Top Gun is a 1986 American film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer in association with Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an article written by Ehud Yonay for California Magazine entitled "Top Guns." The film stars Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer and Tom Skerritt.
The film follows LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young Naval aviator who aspires to be a top fighter pilot in the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, which trains the top <1%>
Summary:
The plot follows Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise), a United States Navy aviator and his service aboard the Indian ocean aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and at United States Navy Fighter Weapons School. Former Top Gun instructor pilot Randy "Duke" Cunningham claimed to have been the inspiration for Pete Mitchell, although the movie's producer denied this, saying that the character was not based on any specific aviator.
The film begins with Maverick and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) in conflict along with Maverick's wingman "Cougar" and his RIO, "Merlin", (both piloting F-14 Tomcats) in the Indian Ocean against what are suggested to be Soviets flying Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-28s. (It should be noted that MiG-28s are fictional, Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs are used in a mock-up paint scheme.) After Cougar has a close call and is too shaken up to land his plane despite low fuel, Maverick chooses to assist Cougar in landing on the carrier, at risk to his own plane which is also low on fuel. As a result, Cougar chooses to resign, citing his newborn child which he has never seen, as his reason. Despite his personal feelings for Maverick, the CAG, "Stinger" (James Tolkan) is forced to choose his top pilot, formerly Cougar, now Maverick, to attend Top Gun.
While testing his instructors' patience with his reckless flying (on his very first day, he outflies an instructor (LCDR Rick "Jester" Heatherly) but breaks two rules of engagement in the process) and establishing a rivalry with top student Tom "Iceman" Kazanski (Val Kilmer), Maverick becomes enamoured with his beautiful civilian instructor, Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). Maverick manages to gain her attention by regaling her with details about the MiG encounter from the film's opening, jesting that the details are classified (possibly true, since Maverick saw the MiG-28 perform outside its alleged envelope) and claiming, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." During a later period of instruction while viewing old combat film, Charlie rejects Maverick's risky piloting suggestion, embarrassing him in front of the whole class. After a high speed automobile (Charlie) and motorcycle (Maverick) chase, Charlie tells Maverick she felt compelled to reject his risky, although brilliant, flying lest everyone know she also has feelings for him. During a dinner date later Maverick reveals that his father, Naval Aviator Duke Mitchell, was shot down during the Vietnam War and is listed MIA (Missing In Action) with the details classified. Maverick tells Charlie, "The stink of it was: he screwed up." Maverick is bothered by this because he believes his father was too talented a pilot to have made a mistake.
During the flight portions of the class Maverick lives up to his callsign when called upon to be a team player. At one point, flying a mock combat mission alongside the pilot-RIO team of "Hollywood" and "Wolfman," he abandons his teammates to chase after TOPGUN's chief instructor, Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf (Tom Skerritt). Though he gives the older pilot a run for his money, Viper's wingman, Jester (Michael Ironside), defeats Hollywood and then easily sneaks up on Maverick himself, proving that teamwork outweighs sheer flying ability.
During the next engagement, Maverick and Iceman both chase Jester, with Maverick closely following Iceman while the latter attempts to gain a missile lock on the target. When Iceman gives up and pulls out, Maverick gets caught in the jet wash of Iceman's plane and his F-14's engines flame out, he enters a flat spin from which he cannot recover (not unexpected behavior from the TF30 turbofan engines used in early-model F-14s) forcing him and Goose to eject. Maverick ejects clear of the airplane, but Goose ejects directly into the jettisoned cockpit canopy and is killed on impact. Although the inquiry clears Maverick of any responsibility, he is overwhelmed with guilt, subsequently loses his competitive edge and refuses to take risks or engage enemy targets. This causes Maverick's standing in the school to wane, he alienates Charlie and questions whether or not to remain in the Navy.
Unsure of his future, Maverick goes to Viper for advice, who reveals to Maverick that he served with Duke Mitchell and tells him the truth of Duke's fate, despite the classified status of the information. He then informs Maverick that he can graduate the course if he can get past his sense of responsibility about Goose's death, and his "confidence problem." Heartened by this new information, Maverick chooses to stay in and graduate from Top Gun.
During the post-graduation party Iceman, Slider, Hollywood, Wolfman, and Maverick (to be assigned a RIO upon arrival) are ordered to report to the USS Enterprise. A mission has come up suddenly that requires some of the best pilots the Navy has to offer. Maverick, with new RIO Merlin, is to fly back-up to two other teams (two aircraft), Iceman & Slider and Hollywood & Wolfman. Iceman expresses his distaste for Maverick as back-up to the CAG, Stinger. After Hollywood is ambushed, Maverick is scrambled alone due to technical difficulties and nearly retreats after succumbing to similar circumstances that caused Goose's death, however upon finally joining Iceman, together they succeed in their mission and return to the Enterprise. Maverick is then offered any duty he chooses. He chooses to return to Top Gun as an instructor.
Maverick returns to NAS Miramar and revisits his relationship with Charlie where the film ends in a scene that recalls an earlier scene in which Maverick and Charlie first met at a popular hangout of naval aviators, leaving open the possibility of a relationship and Maverick's future as a Top Gun instructor.
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