 26, 1985: Filming Began
On June 26, 1985, filming for Top Gun began in Oceanside, California before moving to Miramar. The Navy provided aircraft and crew from Carrier Air Wing Fifteen for the movie.
September 16, 1985: Art Scholl's Death
On September 16, 1985, renowned aerobatic pilot Art Scholl, who was hired for in-flight camera work on Top Gun, crashed his Pitts Special biplane into the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast during filming. Neither his body nor the aircraft were recovered, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
May 16, 1986: Top Gun released in the United States
On May 16, 1986, Top Gun was released in the United States. It received mixed reviews but became a commercial success, grossing $357.4 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing domestic and worldwide film of 1986.
1986: Box Office Success
In 1986, Top Gun achieved significant box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year with a worldwide total of $353.8 million.
1986: Release of Top Gun
In 1986, Top Gun, an American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise, was released. The film follows Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell as he trains at the United States Navy's Fighter Weapons School.
1986: Top Gun game released
In 1986, a game based on the film Top Gun was released for Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, and Atari ST.
1986: Top Gun Soundtrack Success
In 1986, the Top Gun soundtrack became highly successful, reaching 9x Platinum certification and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for five non-consecutive weeks. Kenny Loggins released "Danger Zone" which led to the sales of 7 million albums in the United States alone.
March 11, 1987: Top Gun VHS Release
On March 11, 1987, Top Gun was released on VHS and became the best-selling VHS in the industry's history on pre-orders alone, with over 1.9 million units ordered. It eventually sold a record 2.9 million units and was CIC Video's best seller outside the US and Canada at the time with international sales of $20 million.
1990: Tom Cruise promotes Born on the Fourth of July
In 1990, while promoting Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July, Tom Cruise stated that Top Gun should be regarded as a 'fairy tale' rather than a realistic depiction of war, expressing concerns about making a sequel due to the film's potential to misrepresent war.
1993: Japan's Air Force started recruiting women
In 1993, Japan's Air Force began recruiting women, but initially limited them to reconnaissance aircraft pilots.
1995: Top Gun Released on LaserDisc
In 1995, Top Gun premiered on a THX certified LaserDisc with a Dolby Digital AC-3 track.
September 10, 1996: Top Gun Widescreen VHS Release
On September 10, 1996, Top Gun was released on Widescreen VHS.
1996: Top Gun: Fire at Will released
In 1996, Top Gun: Fire at Will was released for the PC and later for the Sony PlayStation platform.
1998: Top Gun: Hornet's Nest released
In 1998, Top Gun: Hornet's Nest was released.
2000: Re-release of Top Gun Soundtrack
In 2000, the Top Gun soundtrack was re-released with the addition of two songs that had been omitted from the original album: "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers.
2001: Top Gun: Combat Zones released
In 2001, Top Gun: Combat Zones was released for PlayStation 2 and later for GameCube and Microsoft Windows.
December 14, 2004: Special Collector's Edition DVD Release
On December 14, 2004, a Special Collector's Edition 2-disc DVD of Top Gun was released, featuring new bonus content, including audio commentary, music videos, and a documentary on the making of the film.
2004: Team America: World Police parodies Top Gun
In 2004, the comedy Team America: World Police parodied Top Gun, among other war and action films, especially those by Bruckheimer.
July 29, 2008: Special Collector's Edition Blu-ray Release
On July 29, 2008, Top Gun was first released on a Special Collector's Edition Blu-ray disc, containing the same supplemental features as the previous 2004 DVD.
2010: Top Gun sequel in development
By 2010, a sequel to Top Gun, later titled Top Gun: Maverick, had been in active development.
2010: Top Gun game retells film's story
In 2010, a game also titled Top Gun retold the story of the film.
January 23, 2011: China Central Television uses Top Gun footage
On January 23, 2011, China Central Television (CCTV) published a TV news story about the claimed efficiency of Chinese fighter pilots, incorporating footage from Top Gun action sequences, but it was withdrawn after internet users noticed the plagiarism.
2011: Top Gun: Hard Lock announced
2011: Sky Fighters was based on Top Gun
In 2011, the Chinese war film Sky Fighters was based on Top Gun.
March 2012: Top Gun: Hard Lock released
In March 2012, Top Gun: Hard Lock was released for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3.
August 19, 2012: Death of Tony Scott
On August 19, 2012, Tony Scott, who was originally intended to direct the sequel to Top Gun, died by suicide.
February 19, 2013: Limited Edition 3D Blu-ray Release
On February 19, 2013, a 2-disc limited edition 3D copy of Top Gun was issued on Blu-ray.
2013: Joseph Kosinski directed Tom Cruise in Oblivion
In 2013, Joseph Kosinski, who would later direct Top Gun: Maverick, directed Tom Cruise in Oblivion.
2013: IMAX 3D Re-Release
In 2013, Top Gun was re-released in IMAX 3D. The retrospective critical reception became more positive, and the film solidified its status as a cult classic. The soundtrack became highly popular, achieving 9x Platinum certification. The film also won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin.
2013: Planes pays homage to Top Gun
In 2013, the DisneyToon Studios film Planes paid homage to Top Gun, with Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards appearing as part of the voice cast.
September 2014: Justin Marks Negotiates to Write Screenplay
In September 2014, Justin Marks entered negotiations to write the screenplay for Top Gun: Maverick.
June 2015: Justin Marks confirmed as Screenwriter
In June 2015, Justin Marks was confirmed to be writing the screenplay for Top Gun: Maverick.
2015: Restriction lifted in Japan's Air Force
In 2015, restrictions were lifted in Japan's Air Force, allowing women to become fighter pilots, leading Misa Matsushima to enroll immediately.
2015: Top Gun selected for preservation in the National Film Registry
In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected Top Gun for preservation in the National Film Registry, deeming it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
May 2017: Cruise confirms Top Gun sequel
In May 2017, during the promotional tour for The Mummy, Tom Cruise confirmed that filming for a sequel to Top Gun would begin in 2018.
June 2017: Top Gun: Maverick title reveal
In June 2017, Tom Cruise revealed that the sequel's title would be Top Gun: Maverick, and Harold Faltermeyer would return as composer.
2017: Sky Hunter was based on Top Gun
In 2017, the Chinese war film Sky Hunter was based on Top Gun.
2018: Filming set to begin
In 2018, filming was set to begin for the sequel to Top Gun.
2019: Military.com publishes article about errors in Top Gun
In 2019, Ward Carroll, a journalist and former F-14 RIO, published an article for Military.com identifying 79 departures from naval aviation procedure, technical mistakes, and continuity errors in Top Gun.
May 13, 2020: Digital 4K Ultra HD Release
On May 13, 2020, the remastered 4K Ultra HD version of Top Gun was released in Digital format, including new special features.
May 19, 2020: Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD Release
On May 19, 2020, the remastered 4K Ultra HD version of Top Gun was released on Blu-ray, including new special features.
May 13, 2021: Top Gun re-released in Dolby Cinema
On May 13, 2021, Top Gun was re-released in Dolby Cinema and screened by AMC Theatres on 153 screens.
May 27, 2022: Release of Top Gun: Maverick
On May 27, 2022, Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to Top Gun, was released 36 years later, starring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprising their roles. The film received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.
May 31, 2022: Top Gun Reached Number One on U.K. Official Film Chart
On the week ending on May 31, 2022, Top Gun reached number one on the U.K. Official Film Chart based on DVD, Blu-ray, and download sales.
December 2024: Tom Cruise receives Distinguished Public Service Award
In December 2024, Tom Cruise received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the US Navy, the highest civilian honor, for his "outstanding contributions" to the military through military-related films.
2024: La-La Land Records Released Soundtrack
In 2024, La-La Land Records released a two-CD set of the Top Gun soundtrack, including the complete instrumental score by Harold Faltermeyer for the first time.
December 2025: Announcement of 40th Anniversary Re-release
In December 2025, it was announced that Paramount would re-release Top Gun on May 13, 2026, in honor of its 40th anniversary.
2025: Top Gun listed for best stunts
In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter listed Top Gun as having the best stunts of 1986.
May 13, 2026: Planned 40th Anniversary Re-release
Paramount announced they will re-release Top Gun on May 13, 2026, in honor of its 40th anniversary.
Mentioned in this timeline
PlayStation is a video game brand by Sony Interactive Entertainment...
Xbox is a video gaming brand owned by Microsoft Gaming...
Nintendo is a Japanese multinational video game company based in...
IMAX is a high-resolution cinema system distinguished by its large...
The United States of America is a federal republic of...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Trending
28 minutes ago Rublev Faces Kopriva at Madrid Open 2026: Predictions and Odds Overview
20 days ago Maldives Holds Triple-Ballot Election Amidst Governance Reforms: A Test for Democracy.
5 months ago Airbus Recalls 6,000 A320 Jets Due to Solar Flare Glitch, Repairs Underway
27 days ago Nelly Korda Leads Ford Championship, Building Two-Shot Advantage in Phoenix.
4 days ago Nvidia's Stock: Key Metrics, Growth Phase, and Wall Street's Perspective Analyzed.
8 days ago Trump's influence on the Fed: Powell vs. Warsh, a power struggle unfolds.
Popular
William Franklin Graham III known as Franklin Graham is an...
Kashyap Pramod Patel known as Kash Patel is an American...
Lindsey Graham is an American politician and attorney who has...
Paula White-Cain is a prominent American televangelist and key figure...
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...