In 2018, Glen Powell got a sad call that led to some serious conversations with Tom Cruise about his role in Top Gun: Maverick. Tragically, he got that phone call the week of the Fourth of July, and it made that holiday the “worst.” Ultimately, everything worked out. And Powell’s post about this year’s Independence Day certainly proves that he’s doing fantastic.

Glen Powell Found Out He Lost The Rooster Role Right Before The Fourth Of July

At this point, it’s well-known lore that Glen Powell auditioned for Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick, but lost the role of Goose’s son to Miles Teller. What you might not know is that the Twisters actor found out about this on July 3. Recalling how that ruined his Fourth of July on The Rich Eisen Show, the actor said:

Well, that sucks. While I’m one to rewatch Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick with my Paramount+ subscription to celebrate the holiday, said movies certainly ruined it for Powell eight years ago.

However, it all turned out OK in the end, as he ended up playing Hangman in the beloved sequel. Before that happened, though, he had some important conversations with Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer. It began with a phone call from the Maverick actor, and Powell was told they still wanted him in the movie. The Chad Powers star was still on the fence, though, so he went in for a meeting. Here’s how that conversation went:

That led to Tom Cruise giving Powell some advice that really stuck with him. Recalling the conversation he had with the lead of Top Gun: Maverick, the Anyone But You star explained:

I think we’re all glad he listened too. As we all know, Powell did end up saying yes to Top Gun: Maverick, and his performance as Hangman helped his career go sky-high. Now, he’s spending his Fourth of July partying rather than mourning the loss of a role.

Glen Powell, His Loved Ones And His Girlfriend All Partied Together This Year

While the primary emotion on the Fourth of July in 2018 was sadness for Powell, 2025’s emotion seemed to be fun. The actor took to Instagram to post a photo dump about the day, calling it one “hell of a Fourth.” Take a look:

Well, this looks like an absolute rager, and one hell of a good time. It was pretty star-studded too. In the dump, Powell tagged his girlfriend Michelle Randolph (they went IG official with this post), Chord Overstreet, Jimmy Tatro, Zoey Deutch (they need to have an on-screen Set It Up reunion ASAP), Madelyn Cline, his mother, Cyndy Powell, his sisters, Lauren and Leslie and many more.

All that’s to say, I think Glen Powell had a much better Fourth of July than he did all those years ago.

However, I also bet he’s happy that sad call happened, because it's helped shape his career and life into what it is today. Since Maverick, Powell has turned into quite the leading man, starring in projects like Hit Man, Twisters, Anyone But You and Chad Powers. There’s a lot more on the way too. So, all in all, I’d say life (and the Fourth of July) was very worth celebrating the way he did this year with his loved ones.

Top Gun 3 has been circling the runway for a while now, which is both exciting and mildly torturous. After Top Gun: Maverick became one of those rare legacy sequels that actually lived up to decades of expectations, fans have been waiting to know whether Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer and the rest of the crew could really find a way back into the danger zone. Thankfully, one of the Top Gun stars has just offered a thrilling update about the threequel, and the movie has never felt so real.

During a red-carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight for his new show Not Suitable for Work (which started streaming on June 2 for everyone with a Hulu plan or Disney+ subscription) Jay Ellis gave fans a promising update. The actor, who played Payback in Top Gun: Maverick, was asked about a possible return for Top Gun 3. And his answer made the sequel feel less like wishful thinking and more like something actually taking shape. Ellis said the project is moving, even if nobody is trying to rush it:

That is the kind of update that makes my little movie-loving radar start pinging. A script exists. Paramount is excited. Cruise is excited. Bruckheimer is excited. That is not the same thing as Top Gun 3 getting a release date, so don’t expect it on the 2026 movie calendar, but it does sound like more than someone casually doodling fighter jets in the margins of a notebook.

Part of what made Top Gun: Maverick work so well was the new class of pilots. The stellar sequel cast included rising names like Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro, Twisters star Glen Powell, Jay Ellis, and more, and the actors have talked before about how intense the experience was. Considering what the Top Gun: Maverick cast had to do for the flying scenes, it makes sense that the group stayed bonded.

The Running Point alum has also shared sweet memories from that set, including a story about Tom Cruise hopping onto a FaceTime call with his dad while they were filming. His dad, who served in the Air Force, was apparently shocked to find himself suddenly talking to the Risky Business star. Honestly, same. If Cruise popped into my FaceTime, I’d probably just stare into the camera.

Per Ellis, filming Maverick hit differently coming from a military family. The sights and sounds of Naval Air Station North Island brought him back to growing up with his Air Force father, which adds another layer to why returning for a third movie would feel meaningful.

Ellis also made it clear that the people behind Top Gun 3 understand the assignment. He praised the creative team behind the franchise, because let's face it, it is a pretty stacked group. Cruise, Bruckheimer, Christopher McQuarrie and Joseph Kosinski did not make Maverick feel huge by accident. The movie worked because it respected spectacle, danger and emotion.

It also sounds like everyone involved has their hearts in the right place. Cruise does not seem interested in making another sequel just because the last one printed money. He wants a reason to fly again, and considering the wild first day Jon Hamm had meeting Tom Cruise on the Maverick set and Cruise’s history of surprising fans at Mission: Impossible screenings, the man still clearly cares about the audience experience.

So, yes, baby steps are enough for now. There is a script, the major players are excited, and the man behind Payback sounds ready to reunite with the Top Gun crew. After Maverick, “good enough” will not fly. Thankfully, nobody involved seems interested in good enough.

Until then, fans can always revisit the original Top Gun and its box-office juggernaut sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, both of which are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

When Top Gun: Maverick was confirmed, I was a bit skeptical. Putting out a sequel to a classic ‘80s movie over 30 years after the original is always a risk with audiences, but I remember being pleasantly surprised by the Top Gun follow-up. Top Gun: Maverick toed the line between nostalgic fan service and a new engaging plot perfectly, and it makes me genuinely excited for the prospect of a third Top Gun film. However, given that the sequel upped the ante for cinematic value, I was surprised to learn its final mission is actually "pretty realistic" according to a real-life Navy pilot.

I should never have doubted Tom Cruise, who insists on doing his own insane stunts, when it came to making a realistic Top Gun film. The Mummy actor, director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were committed to making the aviation sequences as real-looking as possible, working with the Navy and the real-life Top Gun school, and putting their actors through three months of grueling flight training. But it’s one thing for a movie to look real, and it's another to actually be realistic, especially when it comes to Top Gun situations. Retired Marine Corp. fighter pilot Dave Berke broke down the final mission sequence for ScreenRant, comparing it to real-life naval practices:

For those who need a refresher, the plot of Top Gun: Maverick revolves around an extremely difficult, high-stakes mission that brings back the best recent Top Gun graduates, and only one pilot has the qualified field experience to teach them: Tom Cruise’s Maverick.

Two things make the mission near impossible–the narrow flying through a canyon far below the hard deck (the legal limit for how low a jet can fly) to avoid radar missiles, and the blind exit out of the valley pulling max Gs, triggering said radar missiles.

Obviously, the latter is a crazy dangerous stunt that probably is pretty rare in real life, but Berke says the run through the canyon is not far-fetched at all:

Of course, not everything in Top Gun: Maverick is 100% realistic. There had to be some added movie magic in order to achieve the cinematic shock value that allowed it to smash the box offices when it came out in 2022. All in all, Berke says they did a great job considering real technicalities when creating their storyline:

On top of a realistic flying sequence, Cruise made sure his actors had real experience in those F-18 fighter jets. Part of “Tom Cruise Boot Camp” and flight training included ride-alongs with real naval pilots as they pulled off the cool stunts seen in the movie. There was definitely some puking involved, and Miles Teller admitted he thought he might die pulling max-Gs, but the real film shots of Cruise and co. flying in the jets really made a difference in the final cut.

Tom Cruise is seriously the only actor I can think of who is buddy-buddy with the U.S. Navy. I can only hope the Jack Reacher actor brings the same strict regimen and realistic standards to the upcoming Top Gun 3.

I grew up watching Top Gun on a loop, and when Top Gun: Maverick came out, it became a frequent rewatch. However, I had never watched the films back-to-back. That all changed, though, when the Top Gun movies returned to theaters alongside the releases on the 2026 movie schedule. And it was during this experience that I finally picked up on two very obvious parallels – one involving Iceman and Rooster, while the other involves Maverick and Hangman – that I can’t believe I missed.

I Can’t Believe I Never Noticed How Similar Iceman And Rooster Are

Re-watching Top Gun (which you can do with a Paramount+ subscription), I came to the realization that Iceman is actually very pragmatic, realistic and reasonable. The entire movie, he’s just trying to tell Maverick that his way of flying is reckless and could get someone killed.

Now, while Goose’s death was not Maverick’s fault, it certainly was a wake-up call. It also emphasized the point Iceman was making about what could go wrong in the plane. Up to this rewatch, I had always seen Val Kilmer’s character as an antagonist, when really, he was just trying to point out Maverick’s biggest flaw.

Then, in Top Gun: Maverick, it’s Rooster who does just that. He’s the safest flyer of the aviators brought back to Top Gun for this special mission, and he spends most of the movie playing it safe. Also, like Ice, Miles Teller’s character is unafraid to call out Maverick.

In a lot of ways, Miles Teller’s character serves as Tom Cruise’s foil in Maverick, which is what Iceman is in the first movie. However, the dynamic is even more complex in the beloved Top Gun sequel, because Rooster is also Goose’s son. So, he has qualities of both Mav’s biggest rival and his best friend, making their relationship very complicated.

However, circling back to Rooster and Iceman, this parallel is so meaningful and obvious that I’m kicking myself for letting it fly over my head.

I Also Realized Maverick And Hangman Are A Lot Alike

Watching Top Gun: Maverick right after Top Gun, I also realized Glen Powell’s Hangman was acting a whole lot like a young Maverick. He’s cocky, a bit reckless and very driven to do whatever he can. I do think he’s more egotistical than Maverick, thanks to his team leader comments. However, generally speaking, his way of flying parallels his teacher’s in a wild way.

That’s because Hangman’s relationship with Rooster is framed a lot like Iceman and Maverick’s in the first movie. I had always thought that Hangman was Iceman and Rooster was Maverick, simply because Hangman is more of an antagonist, while Rooster is a protagonist. However, that was because I didn’t see the deeper parallels.

In the end, Rooster is more like the pragmatic and calculated Iceman, while Hangman is spontaneous and confident like Maverick. I’m happy I realized this, too, because it makes the movies even better. I just wish I had realized it earlier.

One of Tom Cruise’s lasting legacies will be his willingness to go all in on big-time stunts, and that started way back with the original Top Gun. It may be the Mission: Impossible series that cemented that legacy, but it was his flight time before Top Gun (which you can watch again with a Paramount+ subscription) that got it all started. The movie, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year (wow, that makes me feel old), was the most talked-about movie of 1986.

Top Gun, which was recently re-released on the 2026 movie schedule for its anniversary, took in the most at the box office that year because America had a need for speed. Cruise was more than happy to chase the adrenaline rush of flying at Mach 2 in state-of-the-art Navy jets. His first flight didn’t go as you might expect, but I’m hardly shocked by his reaction.

Flying With The Blue Angels

While Tom Cruise was producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s first choice to star as Maverick in Top Gun, Cruise was hesitant to commit. You have to think Bruckheimer knew exactly how to get the up-and-coming star on board, because he set up the perfect recruitment plan. He arranged with Cruise to go for a ride with the legendary Blue Angels. Screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr. was with Cruise when he arrived at the airfield and was there when Cruise’s ride was over. He told the The Guardian:

If you’ve followed Cruise’s career over the last 50 years or so, this probably comes as little surprise. I know I wasn’t when I read this. Cruise is an adrenaline junkie, and I mean that with the utmost respect for what he does on screen. While I would probably puke on a Blue Angels flight, too, I wouldn’t do what Cruise did and ask for more.

Bruckheimer Knew Exactly What He Was Doing

In the same article, the Top Gun producer let on that he seemed to know exactly how to get Cruise excited about the movie:

Bruckheimer saw the same reaction Epps did, adding:

In the years since, this kind of action has become Cruise’s calling card. He’s pulled some amazing stunts in the Mission: Impossible series, and the movie-going public has come to expect the actor to do something amazing in all his action movies. 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick once again saw the actor in the cockpit of a Navy plane, and, of course, the whole cast of that movie went through something pretty similar. But even more intense than what Cruise went through on that first flight more than 40 years ago. It’s also no surprise that he wants to do it all again in Top Gun 3.

Well, well, well, the King of Pop is back on top of the Box Office after four weeks in theaters, putting its newer competition to shame with $26.1 million as it inches closer to becoming the world’s biggest biopic of all time. The Devil Wears Prada 2, meanwhile, continued its confident prance past another global milestone, while Mortal Kombat II watched the life drain from its health bar. One more thing — what on earth happened to Billie Eilish?

There were no big new releases from the 2026 movie schedule this weekend ahead of Memorial Day, but Obsession from Blumhouse and Focus Features certainly made its mark as one of the weekend’s best.

Let’s take a look at the Top 10 chart, then break down some highlights below.

Weekend Box Office: May 15-17, 2026

* denotes new release

Michael Jackson Biopic Continues Its Climb To History

What a “Smooth Criminal” that Michael is, sliding right past the films that battled so fiercely for the top two spots last week to steal back No. 1. Through four weekends, the Jaafar Jackson-led flick has earned $282.8 million domestically, per The Numbers, and when combined with the $421.1 million from international markets, that’s $703.9 million.

Bohemian Rhapsody better get ready, because we may soon have a new champion, my friend. The Freddie Mercury film holds the current top spot for world’s biggest music biopic, thanks to its $911 million worldwide haul, but that doesn’t seem out of reach for Michael.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 And Obsession Have Strong Showings

Michael wasn’t the only film to cross a global milestone this weekend. Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway’s quotable sequel may have dropped to second place for the first time in its theatrical run but, after three weekends, The Devil Wears Prada 2 crossed the half-billion dollar mark, with worldwide box office earnings of $546.2 million.

Last week, I wrote that new releases weren’t likely to place in the Top 3, and Obsession put me in my place with a debut of $16.1 million domestic and $7 million international for a worldwide total of $23.1 million. I will definitely be on the lookout for any cursed objects coming my way from those I may have scorned.

Part of the reason for the strong start is due to Mortal Kombat II taking a dive, but that’s not to undermine Obsession’s accomplishment — the horror flick more than doubled the $7 million projections for opening weekend. Critics had high praise for Obsession and, in fact, let’s take a look at how they and the audience scored this week’s new releases:

Obsession’s impressive opening is a good sign that word-of-mouth advertising will keep it in the Top 10 for a bit, although Billie Eilish’s new concert movie is proof that that’s not always the case.

Billie Eilish’s 3D Concert Flick Falls Hard (And Not Soft) Out Of Top 10 In Second Weekend

Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) enjoyed an opening weekend of $7.5 million in the U.S. and Canada to finish at No. 5 at the Box Office last week. However, after 10 days, the party is most certainly over, as the James Cameron-directed concert movie earned just $800,000 over the past three days — a fall of 89% all the way to 14th place.

Now, I understand that concert films are frontloaded, with the most passionate fans buying tickets on opening weekend. However, with James Cameron attached as director and his use of 3D to film the movie, I’d expect Hit Me Hard and Soft to have piqued the interest of more casual fans as well. I’d also expect — as we saw with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie — for die-hard fans to make repeat trips to see the icon on the big screen.

That doesn’t seem to be the case when looking at the theatrical releases of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s concert movies in the first two weeks:

So yes, even Taylor Swift saw a big dip in her numbers over the second weekend, but neither hers nor Beyoncé’s with Renaissance was as drastic as Billie Eilish’s. There’s also the fact that 3D filming ain’t cheap, and these numbers don’t make me optimistic that she can make back the estimated $50 million she’d need to break even on a reported budget of $20 million plus marketing and promotion.

Who’s Ready For The Mandalorian And Grogu?

Next weekend is what a lot of Star Wars fans have been waiting for, due to the premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Despite some troubling early projections for Pedro Pascal’s latest project — and divided first reactions from critics — Box Office Theory is now expecting it to bring in anywhere from $81 million to $96 million from next Friday to Sunday. Here are the average projections for all of the May 22 new releases:

• The Mandalorian and Grogu: $90 million
• Passenger: $6 million
• I Love Boosters: $4 million

A Few Other Notes To Wrap The Weekend

• Mortal Kombat II dropped from second place to fourth on its sophomore weekend, attracting 65% fewer movie lovers.
• The Sheep Detectives, meanwhile, lost only 38% of its weekend-over-weekend audience, proving that people love sheep puns.
• As for the varied opinions of CinemaBlend's writers about the book-to-screen adaptation, I thought the novel Three Bags Full was funnier and more charming. Corey Chichizola says it’s a must-watch for anyone dealing with grief, and Mack Rawden thought it was baaaaaad (but thinks you should see it anyway).

Regardless of which big-screen item you decide to see this week, let’s meet back here next week to talk about Star Wars and more.

On May 16, 1986, Top Gun was released in theaters, and then on May 27, 2022, Top Gun: Maverick flew on to the big screen. Now, 40 years after the release of the first film and nearly four years after the sequel, both movies will return to the cinema alongside the projects on the 2026 movie schedule. So, naturally, Tom Cruise is celebrating with some throwback pictures that have me feeling very nostalgic.

Fittingly, Cruise posted photos from Top Gun and Maverick to promote the movies’ returns to theaters. The first slide features the actor in the first flick giving a thumbs up, and that’s followed by the iconic photo of Maverick and Iceman shaking hands, as well as a lovely image of Goose, his wife, Maverick, Charlie and toddler Rooster singing. After that, he posted some epic photos from Maverick, and overall, it created a very exciting post about these beloved movies. Check it out:

Well, this has made me oh, so nostalgic. While I was born years after Top Gun came out, it’s a movie that’s been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve rewatched Top Gun and Maverick more times than I can count (on VCR, DVD and with a Paramount+ subscription). So, this post has me thinking back on all those fond memories.

It’s also a great reminder that we’ll get to see both films in theaters! For me, I’ll 100% be doing a double feature, and seeing Top Gun in IMAX and Maverick in Dolby. And I can’t wait! While I did get to see the sequel in theaters a few years ago, I’ve never seen the 1986 movie on the big screen, and I can’t wait to witness the action that way for the first time.

I’m also really looking forward to the Maverick rewatch. You better believe I want to see those intense flying scenes and the shirtless football scene in all their glory on a massive screen.

To top this whole experience off, you can even get a helmet popcorn bucket. Talk about an A+ moviegoing experience! No wonder Tom Cruise is hyping it up while also reminiscing on Top Gun’s milestone anniversary.

Now, if you are looking to feel the need for speed and you want to see the scenes that go with the images Cruise posted, you can catch Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick in theatres starting today, May 13. The two films will stay on the big screen for a week after that, so make sure you go see them before they fly away.

After that, it’ll be time to put the nostalgia away and look to the future, because Top Gun 3 is happening. While it’s been talked about for years, it was officially confirmed this year at CinemaCon when it was announced that one of Maverick’s co-writers, Ehren Kruger, would be returning to write the script.

So, get excited, folks, because Maverick will fly again. However, for now, you can go back and relive his first two trips to Top Gun by heading to the movie theater to watch Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick.

I don’t know about you, but I always feel the need for speed, and I already booked my tickets for a Top Gun double feature in May. Literally, the second I found out Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick were returning to theaters alongside the projects on the 2026 movie schedule, I was ready to give the theaters my money. Now, I’m ready to give them more after seeing the popcorn bucket that will be sold as these Tom Cruise classics take flight in the theater.

While we’ve been looking to the future and Top Gun 3, which now has a writer attached to it, it’s time for a quick throwback. That’s because, during the week of May 13, you’ll be able to watch both Top Gun movies on the big screen! And to make matters better, you can get the perfect popcorn bucket to go with it, as you can see in AMC’s post about it:

Tuly, I can’t think of a better popcorn bucket to celebrate Top Gun’s 40th anniversary. That red, white and blue striped helmet is synonymous with this franchise and Cruise’s character Maverick. Plus, the shape obviously makes for a great popcorn holder. So, all around, I give this bucket an A+.

It can go on the list of iconic popcorn buckets that includes (but is not limited to) the viral NSFW Dune: Part 2 bucket, the adorable Yoshi bucket that was released with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and the highly sought-after Devil Wears Prada 2 popcorn purse. Oh, and how could I forget the really cool (but complicated) Mission: Impossible bucket that was released with The Final Reckoning? I mean, Tom Cruise does love popcorn, so of course, that movie and the Top Gun films would have great buckets to go with them.

Listen, as Tom Cruise once said on The Patt McAfee Show, “...when I’m going to these movies that I’m watching, I’m eating popcorn.” He might eat the movie snack in a funny way, but his enthusiasm for it is unmatched. So, it’s only fitting that two of his best films’ return to theaters feature a legendary bucket to go with them.

Fans are 100% feeling the need for this popcorn bucket too, as they commented things like:

• #AMC HELLLLLLL YESSSSS, what a badass bucket!!!!!! 🪖 🪣 These things won’t last long 💪 -@Riddlemethiss84
• This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen‼️-@EvilVillainAPE
• I feel the need -@McguirePetrov
• My closest AMC is 35 mins away and I’m still going. -@CampHopeOwner
• Do I have this money for this? NO. Will I buy it if they have it at my theater? YES -@B_HasThoughts

Along with AMC’s helmets (which do not have a price yet), Marcus Theaters is dropping popcorn helmets. However, they took it a step further by giving fans an option to get a Maverick bucket or a Goose bucket. Those each cost $35.99, and I’d imagine AMC’s will fall in that range as well.

Now, to get your hands on one of these buckets and to feel the need for speed once again on the big screen, you can catch both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick in theaters starting on May 13.

There’s been chatter about a Top Gun 3 for years now. After the smash hit that was Top Gun: Maverick, it’s felt like the right move to make. Well, now it’s officially, finally being made, as Paramount announced that the movie is in the works and has a writer. So, now that I’ve had a full day to sit with that news, I’ve thought of four things I need to see happen in Top Gun 3.

It was announced that Top Gun 3 is in the works during Paramount’s CinemaCon presentation (via Variety), and it was confirmed that Tom Cruise would be back as Maverick, while Jerry Bruckheimer will be back as a producer. Along with that, it was revealed that Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick with Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, would be returning to write the new movie.

So, with all that in mind, I've been wondering what might happen during Maverick's next adventure, and I've realized there are four things I need to see.

I Need An Update On Rooster, Hangman And The Young Pilots From Top Gun: Maverick

One of the biggest highlights of Top Gun: Maverick was the new class of pilots. I loved seeing Miles Teller and Glen Powell as Rooster and Hangman, and it was remarkable to watch them and their co-stars flourish in these parts that have now become defining pieces of their careers.

So, I’d like to see them back. I need to know where they’re at. Are Rooster and Hangman friends? Did any of the young pilots go on to teach at Top Gun? Could any of them work with Maverick? The opportunities feel endless, and I feel like it’d be a missed opportunity to not show us these characters in Top Gun 3.

Thankfully, Powell has given an update that makes me hopeful he’ll be back as Hangman, and Teller has said he’s down for Top Gun 3 as long as he has enough time to get in shape for it. So, it seems like they still feel the need for speed; we just need to hope they get written into the story.

I Need To See Some Kind Of Groundbreaking Airplane Stunt From Tom Cruise

Now, Maverick’s director, Joseph Kosinski, did tease that Top Gun 3 could tackle an existential crisis for Maverick that is “much bigger than himself.” That’s all fine and dandy, and I’m all for a big personal story. However, I also want stunts, and I want big ones.

I’m talking Mission: Impossible level plane stunts. While I don’t necessarily want to see Cruise and co. climbing around the outside of a plane while it’s in the air, I do want a level of innovation and thrill in Top Gun 3 that’s synonymous with Mission: Impossible. They did it for Maverick, so I’m sure they can come up with some wild, crazy, and heartpounding action sequences for this new movie.

Obviously, We Need Some Kind Of Shirtless Sports Montage

First, it was volleyball, then it was football on the beach, so clearly, Top Gun 3 needs some kind of summery, shirtless sports sequence. There's a precedent to maintain. I know a lot of work went into the football scene, and the cast got in tip-top shape for it, and I have no doubt they could do it again.

Maybe this time, they could be playing beach soccer, or potentially they could move the montage to a basketball court. I don’t really care what sport it is; all I know is I want to see the pilots having some fun in the sun.

At Least One Song Needs To Be Sung (Preferably By Rooster And Maverick)

In Top Gun, Maverick and Goose sang “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” in the bar, and we also got the always iconic “Great Balls of Fire” moment. Then, in Maverick, Rooster sang “Great Balls of Fire” again. However, Tom Cruise’s character did not partake in the singing.

So, in Top Gun 3, I’d love to see Maverick and his best friend’s son singing together. It could be “Great Balls of Fire” again. However, it’d also be fun if they found a new song to jam out to. Ultimately, I simply want this new movie to continue to pay homage to what makes Top Gun, Top Gun.

Now, will any of these things happen? I don’t know. However, I do know that Top Gun 3 is preparing for takeoff now, and I’ll be sitting in the theater the day it flies onto the big screen to see if these dreams come true.

If you’ve been wondering which Jerry Bruckheimer sequel will hit the new movie release calendar first, the upcoming Top Gun 3 or rumored Pirates of the Caribbean 6, you’re not alone. As it turns out, many fans want to know the answer to that question. Now, the producer himself provides the latest information on the projects and explains why he sees it as a tight race.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight at the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon, Bruckheimer offered a candid update on both projects. The veteran producer was on hand to discuss his Oscar-nominated film F1, but naturally, the conversation turned to two of his biggest franchises. When asked which sequel is further along, the producer didn’t hesitate to frame it as a close call. He shared:

That’s about as direct an update as fans have received in a while. Both franchises have been in development limbo for years. Top Gun: Maverick became a massive box office success in 2022, grossing nearly $1.5 billion worldwide and revitalizing the decades-old property in a way few legacy sequels manage to pull off. A third installment was quickly discussed, but concrete details have been scarce since.

Meanwhile, Pirates of the Caribbean has been adrift since 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales. Multiple scripts have reportedly been developed, including versions tied to Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow and separate concepts involving Margot Robbie. Yet despite the franchise’s $4.5 billion global haul across five films, a sixth entry hasn’t officially moved into production.

Now, based on Bruckheimer’s comments, it sounds like Top Gun 3 has a slight edge, but only slightly. Calling it a “horse race” suggests both projects are actively moving forward behind the scenes. The fact that a Top Gun script is expected “shortly” indicates tangible progress. That’s a meaningful step in Hollywood development terms, where many sequels stall long before a finished screenplay materializes.

Still, Pirates clearly isn’t out of the running. Bruckheimer’s recent comments about ongoing discussions surrounding the franchise signal that Disney hasn’t shelved the property. It may simply be taking longer to chart the right course.

The interesting wrinkle here is timing. With incoming leadership changes at Disney and ongoing franchise recalibration across the industry, both sequels represent major tentpoles. Whichever film arrives first will likely be viewed as a statement about where the studio and Bruckheimer are placing their bets.

Star power is also a factor. Top Gun 3 depends on Tom Cruise’s schedule and interest, while Pirates 6 continues to orbit questions about Johnny Depp’s potential return or the series's move in a new direction.

For years, there have been reports that Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap production company has been involved in developing a Pirates project in some capacity. That’s despite Robbie previously suggesting her version was no longer moving forward, and yet recent rumors indicate it may not be completely off the table. What her involvement actually looks like remains unclear. She could be attached to star, produce, or simply participate in early creative discussions. As Bruckheimer has implied before, the term “involved” can mean a wide range of things.

For now, Top Gun 3 may be “a hair ahead” of Pirates 6, but in a horse race, that can change fast. Fans can revisit Top Gun: Maverick with a Paramount+ subscription, as well as the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with their Disney+ subscription.

Kurt Russell is making headlines, and it has nothing to do with his packed 2026 movie schedule or his role in the Yellowstone spinoff The Madison. Instead, the longtime Hollywood icon is trending for a reason that somehow makes him even cooler. After decades of being quietly cool, Russell recently shared a story about airplanes, Top Gun, and a behind-the-scenes role he played in helping Tom Cruise become a legitimate, newsmaking, and accomplished pilot.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Russell looked back on his extensive history as a pilot and how that passion unexpectedly overlapped with Cruise’s career. After Top Gun launched Cruise into global superstardom, it also ignited a real interest in flying. Russell saw that enthusiasm firsthand and decided to help nurture it. As he explained:

It’s one of those stories that fits both men perfectly. Russell, the effortlessly capable veteran with a surprising number of real-world skills, and Cruise, the endlessly curious overachiever who turns every interest into a full-blown obsession. And Russell wasn’t the only one encouraging Cruise’s aviation journey. Director Sydney Pollack also played a part, famously gifting Cruise flying lessons after working together on The Firm.

From there, Cruise’s path was locked in. He didn’t just learn how to fly; he made it part of who he is. Whether it’s piloting his own helicopter to lunch or pushing himself toward death-defying stunts and extreme wing-walking feats, flying became inseparable from his persona. That commitment eventually carried over to the screen in films like American Made and, most notably, Top Gun: Maverick, where realism and practical flying were a huge part of the film’s appeal. Russell clearly clocked that dedication early on, and when asked about Cruise’s skills, he didn’t hesitate to sing his praises:

What makes this even more satisfying is how the legacy continues to extend outward. Cruise, much like Russell and Pollack before him, has paid it forward. His Maverick co-star Glen Powell has shared that Cruise personally covered the cost of his flight school, helping him earn a pilot’s license and cheering him on throughout the process.

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood… actor may be grounded these days, but he’s still orbiting the Top Gun universe. He recently teamed up with Maverick director Joseph Kosinski for a high-energy Super Bowl commercial, alongside Lewis Pullman, keeping those aviation-adjacent vibes alive.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just a fun Hollywood anecdote. It’s a reminder that Cruise’s reputation for authenticity didn’t come out of nowhere, and that sometimes the most influential moments happen far away from a movie set. Kurt Russell didn’t just help Tom Cruise go flying, but quite possibly helped launch a passion that would shape an entire second act of Cruise's career.

Kurt Russell will next be seen in The Madison, debuting March 14 on the 2026 TV premiere calendar.

When Top Gun was released in the summer of ‘86, it was a true cultural moment. The movie, which you can currently watch with a Paramount+ subscription, launched Tom Cruise's career into the stratosphere, where he has stayed for the last four decades. It famously almost didn’t happen that way, as Cruise wasn’t the first choice to play Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Matthew Modine turned down the role. Once Cruise was cast, he insisted on some script changes that really elevated the movie. Let’s get into it.

Matthew Modine Turned Down The Role Because He Didn’t Like The Tone Of The Movie

Top Gun is unabashedly pro-military. The production worked with the U.S. Navy, and one of the main criticisms of the film by some is that it’s basically a two-hour recruitment video for the U.S. Armed Forces. That tone soured Matthew Modine on the role. Modine explained to Fox News in 2020 why he turned it down:

Instead, Modine took on the role of Pvt. Joker in another one of the best war films of all time, Full Metal Jacket. That opened the door for Cruise, whose career was really starting to take off with his best roles to come after his breakout in Risky Business in 1983 (along with All The Right Moves and The Outsiders that same year).

Cruise Asked For Some Changes To The Script

Before he took on the role in Top Gun, he wanted a few changes to be made to the script to make Maverick a more sympathetic character. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1986, he explained that he loved the idea, but the script wasn’t right, Maverick was too cocky, too much of an “asshole.” So he told the producers, Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, that he wanted a better script before he signed on:

In that time, Cruise worked with Bruckheimer, and they landed on Maverick’s backstory. He was reckless because he lost his own fighter-pilot father after he was shot down in Vietnam. It made the character sympathetic, and not just a “real turd” sometimes, as CinemaBlend’s Nick Venable (correctly) called him. It was brilliant, and both Bruckheimer and Cruise were correct. Without that backstory, there’s no way we’d still love Maverick today. The movie would not have endured like it has, even if it had still been a hit upon release.

Not only has the original Top Gun endured, but it has also produced an even bigger box office hit, Top Gun: Maverick, which is also one of the best movies of 2022, proving just how much filmgoers love the character. Who knows the fate of the movie if that seemingly simple change had not been made?

For the past 45 years, Jerry Bruckheimer has been one of the most influential producers in Hollywood, bringing us popular movies like Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure, and most recently among 2025 movie releases, F1 with Brad Pitt. So, what’s next? Bruckheimer has just weighed in, and it’s worth talking out a bit.

Blockbuster Producer Jerry Bruckheimer Comments On The State Of 3 Big Franchises

When the producer spoke to Variety at its own Entertainment & Technology Summit, he name dropped three franchises while talking about where he’s putting his focus next. In his words:

Bruckheimer said his hands are in about 30 projects right now, which are in various stages of development. Still, these three have to be the most high profile on everyone’s minds, and it sounds like he’s ready to deliver. Now, the producer didn’t expand on where exactly he’s at with these franchises, but he did give Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt specifically props for how they both are invested in making a “great movie” with a “great performance” for audiences that “will love it.”

Why Top Gun 3 Seems To Be Well On Its Way, And Pirates 6 Is Taking So Long

So let’s put these comments a bit more in context with what we’ve heard about them over the years.

First off with Top Gun 3. We’ve been hearing a lot more about the followup to Maverick than Pirates or the next F1 movie after the sequel was such a success in 2022. Over the summer, Joseph Kosinski said he thought they “found a way in” to continue Top Gun after Bruckheimer’s update from the year prior was that they were exploring “some interesting ideas” but hadn't landed one. Certainly, Top Gun 3 seems to still be in the development stage as Bruckheimer confirms, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Cruise is back in one of those fighter jets.

Then there’s F1. The movie starring Brad Pitt had a successful box office run starting with its impressive opening weekend and $624 million worldwide gross. It’s great to hear Bruckheimer’s ready to do another sequel, but it’s worth noting Kosinski directed it, too. So it might need to be Top Gun 3, and then the second F1 movie unless another filmmaker takes it up.

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is where things get more sticky. The last we heard about the Disney franchise was from a report that suggested Bruckheimer was developing two versions of the next Pirates movies on “parallel tracks.” One that would bring back Johnny Depp into the mix if they could get him back, and one that wouldn’t. Bruckheimer said earlier this year he thinks Depp would do it if he likes the script, and Orlando Bloom has separately shown interest, saying it would “be great to get the band back together.” But we still have yet to see official movement on which direction will actually happen.

All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about Bruckheimer’s comments. Top Gun, Pirates and F1 are crowd-pleasing franchises, and we're curious how the producer lands with them once they get out of the development stage into production.

Movie stars are usually the biggest draw to movies for fans. They are usually who get the most credit for the popularity of a movie (as well as the blame when a movie bombs). On rare occasions, there are objects or props in movies that become just as iconic as anything else in a film. These are necessarily the best MacGuffins, sometimes they are just famous props or pieces of wardrobe. Let's get into it!

All The Dude wanted was his rug back. That simple rug, micturated upon by Woo, drives all the action in the movie, and while the audience doesn't see much of the rug that The Dude (Jeff Bridges) is trying to replace, we do see the one that he (briefly) gets from the millionaire Lebowski in the Big Lebowski.

The DeLorean Time Machine

Admit it, you wanted a DeLorean time machine. We ALL wanted one. Heck, most of us would settle for a regular DeLorean. Ever since we all went back in time with Marty and Doc in Back To The Future, we've longed for the same ability, in the same machine. Now those cars are as lost to time as Biff's Sports Almanac.

Wilson

When the only star who appears in most of a movie only has one friend and that friend is a volleyball, it's bound to be a famous prop. Wilson the Volleyball is the only companion Chuck (Tom Hanks) has in Cast Away, and just like Chuck, the audience gets pretty attached to that silly ball with a face made of Chuck's blood.

The Briefcase In Pulp Fiction

Another cool MacGuffin on this list is the briefcase from Pulp Fiction. We never actually see what's inside, just that it is glowing gold. Maybe that's why the prop has become so famous. If we knew it was just like a stolen Oscar statuette or something, we'd feel differently.

The Red And Blue Pills

While the Blue Pill and the Red Pill in The Matrix have since taken political connotations in recent years, they were famous way before that. One will wake Neo (Keanu Reeves) up, and one will put him back to sleep. Honestly, I don't care which is which, and any political connections are weird, so let's leave it at that.

One Ring To Rule Them All

Not only is The One Ring one of the most famous props in movie history, it's one of the most famous in literature these days. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a masterpiece, and without this one ring to rule them all, it wouldn't exist.

Indy's Whip

You might say Indiana Jones' hat is the most famous prop in the Indiana Jones movies, but the whip that Harrison Ford's character is just as iconic and let's be honest, a little more interesting than a hat. So the whip gets the nod here.

The Giant Piano In Big

Any kid lucky enough to visit the FAO Schwartz in New York after Big was released, their first mission was to find the giant piano you could walk on and even play. It's one of the most iconic scenes in any movie from the era, and while I learned firsthand it was impossible for me to recreate the scene, I still dream about getting a big enough piano to make it work.

Thor's Hammer

There are a lot of famous props in the MCU, like ranking the MCU movies, we could almost do a list of props all its own. Things like the Infinity Gauntlet, or the stones that go into it, are iconic, but is there anything as iconic in the whole franchise as Thor's hammer? Heck, it's one of the famous objects in world mythology, much less Marvel's corner of it.

The Leg Lamp

After the dad in A Christmas Story wins a fragile, major award, it turns out to be a lamp in the shape of a woman's leg. He's so proud of it that he wants to display it in the window, much to the chagrin of his wife. It doesn't make it to the end of the movie, and there is another prop, the Red Ryder BB Gun, that is equally famous, but we just had to go with the leg. After all, it must be Italian.

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers

Of all the famous props and wardrobe pieces on this list, none, not a one, are as famous or as iconic as Dorothy's Ruby Slippers in The Wizard of Oz. It's a prop that is so famous that they are in the Smithsonian along with Fonzie's jacket and Archie Bunker's chair.

The Heart Of The Ocean

Sure, the boat in Titanic is probably the most famous non-character in the movie, but that would be a little on the nose. Instead, we went with the necklace that the crew led by Bill Paxton's character is searching for, The Heart of the Ocean. It ends up down with the boat, though.

The Batmobile

Pick your favorite Batmobile. Any Batmobile works here. You could go with the great one from the '60s TV show (my favorite), or the one from Tim Burton's Batman, and get even more tech with one of Christopher Nolan's versions. You can't go wrong.

Maverick's Jacket

Maverick (Tom Cruise) has one of the most iconic pieces of wardrobe ever. That bomber jacket, covered in patches, is legendary. It's such an important part of the character that when Top Gun: Maverick dropped its first teaser, it was simply a close-up of the jacket and Maverick putting it on.

Freddie's Glove

There are a lot of famous props in horror movies, many of them masks. Freddie's glove in the Nightmare on Elm Street is among the most famous, maybe the most famous. It's a terrifying weapon that has given fans nightmares for decades.

Lightsabers

Okay, so how much do we really need to say here? Of all the props in all the world, is there one more famous than the lightsabers in the Star Wars franchise? No matter what color, there is no weapon in any other franchise that has nearly the same cache as the elegant weapon of the Jedi knights.

Wonka's Golden Ticket

Without the Golden Ticket in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, none of the kids (or their parents) would get the tour of Willie's wild factory. They wouldn't have gotten in any trouble, either.

The Red Swingline Stapler

Stephen Root's character, Milton, in Office Space is one of the weirdest characters in any comedy of the era. Not only is his mumbling disturbing, but his love for his red stapler is downright scary.... and hilarious. It became so famous that Swingline made a special red version of their stapler based on the prop.

Proton Packs

According to Ray (Dan Aykroyd), each Ghostbuster is "carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back." Those proton packs have since become a key part of every kid who dressed like our heroes in Ghostbusters for Halloween for decades. Hopefully, the ones the kids wear are a little safer.

The Maltese Falcon

This is a prop so famous, they named the movie after it! Or maybe the prop is named after the movie? I don't know. It could be either way, I suppose. It's one of the most famous MacGuffins ever, the statue in The Maltese Falcon.

Vote For Pedro Tee Shirt

Long after the hype for Napoleon Dynamite faded, we were still seeing people with "Vote For Pedro" shirts walking the streets. The shirts were so popular, it almost eclipsed the movie. Now, they still might be more popular.

The 2001 Obelisk

Obelisks are so cool that people are still randomly building them in the desert (look up Las Vegas Obelisk). That all stems from the Stanley Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Even people who have never seen the legendary film know the scene(s) with the obelisk.

Ghostface's Mask

There are a few very famous masks in horror history, so of course, a movie like Scream, which is essentially a love letter to the classic '70s and '80s slasher films, would end up with one of the most famous. The masks, like the franchise, have been incredibly enduring and probably will be for the next 100 years.

The Sorting Hat

In the world of Harry Potter, there are a few famous props, like the flying car and the various wands. Still, every fan of the franchise secretly has dreams about being sorted by the Sorting Hat into their favorite house at Hogwarts.

Mary Poppins' Umbrella

Every kid dreams of a flying nanny like Mary Poppins, if not having Poppins herself as their nanny. The umbrella has become one of the most recognizable props in the movie over the years. The scene where we first see Julie Andrews as Mary gently guiding herself down is one of the most famous scenes in Hollywood history.

Rita Hayworth Poster

CinemaBlend has called The Shawshank Redemption the best movie of the '90s. The Stephen King story on which it is based is called, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. That's how important the poster is that Andy (Tim Robbins) hides his escape tunnel. The moment when the warden tears it down is one of the most fun moments in any movie, ever.

The New Bluesmobile

The Bluesmobile in The Blues Brothers is not, actually, the original Bluesmobile, according to Jake (John Belushi). The original was a Cadillac, not the former Police Car that Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) shows up in to pick Jake up from prison. Elwood explains that he had to trade it for a microphone, which Jake understands. No matter what, the car is one of the most famous cars of the 1980s.

Reese's Pieces

Oh, what a mistake Mars Candy made when they reportedly didn't want Steven Spielberg to use M&M's in E.T. That opened up an opportunity for the folks over at Reese's Pieces, who did license their product, and now they are one of the most famous food items in any movie, ever.

Jason's Hockey Mask

Of all the famous masks in slasher films from the '70s and '80s, there is none more iconic than Jason's mask in the Friday the 13th franchise. We're not going to get into who was actually wearing it in the original movie, because it doesn't matter. It's the mask that matters.

The Burn Book

Ahhhh, the "Burn Book" in Mean Girls. It's the ultimate downfall of the titular click in the classic comedy written by and starring Tina Fey. It's filled with all the evidence anyone would ever need to take those terrible people down, and eventually, they are dramatically brought down.

The Box In Seven

"What's in the box?" is one of the most disturbing questions ever uttered in any movie, ever. Brad Pitt's performance in the moment is some of the best acting work of his career. We certainly don't want to go into detail with the answer to that question, but if you know, you know.

The Red Balloon In IT

Some people are scared of clowns. Some people are scared of balloons. IT finds a way to freak both groups out and in the process creates one of the most iconic props of all time. No words are needed to scare people, either. Like so many props on this list, one quick glance is all it takes to know exactly what movie it comes from.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article may give away a few crucial details from the plot of Top Gun: Maverick. If you have not yet seen the blockbuster sequel, I recommend you proceed with caution as you take off.

I recently caught an early screening of F1, which is a car racing movie from director Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt that critics have been calling “a hell of a ride.” I certainly share that sentiment, which is why I decided to finally check out the film that Kosinski is best known for, Top Gun: Maverick.

Yes, you read that right. I am not one of the millions of people who contributed to the Academy Award-winning blockbuster’s record-breaking box office success in 2022, mainly because, even as an admirer of the original classic ‘80s movie set at an elite Naval pilot training program, I was never curious about what happened next in the life of Tom Cruise’s daredevil pilot. Well, I can say that I am happy that I gave the film a test drive, but I must also make an admission that I am sure is going to put me in hot water: I don’t think the movie is “the best of the best,” or at least the masterpiece so many others have made it out to be. Allow me to explain…

Top Gun: Maverick Is A Technical Marvel

First things first, let’s get into what I did love about Top Gun: Maverick, which is the same thing everyone loves about the film: the mind-blowing cinematography and visual effects. I am a sucker for movies that use practical special effects, especially at a time when Hollywood is shamelessly reliant on computer generated graphics. For that reason, I believe this film is not only an important footnote in modern cinematic history but also nothing short of a miracle.

Knowing that the flight sequences were achieved by strapping cameras onto actual fighter jets and that the Top Gun: Maverick cast trained for months to actually perform their scenes in the air makes the already beautifully choreographed action especially exhilarating. It is for that reason I also enjoyed F1, which utilizes the same filmmaking technique by strapping cameras onto moving Formula One racing vehicles, and why I believe Joseph Kosinski is one of the most important filmmakers of his time for his dedication to creating the most authentic and immersive cinematic experiences possible.

I Think The Script Is Pretty Subpar

I also believe that Maverick and F1 are similar in the sense that, while their visual effects are incredible, I would not say the same about the stories they tell. The sequel to Tony Scott’s 1986 action movie classic has a good setup – Maverick is recruited to train a group of young daredevils to complete a seemingly impossible mission – and effectively raises the stakes far higher than the original, especially when he and Rooster (Miles Teller) become stranded behind enemy lines. Forgive me, but I just wish there was more effort put into the rest of the screenplay, too.

I was never bothered by the ways Maverick recreates iconic scenes from the original, such as Rooster’s cover of “Great Balls of Fire,” or the tribute to the volleyball match with a game of beach football instead. However, I was bothered by its many cliches – such as Maverick constantly putting himself at odds with his superiors or his struggles to mentor a younger pilot who lacks respect for him (Rooster) – and cheesy dialogue recycled from countless other films.

I believe it deserved most of its Oscar nominations, but I am genuinely shocked that the script – co-written by Transformers: Age of Extinction scribe Ehren Kruger – was up for Best Adapted Screenplay.

All things considered, there is a part of me that regrets missing out on experiencing Top Gun: Maverick’s visual brilliance when it was still playing on the big screen. Granted, I projected the film (available with a Paramount+ subscription) onto a 150-inch screen in my home theater equipped with a top-notch sound system, but I realize that it is still nothing like the real thing. I plan on not making that mistake when Top Gun 3 hits theaters at some point.

There are a lot of songs that you might have no idea were written for, or at least released in conjunction with a movie. Sometimes, those songs end up being more successful than the movie itself, but just as often, the songs become so iconic that people forget they were originally on a soundtrack. Artists like Radiohead, Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, Public Enemy, and many more have written some of their biggest hits for movies.

This list is a tribute to just some of the songs you may have completely forgotten, or never knew, that the tunes started out on movie soundtracks.

"The Sound Of Silence"

You probably remember that Simon & Garfunkel did the soundtrack for The Graduate, but the one song you probably associate the most with the movie is "Mrs. Robinson." Another one of the folk duo's biggest hits, "The Sound of Silence," also comes from the soundtrack.

"Exit Music (For A Film)"

This one is easy to forget that it came from a movie. "Exit Music (For A Film)," by Radiohead is probably most recognizable as part of Ok Computer, an album widely regarded as one of the best of the '90s, and indeed, one of the best all-time. "Exit Music (For A Film)," however, first appeared in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet.

"New York, New York"

One of Frank Sinatra's most iconic songs, "New York, New York," isn't really even a Sinatra original. It was originally part of the Martin Scorsese film New York, New York, and performed by Liza Minnelli. Sinatra's version is the definitive version, for sure, but not the original.

"Tears In Heaven"

Eric Clapton had a huge career renaissance in the 1990s on the back of the huge hit "Tears In Heaven." He famously wrote the song about his son Connor, who died tragically when he fell from a window in a high-rise in New York. The song didn't appear on a Clapton album until the iconic version from his "MTV Unplugged" appearance. The song first appeared on the soundtrack for the oft-forgotten movie Rush in 1991.

"Call Me"

American Gigolo starring Richard Gere was a huge hit in 1980, and Blondie's biggest hit (or one of their biggest, anyway), "Call Me," actually comes from the movie. It's a signature song for the iconic punk/wave band, and it was co-written by Giorgio Moroder, who composed the music for the movie.

"Fight The Power"

Public Enemy was already one of the most important hip-hop groups of all time when they wrote and recorded "Fight The Power" for Spike Lee's masterpiece Do The Right Thing. Like other songs on this list, it's become a signature song for the group, but it didn't appear on an album until after it was featured in the movie.

"Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head"

Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote "Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head" for the movie Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid." Unless you remember in the movie, you'd never expect that song, performed by B.J. Thomas, would ever come from one of the best Westerns of all time.

"Let's Go Crazy"

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together to celebrate Purple Rain, both the movie and the soundtrack from the creative genius known simply as Prince. The album more than the movie, but the film is great. Obviously, "Purple Rain" is the song most closely associated with the movie, for obvious reasons, but do you remember "Let's Go Crazy" in the movie too? One of Prince's biggest bangers hits hard in the movie, and on the album.

"Moon River"

Fans of The Simpsons know that "Moon River" is Andy Williams' signature tune. You didn't think he was going to play it, and then BAM! Second encore! He wasn't the first to record it, though. It was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for Audrey Hepburn to sing in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's become a jazz standard in the years since.

"Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door"

"Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door" has become one of Bob Dylan's most iconic songs. It has famously been covered by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Guns N' Roses. The song was originally composed by the legendary songwriter for Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid, which Dylan also appeared in.

"Take My Breath Away"

On a soundtrack as iconic as Top Gun, it's easy to forget all the bangers that came from it. Like "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin. Sure, anyone who was around in the '80s and saw the original Top Gun in theaters or on VHS might remember it, but if you're any younger, you might not have any idea.

"Independent Women, Pt 1"

The rebooted Charlie's Angels was a huge cultural hit in 2000, and part of that was because of the Destiny's Child hit "Independent Women, Pt 1." There are likely thousands of Beyoncé fans who don't realize the song was once part of a soundtrack.

“It Must Have Been Love”

Roxette had a whole slew of hits in the 1990s and one of their biggest, “It Must Have Been Love," came from one of the biggest movies of the era, Pretty Woman. The song matches the vibe of the movie perfectly.

"Gangsta’s Paradise"

Coolio's "Gangsta’s Paradise" is one of the most iconic hip-hop songs of all time. The movie it came from, Dangerous Minds starring Michelle Pfeiffer, doesn't have the reputation by a long shot. It's not that it's a bad movie, but it just hasn't had the longevity that the song has enjoyed.

“Cradle of Love”

The video for Billy Idol's "Cradle of Love" was one of the most popular in MTV history, back when MTV still played videos. The movie it came from, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, starring Andrew Dice Clay, was not nearly as popular. For a certain demographic, the foul-mouthed comedian's lone movie that he led is a classic; for most, it's silly and stupid.

"Happy"

This one may be a little debatable for its inclusion on this list. "Happy" by Pharrell Williams was a monster hit, and it was originally on the soundtrack of another huge hit, Despicable Me 2. Fans of the franchise certainly know this, but the song became so ubiquitous, there are many fans of the song who had no idea it came from a movie.

“Say You, Say Me”

White Nights is a mostly forgotten movie about contrasting dancers (played by Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov) from 1985. Far less forgotten is the Lionel Richie hit that first appeared in the movie, "Say You, Say Me." One reason people don't associate it with the movie first is that while it appeared in the movie, it was left off the soundtrack, so it could be included later on Richie's album Dancing on the Ceiling months later.

"Lose Yourself"

Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is one of the rapper's biggest hits, and it first appeared in his hit movie 8 Mile. It's one of those songs that you immediately know who is rapping, of course, but considering that the movie hasn't really remained all that iconic, it's easy to forget the song started on the soundtrack.

"Nobody Does It Better"

While some disagree, for me, "Nobody Does It Better" by Carly Simon is not only an amazing song, but it's the best theme song in the Roger Moore era of James Bond. Usually, the Bond theme songs share the name of the movie they come from, but for The Spy Who Loved is an exception. The name of the movie appears in the lyrics of the song, but the title is different, making it easy to forget it's a Bond theme.

“Crazy for You”

Madonna was just at the beginning of her world-changing career when she struck gold with "Crazy For You." The song, which was originally part of the soundtrack for a movie about wrestling, Vision Quest, was so successful, the movie was renamed in some countries after it.

"Against All Odds"

Phil Collins did quite a bit of soundtrack work in the 1980s, and one of his biggest hits, "Against All Odds," comes from a movie of the same name starring Jeff Bridges. The movie, about a retired athlete, isn't remembered as one of Bridges' best movies, but the song remains iconic.

"End of the Road"

Boyz II Men were one of the biggest bands of the '90s, so it makes sense they would be tapped to include a song on the soundtrack of a movie starring one of the biggest movie stars of the era. Boomerang is an underrated Eddie Murphy movie, one of the last of his truly great movies from the '80s and '90s, but still, it hasn't had the staying power of "End of the Road."

"Don’t You (Forget About Me)"

If you're like me, you listen to a lot of the First Wave channel on SiriusXM. One of the staples of '80s wave is "Don’t You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, and while Gen X certainly remembers that it comes from The Breakfast Club, the song has become so iconic on its own that it's easy to forget for many.

"Eye Of The Tiger"

Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" has become ubiquitous at sporting events and in gyms all over the world. It's easy to say it's far better known than the movie it comes from, Rocky III. Not that the third Rocky movie is forgotten, but the song is no longer associated with the movie, right?

“I Just Called to Say I Love You”

“I Just Called to Say I Love You” has become one of Stevie Wonder's signature songs, and for a guy with as many hits as Stevie, it's a wonder any of them came from a movie, but this one did. It's a mostly forgotten movie starring Gene Wilder and Kelly LeBrock called The Woman In Red.

“Because You Loved Me”

Celine Dion's biggest hit, "My Heart Will Go On," will always be associated with the movie it comes from, Titanic. Another one of her hits, “Because You Loved Me," also comes from a movie that almost no one remembers, Up Close and Personal, starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer.

“Kiss From a Rose”

One of Seal's biggest hits in the '90s, “Kiss From a Rose," was actually first included in Batman Forever, which doesn't usually rank very highly on the list of great Batman movies, but is still a lot better than Batman & Robin.

“Stay (I Missed You)”

Reality Bites is a movie that helped define Gen X, and Lisa Loeb's hit “Stay (I Missed You)” is an iconic song from the era, but people often forget the song actually comes from the movie. Of course, it makes perfect sense when you do realize it, but still, the two are very separate in many people's minds.

"Endless Love"

The movie Endless Love is notable for being Tom Cruise's first major movie (he had a small role) and, frankly, not much else. The theme song, however, "Endless Love," by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, remains an iconic love song that people still slow dance to all over the world.

“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”

In 1991, there was one song that was absolutely everywhere. “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” by Bryan Adams was a monster hit, and the fact that it comes from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves gets completely lost in the song's history. IT doesn't seem like the kind of song that would appear in a period piece, which is probably why people don't associate it with the movie anymore.

“Kiss”

While Purple Rain was a hit, Prince's second movie, Under the Cherry Moon, was not. The purple one's hit "Kiss" is actually probably more associated with the famous bathtub scene in Pretty Woman than it is with Cherry Moon.

“Wind Beneath My Wings”

“Wind Beneath My Wings” is Bette Midler's signature song, and it comes from one her best movies, Beaches, yet people seem to forget that the two have the same origin story, but they do.

The 1980s were the peak of movie soundtracks. It seemed like every single movie included a banger that became a hit on the pop charts. Sometimes, the biggest hits from those movies overshadow other great tunes. This list is all about those songs that we don't play as much, but we should. Songs from movies like Rocky IV that aren't by James Brown, or from The Lost Boys that don't involve shirtless saxophone players. Fire up your streaming service and start listening!

"Heavy Metal - Take A Ride" - Heavy Metal

The cult animated hit Heavy Metal has a bunch of great tunes in it. Sammy Hagar, Blue Öyster Cult, Devo, and others all have great tunes. One of the best, if not the best, is "Heavy Metal - Take A Ride" by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. Felder never got the appreciation he deserved as a songwriter in the Eagles, and he shows why he should have with this classic.

"A Hazy Shade Of Winter" - Less Than Zero

The Bangles' cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic folk tune "A Hazy Shade Of Winter" takes on a real 1980s urgency in Less Than Zero. It is a completely transformed tune that fits the vibe of the movie exceptionally well. It's a movie about yuppie excesses, and the driving beat The Bangles achieved is pitch-perfect.

"Ghostbusters" - Ghostbusters 2

Everyone remembers Ray Parker's "Ghostbusters" from the first Ghostbusters movie, but far fewer people know the song by the same name by Run DMC from the sequel. I dare say it's an even better song (though that's not taking away from Parker's classic). Of course, it borrows heavily from the original, lyrically and musically.

"You're The Best" - The Karate Kid

There is no question that the biggest and most enduring hit from The Karate Kid is "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama. There is another banger on the sountrack though, "You're The Best" by Joe "Bean" Joe "Bean" Esposito. I'll bet you're humming it right now, but when was the last time you listened?

"To Live And Die In L.A." - To Live And Die In L.A.

To Live And Die In L.A. is a mostly forgotten movie from the '80s, and Wang Chung isn't nearly as remembered as they should be either. "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is great and all, but their theme song, "To Live And Die In L.A.," is just as good.

"Love on a Real Train" - Risky Business

German electronic pioneers Tangerine Dream were all over the soundtracks of '80s movies. One of their best soundtracks was the one they wrote for Risky Business. Everyone remembers Bob Seger blasting as Tom Cruise danced in his tighty whities, but fewer remember the trippy electro soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, especially the song played during the train sequence.

"Burning Heart" - Rocky IV

Every 4th of July, James Brown's "Living In America" from Rocky IV can be heard coming from backyards across the country. There is another song from the movie, played during the epic training montage in Siberia, called "Burning Heart" by Survivor. Survivor, of course, is most remembered for another movie in the Rocky franchise, "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III.

"Shakedown" - Beverly Hills Cop II

The first Beverly Hills Cop is a movie with some amazing music moments. The sequel, which is just as funny, doesn't have as good of a soundtrack, with the exception of Bob Seger's "Shakedown." It matches anything from the first movie, for sure. It was even nominated for an Oscar.

"Restless Heart" - The Running Man

John Parr had one of the biggest hits of the '80s with the theme to St. Elmo's Fire, but that wasn't the only banger he wrote for a movie. "Restless Heart" from The Running Man proved even '80s movies about dystopian futures could produce hit songs that ooze 1980s." You might not remember it from the movie, but it's classic '80s cheese, in the best way.

"One Foot In Front Of The Other" - Revenge Of The Nerds

There aren't any hits in Revenge of the Nerds, but there are some really memorable tunes. One of those, the best one, is "One Foot In Front Of The Other" by the band Bone Symphony, who really only had this one song. The movie may have been "canceled" (for good reason), but the song lives on!

"Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" - Pretty In Pink

The Smiths are one of the most revered bands of the 1980s. They are probably more popular today than they were even at their peak. Like so many other great wave bands, they are featured in a great John Hughes movie, Pretty In Pink, with their song "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want." It's not the biggest hit from the movie, but it's a total '80s classic.

"For Your Eyes Only" - For Your Eyes Only

Of all the many theme songs from James Bond movies, this song from the Roger Moore era is often forgotten. "For Your Eyes Only," from the movie of the same name, performed by Sheena Easton, is one of the mellower tunes in Bond history, and it's sneaky great.

"You Can Leave Your Hat On" - 9 1/2 Weeks

9 1/2 Weeks was a cultural phenomenon when it was released in 1986. It featured a legendary soundtrack, and, in my opinion, the best song on it is "You Can Leave Your Hat On," performed by Joe Cocker. The song was written by the great Randy Newman (of "You Got A Friend In Me" fame) and appears in one of the most memorable scenes in the steamy movie.

"Cry Little Sister" - The Lost Boys

Everyone remembers the sweaty, shirtless saxophone player in The Lost Boys who still believes (Tim Cappello), but do you remember "Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMahon? It's a banger too. Frankly, it's a little better than "I Still Believe," but not nearly as remembered, for obvious reasons.

"We Are Not Alone" - The Breakfast Club

Simple Minds had a huge, worldwide hit with "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from The Breakfast Club soundtrack. It's a song that has remained beloved, especially by Gen X, ever since. Karla Devito had another song on the soundtrack, featured in the scene with Emilio Estevez dancing around the library, called "We Are Not Alone" that also deserves some love from Gen X.

"Playing With The Boys" - Top Gun

Okay, we admit this one might be a stretch, because the entire soundtrack to Top Gun is pretty well loved by millions. Still, "Playing With The Boys" by Kenny Loggins is far less remembered than his other song on the album, "Danger Zone," or the love theme from the movie, "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin. Everyone remembers the volleyball scene, but it's not because of the music,

"Cat People" - Cat People

Cat People is a wild movie, with a wild soundtrack by the legendary Giorgio Moroder. The theme song was co-written by Moroder and the equally legendary David Bowie, who also sang it. Is it the best Bowie tune ever? Well, no, but come on! It's Bowie and Moroder together! That alone is reason to still be talking about this song today.

"All She Wants To Do Is Dance" - Real Genius

This one is a little bit of a fudge, as "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" was pretty much simultaneously released as a single by Don Henley and appeared in the soundtrack to Real Genius. It's not the most talked-about song in the movie, however, so in that respect, it'll stay on the list. Everyone remembers the popcorn scene in Real Genius and the Tears for Fears song that follows it ("Everybody Wants To Rule The World"), but fewer remember this Henley hit playing during the party scene in the school lecture hall.

"Stir It Up" - Beverly Hills Cop

Beverly Hills Cop has a banging soundtrack featuring The Pointer Sisters, Glenn Frey, Rick James, and, of course, composer Harold Faltermeyer with his "Axel F." Patti LaBelle has two songs that are less remembered, and of the two, "Stir It Up" is my favorite.

"Glory Of Love" - The Karate Kid Part II

I'll admit it, I randomly heard this song recently, and it inspired this whole list. The "Glory Of Love" was a giant hit for Peter Cetera when it was released in 1986 on The Karate Kid Part II soundtrack. It hit #1 on the Billboard charts, and it was nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars. So why isn't it as remember today? It's a mystery to me.

"Eighties" - Weird Science

John Hughes had a knack for including some really great up-and-coming bands on his soundtracks, and Killing Joke, with their song "Eighties," is a perfect example. It was right as the band was breaking big, and the song, though less remembered than Oingo Boingo's theme song from Weird Science, is excellent.

"Mr. Night" - Caddyshack

There's a reason Kenny Loggins is so beloved for his soundtracks in the '80s. One of his biggest hits, "I'm Alright," comes from the Caddyshack soundtrack. It's not the only song he has on the album, though. He has a total of four tracks in the movie, and the best, including "I'm Alright," is "Mr. Night," which can be heard when the caddies hit the pool.

"Oh I Love You So" - Cocktail

The Cocktail soundtrack was one of the best-selling albums of 1988, with almost 6 million in sales, and it reached the top ten on the charts of multiple countries. It was anchored with the late-era Beach Boys hit "Kokomo" and Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy," but it also features a lilting little ditty called "Oh I Love So" by Preston Smith, and it's just as fun as those two other tunes.

"Somebody's Baby" - Fast Times At Ridgemont High

If you ask someone to name one song from Fast Times At Ridgemont High, the odds are almost all of them will say "Moving In Stereo" by The Cars. Maybe a few people mention "Goodbye, Goodbye" by Oingo Boingo. Fewer people will say "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne, which seems to be a forgotten classic for many people.

"Bring On The Dancing Horses" - Pretty In Pink

It's hardly a surprise to see John Hughes movies on this list, as he really put together some great soundtracks. Pretty In Pink is a perfect example, as it produced the hits like "If You Leave" for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and a re-recorded version of the song the movie was named after, "Pretty In Pink" by The Psychedelic Furs. It also produced a minor his for Echo & The Bunnymen, "Bring On The Dancing Horses."

"Helplessly In Love" - Dragnet

If you wonder why people want to see Tom Hanks go back to pure comedies, check out Dragnet. It's not the best movie in his filmography, but he is really funny in it. It also features a great, forgotten song, "Helplessly In Love" by New Edition.

"Unbelievable" - Night Of The Comet

Night Of The Comet is an '80s cable classic. No one saw it in theaters, but everyone saw it on TV in the months following its release. It's a cheesy movie that has become a minor cult classic in the four decades since its release. "Unbelievable" by the short-lived and obscure band Revolver shares that '80s cheese DNA in all the best ways.

"After All" - Chances Are

What happens when you team up the great Peter Cetera with the legendary Cher? The love theme from the forgotten Robert Downey, Jr. movie Chances Are. The song, "After All," was good enough to be nominated for an Oscar, but you never see it on any playlists from the '80s, and it should be!

"Thunder In Your Heart" - Rad

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s dreamed about riding a BMX like the characters in Rad. That also meant bouncing on one tire to the tune of "Thunder In Your Heart" by John Farnham.

"Far From Over" - Staying Alive

The soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever is one of the best-selling albums of all time and is one of the most beloved of all time. It was a cultural bombshell in the '70s, along with the film that made John Travolta a movie star. The sequel, Staying Alive, was pretty much the opposite of Saturday Night Fever in every way, especially the soundtrack. However, "Far From Over" by Frank Stallone, whose brother Sylvester directed the movie, is a certified banger.

"Cheer Down" - Lethal Weapon 2

It's pretty astounding that a song by a former Beatle, in a movie as popular as Lethal Weapon, wouldn't be a more remembered hit, but here we are. The crying guitar in "Cheer Down" can only be one guitar player, the legendary George Harrison. The song is pure Harrison and should be as appreciated as his bigger hits.

"Nobody's Fool" - Caddyshack II

Kenny Loggins' songs on the Caddyshack soundtrack are beloved, but don't discount his banger from the Caddyshack II soundtrack, "Nobody's Fool." It's by far the best part of the sequel.

As one could expect, Tom Cruise has his hands full on the 2025 movie schedule. Even the release of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning alone is an occasion that should keep its leading man busy; as it’s supposedly the final ride for Ethan Hunt. But surely that should leave some runway for Top Gun 3 to take off, right?

It doesn’t seem like an alien prospect, thanks to Cruise’s recent interview with Today Show Australia Entertainment Editor Richard Wilkins. And while this next round has been buzzed about by other Maverick cast members, hearing the iconic lead himself tease the future like this just hits differently:

I don’t know about you, but I also find it pleasing to know that Tom Cruise’s potential sequel to his NASCAR dramedy is still on the table. With NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon’s Thunder comments on that legacy-quel pitch also bringing some extra hope to the table, fans may want to stream that 1990 original again through their Paramount+ subscription.

But of course, Top Gun 3 is going to be as hot of a prospect as its Joseph Kosinski directed predecessor has been. Top Gun: Maverick’s massive box office success is part of the proof that Captain Pete Mitchell’s career as a naval aviator is still something audiences want to follow. However, there is a very traditional reason that Tom Cruise isn’t promising the wild blue yonder just yet, as he laid out his current workload in these terms:

Cruise and McQ is one of those teams that just sounds right by name. Through the recent history of Mission: Impossible movies, as well as Top Gun: Maverick, we’ve seen the collaborators working hard to keep the man some call one of the “last movie stars” keeping up the standards of such notable series.

Much like his attitude on practical, limit pushing stunts, Tom Cruise always has something in motion, which is a positive for his fans. With other promising prospects like Cruise’s mysterious “space movie” and Edge of Tomorrow’s long demanded sequel also in play, our megastar of the hour is also testing the limits of his schedule.

You can see how the latest example of that work ethic plays out on May 23rd, when Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning lights its box office fuse. And of course, you can catch past installments of that series - as well as both Top Gun flicks - streaming on Paramount+...should you choose to accept.

Val Kilmer gave some unforgettable performances in some of the best films of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Arguably though, he is most widely known for his role as Top Gun's Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, the rival pilot to Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Shortly after Kilmer's passing in April, Cruise paid tribute to his late friend and co-star. And, during a more recent interview, the Maverick portrayer recalled the story of how he and others had to convince Kilmer to join the aviator flick since he was reluctant to sign on.

Tom Cruise Talks The Impact Of Val Kilmer’s Decision To Do Top Gun

True to his name, the "Iceman" was pretty cold towards Tom Cruise and director Tony Scott when they sought him out for the role. Kilmer previously admitted to not wanting to do the film at all, much less play Iceman. Despite not being keen on joining the 1984 film, he auditioned more as a show of good faith towards Scott but purposefully put no effort into the tryout. However, Kilmer underestimated the Days of Thunder duo’s admiration for his work. During a chat with the BFI (via Deadline), Cruise recalled going through great lengths to land Kilmer:

Obviously, Kilmer gave in. Having seen Top Gun, it’s clear to me what Scott and Cruise were after. While reminiscing about filming with the late actor, Cruise remembered the ease with which Kilmer flexed his acting expertise, including perfectly improvised moments. The Oscar nominee specifically talked about one scene in particular, and how it felt to act opposite Kilmer:

The scene Tom Cruise is referring to is a key turning point in the film, where Iceman’s disdain for "cowboy" pilot Maverick turns from playful to more serious. This exchange between Val Kilmer and Cruise is so charged yet natural that it gives me chills. Val Kilmer's antagonistic chemistry with Cruise in that scene and others is what makes Top Gun a must-watch ‘80s classic.

Memorable moments like this make it seem wild the Batman Forever actor ever considered the supporting role unworthy of his time. Kilmer makes Iceman seem like a larger-than-life, ever-present character always hanging over Maverick. In actuality, he had very limited screen time, but Cruise makes it clear that he really made the most of each minute:

It’s hard to imagine this Top Gun rivalry without Kilmer. At the end of the film, the two rival pilots agree to be each other’s wingman anytime, something the real life actors didn’t forget. By the time a sequel was greenlit over 20 years later, the tables had turned, and it was Kilmer who was begging to be a part of the film. Thankfully, the Jack Reacher actor was committed to making it happen.

Why Kilmer’s Return In Top Gun Maverick Was So Special

When Top Gun: Maverick hit theaters and broke the box office in 2022, fans were overjoyed to see the OG Iceman on the big screen. Kilmer specifically requested to appear in the follow-up, and worked with director Joseph Kosinski personally on his storyline. Cruise and Kilmer reunited both in person and in character and, in regard to both instances, the Rain Man actor recalled that they picked up where they left off:

Even with the challenges posed by Val Kilmer's throat cancer, he was able to talk with AI voice reconstruction. Though their scene in Top Gun: Maverick is short, it speaks volumes regarding the growth of the former enemies’ friendship through the years.

Not only is Mitchell able to ask for Kazansky’s help and advice, but he can accept and value it as well. On the other side, Kazansky is able to admit that he's not the one who the new class of pilots need as a menter, but rather his old rival. It was a very touching moment for fans to watch, and Kilmer told Kosinski how happy he was with the final result. Cruise feels the same way:

It’s safe to say everyone on set felt it was huge to have the veteran Top Gun actor join the new cast. While Kilmer’s character died before the end of Maverick, I’m sure the late actor's absence will be felt regardless while filming the upcoming Top Gun 3. The movie is still in the writing stage of production, so it could be some time before it ultimately flies into theaters.

If anything, though, I would imagine that a threequel would somehow pay tribute to Val Kilmer and his contributions to the franchise just as Tom Cruise and co. honored late director Tony Scott in Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise's filmography is chalk-full of action packed, adrenaline-fueled movies like Edge of Tomorrow, both Top Gun movies, and Days of Thunder. Not to mention the Mission Impossible franchise, which is set to wrap up on the 2025 Movie schedule with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning premiering this May. The American actor is a leader in his field, known for doing all his own stunts including hanging off the side of a moving plane and jumping off a cliff on a motorcycle. You may think that this is just his on-screen persona, but a British sports car expert just confirmed what it’s really like to hang out with Tom Cruise, and it is just as fun and surreal as his stunts.

In an interview with The Times, sports car collector Dean Bartle recalls the time he had a surprise visit from Tom Cruise at his showroom. The Jack Reacher actor just dropped by – in his helicopter. Cruise is a trained pilot, something he achieved long ago to be able to do his own stunts. It’s not uncommon to hear about him flying around the UK in his chopper, but Bartle says it was surreal to casually hear about his Top Gun days from the man himself:

If this had happened to me, I would have thought I dreamt it. What do you mean famous Hollywood actor Tom Cruise is just dropping out of the sky for lunches and casual hangs around England? One hour he’s there, the next he’s casually ascending into the clouds.

I can’t say I’m that surprised though. If it had to be anybody, it would be Tom Cruise. Not only has he done his own stunts, but he’s been filming them in Great Britain for years now. He seems to have really taken to the country as a self proclaimed “Anglophile,” and the British have really taken to him. So much so that the BFI is awarding him with their highest honor for having an essential influence in building up the British film industry this century.

The man is always on sidequests, like jumping off the Stade De France at the 2024 Olympics, and it seems he’s chosen our neighbors across the pond as his stomping grounds. I can’t say I blame him, as I spent four months living in London and absolutely fell in love with the city and the UK .

The differences between my experience and the A Few Good Men actor’s are significant. Where he’s tearing up the dance floor at Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday extravaganza, I’m waiting in line to tear up the dance floor of a packed club. Not to mention his elite mode of transportation – although he has admitted to enjoying the occasional incognito Tube ride.

All in all, despite his occasional extravagant demonstrations, Cruise seems like a pretty charismatic, relatively down-to-earth guy. He shows up for his friends at their movie premieres and goes out of his way to help his co-stars land their dream roles. Cruise has always been very true to himself and his ambition, according to his peers like Michael Cain and his new friends like Bartle.

One thing seems for sure though: Tom Cruise will never stop working until the day he dies, and I’ll only believe this is the final Mission Impossible movie when I see it. The man stays on the move, and we never know what we'll witness next.

As one of many movies released in 2025, A Minecraft Movie has been making waves. Even though one audiencegoer brought an actual live chicken to a screening and many people have been more than enthusiastic at other screenings, the video game adaptation has not been getting kind reviews. However, you have to admit that the film is still somewhat enjoyable. Jason Momoa credits Top Gun and Saturday Night Live for one of the film’s most talked-about scenes, and his enthusiasm is incredible.

The scene in question in A Minecraft Movie is when Momoa and Jack Black are flying – yes, flying – close together and it seemed to be getting quite a lot of laughs at screenings. Just like with the rest of the movie, there are probably lots of questions as to what it was like filming it and how the scene even came about. Black told Collider that Momoa actually wrote the scene, but the Aquaman star gives credit to a certain late-night variety sketch series and a particular sketch:

“Ambiguously Gay Duo” was an animated sketch and among the most beloved pre-recorded SNL segments in the show's history. In the sketch, Ace and Gary, voiced by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell, visit their Fortress of Privacy. Gary erotically hugs Ace while flying, and it’s not surprising to see that it’s made its way back into the fold all these years later. The animated short is certainly a ridiculous one, but remains one of the most underrated throughout SNL’s 50 years.

Saturday Night Live is also surprisingly not the only inspiration for the Minecraft scene. Momoa also brings up Top Gun, describing how the scene was done and what they took from the Tom Cruise film. And I just love how it sounds like so much thought went into it:

You wouldn’t think that SNL, Top Gun, and A Minecraft Movie belonged in the same sentence, but that’s what makes the whole thing even better. All three are pretty different from each other, or at the very least, Top Gun is pretty different from SNL. And knowing that the two had a hand in creating one of the most memorable scenes in A Minecraft Movie, it makes me wonder what other scenes were taken from completely different forms of pop culture.

People knew what they were getting themselves into with the new movie thanks to the bonkers Minecraft trailer, and the entire movie is pretty nuts. For some reason, though, fans just can’t get enough, and that’s also on top of the adorable popcorn bucket that the film got. Although Sinners finally dethroned it at the box office, A Minecraft Movie still remains a favorite among fans, and I’m curious to find out if it will a future movie or even SNL sketch will take inspiration from it and have it come full circle.

Top Gun was one of the biggest hits of the 1980s for several reasons. At the time, the movie so popular and, decades later, fans still wanted a sequel. One of the signature elements of the film is Val Kilmer’s memorable performance as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. Many are remembering Kilmer’s great movie moments following the actor’s recent passing, so it seems apt to discuss how one of his best lines from the aviator flick was actually never in the script (and it made others on set laugh).

A recent viral post on Instagram points out that an often-repeated story from the Top Gun set involves claims regarding on particularly famous scene. Apparently, Iceman coughing out “bullshit” while Maverick tells his story about coming face to face with an enemy jet, is the result of an ad-lib from Kilmer. However, the reactions from everybody in the scene were so perfect the moment was left in. As ScreenUnlocked shares on Instagram:

Honestly, if this line was a complete ad-lib, then the follow-up must have been as well. Anthony Edwards’ Goose responds, swearing that it’s all true and talking about great a move it was. He’s not exactly convincing, but that’s what makes it all so funny.

Tracking down details for this nearly 40-year-old film is tough, so it’s difficult to verify where this detail came from. It might actually be entirely apocraphyl. Still, it’s an oft-repeated claim that, at this point, is generally accepted as true. There have been statements that a lot of the Top Gun script wasn’t set in stone when shooting began, so there’s reason to believe this ad-lib is exactly what happened.

Val Kilmer’s performance as Iceman proved to be so iconic that he was the one actor other than Tom Cruise who really needed to appear in the sequel. With that, Top Gun: Maverick includes a brief scene in which Iceman and Maverick reunite. Said scene was filmed despite Kilmer’s ongoing health issues and near-inability to speak. It would be the actor's final performance on screen. As it happens, Kilmer was also responsible for a key moment from that movie, too.

Following Val Kilmer’s death, his fans and his friends have spoken out in order to pay tribute to the accomplished actor. Tom Cruise himself also honored his former co-star following his passing. Fans have been sharing their favorite Kilmer performances as well. Iceman is certainly one of those most notable character, but Kilmer had a lot of them.

Considering the scene in which Kilmer ad-libbed a single word is one of the most well known in the entire film, it certainly shows what a great talent the actor was. One can only imagine the great ways he could have added to other films that he would have been part of under other circumstances.

Top Gun 3 seems likely to happen. It's hard to imagine that the film won't deal with the loss of Iceman somehow. His loss will certainly be felt, but the character -- and the actor who played him -- will surely not be forgotten.

It's been just two days since Top Gun and Batman Forever actor Val Kilmer died at the age of 65 years old. Tom Cruise is at CinemaCon to promote the next Mission: Impossible movie at the Paramount Pictures panel. When he took to the stage to talk The Final Reckoning, Cruise took some time to honor Kilmer.

When Cruise addressed CinemaCon, he said something that led to an eruption of cheers from the audience. In his words:

Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer have known each other for 40 years, so it can't be an easy week for the action star. Here's what he told the crowd at the convention, which CinemaBlend was in attendance to hear:

After that, Cruise requested a moment of silence from the The Colosseum crowd just prior to changing the subject to talking about the four-time Mission: Impossible director, Christopher McQuarrie and presenting a new trailer for Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning to follow the first teaser from November. Here he is at the event:

According to Val Kilmer's daughter Mercedes (per The New York Times), the actor died on Tuesday night from pneumonia in Los Angeles surrounded by family and friends. Previously, Kilmer dealt with throat cancer that required two tracheotomies, but recovered from them.

In 2020, he shared that he had been cancer-free for four years, but was still dealing with medical treatments associated with the fallout. As a result of the surgeries he'd been using an electric voice box in his trachea in order to talk and required a feeding tube to eat.

The actor had slowed down working in Hollywood in recent years, but he did notably return as Iceman for Maverick. As director Joseph Kosinski told CinemaBlend's ReelBlend podcast, Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were "adamant" about bringing him him back.

Kosinski also told us that after they called the actor it was Kilmer who "cracked how he could be in it" and created a scene that saw the previous rivals now as friends and wingmen. The Maverick director said the scene was "very emotional" for Cruise to shoot with Kilmer.

Along with Kilmer's role in Maverick, and releasing a documentary called Val in 2021, he's of course known for being a movie star since the 1980s. His early work had Kilmer starring in Real Genius, playing Jim Morrison in The Doors and starring in classics like Tombstone, Heat and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

This was such a sweet tribute from Tom Cruise. It follows Jim Carrey also taking some time to speak about Val Kilmer after his death this week. We'll be watching all the best Val Kilmer movies now to remember the late actor further.

The sequel to the blockbuster hit Top Gun was a movie that was literally decades in the making. Over the course of that time, many writers tried their hand at writing a movie that would become Top Gun 2. In the end, five different people have story and screenplay credits on Top Gun: Maverick, but now we know which one of them is responsible for creating the character of Goose’s son, as played by Miles Teller.

Peter Craig had been involved in Maverick's story from early on, and he received an Oscar nomination for the Top Gun: Maverick screenplay, alongside the four other men who received credits for the final script. Speaking with THR, Craig was very complimentary of what he says was a collaborative process as the team worked together to craft the final film. However, he takes credit for the film’s core, as he apparently pitched the idea of Goose’s son to Tom Cruise. Craig said…

While Top Gun: Maverick’s blockbuster status was thanks to its impressive practical flying sequences, the movie’s heart came from the character conflict between Tom Cruise’s Maverick and Miles Teller’s Rooster. It’s an emotional journey for both characters that carries the rest of the story.

Peter Craig may take credit for the idea, but he’s also giving full credit to both Tom Cruise and co-writer Christopher McQuarrie, who he indicates acted as as managers of a sort for the team. Because of strong leadership, the writing team was able to work together easily putting together a strong story. Not everybody who works on a script ends up getting their name in the credits, and Peter Craig mentions that others deserve at least some credit for helping make Top Gun: Mavertick the success that it was. Craig continued…

A lot of people may deserve some credit, but Peter Craig clearly deserves a lot of credit if Goose’s son was his idea. It’s a move that ties the two films together in a way that makes sense, and that probably creates a connection that will be valuable in whatever Top Gun 3 turns out to be.

Top Gun: Maverick was the sort of legacy sequel that studios dream of making. Maverick was an absolutely massive success, a bigger box office winner than even the original iconic movie. And so, despite the fact that there were decades between the two movies, it’s little surprise that Top Gun 3 is very likely to arrive a lot sooner after part two.

Top Gun 3 is already in development and while it’s far too early to have any guess what the new movie will be about or which actors from the previous films, other than Tom Cruise himself, will return, one actor is pretty sure he won’t be back. When asked by the UK’s Joe about appearing in Top Gun 3, Ed Harris simply said…

Ed Harris played Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain in Top Gun: Maverick. He only appears in one scene early in the film, reading Cruise’s character the riot act after he takes an experimental jet up in the air without authorization. Having said that, it’s a great scene that sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

On the one hand, Ed Harris is great in Top Gun: Maverick, and one can imagine there might be some interest in bringing him back if only to try and recreate a great sequence. Having said that, since Harris isn’t particularly important to the plot of Maverick and considering that Cruise’s character seems to be heading off in a different direction following the events of the film, it’s unclear why these two would cross paths again.

Having said that. One can also guess that Paramount is going to want to do whatever is possible to recreate the success of the previous film, and part of that will likely mean bringing back as many elements from the movie that was a massive hit as possible.

And who knows, maybe Ed Harris will not only return in Top Gun 3 but will have an expanded role. Whatever the plot of Top Gun 3 ends up being, it will almost certainly need some high-ranking officers for Maverick to come into conflict with. Why bring in brand new characters and actors that we haven’t met when you can just as easily bring back characters we know?

Expectations are that most of the cast of Top Gun: Maverick will return for Top Gun 3. Jennifer Connelly has said she's spoken to director Joe Kosinski about the sequel and Miles Teller has indicated he may know something, though he's not revealing details. Top Gun 3 may come faster than Maverick, but that doesn't mean Top Gun 3 will happen soon.

But if there’s a single actor who seems the least likely to return Ed Harris is probably right that it’s him. Still, every movie would be better if Ed Harris is in it, so I’m not sure anybody would mind if they brought him back.

1986 was the best year in movie history. It just was, and this list will prove it. And before you get mad and start firing off angry missives in the comment section, remember, we're just having fun here. Just relax and hear me out. You can yell at me later.

Some might say 1994 rules, with Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption, and the Best Picture winner from that year, Forrest Gump. Okay, maybe not that last one. Others will say 1939 with Gone With the Wind, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, and The Wizard of Oz. Those people make a good point, but I'm sticking with 1986, and here's my list of movies that prove it.

Platoon

You have to include the Oscar winner for Best Picture on this list. Unlike Forrest Gump, Platoon is an amazing movie. Unlike Gump, it depicts the war in Vietnam in a harrowing way and features incredible performances from Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, and Charlie Sheen, among others. It's also director Oliver Stone at his very best.

Back to School

I love Rodney Dangerfield. His brand of humor and his incredible delivery are just so unique and hilarious, that there is truly no one like him. But it's fair to say he didn't make a ton of great movies. Sure, Caddyshack is a classic, filmed with memorable moments and lines, but that's an ensemble. Back To School is mostly all about Rodney and it's just hilarious.

Aliens

1986 really had some heavyweight films by some of Hollywood's best directors, not the least of which was James Cameron's masterpiece, Aliens. It's rare that a sequel outshines the first film, and as much as I love Alien, the sequel is better. It's not as scary, but the action is non-stop, it's got more humor, and the cast is fantastic.

Crocodile Dundee

While it's true that Crocodile Dundee has kind of become a punchline for '80s comedy, its likely if you don't think it's great, it's because you haven't seen it lately. It's a sweet, funny, wholesome movie that doesn't ask much of the viewer, but delivers big time in laughs and heartwarming moments.

Blue Velvet

The late David Lynch made some wild films, and Blue Velvet is one of the wildest. Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, and Laura Dern all put in amazing performances in this neo-noir film that helped define Lynch's unique style.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

You can't have a list of great movies in 1986 (or the '80s in general) without including a John Hughes film. He wrote two movies released that year, one being Pretty In Pink. He directed the other, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's a stone-cold classic and features some of Hughes' funniest lines.

Labyrinth

What do you get when you combine one of the most creative minds in Hollywood in director Jim Henson with one of the most creative musicians of the 20th Century in David Bowie? Well, Labyrinth, of course. It's a wild movie and while it's far from perfect, and wasn't a huge hit, it's got some many memorable moments and characters that it's the kind of movie that'll stick with you for the rest of your life.

Stand by Me

In 1986, the world was pretty accustomed to Stephen King's adaptions scaring the pants off of us, but we (or I) weren't ready for Stand By Me. It's not scary, it's just a simple, but incredible story about four kids who set off to find a dead body. It's close to a perfect movie, in my opinion, and it certainly helps that the cast includes the likes of River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, John Cusack, and more.

The Mission

Robert De Niro's The Mission is a very underrated religious movie that isn't a complete slog to get through. It's the opposite of a slog, in fact. It's about as exciting as you can expect a movie about religion to be. It's also a beautifully shot movie, with every scene catching your eye in one way or another.

Top Gun

If you weren't around in 1986, or if you were living under a huge rock, you might not remember just how huge of a cultural event Top Gun was. It was a multi-media monster. The movie was huge, the soundtrack was huge, and there were even commercials on the VHS tape (for Pepsi), the first time that had ever happened. We look at the movie as a Hollywood classic today, but at the time, it was even more than that,

Big Trouble in Little China

Just remember what old Jack Burton always says, "1986 is the best year in movie history." That includes the cult classic Big Trouble In Little China, a movie that includes some of Kurt Russell's most iconic lines, and that is really saying something.

Hoosiers

If you like sports movies, well, 1986 gave us Hoosiers. It is one of, if not the best, sports movie of all time and it features some completely iconic performances from two of the best Hollywood stars ever, Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper. Everyone loves a good underdog story and Hoosiers is simply the best one.

Sid And Nancy

Back in 1986, rock biopics weren't nearly as ubiquitous as they are today. It took an amazing story for a movie to get made about a musician, and there is no more wild and crazy story than that of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. Gary Oldman is amazing as Vicious and Chloe Webb matches him beat for beat as the ill-fated Spungen. It's one of the best rock bios ever made.

Highlander

There can be only one Highlander, just like there can be only one 1986. Over the years, Highlander has become one of the biggest cult classics of the era. While it was a critical and box office dud in 1986, it has since gone on to spawn an entire media franchise with multiple sequels, reboots, novels, and a TV show.

The Golden Child

There is a real argument to be made that Eddie Murphy was the funniest movie and TV star of the 1980s. With his classic lines on SNL and blockbuster movies like Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places, it's an easy argument to win. His 1986 release The Golden Child isn't the best of the bunch, but it's far from the worst, and even at worst, Murphy was still the funniest guy around in 1986.

Little Shop Of Horrors

Most people don't think of the 1980s as a golden era for musicals, but that only shows how great 1986 was with the addition of Little Shop Of Horrors, probably the best and most unique musical of the decade. There are some wonderful performances from everyone involved and anything that includes a singing, man-eating plant gets my vote among the best ever.

The Fly

When it comes to horror classics, David Cronenberg's The Fly has to be considered one of the best of the '80s. The remake of a 1958 movie of the same title features one of Jeff Goldblum's best performances, and it was one of the movies of the era that helped make him one of the most enduring stars in Hollywood history.

Short Circuit

Every great year in film history has to include some great movies for kids and in 1986, one of those greats was Short Circuit. It was a time when we still thought robots could be friendly and not all of them were out to destroy the world. Well, except for The Terminator, but that was 1984 so...

Pretty in Pink

Some of John Hughes' best movies are the ones he wrote, but didn't direct and Pretty In Pink is one of those. It's a classic teen rom-com that captures so much of what makes a high school student in love so confusing. Hughes was a master at stuff like that.

The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose is a murder mystery hidden in a religious period piece and while it's not for everyone, I promise if you take the time to watch it, you'll love it. It's one of Sean Connery's best non-Bond performances and the rest of the cast around him is at the top of their game.

Children of a Lesser God

At the 1987 Oscars, Marlee Matlin became the first (and to date, only) deaf actor to win an Academy Award for her performance in Children of a Lesser God. The movie is not easy to watch, but it is immensely satisfying and worthy of anyone's time.

Manhunter

Of all the movies based on books by Thomas Harris, like The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon, Mindhunter is the least memorable, I'll admit that. Starring William Petersen and directed by Michael Mann (the most '80s of directors), the movie did one very important thing, it introduced the character of Hannibal Lector, played here by Brian Cox, to the movie-going world. For that, it deserves recognition.

The Color of Money

The 1980s were all about the movies and the music and Martin Scorsese's entry into the 1986 canon is a win on both fronts. Not only does it have memorable music moments like when Tom Cruise's character hustles to the tune of "Werewolves of London," it's just a great movie, as you'd expect from a movie directed by Scorsese and starring Cruise and Paul Newman.

Iron Eagle

Believe it or not, Top Gun and Iron Eagle were both released in 1986. In fact, even though decades later we tend to think of Iron Eagle as a knock-off of Top Gun, it came out months before the Tom Cruise classic. That's not to say it's a better movie, but it has a certain charm that anyone who watched it growing up loves. It's one of the more ridiculous situations a teenager ever ended up getting into in a movie, but it's still great nostalgia.

Three Amigos!

Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short all teamed up for one of the goofiest comedies of all time in Three Amigos! While it's true that it's not as good a movie as many of us remember, there are still some seriously classic moments and memorable lines that mean it totally belongs on this list of why 1986 is great.

A Room With A View

A Room With A View is a little tricky to add to this list, as it was technically released for the first time in 1985, but that was for a one-off performance before it was widely released in early 1986. Because it qualified for the 1987 Oscars, I'm counting it here. It was, after all, it was nominated for eight Oscars (winning three) in 1987.

Hannah and Her Sisters

At the height of his career, Woody Allen was one of the most prolific filmmakers of all time. In the 1980s, he released at least one movie each year with the exception of 1982. In 1986, he wrote and directed one of his most beloved movies, Hannah and Her Sisters. Allen won the Oscar for Best Screenplay for it, and it remains one of his true classics.

Heartbreak Ridge

Yet another director with a classic on this list of great movies from 1986 is Clint Eastwood for his film Heartbreak Ridge. In the movie, Eastwood plays a gruff army commander who trains up a bunch of misfits into a strong unit. It's very Eastwood.

Ruthless People

Ruthless People is a classic black comedy starring Bette Midler as a rich woman who gets kidnapped and soon finds out her husband (Danny DeVito) isn't interested in paying her ransom. It's funnier than it sounds, I promise.

9½ Weeks

9½ Weeks is one of the most legendary erotic dramas of all time. It helped make stars of Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke and was one of the most talked about movies of the year. Looking back, it's not aged all that well, but there are still some unforgettable moments.

One Crazy Summer

Director Savage Steve Holland made a couple of great movies in the 1980s. Better Off Dead, his best movie, came out in 1985 and he followed it up one year later with One Crazy Summer starring John Cusack and Demi Moore. It's not as good as his first movie, but it's still awesome, and it's filled with the same kind of humor and great cartoon work.

Something Wild

Director Jonathon Demme is best known for The Silence Of The Lambs, but in the '80s, he proved he was great at comedy too, with quirky movies like Swing Shift and Married to the Mob. Something Wild is his quirkiest and though it's not as remembered as some of his other works, it's still a classic.

Believe it or not, this isn't even the complete list of classic movies released in 1986, making it the best movie year ever. I didn't even have room for movies like Cobra, Raw Deal, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, The Transformers: The Movie, An American Tail, The Karate Kid Part II, and even a Francis Ford Coppola movie, Peggy Sue Got Married.

It’s been nearly three years since Top Gun: Maverick soared into theaters and reignited the Tom Cruise-led franchise. The breathtaking aerial sequences and emotional storyline arguably improved on the original film's, and the sequel quickly became a box office phenomenon in 2022. Given the film’s massive success, fans have been eagerly awaiting news on a third installment. It was previously reported that Top Gun 3 was in the works, but updates have been scarce. Now, series alum Jay Ellis is offering insight into the creative process.

Ellis, who played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch in Maverick recently attended the Independent Spirit Awards. On the red carpet, Variety asked the actor where things stand on the Top Gun threequel. Ellis remained coy about his own involvement, as well as any definitive start dates. However, the actor did explain that Tom Cruise’s creative process can be lengthy -- and for good reason:

Even though it might be frustrating for fans that a third installment is taking so long, the fact that it’s because Tom Cruise and the rest of the team are hell bent on quality is good to hear. I’d rather they take their time to produce yet another fantastic action film than rush a lackluster follow-up into development. And, as fellow franchise alum Miles Teller recently explained, even after the script is done, it'll also take a while to get the cast back into flight training, which will prolong prep. So fans should get ready to wait.

Jay Ellis' comments and those of his colleagues seemingly point to a lengthy pre-production and development process, but there is some hope. The film has reportedly been greenlit, with people are actively working on making it happen. Also, Glen Powell revealed this summer that he was given a start date on a Top Gun 3, which also seemed like a surprise to the rest of the cast, including Lewis Pullman, who claims he’s yet to see anything. Whether or not the date Powell alluded to is set in stone is debatable, but there is clearly an effort to get the ball rolling and get the Maverick cast back together again.

Rumors about the upcoming film will likely persist until something concrete is revealed, but that’s just a testament to an ardent fanbase and the success of Top Gun: Maverick. Jay Ellis’ take can also serve as a reminder that the project is in good hands. There’s a reason the first sequel took so long and, considering the results, I wouldn’t want the process any other way. Whenever the next installment is released, one thing that's certain is that Tom Cruise and co. won’t settle for anything less than another cinematic spectacle.

While you wait for Top Gun 3, revisit the OG film and Maverick with a Paramount+ subscription. For more information on other titles heading to cinemas and streaming in the near future, make sure to check out our 2025 movie schedule.

Some would say that glasses aren’t cool, and those people are in fact, liars. Throughout movie history, there have been iconic moments involving both eyeglasses and sunglasses that have made huge fashion statements. In some cases, they’re even seen as a signature to the characters they’re being worn by. So if you’re worried about rocking some facial furniture at one point or another, let these trendsetters ease those troubles in their own stylish way.

Christopher Reeve - Superman

Behold, the glasses so iconic they could conceal a Kryptonian. Christopher Reeve’s specs from his time as Superman were a bit oversized, but in a way that is actually endearing. So much so that eyeglass designer Tom Davies designed a replica that’s currently on sale on the market.

Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Everyone remembers Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress from the cinematic classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s, an image that became an eternal symbol of class and elegance. But let’s not overlook the powerful accessory that is her equally memorable pair of sunglasses. If you’re looking to add this to your own collection, Oliver Goldsmith’s “Manhattan” model will have you singing “Moon River” in no time.

Michael Caine - The Ipcress File

The legendary Michael Caine was a frequent wearer of Curry & Paxton branded eyewear, with his role in The Ipcress File being the most notable example. Rocking the Yvan model of glasses, they became a fashion statement for a very different cinematic Cold War spy. While you could debate whether it is either shown in a dark tortoise shell or black, the impact is still just as iconic.

Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity

Sunglasses are as essential to film noir as mournful narrations, scheming, and murder. Double Indemnity has every one of those components, and in the case of this picture’s eyewear, Barbara Stanwyck’s shades helped cement her as a femme fatale for the ages. Not even poor Fred MacMurray knew what hit him.

Marcello Mastroianni - 8 ½

A classic example of the coolness of eyewear, Marcello Mastroianni’s thick black glasses in 8 1/2 showed the world that an everyday essential can also be a powerful accessory. Even in 2014, Mastroianni’s sunglassed look was still honored as a fashionable history lesson, when it was used as the official poster for the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

Gene Tierney - Leave Her To Heaven

Don’t let the technicolor fool you, Gene Tierney’s Ellen Berent Harland is an obsessively deadly figure. The protagonist of the 1945 film noir classic Leave Her To Heaven, Ellen is capable of scheming so devious that a fashionable pair of sunglasses can’t even hide it. Which is fine, considering the results are so compelling to watch as they unfold.

Cary Grant - North by Northwest

Even when wanted for murder, Cary Grant’s Roger Thornhill was dressed to the nines. His trip through hell in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest included the gorgeous sunglasses you see pictured here, along with that iconic grey suit. A perfect combination for fleeing a criminal conspiracy, Oliver Peoples released a line of sunnies inspired by them in 2019, for those who want to truly invest in this look.

Madonna - Desperately Seeking Susan

Just as director Susan Seidelman’s Desperately Seeking Susan put Madonna on the map as an actor, the pop music legend helped land her character’s cat eye sunglasses in movie history. You can get replicas that vary in levels of brand recognition and cost, which is only even more of a signal that this look isn’t going out of style any time soon.

Sean Connery - Thunderball

Back when Thunderball was released in 1965, Sean Connery and James Bond were already seen as the epitome of men’s style. So when that picture showed 007 rocking what appeared to be, according to Bond Suits, Cool-Ray Polaroid N135 sunglasses, everyone was immediately going to want them. Thankfully, some boutique brands still sell them, helping fans live out their Bond fantasies in a very practical way.

Grace Kelly - To Catch A Thief

One has to wonder if director Alfred Hitchcock or costume designer Edith Head shared a mutual love of sunglasses. The two used them to great effect on Cary Grant in North by Northwest, and before that, they employed them to help Grace Kelly make an impression on audiences enjoying To Catch A Thief.

Henry Cavill - The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

As he’s introduced in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Henry Cavill’s Napoleon Solo couldn’t have made a cooler entrance. Crossing the Berlin Wall checkpoint while wearing the “Bowery” model of Thierry Lasry sunglasses, this cavalier hellraiser certainly approached his wardrobe with more care than he did other aspects of his spying career.

Linda Cardellini - Scooby Doo

Velma Dinkley is always on the verge of losing her glasses, no matter what sort of media you follow her into. With the 2002 live-action Scooby Doo, the casting of Linda Cardellini as the bespectacled brainiac was only outdone in one area. And that’s the fact that somehow, someone actually made her signature eyewear from the Hanna-Barbara cartoon into a living, breathing reality.

Tom Everett Scott - That Thing You Do!

There are many thoughts while watching That Thing You Do! that can come off as inspiring. And thankfully, anyone who wants to know “What type of shades is Guy ‘Skitch’ Patterson wearing?” while watching Tom Everett Scott drum himself into stardom, already has the answer. All you have to do is listen, as the man himself marvels at his “Percussionist Foster Grants” when they’re handed to him for the first time.

Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada

If any fictional character was a shoo-in for making eyeglasses work, it has to be Miranda Priestley from The Devil Wears Prada. Played ever so stylishly by Meryl Streep, Ms. Priestley’s arrival sees her showing off a Tom Ford model named “Collette.” So if you’re looking to force a room full of strangers to gird their loins, you’ve now got a secret weapon.

Kingsman’s Eyeglasses

Cutler & Gross really outdid themselves when they designed the standard issue eyeglasses for Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman series. A perfect match, whether you wear oxfords or brogues, Colin Firth’s Harry Hart introduced us to this modern successor to Michael Caine’s eyewear of espionage from The Ipcress File. No matter who’s wearing them in the field, they’re a piece that is pretty instantly recognized.

Carrie-Anne Moss - The Matrix

You know your character is an eyewear legend when you get an entire model of sunglasses named after them. Walking away from seeing The Matrix for the first time, it’s the glasses and the phones that really stick with you. Well, after you put the philosophical and moral debates, and the blazing stunts aside, those two things tend to stick around. For Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity, her official frames came from the brand Blinde - and are apparently pretty rare to come by.

Tom Cruise’s Aviators - Top Gun

Whenever someone slips on a pair of aviator sunglasses, 9 times out of 10 it’s going to inspire someone to hum “Danger Zone” to themselves. By no means invented for Tony Scott’s Top Gun, the Ray-Ban RB3025s were certainly popularized by people who felt the need for speed in their daily lives. Though you don’t have to worry about inverting your wallet, as this is a common enough style that you can go easy on the throttle and spare your life savings.

Grace Jones - A View To A Kill

007 isn’t the only person allowed to be stylish in the world of cinema. Roger Moore’s James Bond movies ended on a very ‘80s note with A View to a Kill, and that’s part of what makes Grace Jones’ May Day a sparkling addition to this very film. Her fashion sense is as on point as her assassination skills, which is shown off in the scene where she escorts an unwilling conspirator into a free fall of death.

Morpheus’ Frame-less Sunglasses - The Matrix

What if we told you that Morpheus’ sunglasses from The Matrix are made by the same brand that gave Trinity her own signature lunettes? Lawrence Fishburne’s “Morpheus” brand shades came from Blinde, a vendor who handled the “official” sunglasses for The Wachowski’s entry into the canon of best ‘90s movies. More recently, eyewear wizard Tom Davies recreated this look for the modern incarnation of the character in 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections. And yes, they still looked just as cool.

Annie Potts - Ghostbusters II

The only thing sharper than the wit and attitude of Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) is her choice of eyewear. It’s hard to narrow down the exact brand and model worn by her character in Ghostbusters II, which is a shame. Janine’s leap forward from a traditionally conservative “secretary” wardrobe to her hipper‘90s forward duds came with a pair of black circular glasses that must have been an inspiration for The Incredibles’ Edna Mode.

Christian Bale - American Psycho

Oliver Peoples “O’Malley,” in the color of “Raintree.” You’ve probably been wondering about how you could get the model of Christian Bale’s eyeglasses from American Psycho for decades at this point. So now that you’ve got that answer readily before your eyes, we can focus on the bigger questions, like what American Psycho’s ending is trying to say about Patrick Bateman.

Rachel Leigh Cook - She’s All That

In the mid-20th century, we were convinced a Kryptonian could hide their secret identity behind a pair of eyeglasses. Towards the end of that very century, teen rom-coms like She’s All That built a further case for such deceptions, courtesy of Rachel Leigh Cook’s Laney Boggs. Several other pictures would use this very same tactic as an easy makeover tip to land the prom date of your dreams.

Willem Dafoe’s Tom Davies Sunglasses - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Willem Dafoe had a really good year of eyewear in 2024. But in choosing between his Saturday Night shades, and the Tom Davies-designed piece he wore in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the afterlife wins by a hair. Named “Wolf,” after his character in the long-awaited legacy-quel, these beauties helped Mr. Dafoe keep it real on screen - and in our dreams.

Linda Hamilton - Terminator 2: Judgment Day

While Linda Hamilton’s sunglasses from Terminator 2: Judgment Day weren’t going to block out the rays of an atomic attack on 1997 L.A., they sure were handy for normal, everyday sunlight. The exact model worn by Sarah Connor in one of the best sci-fi movies seems to be unknown, but there are plenty of quality imitators that’ll make your day.

Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible Glasses

If you were a kid about to wear their first pair of eyeglasses in 1996, Tom Cruise may have been an influence on the ones you eventually chose. While the Jean Paul Gaulthier branded frames from Mission: Impossible wouldn’t help you catch traitorous spies, they were still pretty awesome to look at.

Reese Witherspoon - Legally Blonde

Even after decades of Legally Blonde being a certified pop culture legend, fans are still in love with Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) and her sense of fashion. This makes not being able to find exact details on her appropriately pink sunglasses a bit of a pain, but worth it if you're trying to dress to impress.

The Blues Brothers’ Wayfarers

On a mission from God, you need to prepare for any sort of perils on the path laid out ahead. For Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) Blues, that checklist includes a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, black suits and ties, and Ray Ban’s iconic Wayfarer sunglasses. It’s certainly not an obscure piece of The Blues Brothers trivia, but it’s definitely something you should keep in mind for next Halloween.

Gal Gadot - Wonder Woman

2017’s Wonder Woman adaptation called out the glasses worn by Gal Gadot’s titular DC hero with dialogue that reminded us of how comic books and teenage rom-coms alike have tried to pull the wool over our eyes. So while the princess of Themyscira doesn’t look too different behind that facial furniture, at least it fits her projected images perfectly.

Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter Glasses

Many a Halloween has passed where people trying to look like Daniel Radcliffe’s heroic Harry Potter have gone hunting for his signature glasses. So it’s probably not that hard to find replicas for costuming purposes, or actual eyewear business, on the open market.

Ali Maki - Always Be My Maybe

One of comedian Ali Maki’s trademarks has to be her glasses. So it’s kind of hard to choose just one pair that really speaks to her personal style, even when limited only to the Netflix rom-com Always Be My Maybe. However, the gold pair shown above certainly do the job at hand.

Robert Downey Jr. - Avengers: Endgame

Throughout his Marvel Cinematic Universe run, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark has had some pretty impressive eyewear. And while Mr. Stark’s glasses in Avengers: Infinity War would eventually be named “E.D.I.T.H.,” the actual model name you’re looking for is Dita’s Flight 006 glasses. A.I. enhancements are not included.

Margot Robbie - Barbie

The original Barbie doll had an iconic look that has lasted through the ages. So when Margot Robbie helped bring Greta Gerwig’s vision of this classic toy to life, you know they had to include that fashionable origin story—complete with the white cat-eye sunglasses that came with Mattel’s first doll in the line.

When Top Gun: Maverick was announced three decades after the original 1980s classic, fans were hesitant about it upholding the integrity of the franchise. However, the highly anticipated 2022 sequel smashed box office records and left audiences demanding a second sequel. For a year, there have been rumors floating around about pre-production, and Miles Teller is here to give the people a light Top Gun 3 update.

The Whiplash actor recently appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote his new Apple TV movie The Gorge. However, the late night host wasted no time switching the conversation to Top Gun, asking the Bleed For This actor point blank if a third movie was happening. Teller replied with a hilariously candid answer, saying

If there’s one thing I love about Miles Teller, it's that he never takes himself too seriously. He’s clearly comfortable joking about his physique, but in some ways, he’s not kidding. The Spiderhead actor got seriously ripped for Top Gun: Maverick, and his six pack ended up going viral online thanks to a specific scene of him dancing shirtless to One Republic’s “I Ain’t Worried.”

Honestly, that timeline is so fair, as that kind of fitness doesn’t just happen overnight. For the beach scene in the Top Gun sequel, the actors worked their bums off to get in peak physical condition. Although based on the trailer for Teller’s new movie The Gorge, which premieres next week on the 2025 Movie Schedule, he’s already got a head start.

Unfortunately, these comments do reveal that production on a threequel is still a distant thought. As of June 2024, Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer said Top Gun 3 was in the works but still had no script. Though Teller seemed to confirm the hope of it happening when asked by Colbert, saying:

Who has final say? Well, according to most of his Top Gun: Maverick co-stars, Tom Cruise does. The only problem is the Jerry Maguire star is a busy man and also a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to his films, with Teller saying he doesn’t think there’s anyone as involved in the process of making movies as Cruise.

Greg Tarzan Davis, who plays Coyote in the hit naval action sequel, was recently on set with Cruise for the upcoming Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning and casually asked the Jack Reacher actor about a Top Gun 3 update. Davis revealed that for Cruise to make another Top Gun, the story has to be right. Otherwise, we can kiss a threequel goodbye.

Thankfully, Cruise seems to like the direction they're going in so far, so hopefully we can expect some movement on production soon. Based on comments from Glen Powell and Lewis Pullman, it looks like they would be down to sign on alongside Miles Teller.

The cast is so close with each other, with Tom Cruise even showing up to both the Twister and A Complete Unknown premieres to support Top Gun: Maverick costars. I’d like to think he’d have no trouble convincing them all to do another movie. I just hope we don’t have to wait an extra two years for a release this time!

You can check out Miles Teller and his six month abs in Top Gun: Maverick, available now to stream with a Paramount Plus subscription.

There are two things about the 1980s that will be forever linked, the movies and the music. It was a unique decade for both and there are so many great songs that came from movie soundtracks that it's almost impossible to limit this list, but we're going to do our best. Here is our list of some of the very best music moments in classic 1980s movies like Dirty Dancing and Top Gun.

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" - The Breakfast Club

One thing fans of The Breakfast Club will never do is forget about you. The song, written and performed by Simple Minds, is one of the most iconic songs of the decade. The use of it in The Breakfast Club is equally iconic, as Bender and the rest of the "club" leave detention at the end of the day.

"Playing With The Boys" - Top Gun

The Top Gun soundtrack produced multiple hits and the whole album is full of bangers. If we're going to pick one iconic moment in the movie that fits the music perfectly, we have to go with the Kenny Loggins' hit "Playing With The Boys" during the volleyball scene. The moment you hear the song, you think of those fit guys playing on the beach... even if Tom Crusie is inexplicably wearing jeans.

"Fight The Power" - Do The Right Thing

While there are great songs all over movies from the '80s, there are few that had the cultural impact as Public Enemy's "Fight The Power" from the equally impactful Spike Lee joint, Do The Right Thing. Both exploded onto the scene and neither music nor movies were the same after them.

"Neutron Dance" - Beverly Hills Cop

Not only is Beverly Hills Cop one of the funniest movies of the decade, but it's also a great action movie, and to top it all off, it's filled with fantastic songs, including the theme song "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer. But there is no more memorable scene than the opening with Axel (Eddie Murphy) swinging from the back of the truck in an amazing chase with "Neutron Dance" by The Pointer Sisters blasting in the background.

"Holding Out For A Hero" - Footloose

Yet another '80s movie with an iconic soundtrack is Footloose. Sure, we could have gone with the theme song here, but is there a more memorable scene than the game of chicken on heavy construction equipment with "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler accompanying the ridiculous (and amazing) scene? We think not.

"I Still Believe" - The Lost Boys

There is just something that is just so 1980s about. greased up, topless Tim Cappello shouting out "I Still Believe" as he gyrates around with his saxophone. That scene in The Lost Boys is both ridiculous and ridiculously awesome.

"Christmas in Hollis" - Die Hard

When John McClain asked Argyle if he had any Christmas music in Die Hard and the chauffeur answered with "Christmas in Hollis" it was a revelation for millions of middle-class Americans who had no idea there was Christmas hip hop. It's still the best seasonal rap song, don't you agree?

"Mess Around" - Planes, Trains And Automobiles

A whole bunch of things really go wrong for John Candy and Steve Martin in Planes Trains And Automobiles. The wildest has to be when Candy's character burns down the rental car while he smokes and jams out to the Ray Charles classic "Mess Around."

"Adagio For Strings" - Platoon

The most powerful moment in Platoon is when Elias (Willem Dafoe) is killed with his arms out in a Christ-like pose. Without question, a big reason the scene is so emotional is the choice by director Oliver Stone to use the piece "Adagio For Strings" by composer Samuel Barber. It's the perfect piece of music for the scene and really adds to the incredible impact of it.

"Partyman" - Batman

Sometimes people who weren't around in the 1980s don't really understand what a huge cultural moment Tim Burton's Batman was. It was a huge deal and Burton getting the enigmatic Prince to write some songs for the movie was an inspired moment. The Purple One's "Partyman" is the perfect song for the scene when The Joker (Jack Nicholson) and his henchmen break into Gotham's art museum and deface the art.

"Old Time Rock And Roll" - Risky Business

Is there any way we could put together this list without Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear in Risky Business to the Bob Seeger classic "Old Time Rock And Roll"? No, there isn't and there really isn't anything else to be said here, It's a classic film moment.

"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Dirty Dancing

Nobody puts Baby in the corner, and only one person can launch Baby up in the air. When Johnny and Baby finally pull off that lift at the end of Dirty Dancing is one of the most triumphant moments of '80s film. The song that accompanies the moment, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes became just as iconic.

"In Your Eyes" - Say Anything

Walking a fine line between romantic and psychotic is Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) holding his boom box over his head while playing "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel outside Diane's (Ione Skye) window in Say Anything. We're saps at our core, so we'll call it 100% romantic and 100% iconic.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" - The Big Chill

Boomer culture was in full nostalgia mode in the 1980s and nothing sums that up more than The Big Chill. That's not to say that the movie doesn't have its moments. One of the coolest tricks the movie pulls off is near the beginning when the organ player at the funeral starts playing "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones. It segues perfectly into the actual song as the funeral procession drives across a long bridge. It's probably the best scene in the movie if we're honest.

"Oh Yeah" - Ferris Bueller's Day Off

"Oh Yeah" by Swiss electronic band Yello was used in a few movies in the 1980s, like Uncle Buck and The Secret Of My Success. With all due respect to the Michael J. Fox classic, the best use of the song came at the end of Ferris Bueller's Day Off when Principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is forced to ride the school bus and learns that he does, in fact, "eat it."

"Let's Go Crazy" - Purple Rain

Prince was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s and his magnum opus was the soundtrack to his movie Purple Rain. Obviously there is a ton of great music in the movie, but the best scene has to be when Prince plays "Let's Go Crazy" in a club before jumping up on an amp and shredding that amazing guitar solo at the end of the song.

"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" - Beetlejuice

Even songs from the 1950s were able to create amazing musical moments in the 1980s. Take the Harry Bellefonte song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in Beetlejuice for example. The wild scene that the song accompanies is when the dinner party is interrupted by the ghosts living in the attic and it's the most memorable moment in the whole movie.

"Moving In Stereo" - Fast Times At Ridgemont High

In the interest of keeping this list rated G, we won't say much about the scene in Fast Times At Ridgemont High that features The Cars' song "Moving In Stereo." expect to say it involves Phoebe Cates in a red bikini and IYKYK.

"If You Were Here" - Sixteen Candles

Director John Hughes had a knack for creating amazing musical moments in between the hilarious quotes from his movies. In Sixteen Candles one of those classic moments happens at the end when Jake and Sam finally kiss over Sam's birthday cake as "If You Were Here" by Thompson Twins plays over the scene.

"Holiday Road" - National Lampoon's Vacation

Fleetwood Mac veteran Lindsey Buckingham provided the classic "Holiday Road" for National Lampoon's Vacation and while it only plays briefly as the Griwolds first hit the road in Chicago, it's been an enduring hit ever since.

"Magic Dance" - Labyrinth

1986's Labyrinth not only launched Jennifer Connelly's career, but if gave one amazing musical moment when the villain, played by the legend himself, David Bowie, sings his song "Magic Dance" along with a whole slew of Jim Henson puppets. It's as magical and the name of the song implies.

"Eye Of The Tiger" - Rocky III

In the first Rocky movie, audiences were treated to that amazing moment of Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) climbing the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum to "Gonna Fly Now." Of course, that doesn't count for this list of '80s movies, but luckily in Rocky III, we get "Eye of the Tiger" for the training montage. It's a toss-up for which is better.

"Tequila" - Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

For years after Pee-Wee's Big Adventure was released, people were still doing the Pee-Wee dance whenever they heard "Tequila" by The Champs. The '60s classic created a classic '80s moment.

"These Boots Are Made For Walking" - Full Metal Jacket

What makes "These Boots Are Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra so amazing in Full Metal Jacket is that it feels so upbeat immediately after the darkest moment in the movie when Private Pyle (Vincent D'Onofrio) kills his drill sergeant and then himself. It's director Stanley Kubrick at his finest.

"Big Bottom" - This Is Spinal Tap

Well, once again, we've come to a movie that there was no way we could leave off this list. The rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. There are at least a dozen scenes we could choose here, but the most iconic has to be the song "Big Bottoms" and that was proven years later when literally dozens of bass players joined the sort of fake, sort of real band for the song at Live Earth concert in 2007.

"The Power Of Love" - Back To The Future

We just had to include the meta moment in Back To The Future when the fictional band led by Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) starts playing a rocking version of the movie's theme song "The Power Of Love" only to be shut down by a teacher played by Huey Lewis who, with his band The News, actually played the song for the movie. It's just too darn loud.

"Werewolves Of London" - The Color Of Money

Warren Zevon is one of the most beloved songwriters in rock history, but he didn't have a ton of hits. One exception is "Werewolves of London" a song that was a hit when it came out in 1978 and then fans fell in love with it again when it appeared in an amazing scene in The Color Of Money in 1986.

"If You Leave" - Pretty In Pink

Like all his other movies, John Hughes using "If You Leave" by Orchestral Movements in the Dark in Pretty In Pink created one of the all time combos of music and movie. It's still weird that Andie didn't end up with Duckie, though.

"Lollipop" - Stand By Me

For many in Gen X, their first introduction to classic early '60 music came from Stand By Me. One of the songs used, "Lollipop" is almost a novelty song, but it's an incredibly infectious earworm too, so it ended up being one of the most iconic moments in the movie, music-wise.

"Into The Groove" - Desperately Seeking Susan

Desperately Seeking Susan isn't a great movie. It feels rushed and half-baked, and it was, really, as it was an attempt to capitalize on Madonna's burgeoning fame. It's the Material Girl's first major foray into film and the most memorable moment came when she is in a bar, listening to her own song, "Into The Groove."

"Gimme Shelter" - Adventures In Babysitting

If you aren't paying attention, you might miss "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones in Adventures In Babysitting, but it adds a real foreboding as the kids hitch a ride back to the station wagon that they hope has been repaired and they can finally wrap up their crazy night.

"Imagine" - The Killing Fields

John Lennon, and later Yoko Ono, were very protective of the former Beatles' music, especially his iconic "Imagine." Ono gave permission to the producers of The Killing Fields to use it at the end when the two protagonists are reunited after the horrors of the Khmer Rouge are finally over and it's an incredible emotional moment, in no small part to the song.

Boot camps and other military training scenes have been part of Hollywood movies for a long time. Some of the most intense scenes in film history have some from such scenarios and so we've decided to make a list of some of the most iconic examples of these scenes. Our list of the most intense military training scenes in film history,

G.I. Jane

Demi Moore went through a ton of training in real life to pull off her starring role in G.I. Jane. The movie tells the fictional story of the first woman to go through Navy SEAL training and it's as intense as a movie can get. Though the movie didn't perform well at the box office, you have to appreciate the dedication Moore put into the role.

Heartbreak Ridge

You have to admit, having Clint Eastwood play a military instructor is perfect casting, and so it makes sense he would cast himself in his own movie, Heartbreak Ridge. Eastwood is awesome as a gunnery sergeant sent to clean up a ragtag unit of slackers. It's classic Eastwood.

Tigerland

Tigerland was one of the biggest bombs of director Joel Schumaker's career and that's too bad because it's actually a great movie. Colin Farrell plays a Vietnam-era draftee who is opposed to the war and does everything he can to be a troublemaker in his training for the war. The result is a lot of incredibly harrow scenes throughout his training and makes for an amazing movie about military life,

Top Gun

Top Gun is a little different because it's not about boot camp or other military training movies, it's about pilots trying to become the best of the best in high-level naval aviation. That doesn't diminish the intensity of the training, however, it only enhances it. It's become one of the most iconic military movies of all time as a result.

An Officer And A Gentleman

In An Officer And A Gentleman, Lou Gossett, Jr. plays the epitome of a strict, no-nonsense drill sergeant. He's particularly hard on one of his trainees, played by Richard Gere, in this genre-defining military training movie. It's a romance movie at its heart, but some of the most memorable scenes are the military scenes.

The Tuskegee Airmen

HBO's 1995 movie The Tuskegee Airmen has a stacked cast that includes Laurence Fishburne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance, Andre Braugher, Cuba Gooding Jr., and John Lithgow. It's appropriate to have such a cast when telling the true story of the real-life Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the U.S. Military. It's a hard road for all the trainees and this movie pulls no punches in telling the difficult, sad, and eventually triumphant story.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe has dipped its toes into military training movies. In Captain America: The First Avenger, audiences get to see a pre-Captain America Steve Rogers go through his early military training and it plays for both laughs and for inspiration as the undersized Rogers does all he can to succeed, despite the odds (and everyone around him) being against him.

Mulan

In both the 1998 animated movie and the 2020 live-action remake, Mulan features a few cool training scenes as the titular character, under the guise of being a man, learns how to fight in ancient imperial China. It's a different take on training, for a few obvious reasons, but both movies have great sequences.

Glory

Glory, which tells the story of one of the very few all-Black regiments in the Civil War, is one of the best war movies ever made. And that starts with the training sequences that are as intense as any movie, given the subject matter and what you would expect of an all-Black regiment being trained by white officers in the 1860s.

Full Metal Jacket

You simply can't make this list without including Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Full Metal Jacket. The opening third of the movie features one of, if not the, most intense example of military training in Hollywood history. Led by real-life former drill instructor R. Lee Ermey, the first act of the movie is simply incredible for many reasons, including its realism.

Starship Troopers

1997's Starship Troopers was a box office bomb that was actually pretty great. The Paul Verhoeven-directed film was misunderstood at the time and has developed a strong cult following in the decades since. It also has a great training sequence and being set in the future, it's a sequence that sets it apart from a lot of the other movies on this list.

Beasts Of No Nation

Beasts Of No Nation is one of the hardest movies to watch that you'll ever see, but one of the best movies set in Africa. It's truly not for the faint of heart. The training scenes are not conventional, as training an army of child soldiers isn't conventional, and that makes the scenes all the more intense and ultimately heartbreaking.

Stripes

We had to include some lighter movies on this list, right? Stripes is one of the funniest movies of its era and yet, it still manages to pull off some intense army training scenes that ultimately includes the hapless unit's drill sergeant getting blown up. So that's pretty intense! And hilarious.

Taps

1981's Taps is set in a military school for teenagers and features a monster cast in some of their earliest roles including Sean Penn, Giancarlo Stanton, and Tom Cruise. It doesn't feature a ton of training scenes, but there are a few that add to the tension of the movie before some of the kids end up using that training for sinister purposes.

Jarhead

2005's Jarhead, directed by Sam Mendes, is based on the true story of a marine in the first Gurl War and features some of the most intense military training scenes ever put on film. Not only does the recruit (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) go through Marine boot camp, but also through sniper school, which is even more intense as only a fraction of the class make it all the way through.

The Dirty Dozen

There are few war movies as classic as The Dirty Dozen. In the movie, Lee Marvin's character is put in charge of a unit of misfits and rule-breakers that he must mold into a crew capable of pulling off a mission no one else is interested in doing. He does that, of course, with a lot of serious training.

The Recruit

While The Recruit isn't about military training, per se, the CIA recruitment training isn't all that different in many respects, so it deserves a spot on this list. Instead of the hard-nosed drill sergeant, it's an equally hard-nosed recruit trainer played by al Pacino putting his pet project, played by Colin Farrell through some intense training.

Private Benjamin

Private Benjamin, starring Goldie Hawn in one of her best roles is a silly movie, in all the best ways. When Judy Benjamin (Hawn) loses her husband on their wedding night, she is more or less tricked into joining the army and hilarity ensues. Like other military comedies of its ilk, it somehow shows the lighter side - and the harder side - of boot camp.

Hacksaw Ridge

Director Mel Gibson may have a problematic history in Hollywood, but it's hard to deny that he really knows how to tell a story. Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of Desmond Doss, a Seventh-Day Adventist, and conscientious objector joining the army during World War II and eventually being awarded the Medal of Honor for his service as a medic in the war. The first half of the movie includes his training as a medic before joining his unit in the Pacific Theater.

The Boys in Company C

Though not as famous as some of the other movies on this list, The Boys in Company C is a great movie about boot camp during the Vietnam era. The movie starts with "the boys" going through some of the most brutal training you can imagine and though the movie is filled with silly stereotypes, the training scenes are still excellent.

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump might not be the first movie that comes to mind when you think of intense training scenes, but it's got them! Gump and Bubba go through training for the war together and become great friends, of course. It also somewhat cynically shows Gump as the perfect recruit because of his below-average intelligence, which isn't really fair, but still makes for some great moments.

Top Gun: Maverick

Just like it's predecessor, Top Gun: Maverick features some incredible flight-training scenes in preparation for the final attack of the movie. This time, the trainer is Maverick as he takes no quarter on his trainees in getting them ready for the attack.

Biloxi Blues

The 1988 Mike Nichols-directed Biloxi Blues is based on the semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon telling his story about boot camp during World War II. While it is definitely a comedy, there are some very intense and downright terrifying moments in the movie between the recruits and their drill sergeant played by Christopher Walken.

American Sniper

There is nothing harder in the military than Navy SEAL training (also known as BUD/S training). Perhaps the best depiction of that training comes in American Sniper when Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, does the training before becoming a sniper. You feel every bit of how intense the training really is as you watch Kyle and his fellow recruits suffer through it.

The Inspection

Writer and director Elegance Bratton brings his own life story to the big screen as a gay man going through boot camp in the U.S. Marines. Boot camp is hard for anyone, but it's even more complicated for gay men seeking acceptance and recognition as Bratton so elegantly shows in the movie.

Major Payne

Okay, okay, before you roll your eyes too much here, yes, Major Payne is a silly movie, and no, it's not technically military training as Payne (Damon Wayans) is training kids. But - it does show, in a completely over-the-top way, a somewhat realistic, if cartoony, version of a boot camp drill sergeant.

Zero Dark Thirty

Most of the movies on this list are of boot camp or other general military training, Zero Dark Thirty is unique in that it shows the training for one specific mission - the mission to take about Osama bin Ladan. It still very much belongs on this list as the training scenes are every bit as intense as any boot camp scene can be, and it's an incredible look at the ongoing training members of the military go through even after they are deep into their careers.

Men Of Honor

Men of Honor is the true story of the first African-American master diver in the U.S. Navy. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, who leaves the farm in Kentucky in 1949 without much of an education and goes through some of the most intense training in the Navy, all while dealing with the prejudices you'd expect to see in a movie about this era.

Basic

If we're honest, Basic from 2003 isn't the best movie on this list. It might just be the worst, but it still has some pretty great training scenes, as the title of the movie implies. Should you seek it out? Probably not, but if you come across it and enjoy movies about military training, you might like it.

Cherry

2021's Cherry, directed by the Russo Brothers and starring Tom Holland as Cherry is more about the post-military life of a soldier suffering from PTSD and the crimes he commits. It does feature some great training scenes in the beginning though.

The D.I.

You may not be familiar with The D.I., but it is one of the defining movies of its genre. The movie features Dragnet star Jack Webb as a no-nonsense drill sergeant that in many ways is the template for how those roles have been played since The D.I. came out in 1957. It's not the best movie in its genre, but you can't deny it's influence.

In the Army Now

We wouldn't have a complete list without including the Pauly Shore "classic" In The Army Now. Sure, it's as dumb as you would expect from a Pauly Shore vehicle, but the training scenes are actually pretty decent, all things considered.

I first went to Sphere in Las Vegas for a concert in early 2024, and I was amazed by the visuals and the sound. When it was reported that the groundbreaking venue could be adapting The Wizard of Oz for its incredible 160,000-square-foot screen, I immediately started daydreaming about what movies I would love to see at the venue. Here is the list I came up with—well, at least some of the movies I would love to see at Sphere.

Star Wars

The first movie I thought of when I started dreaming up this list was, of course, Star Wars. Just the thought of that opening scene of the two starships flying across the enormous screen provides me with vivid dreams. Not only that, but can you imagine that famous John Williams score blasting through that incredible sound system? It's overwhelming, in the best way.

Gladiator

Do you want to be entertained? Think of Gladiator on the screen at Sphere. From the opening battle scene in the forests of Germany to the final showdown between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, it would be a cinematic experience like no other.

Avengers: Endgame

Really, for this one, it all comes down to that final battle with Thanos on the biggest screen in the world. So much happened in that scene, and so much work went into it, that it all seems right to see it on the massive screen with the insane resolution.

Fantasia

Really, this one is all about the music. Sure, it would be incredible to see the vintage animation on that screen, but the sound system, which includes 1,586 speakers, would deliver that amazing classical music soundtrack that would sound absolutely incredible. The visuals would be one incredible bonus. At the least, maybe Disney should make a new version of Fantasia made just for Sphere

Lawrence Of Arabia

One of the first movies I thought of that I would love to see on that giant screen is the classic Lawrence Of Arabia. It's a movie I've never had the opportunity to see in any theater, much less the largest theater in the world. Seeing those incredible, vast vistas sweeping across the screen would be a mind-blowing experience. It's worth noting that for a movie that is really long, the seats in Sphere are very comfortable.

The Dark Knight

To be honest, as much as I'd love to see the best Batman movie on Sphere's screen, I do worry that the intense (and incredible) action sequences make the audience motion sick. Being immersed in those car chases and the other huge set pieces might actually be too intense. On second thought, it would absolutely be worth the risk.

Jurassic Park

Not only do I want to see the dinosaurs 10 stories tall (or whatever it is), but there is one other feature that Sphere has that no other theater has - rumble seats. That's right, the seats vibrate. Now, imagine the scene with the T-Rex approaching, as the ground is shaking enough to make ripples in the water glass. Now imagine shaking with the ground in the movie. Wow. What an experience that would be.

The Sound Of Music

A musical like The Sound of Music would be simply beautiful on the screen at Sphere. The magical vistas across the Alps would be incredible and the clarity of the music would be unlikely any other experience in any other theater. The hills would really be alive.

The Thin Red Line

No other war film has been as beautiful as director Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line. The cinematography and the sound design are absolutely perfect for the technology that only Sphere can provide. It's an intense war movie, but it's the best war movie to see on screen like this.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban

Without question, I think there would need to be at least one Harry Potter movie adapted for Sphere. I can't think of a better one than Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban. Director Alfonso Cuarón's imprint is all over the movie, especially visually, and for that reason, it's the perfect choice. Plus, the bus scene by itself would make the price of admission worth it.

Dunkirk

You just knew this one had to be on the list. Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is a visual masterpiece and one of the best war movies ever. It deserves the Sphere treatment. Nolan loves to shoot in IMAX and Sphere is like an IMAX screen on steroids. Just dreaming about watching the Spitfires move across the immense screen fills me with joy. I can't imagine how it would really look.

2001: A Space Odyssey

There are so many aspects of 2001: A Space Odyssey that would be amazing. The spacewalk and all the scenes in the spaceship would just be so trippy to watch at Sphere. That's not to mention the trippiest part of the movie, the third act with the color and light and the totally wild ending. It would be like a rock concert in there.

Top Gun

The opening sequence to Top Gun, with the souring guitar of Harold Faltermeyer's theme music and all the action on the deck of the aircraft carrier, would suck audiences straight in. By the time "Danger Zone" started everyone would be fully entranced. Then we'd get to the flying scenes. Wow.

Avatar

I'm not actually a huge fan of Avatar, but that doesn't matter, because I appreciate how amazing it looks on the big screen. Putting it on the biggest screen in the world - and in 3-D - and I'll bet I'd be a convert. I'd become a huge fan of it.

Braveheart

Braveheart is another movie I'm not actually a huge fan of. It's a wildly historically inaccurate movie, and that drives me nuts. That said, visually it's an incredible achievement and for that reason alone, I'm ready to see it on the screen at Sphere. The Battle of Stirling Bridge would be absolutely insane to watch.

Black Panther

I love Black Panther and seeing Wakanda on a screen the size of Sphere would be an amazing experience. Wakanda is one of the coolest places in the entire MCU, visually, and the final battle would absolutely incredible,

The Great Escape

The Great Escape is classic old-school Hollywood. It's chock full of larger-than-life movie stars like Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. It's also filled with amazing vistas across Bavaria that would look absolutely amazing on a giant screen. It also has one of my favorite scores of all time, so that would be an excellent bonus through those speakers.

Saving Private Ryan

I think you all know my thoughts here. The opening of Saving Private Ryan is one of the most incredible scenes ever put on film. It's terrifying and amazing. It is one of the most white-knuckle theater experiences I've ever had and seeing it on the screen at Sphere would be a completely visceral experience that would absolutely blow my mind.

Skyfall

I love the James Bond franchise and as much as I love the Connery era, it doesn't make any sense for one of those movies to be adapted for Sphere. The Craig-era, on the other hand, has multiple choices. I landed on Skyfall because it's full of wide angel amazing shots and action set pieces. The opening scene of Spectre was tempting, but Skyfall gets the nod.

Oppenheimer

This one may seem like an odd one, but that's only if you didn't have a chance to see Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX. Like most of Christopher Nolan, the bigger the screen, the better, so catching the Best Picture-winner on a screen like the one at Sphere would be totally bonkers. Talk about a "big boom"!

Ghostbusters

There is one reason to see Ghostbusters get the Sphere treatment. Who doesn't want to see a 100-foot-tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? I know I certainly do! Sure, the rest of the movie might not work all that well, a giant Bill Murray getting slimed may be too much for anyone, but I'd be willing to deal with that for the last battle of the movie on the streets of New York with the fictional marshmallow man.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid

The cliff. That's why Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid would work so well. That scene alone would make it all worth it. It would be such an adrenaline rush to see two of the biggest movie stars of all time, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, drop 100 feet down that huge screen.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Something like 19,000 people can fill Sphere when it's at full capacity. So how about all 19K doing "The Time Warp" together with that sound system blasting the music in The Rocky Horror Picture Show? I grew up going to midnight showings and seeing it with a huge crowd of dedicated fans would simply be amazing. Plus I keep thinking about that scene in the beginning as the camera zooms in on the criminologist played by Charles Gray. In the midnight showings, someone always "climbed" his tie as it zoomed in. I need to see that here.

The Hunt For Red October

The Hunt For Red October is rightfully criticized these days for the sketchy special effects in the underwater scenes. But the above-water stuff is still incredibly cool and watching the submarine battle take place on the screen at Sphere is totally worth having to deal with the rest. Plus I just love the movie.

The Matrix

How much really needs to be explained here? Is there anybody that wouldn't want to see The Matrix at Sphere? Of course not, it would be amazing.

Ben-Hur

This is another one that is pretty self-explanatory. Ben-Hur is one of the most legendary epics in Hollywood history and there is no place like Sphere to see an epic on this scale. The chariot race alone, especially with the chairs vibrating with every crash, would be worth whatever the cost to see it would be,

Patton

A 160,000-square-foot American flag with the great George C. Scott playing the titular Patton at the beginning of the movie would be completely overwhelming in the very best way. It's enough to make anyone patriotic!

Rocky IV

Of all the Rocky movies, Rocky IV is the "biggest." The muscles are bigger, the set pieces are bigger, and the villain is bigger. It's just a huge movie, visually, and for that reason, even if it's not the best Rocky movie, it's the one that makes the most sense for this list.

Dances With Wolves

No one can argue that Dances With Wolves isn't a visually stunning movie. Director Kevin Costner did an amazing job showing what the American frontier was once like. The cinematography alone makes it worthy of the Sphere treatment.

Bridge Over The River Kwai

Like the other classic epics on this list, Bridge Over The River Kwai is one of those movies that has always meant to have been on the biggest screens possible. Direct David Lean is a master of movies like that and really, his whole filmography would work for Sphere.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

This one seems like another no-brainer. With scenes like the rolling boulder at the beginning and the scene at the end when they make the poor decision to open the ark, there is just so much in Raiders of the Lost Ark that would look amazing on the giant screen. Then there is the John Williams score which would be amazing by itself with that incredible concert-quality speaker system.

Tron: Legacy

When I first saw Tron: Legacy in theaters, I was completely blown away by the CGI and the visuals. While the original Tron changed the way films were made with the use of computer-generated imagery, the sequel upped the ante significantly. Seeing those amazing effects at Sphere would raise that even more, which is appropriate for Las Vegas.

Last-minute Christmas gifts may not always seem like the best way to prove one’s love for someone else, but that really just depends on how refined one’s last-minute shopping skills are. From streaming deals to VPN subs to Disney Plus gift cards galore, there’s always something quality to opt for in a pinch, and we’ve got a slew of Blu-ray and DVD deals listed below that should help fill any still-empty stockings hanging around the tree.

Granted, it’s possible not everything noted here will actually fit inside everyone’s stocking, but I think that’s probably just a sign that you need an upgrade. So while waiting for the 2025 TV premieres and for all the big movies hitting theaters in 2025, check out some of the biggest Blu-ray and DVD deals that would make perfect last-minute gifts for comedy connoisseurs, action addicts, and horror hounds.

First up, let's put a spotlight (that may or may not be bat-themed) on movie and TV deals perfect for people who want to see things get punched and blown up, starting with the second biggest movie of 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Blu-Ray And DVD Deals For Action Fans

• Deadpool/Deadpool 2 [4K UHD]: $40.99 (Was $65.99)
• Police Story/Police Story 2 - The Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]: $24.99 (Was $49.95)
• Jurassic World Ultimate 6-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]: $29.99 (Was $46.19)
• The Bourne Complete Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $17.99 (Was $39.99)
• Dragon Ball Super: The Complete Series [Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray Gift Set]: $120.99 (Was $199.98)
• Top Gun + TG: Maverick [2-Movie 4K Ultra HD]: $22.49 (Was $33.99)
• Fast & Furious 10-Movie Collection [4K Ultra HD + Digital]: $63.99 (Was 134.99)
• Batman Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $49.99 (Was $89.99)
• The Dark Knight Trilogy [Blu-ray]: $43.90 (Was $53.99)
• The James Bond Collection [Blu-ray]: $69.96 (Was $114.99)
• Lord Of The Rings / The Hobbit [Middle-Earth Theatrical Collection Blu-ray]: $24.99 (Was $62.99)

For those who need a lot of laughs going into the new year, the following batch of discounted comedy favorites are just waiting to sit snugly inside somebody's stocking, especially those that are perfectly suited for the holiday season. First up is the highest-def holiday chaos yet from Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold.

Blu-Ray And DVD Deals For Comedy Fans

• A Charlie Brown Christmas [Blu-ray]: $8.99 (Was $19.98) On Amazon
• A Christmas Story [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray]: $19.99 (Was $33.99)
• Home Alone + Home Alone 2 [Blu-ray] $17.49 (Was $25.99)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital]: $19.59 (Was $40.99)
• Austin Powers Triple Feature [Blu-ray]: $13.70 (Was $19.98) On Amazon
• Miss Congeniality & Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous - [Blu-ray]: $16.04 (Was $24.98)
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Complete Series [DVD]: $29.99 Was $59.98
• How to Train Your Dragon: 3-Movie Collection [Blu-ray + Digital]: $10.99 (Was $29.98)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Series [DVD]: $29.99 (Was $69.99)
• Billy Madison + Happy Gilmore [Double Feature Blu-ray]: $10.99 (Was $19.98)
• Family Matters: The Complete Series [DVD]: $39.89 (Was $114.99)

For those who enjoy chills up the spine alongside the chills in the air, walk a cautious path through the following movies and TV show Blu-ray discounts that are dying to give you and yours a blood-red Christmas. With both Robert Eggers' Nosferatu and Leigh Whannell's The Wolf Man among many upcoming horror movies, let's celebrate the original monster masters.

Blu-Ray And DVD Deals For Horror And Sci-Fi Fans

• Krampus: The Naughty Cut Collector's Edition [4K UHD]: $25.99 (Was $39.98)
• Insidious Steelbook [4K UHD]: $23.99 (Was $45.99)
• Dune: 2-Film Collection [Blu-Ray + Digital]: $21.99 (Was $44.98)
• Hammer Horror 8-Film Collection [Blu-ray]: $16.99 (Was $35.98)
• The Visit [Blu-ray]: $29.99 (Was $39.95)
• Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon [Blu-ray]: $24.53 (Was $34.93)
• Hellraiser [Midnight Madness Series Blu-ray]: $10.79 (Was $17.97)
• Babylon 5: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: $69.99 (Was $134.99)
• The Last of Us: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]: $15.99 (Was $23.99)
• Scream 6 [Blu-ray + Digital]: $13.99 (Was $17.99)
• Don’t Look Now: The Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]: $21.53 (Was $39.95)
• Severance: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]: $26.79 (Was $42.98)

Hopefully some of the choices above take the pressure off of making some decisions going into Christmas — and if you need to decide on a streaming bundle, we went through that as well. Have a merry, and money-saving holiday!

After Tom Cruise’s long-awaited Top Gun sequel became a monumental hit in 2022, it was only natural that the world would ask “When’s the next one?” Fans seem eager to see the stunt-defying star and the rest of the Maverick cast back on the big screen. We’ve heard from actors like Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly and such about their excitement for a third Top Gun, but one franchise alum just admitted to being surprised by those early reports. He also explained what he now knows about the threequel's status.

When Greg Tarzan Davis, who played LT Javy “Coyote” Machado in Maverick, attended the Los Angeles premiere of Gladiator II, he spoke to Brandon Davis about Top Gun 3. In his words:

As the Grey's Anatomy alum shared on the carpet of Ridley Scott's legacy sequel, he and the cast had no idea there was another one in the works until the news hit the internet for the rest of us. How wild is that? In January, Deadline reported Paramount was developing the sequel with Tom Cruise, Miles Teller and Glen Powell on board and director Joseph Kosinski possibly back at the helm or serving as a producer alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison. It was also reported that screenwriter Ehren Kruger working on a draft of the script.

It's a good thing theTop Gun: Maverick group chat remains active, so the cast members could all talk about it over message. Greg Tarzan Davis later recalled during his recent interview that he received phone calls from family members, asking "are you flying right now?" As for the group chat, Davis also joked that Glen Powell was the most "confused" by the news.

Greg Tarzan Davis is also co-starring with Tom Cruise on the upcoming Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning, so he could casually ask the actor about it while on the job. (You know, as one does.) Davis revealed that and also shared more insight into how Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer are approaching the flick:

Considering the massive success and love Top Gun: Maverick earned from audiences over 35 years after its classic '80s counterpart, it makes sense that Tom Cruise and the other filmmakers don’t want to flippantly make a third movie without putting some thought into it. Over the summer, Jerry Bruckheimer shared that there wasn’t a script for the threequel yet and that it “will be a while.” Still, they did share their ideas with Tom Cruise, who really liked them.

Aside from Greg Tarzan Davis, other actors from Maverick have commented on the potential third movie as well. Jennifer Connelly said she’d “be there” for the next movie whereas Lewis Pullman admitted he didn’t know much about it yet. All in all, it seems that Davis and his colleagues are waiting for updates on the movie, and that remains the case for fans as well.

You can revisit both Top Gun movies by streaming them with a Paramount+ subscription. You can also catch Tom Cruise and Greg Tarzan Davis in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which hits theaters on May 23, 2025.

Sometimes movies take some time to ease viewers into the show, while others set the tone immediately. The movies on this list are the latter. Whether it's a comedy like Dazed and Confused or an action movies like Raiders Of The Lost Ark, these movies don't waste any time at the beginning.

Dazed And Confused

From the opening notes of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" to the '70s muscle car cruising the parking lot, you know exactly when Dazed And Confused is set. There is no mistaking the era even before you see the characters and their costumes. While it was made in the 90s, the movie is pure 1970s.

2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most important movies ever made and by opening what everyone expected to be a sci-fi movie with a bunch of monkeys learning how to use tools (and more), it sets a very different kind of tone than any other sci-fi movie before it. It was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before it. Of course, it also has one of the wildest endings of all time, too.

The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight is one of the greatest movie villains of all time and while audiences don't immediately know (or maybe they do) that the opening scene is Clown Prince of Crime from the back, by the end of the opening scene, we know exactly what we are getting into. One of the best comic book movies of all time opens with one of the best scenes of all time for a villain who completely steals the show.

Star Wars

From the opening blast of the classic John Williams score to the now-iconic scroll, and finally, the two massive spaceships firing lasers at each other, Star Wars easily has one of the most memorable opening scenes of any movie, ever. Audiences in 1977 were simply blown away from the moment the movie started and it immediately became the classic it is and how it has endured for decades.

Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino's second film, Pulp Fiction, was one of the most anticipated movies of 1994 and the director immediately let audiences know he was on point with the opening scene between Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer in the diner. It's classic Tarantino with great dialog and finally, a burst of near-violence that sucks moviegoers in at once.

Jaws

Jaws is thought of these days as one of the best movies Hollywood has ever produced. Director Steven Spielberg did an absolutely masterful job of scaring the audience by not showing the shark very much and that starts with the creepy, foreboding scene when a lone swimmer becomes the shark's first victim.

Citizen Kane

"Rosebud" is one of the most mysterious opening lines to any movie, ever. The snow globe falling out of a dying man's hand and breaking on the floor only adds to the mystery. That's how Citizen Kane opens and audiences then and now are captivated from that moment until the end, when they learn what "Rosebud" means in the movie's final scene.

Apocalypse Now

Some movies just need to have some incredible music and one iconic shot to lock you in. Apocalypse Now is one of those movies. From the foreboding sounds of The Doors' song "The End" to the fireball or napalm that rushes across the jungle in the opening scene, director Francis Ford Coppola immediately let everyone know this was going to be a different kind of war movie.

Purple Rain

If you're one of the most iconic musicians of your day and you decide to make a movie about a fictionalized version of yourself, you'd better open the show with a banger. That's exactly what Prince did when he opened Purple Rain with "Let's Go Crazy." It's simply a performance (and guitar solo) for the ages and sets the tone for the movie perfectly.

The Godfather

While it may not start with a bang like some of the other movies on this list, the opening scene of The Godfather sets the tone for the movie in a way nothing else could. Within minutes audiences knew exactly what kind of man Vito Corleone was and what was important to him.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the best adventure films of all time and as such, it opens with one of the most exciting sequences in Hollywood history as our hero Indiana Jones dodges traps and a giant boulder to escape with his treasure. Though he loses it right away, of course. It's a very worthy opening to the Indiana Jones franchise.

Boogie Nights

Director Paul Thomas Anderson knocks it out of the park with the first scene in Boogie Nights that lets you know exactly where and when the movie is happening. The long tracking shot introduced almost every character movie right away and audiences are already getting to know them by the time the shot changes. It's brilliant.

Saving Private Ryan

In many ways, Saving Private Ryan changed how war movies are made and what audiences expect from them. The opening scene, when Tom Hanks and his platoon hit the beaches of Normandy on D-Day is one of, if not the, most intense action scenes ever put on film. It's praised for its depiction of the battle and the visceral feel of it all is simply incredible.

Spectre

The James Bond franchise is famous for its opening, pre-credits scenes, so we had to include one on this list. There are any number of great ones you could go with, but for our money, the opening to Spectre with the tracking shot all across Mexico City and into a hotel, and out to the ledge, is pure magic. And pure Bond.

Scream

In an homage to the great Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho, the opening scene of Scream features one of the biggest stars in the movie, Drew Barrymore, getting killed just minutes into the story. For audiences at the time, it was a completely brilliant and shocking moment as Barrymore had been marketed heavily so no one expected her to meet her demise so soon. It was something Barrymore insisted on.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

When it comes to the Mission: Impossible franchise, fans can always count on an amazing opening sequence. On the one hand, it's hard to pick one as the best, but on the other hand, c'mon, it's the one where Tom Cruise hangs from a freaking plane! That opening to Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is one of the most incredible stunts Cruise has done on a long, long list of stunts he's done for those movies.

Trainspotting

Danny Boyle's Trainspotting walks a tightrope between really cool and fun, and desperately tragic. This is all summed up in the first few seconds of the movie when audiences see a very rough-looking Renton (Ewan McGregor) running from the police and almost getting hit by a car as Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" accompanies the scene. It's not only the perfect opening scene for the movie, it's a brilliant musical moment as well.

There Will Be Blood

Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood is one of the examples on this list of movies that set a tone immediately, but do so not with action and pizazz but with a gentle slow build. There is virtually no dialog other than some grunts from the protagonist (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he struggles to get his oil well going. Like the rest of the movie, it's intense, but quietly so. It's really perfect.

The Matrix

While we don't meet Neo right away in The Matrix, we do get a great example of how the world in the movie is going to work as we watch Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) barely escape a group of Agents in the Matrix.

Inglourious Basterds

If you want some quiet intensity, there may be no better opening scene than Inglourious Basterds. Christoph Waltz's character sitting and drinking milk while hunting for hidden Jews is seriously intense without anything more than some brilliant dialog by Quentin Tarantino and a glass of milk. It's the least over-the-top moment in te movie, and yet sets the tone perfectly.

Top Gun

The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is an exciting and dangerous place to be. For Top Gun, director Tony Scott didn't need to use any of the stars of the movie, or even any actors at all. Instead, he used actual Navy members doing their actual jobs as jet fighters took off and landed all to the soaring notes of Harold Faltermeyer's guitar-based soundtrack. Talk about pulling you right into a movie!

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1

Director James Gunn has become famous for his brilliant use of music in the Guardians Of The Galaxy movies. Star-Lord's mixtape quickly became one of the main characters of the movies, almost. That started at the very beginning of the first movie when we all first meet Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) as he dances his way through the opening scene to "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone.

Full Metal Jacket

The very beginning of Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket features young men getting their heads shaved as they join the Marines. The next few minutes are just R. Lee Emery yelling at the new inductees. It's one of the most iconic opening scenes of any movie, much less any war movie and it's a big part of what makes it among the best war movies ever made.

Deadpool

By now we all know just what kind of "superhero" Deadpool is. In fact, even if you weren't familiar with the anti-hero from the comic books, it only takes about the first ten minutes of the first Deadpool movie to know exactly who he is. There really is no better introduction to a superhero movie, and that's really saying something.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

The two main characters in Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels are, in some ways, very competent criminals. In other ways, they are complete disasters. The opening moments show both sides of them perfectly as they pull off their scam selling stolen jewelry for a time before they lose all their merchandise getting chased by the cops.

Jurassic Park

There was no bigger movie in the early '90s than Jurassic Park and there was no bigger opening moment than when audiences were thrown right into the action as the game wardens and staff tried to wrangle a velociraptor into its cage. It did more than just help the movie become iconic for millions of people.

No Country For Old Men

The opening scene to No Country For Old Men immediately draws the audience into the movie and its dark, foreboding nature. After a voiceover by Tommy Lee Jones, we see an unknown character getting arrested for an unknown reason. We soon learn that the character is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) and just how ruthless he is.

Gladiator

Ridley Scott may not care much for historical accuracy, but that doesn't matter when you recreate an ancient battle as he does at the opening of Gladiator. It's an amazing scene reminiscent of the great battle scenes in movies before CGI when it was all about practical effects and a huge number of extras.

Once Upon a Time In The West

To make a great western, you have to set a mood. Once Upon a Time In The West does this as well or better than any other Western. Viewers can feel the heat of the day and the crackling tension well before any action happens. You know it's coming, you just don't how or when.

Baby Driver

Take a great soundtrack, a cool moment of people wearing matching suits and sunglasses, throw in a fantastic car chase and you're guaranteed to suck audiences in immediately. Just like they do in Baby Driver. The movie takes off at full speed right from the jump.

Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Tarantino told the whole world just who he was in the first few minutes of his first movie, Reservoir Dogs. The intense, fast-paced dialog he's known for is present right at the very beginning as his character Mr. Orange explains the real meaning behind his favorite Madonna song. And it's not what you think.

A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange's opening scene definitely has audiences asking more questions than it's ever answering, but that's exactly what draws you in so quickly. You have to know what these guys in the funny outfits are up to and why in the world they are seemingly drinking milk in a weird bar. Later, you might regret getting those answers...

At this point, it’s hard to claim that Top Gun: Maverick did a single thing wrong. The Top Gun sequel made a billion dollars at the global box office and was nominated for numerous awards. The casting decision as well as bringing in Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski were clearly all brilliant in retrospect. It’s nearly impossible to imagine how the film could have been any better, except it’s possible that maybe it could have been; the movie could have been directed not by Joseph Kosinski but by Ridley Scott, the brother of the late Tony Scott, who helmed the original Top Gun.

It’s not hard to imagine why the producers of Top Gun: Maverick would have asked Ridley Scott if he wanted to direct the sequel to his brother’s massive hit movie. It would have been fitting to keep things in the family as it were. Scott tells THR that he turned the job for the simple reason that Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t his kind of film because he and his brother had very different tastes. Ridley Scott explained…

It’s certainly true that Tony and Ridley Scott did not make a lot of the same sorts of movies. Of all of Tony Scott's great films, the only genre movie he directed was his first feature film, The Hunger, a vampire movie starring David Bowie. After that, while the plots of Tony Scott’s films could be fantastic, they were all set in a modern-day “real” world.

By comparison, while Ridley Scott did direct modern stories (including Thelma and Louise, for which he would get an Oscar nomination for Best Director), the majority of his films are more detached from reality. Ultimately, Ridley Scott decided that the reason he was offered the film, being Tony Scott’s brother, was precisely the reason he didn’t want to do it. Ridley reportedly dismissed the Top Gun sequel after he saw it, perhaps because he was being extra tough on a movie that followed his brother's work.

Scott gets bonus points for praising one of Tim Curry’s best performances, the fantasy movie Legend, a movie in which Ridley Scott directed Tom Cruise previously. It would have been quite cool to see the two reunite once again, and on a movie that had launched the careers of both Cruise and Tony Scott.

Whether Ridley Scott would have made the movie better, there’s no argument that the director who took the job, Joseph Kosinski, did an amazing job. Kosinski is reportedly involved in the now-in-development Top Gun 3, but maybe if there ends up being a reason he can’t do it, somebody else would be interested.

Tom Cruise has always been more than just one of the best '80s actors-turned-modern-day action movie icons. He's also a cinema lover, a theatrical experience champion, and a master at giving his fans memorable moments, like with this year's iconic Olympic entrance stunt. His latest surprise appearance at a Top Gun: Maverick screening in London’s Royal Albert Hall proved just that. He not only delighted audiences but, in classic Cruise fashion, he delivered an impromptu history lesson on cinema and music because, of course, he did.

Always eager to share some knowledge, the A-lister appeared at a Maverick screening held in London's Royal Albert Hall that included a live orchestra. Some of those in attendance took to X to post about the experience, sharing their excited feelings. Based on their comments, the audience of 2,900 truly had no idea that the star would show up to be a part of the special screening of the 2022 box office juggernaut.

Per a report (via Entertainment Weekly), the Risky Business actor's unannounced visit kicked off with a deep dive into the evolution of live music in film. He began by explaining how live orchestral performances have been a part of the moviegoing experience since the early 20th century. The Mummy star had this to say to the waiting audience:

Tom Cruise went on to trace the origins of synchronized orchestras with film, explaining how this tradition began around 1914 and became essential in enhancing the grandeur of movie palaces during the silent film era. The Jerry Maguire star's passion for cinema was palpable as he explained how leitmotifs—musical themes associated with characters or ideas—revolutionized movie storytelling:

The 62-year-old Hollywood legend finished his cinema history masterclass by demonstrating how much he loves what he does—and how deeply he understands the power of film to connect with audiences:

This wasn’t just a typical movie promo moment, to say the least. The Jack Reacher veteran’s comments showed his sincere appreciation for every element of the filmmaking process, specifically in regard the sound and score that helped shape Top Gun: Maverick.

We really shouldn't be surprised by these remarks from Tom Cruise, given what's known about him up to this point. His commitment to the movie industry and the art of filmmaking are matched by very few of his peers. It's honestly inspiring that he not only wants audiences to enjoy feature films but also understand the artistry that goes into making them. One would hope that other stars take a cue from him in that regard.

For fans who had gathered for what they thought was a standard live music screening, it seems like the unexpected lecture was an unforgettable experience. The Mission: Impossible instance presence instantly elevated the evening, and his thoughtful words only reinforced why he’s long been one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures. Here's hoping that this won't be the last time that the icon decides to dish out some filmmaking wisdom.

Fans can revisit Top Gun: Maverick–sans a live orchestra and Tom Cruise waxing poetically about film history–by streaming it with a Paramount+ subscription. Cruise will next star in the upcoming Mission: Impossible 8, which is set to hit the 2025 movie schedule on May 23.

Nothing breaks our hearts more than when a beloved character dies in a movie. Even the most stoic people shed a tear when characters like Goose in Top Gun don't make it to the finish line. Sometimes these characters grow through multiple movies, and sometimes it only takes one for us to end up blubbering when the end comes. Here is our list like that, our list of movie deaths that just crush us.

It goes without saying, but there are major spoilers ahead!

Tony Stark - Avengers: Endgame

Over the first 22 MCU movies Tony Stark/Iron Man was the heart of the franchise. Robert Downey Jr.'s character started the whole thing off in the original Iron Man and in a lot of ways, the Infinity Saga (the first three phases of the MCU) should have ended with Avengers: End Game and the death of Tony Stark. We all knew something like this was likely, but it didn't make it any easier when it came.

Thomas J. - My Girl

There is nothing harder in life than children dying long, long before their time. The fact that no one saw it coming in My Girl makes it doubly tough. What seems like a sweet, innocent childhood romance comes to a crashing halt with the death of Macauley Culkin's character Thomas. It's just brutal, but props to Anna Chlumsky who does an amazing job as Vada.

Ricky - Boyz In the Hood

Of all the characters in Boyz In The Hood that you most want to see get out of the cycle of poverty and despair in the movie, Ricky tops the list. You always have the sense that Tre (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) is going to make it and you always sense Doughboy (Ice Cube) won't. Ricky (Morris Chestnut) is in the middle and could go either way. That's what makes his death so heartbreaking. He's so close to getting out, but just can't escape the violence.

Mufasa - The Lion King

How much detail do we really need to go into here? Mufasa's death is the catalyst for Simba's growth, but that doesn't make his untimely death any easier to watch. Disney really knows how to tug at the heartstrings, don't they?

Jenny - Forrest Gump

Jenny (Robin Wright) never really treats Forrest (Tom Hanks) all that well in Forrest Gump. Most of the time, she kinda treats him like dirt. In the end, she does come around, and when she does, you feel the pain right along with Forrest. It's even harder than watching his mother (Sally Field) go earlier in the movie.

Marley - Marley And Me

Pets dying. We all know it's coming, yet, we're never fully prepared for it. Not in life, nor on the big screen. Marley's death in Marley In Me is inevitable, but that doesn't make it any easier at all.

John Coffey - The Green Mile

In Frank Darabont's 1999 classic The Green Mile, we know that Michael Clarke Duncan's character John Coffey is locked up for a crime he didn't commit and is facing a punishment not of his own making. Not only do we feel for Coffey for his wrongful conviction, but because Duncan plays the role with such sweet sincerity that we can't help but love the guy. His execution is like our own, it hurts way too much.

Shelby - Steel Magnolias

Julia Robert's first big break came in Steel Magnolias and like all her work, her infectious smile and great attitude endear us to her quickly. Her death, though part of life, is excruciating as a result.

Neil - Dead Poets Society

When someone dies by suicide, especially a teenager, there is an extra level of sorrow and frustration. Such is definitely the case with Neil (Robert Sean Leonard) in Dead Poets Society. It's so unfair for everyone, and you even feel for his domineering father who drove him to it. Robin Williams gives one his best performances in the movie, but it's Leonard's role as Neil that really sticks with you.

Jack Dawson - Titanic

Say what you want about Titanic, love it or hate it, but you can't deny the impact of Jack's death at the end. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in the movie made him one of the biggest stars of all time, and his death takes our breath away every time.

Radio Raheem - Do The Right Thing

Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing is one of the best debuts by a director ever. Radio Raheem's death isn't like most of the others on this list because it doesn't just make audiences sad, it makes them mad. It's the anger part of grieving that hits the hardest here.

Guido - Life Is Beautiful

The director, writer, and star of Life Is Beautiful, Roberto Benigni, is wonderful in the movie. He makes us laugh throughout and then, near the end, he crushes our hearts with his death. Like others on this list, we sense the dread from the outset, but when the end comes, it leaves us shattered.

Old Yeller - Old Yeller

There is no one who can stop a tear from rolling down your cheek at the end of Old Yeller when Travis (Tommy Kirk) is faced with doing the inevitable after his dog is infected with rabies. Most of us see the movie as kids and the trauma lives on with us far into adulthood.

Goose - Top Gun

It's not often that a big summer blockbuster hits you as hard in the guy as Top Gun does when Goose (Anthony Edwards) is killed in a training exercise. You see it on Maverick's (Tom Cruise) in the aftermath, but when Goose's widow (Meg Ryan) tells Mav how much Goose loved flying with him, turn on the waterworks and let it all out, because you're going to need to.

Brooks - The Shawshank Redemption

If you know anything about prison movies, you probably know that someone is going to get killed. One of the many things that sets The Shawshank Redemption apart and makes it one of the best movies of the 1990s, is that you don't expect the death you get in it or how it happens. The affable Brooks seems like a good guy, and that makes his suicide in the end just brutal to take in.

Johnny - The Outsiders

Johnny (Ralph Macchio) goes out as a hero in The Outsiders and that's something even he can't believe. It's a brutal moment, as he is in the hospital after the fire when he tells Pony Boy (C. Thomas Howell) to stay golden and it's stuck with audiences forever.

Maximus - Gladiator

Given the circumstances, Maximus' death is as satisfying as it is tragic in Gladiator. Russell Crowe's character's vengeance is what drives the movie and when he finally gets it at the end, there is nothing more left to do in this world. It doesn't make it easy though.

Maggie - Million Dollar Movie

Maggie's (Hillary Swank) death in Million Dollar Baby isn't easy to ever watch. You spend so much time rooting for her, that while her death doesn't feel like a waste, it sure feels like she had so much more left in her. It's not just the injury that leads to her death, but it's her tragic desire to see things through to their natural (or unnatural) end that makes it so hard to watch.

Father - The Road

There is nothing about The Road that is easy to watch. It's not a movie you really ever want to want a second time, despite how fantastic it is. Viggo Mortensen is fantastic as the character simply known as "Father" and his death is really hard to take, because he and his son are the only hope in the movie.

Jack - Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain is a classic love story with a twist that changed cinema forever and even if Jack's denial is in some ways a predictable event in this kind of story, it doesn't make it any easier for audiences.

Dobby - Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

Dobby may just be a side character in the Harry Potter series, but his death in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is still one of the hardest to take to in the whole franchise. Dobby's innocent nature and good heart quickly made him a fan favorite and watching him die is heart-wrenching.

William Wallace - Braveheart

"Freedom!" Or something like that. Setting aside just how historically inaccurate Braveheart is and looking at it as a stirring movie with some awesome action scenes, it makes William Wallace's death brutal at the end. It crushes Scotland's dreams, sure, but it's also the tragic end of a love story and that's what makes it so heartbreaking.

Brian Piccalo - Brian's Song

James Caan played a lot of tough guys over his brilliant career, but it was the softer side of a tough guy, the real-life Brian Piccalo, whose death haunts us the most. The true story about the tragic life of Piccalo and his wonderful friendship with Gale Sayers, played by Billy Dee Williams, is meant to rip out the audience's hearts, and boy oh boy does it.

Apollo - Rocky IV

Like a few others on this list, if you weren't prepared for it, Apollo Creed's death in Rocky IV is a serious blow. It's not the kind of thing you'd ever expect from a big summer popcorn-chomper of a movie. It brilliantly raises the stakes in the movie and is, in the end, what makes it such an enduring movie, despite being a relic of the Cold War.

Captain Miller - Saving Private Ryan

Audiences really come to love and respect Tom Hanks' Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan and after all he'd been through, and all he'd done, to see him not make it to the end of the movie, or the end of D-Day for that matter, really stings. We hope Ryan made it worth it, and we think he did, aside from the cheesy ending.

Bing Bong - Inside Out

How is it that a cartoon's death can bring anyone to tears? Let alone one that isn't even "real" in the movie? Yet here we are, wiping our faces as Bing Bong sacrifices himself in Inside Out. The power of cinema indeed.

Wolverine - Logan

For decades we watched Wolverine over the entire life of the X-Men franchise. Hugh Jackman's performance was perfect every time, right up until the end when the seemingly immortal anti-hero becomes as mortal as the rest of us at the end of Logan. Deadpool may have celebrated his death, but we don't.

Rosie - JoJo Rabbit

Even the most absurd films, like Jojo Rabbit, can have devastatingly heartbreaking moments in them. Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) dying, despite the movie being about the subject matter it is about, is still a little shocking and very sad. Jojo finding her the way he does makes it even tougher to watch.

Gwen Stacy - Amazing Spider-Man 2

When you watch a superhero movie, you really never expect the hero to suffer any real heartbreak that you aren't ready for. Batman's parents are always going to die, for example, but you know that going in. Spider-man failing to save Gwen (Emma Stone) in Amazing Spider-Man 2 is shocking and completely heartbreaking.

The Iron Giant - The Iron Giant

There is, at least, some respite from the death of the Iron Giant in The Iron Giant - we know in the end that he's going to be okay. That doesn't make the initial moment of his destruction any easier though. Once again cartoons break out hearts.

Bambi's Mother - Bambi

Disney is responsible for some of our favorite cinematic moments as kids. And some of our most traumatic. There is a very good chance that everyone reading this was deeply traumatized by the death of Bambi's mother in Bambi, no matter what age you are now.

Donny - The Big Lebowski

Donnie was a bowler. He also loved to surf, probably. the Steve Buscemi character's death at the end of The Big Lebowski is not what anyone would have ever expected from the shaggy dog story we enjoyed for the previous two hours. It turns out that Donnie really tied the movie together and no one liked seeing him go.

For about as long as movies have been around, Hollywood has been churning out patriotic American movies that make the country, and some of its most notable figures, look like larger than life icons. Over the years, some of the best sports movies, a handful of quintessential ‘80s movies, and so many others have left audiences feeling all warm and fuzzy with patriotic themes or moments (for better or worse). 

Here are 32 of the most patriotic American movies of all time.

Patton (1970)

One of the great American icons of the 20th century, General George S. Patton was instrumental in the Allies winning World War II. The legendary military mind’s life and legacy are put on full display in Patton, a 1970 biopic starring George C. Scott in an Academy Award-winning performance. And it doesn’t get more patriotic than starting a movie with a decorated general standing in front of the biggest American flag in cinematic history.

Rocky IV (1985)

There are some who believe Rocky IV is responsible for thawing, and eventually ending, the Cold War. The fourth installment in the beloved franchise, the movie not only features a boxer covered head to toe with American flags, but it also shows that Soviet technology and doping schemes are no match for a boxer from the U.S. of A and his old school approach.

Red Dawn (1984)

Restart the “Days Without A John Milius Reference” board because we have to talk about the famed director’s 1984 classic, Red Dawn. This movie, which follows a group of Colorado teenagers as they take on invading communist forces, is one of those movies where you just want to throw your fist into the sky and yell “America!” 

Top Gun (1986)

Is Top Gun a movie or a really expensive promotional tool for the U.S. Navy, because Tony Scott’s 1986 action flick has all the latest and greatest tech and weaponery on display. Sure, most of the movie is about Tom Cruise’s Maverick trying to top his rivals in a not-so-friendly competition, but that final act where he takes on some MiGs screams “don’t mess with America.” 

Born On The Fourth Of July (1989)

Okay, Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July does paint the U.S. military (and politicians and certain civilians) in a rather bad light, but this iconic Tom Cruise movie is extremely patriotic, just not in the traditional sense. Veteran Ron Kovic (Cruise) goes through a lot over the course of the movie and becomes an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War and takes great lengths to make sure the country doesn’t forget those who sacrificed all.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump, one of Tom Hanks’ best movies, has a little bit of everything in it. There’s a tragic love story, there’s an epic tale of rags-to-riches, and there’s also a saga of an unassuming boy from Greenbow, Alabama becoming an American icon. If the war scenes weren’t enough, the awesome ping pong escapades of Hanks’ beloved character should do it.

Independence Day (1996)

On the surface, Independence Day looks like nothing more than an alien invasion movie. However, upon starting the movie it doesn’t take long to realize that this 1996 box office juggernaut is an extremely patriotic movie. Like, is there anything better than BIll Pullman’s iconic “this is our Independence Day” speech before the final battle?

The Patriot (2000)

Is The Patriot a good movie? No. Is it a ridiculous movie? Yes. And is it an overly patriotic movie? Dude, Mel Gibson’s character kills the British villain with an American flag. It doesn’t get more patriotic than that.

Miracle (2004)

One of the most inspiring sports underdog stories ever captured on film, Miracle follows the U.S. Hockey team as they pull off the seemingly impossible task of defeating the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics. America beating the Russkis in the height of the Cold War? Don’t get much more patriotic than that.

Air Force One (1997)

Featuring one of Harrison Ford’s best characters, Air Force One follows the U.S. President as he attempts to take back his plane from a group of heavily-armed terrorists led by Gary Oldman and his absurd accent. They don’t make movies, or presidents, like this these days.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Before he turned against his country and became a more conscious hero, Steve Rogers became the Allies best hope in Captain America: The First Avenger. One of the best Marvel movies, this 2011 superhero flick follows Chris Evans’ titular hero as he goes from a tiny yet determined New Yorker wanting to fight in the war to one of the men responsible for bringing peace to the world. Sure, there’s some toxic patriotism in this, but we’ll let it slide.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)

Though it doesn’t focus on heroic military minds saving the day or teenagers rising up to defeat evil Commies, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a patriotic movie that shows the best of the American spirit. Centering on Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), a junior U.S. Senator upon his arrival to Capitol Hill, the movie explores the “rights” and “wrongs” of politics and standing up for your convictions.

1776 (1972)

A musical about the founding of America? Move over Hamilton, we’re talking about 1776, Peter H. Hunt’s historical drama that serves as a fictionalized account of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Where else are you going to see John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and John Hancock (not Herbie Hancock) singing and dancing like this?

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

There are war movies and then there is Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg’s World War II drama is epic in both scope and scale with its story about a group of soldiers going to great lengths to protect a seemingly normal private and prevent his mother from losing all her boys in battle.

Sergeant York (1941)

Howard Hawks’ landmark World War I film, Sergeant York, features one of the best displays of heroism in the history of cinema. Gary Cooper portrays the titular pacifist as he goes against his beliefs to protect his fellow soldiers and the toll it takes on his mind and spirit. 

Apollo 13 (1995)

To prevent catastrophic failure from turning into a national tragedy, America’s greatest minds come together with some old-fashioned American ingenuity to bring a group of astronauts back home. Ron Howard’s Apollo 13, which nearly earned Tom Hanks his third-consecutive Oscar, isn’t overtly patriotic, but it does showcase the brilliance of the nation.

Bridge Of Spies (2015)

With Cold War tensions at a near-record high, a New York lawyer (played by Tom Hanks) plays a key role in a prison swap between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Much like other films set in the era, there are some heavy patriotic themes throughout Bridge of Spies.

Lincoln (2012)

Steven Spielberg pulled out all the stops for Lincoln, his 2012 historical drama about the 16th President of the United States’ (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) quest to end slavery once and for all, bring peace and save the Union during the American Civil War.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

A movie about the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks? Yeah, there was no way Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty wasn’t going to be one of the most patriotic movies of the 2010s.

United 93 (2006)

One of the best movies of 2006, United 93 serves as a reenactment of the titular flight hijacked by terrorists on the morning of September 11, 2001, with a heavy focus on the passengers who fought for control of the plane to prevent it from reaching its target, presumably the U.S. Capitol.  

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Yankee Doodle Dandy tells the story of George M. Cohan (James Cagney), a retired entertainer who accepts the call of his nation in the early days of World War II to portray FDR, which eventually leads to him meeting the actual president and receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. 

All The President’s Men (1976)

Patriotism comes in all shapes and sizes, as shown in All the President’s Men. This 1976 retelling of Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward’s (Robert Redford) investigation into the Watergate Scandal is brilliant in just about every way.

Gettysburg (1993)

Released 130 years after the battle on which it was based, Ronald F. Maxwell’s Gettysburg spends several hours chronicling the heroics of several soldiers and generals during the height of the American Civil War. Though it does spend a lot of time on the traitors in the Confederate Army, its themes of love for country and a better tomorrow make it a worthy addition.

Hidden Figures (2016)

One of the most powerful black family movies of the past decade, Hidden Figures tells the story of the unlikely heroes who helped get man to the moon and help America win the Space Race. With incredibly moving messages of patriotism, representation, and making yourself heard, there’s a lot to love.

Armageddon (1998)

Though Armageddon is not very realistic and is a bit over the top, it’s one of those movies that makes you feel proud to be American. Yeah, it’s silly and has more inaccuracies than just about any other space movie ever made, but who saves the day in the end?

Argo (2012)

Ben Affleck’s Argo takes a great number of liberties with the source material and history of the Iran Hostage Crisis, but this Best Picture winner is a blast to watch. American ingenuity and Hollywood magic work hand-in-hand in this saga about the CIA saving a group of American hostages when no one else could get the job down. 

Flags Of Our Fathers (2006)

One of two World War II movies directed by Clint Eastwood in the mid-2000s, Flags of Our Fathers recounts the events that led to one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century: the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. Though a box office dud, this is one of the most powerful, impactful, and patriotic movies to hit the big screen in the past 20 years.

The Longest Day (1962)

One of the most epic war movies ever produced, The Longest Day (directed by Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, and Bernhard Wicki) takes an in-depth look at practically every aspect of the D-Day landings in Normandy, including the planning and aftermath. With a massive cast that includes the likes of John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, and Sean Connery, this is a military drama you don’t want to miss.

Glory (1989)

Edward Zwick’s Academy Award-winning military drama, Glory, tells the story of the first all-African American regiment to fight in the American Civil War. Emotional as it is epic, this transfixing, inspiring, and patriotic war film checks all the boxes and will leave you feeling moved, no matter what. Plus, the cast, which includes the likes of Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, and Cary Elwes, is top-notch through and through.

The Right Stuff (1983)

A 1980s box office bomb that is actually great, The Right Stuff tells the story of the first 15 years of America’s space program. Following the lives of NASA astronauts John Glenn (Ed Harris), Chuck Yeager (Sam Shepard), and Al Shepard (Scott Glenn), among others, Philip Kaufman’s epic biopic shows what can be achieved when a nation brings together its brightest minds and bravest pilots.

Thirteen Days (2000)

Released on Christmas Day 2000, Roger Donaldson’s Thirteen Days recounts the events of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, an event that nearly saw the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union get hot and bring an end to the world. Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, and Steven Culp are all brilliant in their respective roles.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Pearl Harbor is far from being one of Michael Bay’s best movies, but it’s probably the director’s most patriotic. Yeah, it’s long, has too many subplots, and the romance distracts from the story, but there’s no denying how great the actual Pearl Harbor sequence looks all these years later.

Whenever you need a patriotic movie, you can certainly turn to this list for inspiration!

After decades of waiting for a sequel to Top Gun it was finally made, and it became one of the biggest box office hits ever. It wasn’t exactly a shock when it was announced that development on Top Gun 3 was already underway. One can imagine that Paramount doesn't want to wait decades for another hit with that franchise. However, while Top Gun 3 may not take quite as long to produce as Top Gun: Maverick, we shouldn’t expect to see it anytime soon.

Jerry Bruckheimer is a very busy producer right now. His films Young Woman and the Sea and Bad Boys: Ride or Die both released in the last few weeks, and another long-awaited sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is set to hit Netflix in a couple of weeks. At some point down the line, there will also be Top Gun 3, but when asked by Deadline for an update Bruckheimer said that as of right now the project is still looking at ideas, so that movie is still in the distant future. He explained…

Top Gun 3 has a screenwriter. Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Maverick has been tapped to handle writing the next movie, but he hasn’t done so yet. It sounds like the movie is very much in the “idea” phase as Bruckheimer says they’re talking ideas with Tom Cruise, but the producer doesn’t say they have an idea for Top Gun 3 yet, so it sounds like they’re still trying to figure out what the movie will be before it gets to the point where it can be written.

On the one hand, it’s great that they are actively talking about ideas for the next Top Gun. On the other hand, it should be pointed out that this was the state that Top Gun 2 was in for decades. Tom Cruise always said he was interested in a sequel, and we would occasionally hear that the movie was being worked on, but it took a very long time to find something that Cruise was happy with.

While everybody involved clearly wants to make Top Gun 3, Tom Cruise seems more than willing to simply not do so rather than make something he’s not happy with. And considering the massive box office success of Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise clearly knows what he’s doing.

Clearly, everybody wants to make Top Gun 3. Even Jennifer Connelly is ready to return. But everybody also knows a lot is riding on another movie, so they’re going to take their time with it. Fans may have to wait a while to see Maverick again but they waited decades before, and it was worth it.

Before Glen Powell became a bonafide leading man, he appeared in plenty of supporting roles in films like The Great Debaters, Sex Ed and Hidden Figures. Then, he took on the role of “Hangman” in the record-breaking Top Gun: Maverick, which completely changed the trajectory of his acting career for the better. While the Texas native needed time to contemplate whether to take on the role of the F/A-18E pilot, helpful advice from Tom Cruise helped bring him around to remind him he’s “the underdog.”

Originally, Glen Powell auditioned for the role of “Rooster,” the son of Maverick's late friend “Goose,” which he lost to Miles Teller. While Powell may not have gotten second billing to Tom Cruise, the Mission: Impossible star insisted that not only the Everybody Wants Some!!! actor play “Hangman,” but for his role to be expanded. While speaking on Today, the Scream Queens actor recalled how he waffled whether or not to play “Hangman” until Cruise approached him about it:

It absolutely marked a new chapter in Glen Powell’s acting career. Since Powell was lucky enough to have a role in the post-pandemic movie that brought people back into theaters, he's made plenty of other moves. He’s also responsible for saving the rom-com genre, as Anyone But You became a surprise box office hit that surpassed $100 million. Just as the Fast Food Nation actor’s luck kept soaring, he earned the lead role in Richard Linklater's Hit Man, which has become one of Netflix’s highest-rated originals. It’s a good thing Tom Cruise, in a way, helped steer the actor in the right direction career-wise.

Believe it or not, when the Texas native first read the script and learned about “Hangman,” he actually had “hate” for the pilot role. The actor felt like the cocky character wouldn’t work for the movie. I'd like to think everything worked out for the best, though. When speaking about the current professional position he now founds himself in, the star said the following:

Having an “underdog” mindset would mean going into an unpredictable situation, even if it feels like the odds are stacked against you. Fortunately, the fan-favorite star's part in Top Gun: Maverick ended up being well received. Not to mention that fact that it truly felt like he was channeling Top Gun’s “Iceman” for this generation. 

Up next, the A-lister is set to headline the summer blockbuster sequel Twisters and the revenge thriller Huntington. He also has the Hulu comedy series Chad Powers on the docket. Amid all of his success, many are declaring this to be “The Summer of Glen Powell.” Even Tom Cruise recognized his co-star after he was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame, noting his “Texas-sized talent.” I'm really hopeful the two will reunite for a third Top Gun movie or share the screen again in some other capacity.

It's truly amazing how things work out, and I'm so glad they panned out in Glen Powell's favor. I'm not entirely sure much of the public will actually view him as an underdog, given the success he's found. However, I'd imagine that no matter how successful he gets, he'll continue to keep that same spirit and mindset when approaching his work.

Watch Glen Powell as “Hangman” in Top Gun: Maverick using a Paramount+ subscription. You can also stream Hit Man with a Netflix subscription now and, later this summer, check out Twisters when it opens in theaters on July 19 as part of the 2024 movie schedule.

There are a lot of great war movies out there, and a lot about military life. Movies about the Navy are especially interesting because there is such a tremendous diversity of what is told on the big screen. Whether it's life as a pilot, a SEAL, or on a 19th-century ship, the stories are endless and endlessly interesting. Still, we managed to cut it down to 32 of the best movies about the Navy on this list. 

The Hunt For Red October

While The Hunt For Red October's main character is Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin), a CIA analyst, he's a former Naval officer who finds himself in the midst of a submarine dispute and audiences get a broad look at navy life. Not only do we see U.S. aircraft carriers and submarines, but we get the Soviet side also, making it a great Navy movie. 

Sand Pebbles

1966's Sand Pebbles is an oft-forgotten epic starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. While most war movies of the era were about World War II, Sand Pebbles takes place in the inter-war period in China. The director, Robert Wise, is mostly famous today for the musicals West Side Story and The Sound of Music, he proves here he can direct a heck of a Navy movie too. 

Greyhound

One thing that always makes a military movie interesting is an under-explored aspect of life or war. 2000's Greyhound is a great example of that, as a visceral depiction of one of the U.S. Navy's missions during World War II escorting ships across the Atlantic to the U.K. and the European theater. Tom Hanks plays the captain of a Navy Destroyer leading the mission. 

Crimson Tide

Life on a nuclear submarine is stressful for everyone, and none more so than for those charged with commanding the vessel. Crimson Tide puts viewers in that hot seat with a story about the struggle of two well-meaning officers, the captain played Gene Hackman, and his number two, played Denzel Washington, as they disagree over a communiqué to launch their missiles.  

Midway (2019)

The reviews for 2019's Midway were middling, but that's not fair. While it's not a perfect movie, it is remarkable historically accurate by most accounts and it's exciting from start to finish. The CGI is a little cheesy, but it's still a gripping movie about arguably the most important battle in the Pacific Theater and the one that turned the tide of the war toward the Allies. 

Das Boot

It's been praised not only as a great war movie but one of the best movies of all time. The German Das Boot is harrowing, claustrophobic, and simply brilliant in its visceral depiction of life on a German U-boat in World War II. It was one of the most dangerous jobs in the war, and the viewer feels just how hard and terrifying it could be. 

The Final Countdown

Released a few years before Top Gun and made with the full cooperation of the Defense Department, 1980's The Final Countdown holds up remarkably well decades later. The special effects are extremely dated, but the shots of the aircraft carrier, the planes, and the rest of the sets are excellent, as are the stars in it, notably Martin Sheen and Kirk Douglas. It's an unrealistic story of time travel, but it's very fun. 

Apocalypse Now

Capt. Willard (Martin Sheen) in Apocalypse Now is an army officer, but he's being taken up the river by a Navy river patrol boat. What makes that interesting is that we normally think of the Navy out on the high seas, fighting other ships on the ocean or with planes in the air. Rarely do we get a glimpse of life on something like a river patrol boat. It's a miracle the movie was even made, given the disastrous production issues it faced. 

Dunkirk

Just as in the real-life story, Dunkirk involves multiple branches of the British armed forces. We see the army on the beach and the Royal Air Force in the air, and we also see not only the actual Royal Navy, led on the beach by Commander Bolton (Kenneth Branagh), but we also see all the civilian boats pressed into service by the Navy in the famous evacuation. 

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Though it's likely the most well-known these days, Pearl Harbor is not the only movie to tell the story of the most infamous day of the 20th for the U.S. Navy. Indeed, the best just might be 1970's Tora! Tora! Tora! starring an ensemble cast of American and Japanese actors, showing both sides of the attack. 

Run Silent, Run Deep

Submarine movies are always tense and one of the best, Run Silent, Run Deep from 1958, has all all the tension you'll ever need in a movie. There is tension within the ranks, there is tension in the crew as they are attacked, and there is tension that comes with the claustrophobic nature of submarine warfare. It takes a special breed of Navy member to serve on a sub, that's for sure.

The Caine Mutiny

The Caine Mutiny has a couple of unique aspects to it. One, it was rare in the years right after World War II for a movie to depict a veteran of the war as anything but heroic, and two, Humphrey Bogart essentially plays the bad guy. It makes for a great movie. 

Top Gun

There may have never been a better Navy recruitment tool than Top Gun. The massive hit, starring Tom Cruise as a Naval aviator, is a timeless movie that is still beloved today and depicts life in the Navy as pretty darn awesome, yet always on the edge of serious danger. It takes your breath away. 

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World

Hailed by historians and film critics alike Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is one of the best movies about Naval life in the Napoleonic Wars ever. Praised for its realism and its battle tactics, the movie is as gripping as it is accurate in its story about the HMS Surprise and its captain, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe). 

Under Siege

Say what you want about the ridiculousness of any Steven Seagal movie, but Under Siege is pretty darn awesome. Tommy Lee Jones absolutely chews up the scenery with his over-the-top and fantastic performance as the bad guy and the movie set and filmed on one of the most important battleships in the history of the U.S. Navy, the USS Missouri.  

A Few Good Men

The officer being court marshaled in A Few Good Men is a Marine, but the lawyers are all JAGs - Judge Advocate General - in the United States Navy. The movie is more about life as a JAG, specifically Tom Cruise's character, as it is about the actual court marshal, though Jack Nicholson steals the show with his performance as the colonel on trial.  

Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

There have been three epic movies about the mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789. The best of the three has to be the first though, 1935 Mutiny on the Bounty starring Clarke Gable as the leader of the rebellion, Fletcher Christian, and Charles Laughton as the dastardly Captain Bligh. It won best picture and while it's not all that historically accurate, it's a Navy classic. 

Top Gun: Maverick

Producing a sequel to 1986's Top Gun was a bold decision. So many things could've been wrong, but Top Gun: Maverick certainly did not disappoint. While it has a lot of the same beats as the first movie, the incredible flying scenes make it even more breathless than the original film and it's every bit as good, updated for a modern Navy. 

American Sniper

Naval servicemen don't only fight on the sea, of course. The Navy SEALs are legendary for their ground operations. One of the most famous SEALs is Chris Kyle, dubbed "the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history" by the book that made his story known and the movie it is based on starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle. It doesn't shy away from the glory, or the tragedy of Kyle's life. 

G.I. Jane

There are very few movies about women in prominent positions within the Navy, and G.I. Jane set out to change that. The result is mixed, it's a decent movie, but far from great. The story told, and Demi Moore's performance is the best part of it. She was dedicated to the role in a fictional account of the first woman accepted to SEAL training and got in tremendous shape for the movie to make it as realistic as possible. 

The Right Stuff

What does a movie about the early days of NASA have to do with the Navy? Well, a lot, especially considering Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn) was the first American in space and a Naval aviator. Another astronaut from the Mercury Seven portrayed in the movie was Wally Schirra (Lance Henriksen), who was also a Naval officer. 

Hot Shots!

Sometimes you just need a good laugh and Hollywood history is full of movies and TV shows sending up military life. One of the funniest has to be Hot Shots! which is, at its heart, a parody of Top Gun. It touches on other aspects as well, so it counts here! 

The Bridges At Toko-Ri

The Korean War is often overlooked by Hollywood, with the notable exception of MASH, of course. Even more overlooked is the Navy's contribution to the conflict. The Bridges at Toko-Ri is the rare exception here, telling the story of Navy pilots taking on a harrowing mission to bomb bridges in North Korea. 

Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor is a very hard movie to watch. It's the devastating true story of SEAL Marcus Luttrell, played by Mark Wahlberg. During a mission in Afghanistan in 2005 Luttrell was the only member of his SEAL team to survive an ambush by Taliban fighters. It's as harrowing as a war movie can be. 

Zero Dark Thirty

While Zero Dark Thirty is partially about the CIA's hunt for Osama Bin Laden, the movie also includes extensive scenes with the SEAL Team 6, led by characters played by Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt. It's a fascinating look into the preparation for their raid of Bin Laden's compound and his eventual death. 

The Enemy Below

The Enemy Below is a rare example of showing both sides of a conflict. On one side is Robert Mitchum, playing a U.S. Destroyer captain, and on the other is Curt Jurgens as the captain of a German U-boat. Both are skilled at their jobs as they play a cat-and-mouse game trying to sink each other in this extremely entertaining and exciting movie. 

An Officer And A Gentleman

It might be a stretch to call An Officer and a Gentleman a surprise hit, but it was huge when it was released in 1982. It tells the story of, well, an officer in the Navy (Richard Gere) going through Officer Candidate School in the Navy with the late Louis Gossett, Jr. as his tough-as-nails instructor, while dating a new girlfriend (Debra Winger). Gossett won an Oscar for one of the best performances of his career. 

They Were Expendable

The John Wayne-led They Were Expendable is an old-fashioned war movie in the best way possible. Directed by the legendary John Ford, it tells a fictionalized version of a real PT boat that fought the Japanese in the Philippines in the earliest days of the war, in 1942. If you love movies about the Navy, and you love old movies, this one has it all. 

In The Navy

If anything, you can argue there are too few great comedies about the Navy. The Army has its fair share, but it's pretty thin for the sailors. One great exception is the ridiculous In The Navy starring Abbott & Costello. Sure, it's certainly dated, but it's still pretty darn funny. Abbott & Costello are their usual ridiculous selves and there are some great moments of hilarity any sailor would appreciate. 

Sink The Bismarck!

The sinking of the German battleship Bismarck by the British early in World War II was a major event that began to set the tone for the rest of the war, especially on the high seas. The movie, appropriately called Sink the Bismarck!, tells the (mostly) true story of the hunt for, and battle with, the Bismarck, which at the time was the most formidable ship on the world's oceans and it's sinking pretty much relegated the German Navy to fighting a submarine war, with few surface ships. 

Men Of Honor

Cuba Gooding, Jr. stars in Men Of Honor alongside Robert De Niro. Gooding plays the real-life Carl Brashear who becomes the first Black master diver in the Navy after President Harry Truman desegregated the armed forces. De Niro plays his tough but fair instructor who, despite being told to make sure Brashear didn't pass the course, is impressed with Brashear and makes sure he does pass. It's a powerful statement on race within the Navy and a movie well worth checking out. 

Against The Sun

2015's Against The Sun flew under the radar as a straight-to-streaming release, but it's an underrated movie. It tells the true story of a Navy flight crew who was forced to crash land in the ocean. They survived for an astounding 34 days, but it wasn't easy and the movie depicts the hardships and horrors vividly. 

We might not know when and if Top Gun 3 is happening or not, but franchise alum Glen Powell is doing right by his call sign, “Hangman,” and being a ride or die for aviation-related movies. The actor’s latest project is The Blue Angels, an immersive documentary that takes audiences through nearly a year of the members of the Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron. When CinemaBlend spoke to the actor, he talked with us about how being part of the Maverick cast led to him becoming a producer on this latest big-screen endeavor. 

During our interview, Glen Powell reflected on how far back his connections with the Navy go, with his grandfather being a flight surgeon for the military branch. The actor continued by sharing that he had a chance to see a Blue Angels show in his home state of Texas as a kid. He even had a signed poster of the squadron on his wall until he left for college. And, more recently, as a producer of The Blue Angels, he spoke about boarding the project, sharing these sentiments with us:

As the A-lister explained, he was approached about making the documentary after his work on Maverick and Devotion. First, he had the chance to speak to the three-time Blue Angels leader, Greg “Boss” Wooldridge. Overall, it goes without saying that he's become well-entrenched in this world of flying. As he continued:  

The Top Gun sequel was, of course, a huge film that blazed a technological trail by capturing naval flight on IMAX cameras. Also, the Maverick cast went through some intense training in order to be able to sit in the back of real fighter jets (and no, they didn’t pilot them themselves). Real Navy pilots have since given positive feedback on the film as well. Just as the blockbuster put a major focus on the film format, The Blue Angels was shot with those cameras and premiered in theaters this past week. The Set It Up actor was also joined in the endeavor by several other veteran producers, with one being Super 8 and Star Wars director J.J. Abrams.

Since starring in Maverick, Glen Powell has earned his pilot’s license and become pals with Tom Cruise in real life. And, as mentioned, he also starred in the historical drama Devotion, which is about real pilots who fought during the Korean War. Clearly, Powell has not only been solidifying himself within the cinematic landscape, as he's also been making the case for the brave miltary pilots who do their jobs so diligently.

You can still check out The Blue Angels in theaters, or stream it using a Prime Video subscription now! Also, be sure to check out the 2024 movie schedule for information on upcoming big screen releases, including Glen Powell's forthcoming flicks.

Ever since Glen Powell joined Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick dream team of a cast, the actor can’t stop, won’t stop being part of projects that have to do with the Navy. His latest is a high-flying documentary called The Blue Angels, which chronicles the year for the Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron. When Powell spoke to CinemaBlend about the making of the new release, he reflected how it made him appreciate his work on Maverick.

While chatting with Powell about The Blue Angels, I asked the actor how being a producer on the new documentary might have given him a better understanding for his naval characters (which also includes the 2022 biopic, Devotion). Here’s what he said:

During The Blue Angels, which is now streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription, audiences get to see just how demanding it is to be part of the elite Navy team. Particularly through one sequence where they are tested in a centrifuge that places their body into G-force. The Blue Angels have been said to speed up to 400 mph to initiate a level 360-degree mid-radius turn across the horizon during their shows, which has them pulling 7Gs in the air.

As Powell explained, while there is such a thing as a G suit that can help pilots withstand the intense speed one might undergo in flight, The Blue Angels learn to deal with it without these suits, and it’s rather mind-blowing. As he continued during our interview:

During the documentary, audiences get to experience what it's like for these pilots to learn how to withstand G’s on their own, and it’s really eye-opening in terms of the risks involved. While Glen Powell is not one of the Blues, he can share some experiences with these pilots since he and the other Top Gun 2 actors went through extensive training so they could be filmed in the back of fighter jets for the 2022 blockbuster. Powell’s co-star Miles Teller previously shared he thought he was “going to die” at one point filming the action flick due to being part of a G-pull up!

In our interview, Powell told us that he saw The Blue Angels as a young boy before nabbing his role in Top Gun: Maverick, Devotion or producing this doc alongside J.J. Abrams. His time on Top Gun only enhanced his love for flight, considering he has since gotten his pilot's license and become good pals with Cruise.

You can check out The Blue Angels documentary on Amazon Prime now. Powell is also set to star next in the action comedy Hit Man, which arrives on Netflix on June 7.

It was 38 years ago today – on May 16, 1986 – that Tony Scott's Top Gun first arrived in theaters, and it's a date that Tom Cruise remembers. After all, the movie was one of the early hits that established the actor as a true Hollywood A-lister, and it will forever be reflected upon as a key part of his big screen history. As one would expect, Cruise has fond memories associated with the film (as well as its sequel, Top Gun: Maverick), and he celebrated its anniversary of the classic action film today with a sweet social media post.

Despite the fact that Top Gun is full of 1980s energy, it still feels crazy that the movie came out nearly four decades ago – and that's reflected in Tom Cruise's post to Twitter this afternoon. In addition to shock, he also expressed gratitude to the fanbase that has kept the love going for the film since it first hit theaters. The actor posted,

The Top Cruise post from Tom Cruise also included a collection of four behind-the-scenes photos from the making of the movie and Top Gun: Maverick (note: it's not terribly hard to figure out which one is from the sequel). Two of the shots feature Cruise with director Tony Scott (who passed away in 2012), and having a chat with producer Jerry Bruckheimer:

Along with the message and photos, Tom Cruise also retweeted an official video from the official Top Gun Twitter account celebrating the blockbuster film's latest anniversary – with a special focus on the full legacy of the franchise and clips from both the original movie and the years-later follow-up. It even ends with a salute from Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell that feels like a salute to fans for decades of love:

Appreciating these photos and video is one thing, and you may now find yourself blasting "Highway To The Danger Zone" and "Take My Breath Away" through your speakers... but everyone knows that the only proper way to celebrate Top Gun Day is by actually watching Top Gun – and that's actually really easy to do nowadays. In addition to being on 4K UHD and Blu-ray, as well as available for digital rental and purchase, the beloved '80s classic is accessible for both Prime Video subscribers and Paramount+ subscribers (you can also stream Top Gun: Maverick from the latter service).

Will we someday get a Top Gun 3 that further advance's the franchise's legacy? Tom Cruise has expressed optimism, but time will tell. We here at CinemaBlend are certainly paying attention to all chatter about the project, so stay tuned for all of the latest news and updates about the potential project.

Many franchises have gone back to the well and created sequels decades after the original, but none of them have seen the success that Top Gun: Maverick had. That film made a billion dollars during a period, that is still ongoing, and theatrical releases in general are not the sure things they once were. With numbers like that, it was no shock that nobody wanted to wait three decades to make another one. Top Gun 3 is in early development now, and one person as excited as me to potentially see the movie get made is Maverick co-star Jennifer Connelly.

The early word is that we can expect to see Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Glen Powell from the Top Gun: Maverick cast return if and when Top Gun 3 happens. The fate of other characters is certainly up in the air, but Jennifer Connelly says that she would love to return, as she had a blast making the last movie and is ready to do so again. She told ET… 

The good news for Connelly is that any sequel that gets made in the next couple of years will more than likely use more of the characters from the last movie, so there will probably be a place for her. Top Gun: Maverick introduced a lot of new characters who weren’t in the previous film, but considering the decades that had passed, that only made sense. If the sequel takes place only shortly after the last film, bringing most of the cast back makes equal sense.

Of course, just because work is being done on Top Gun 3 doesn’t mean it will happen. There were multiple attempts to make Top Gun 2 a thing in the years after the first movie made Tom Cruise a star, but the stars didn’t quite align. While Cruise himself always made it clear that he was interested in a sequel, what was also clear was that he wasn’t going to make it unless conditions were just right. 

Connelly, however, isn’t just sitting by the phone and waiting to see what happens with Top Gun 3. The actress admits she’s spoken to director Joe Kosinski, who is expected to return to direct Top Gun 3 if and when it happens. Connelly is close with the director, who previously directed her in Only the Brave, and the two have spoken about the next Top Gun. It sounds like things are very much still in the “wait and see” period. She continued…

At this point, it’s likely everybody is waiting on the Top Gun 3 script that Ehren Kruger is reportedly working on. Without a script, and one that everybody is on board with, there isn’t much of a path forward. Once they have that, however, it seems likely that Top Gun 3 will go into production as soon as possible. Fans and the studio both likely want this one in theaters soon.

A great movie is often made better by a great song. Often, those songs become huge hits on their own and have just as much, or more, of a legacy as the movie itself. Here is our list of 32 hit songs from movie soundtracks that still get played often. 

“My Heart Will Go On” (Titanic)

You can’t have this list without the massive Celine Dion hit “My Heart Will Go On” from another massive hit, Titanic. The song went to #1 in more than 25 countries worldwide and sold somewhere in the neighborhood of seven million copies. It made Dion an international superstar and remains a song people all over the world love. 

"Fight the Power" (Do the Right Thing)

Sometimes people forget that the Public Enemy track "Fight the Power" is from a soundtrack. The song by the pioneering hip hop crew has taken on a true life of its own with its strong social message and fantastic beat. It did, however, start life as part of the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s revolutionary Do the Right Thing, a movie the song fits perfectly in. 

“I Will Always Love You” (The Bodyguard)

Whitney Houston was a national treasure before her untimely death at age 48. Her biggest hit, “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard was written by another national treasure, Dolly Parton. The combination of the two proved to be immensely powerful and successful, as the song, and the soundtrack album it is on, dominated the charts for months, starting in late 1992. The album spent a total of 121 weeks on the charts, nearly two and a half years! 

“The Heat Is On” (Beverly Hills Cop)

The late Glenn Fry had a slew of hits with his original band, The Eagles, and in the ‘80s he had a bunch of solo hits as well. The most prominent being “The Heat Is On” on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. The opening notes crash into the opening scene of the movie and people have loved the song ever since. 

“Danger Zone” (Top Gun)

Kenny Loggins was soundtrack gold in the 1980s. He had huge hits in a number of movies including Caddyshack and Footloose, but maybe his most enduring hit is “Danger Zone” from the Top Gun soundtrack. It’s still so popular that the original version was used in Top Gun: Maverick rather than an updated version. Amazingly, it was offered to a number of artists before Loggins, but we can’t imagine anyone else singing it. 

"Happy" (Despicable Me 2)

Is there a more aptly named song than Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”? It’s a song that just makes you, well, happy. Like the movie it’s from, Despicable Me 2, it’s full of joy and you can’t not be in a good after watching the movie or listening to the song. It was an instant classic when it was released on the soundtrack and remains so today. 

"Sunflower" (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)

With over 2 billion views on YouTube, "Sunflower" by Post Malone and Swae Lee from the Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse soundtrack is a true earworm. It’s a song you can listen to over and over and never get sick of. Superhero movies don’t tend to produce a ton of hit songs, for whatever reason, but "Sunflower" is a huge exception. 

“9 To 5” (9 To 5)

There is no way to play Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5” and not immediately get motivated. If you ever feel low on energy, just pop this song, and bam! you’re off to the races. It’s a song you still hear all the time, despite coming out as part of the soundtrack to the movie of the same name more than 40 years ago. Dolly truly is the greatest, we think you’ll agree. 

“Stayin' Alive” (Saturday Night Fever)

The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was a cultural phenomenon in the late ‘70s. To this day it’s one of the best-selling albums of all time, with an estimated 40 million copies sold. The soundtrack, the sound of the ‘70s, was anchored by the now-legendary disco song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. The song was such a huge hit, that they named the sequel to Saturday Night Fever after it, though that’s a sequel we’d rather forget. 

“Gangsta Paradise” (Dangerous Minds)

The late Coolio’s hit "Gangsta Paradise" from the Dangerous Minds soundtrack is a great example of a song’s legacy far outlasting the movie’s. The movie, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, was a huge hit in 1995, but you have to wonder if the song drove more of the box office than the movie itself. It’s not a terrible movie by any means, but it's not surprising the song is more popular today than the film. 

“Ghostbusters” (Ghostbusters)

The tale of the signature song from the Ghostbusters soundtrack is long and sordid. There have been disputes and lawsuits along the way, but the Ray Parker, Jr. remains a banger and one that gets played all the time, especially at every Halloween party you’ve ever been to. The video is also legendary with all kinds of stars making cameos, and singing along with it. 

“Lose Yourself” (8 Mile)

Eminem’s legacy is cemented as one of the best rappers of all time. He also took a foray into acting for a bit, starring in the semi-autobiographical 8 Mile in 2002. It’s a good movie, though a little dated these days. The hit song from it, “Lose Yourself” is definitely not dated, however, and people still love listening to the hip hop anthem today. 

“I'm Alright” (Caddyshack)

Even in the 2020s, on golf courses all over the world, you will hear quotes and references to Caddyshack and that includes the theme song from the movie, “I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins. One of a slew of soundtrack hits for Loggins in the ‘80s, “I’m Alright” was the first to launch that part of the singer's career, and it’s kept him relevant for years, decades even. 

“You've Got A Friend In Me” (Toy Story)

Randy Newman is one of the truly underappreciated songwriters of the late 20th Century, but it’s really great to know that one of his songs, “You've Got A Friend In Me” from Pixar’s Toy Story, has become part of the American music lexicon. Generations of kids have now grown up singing the happy ditty and it will surely be a favorite for kids for generations more. The song, like the movie, will always find a new young audience.

“Let's Go Crazy” (Purple Rain)

Prince owned the mid-1980s with hits like “1999,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Controversy,” and more. In 1984 he took on the most ambitious project of his career, a movie called Purple Rain and the soundtrack to accompany it. The movie was a success, and the album was a full-blown blockbuster. There are a bunch of songs we could choose here, but by far the most fun is “Let’s Go Crazy.” The guitar solo at the end is one of the best ever played in pop music, period. 

“Don't You (Forget About Me)” (The Breakfast Club)

The Scottish band Simple Minds had been building a solid career for themselves in the U.K. in the early ‘80s but had not found any success breaking through in America. That was until 1985 when they were asked to record “Don't You (Forget About Me)” for the soundtrack to The Breakfast Club. The song was then, and remains, a true anthem of the decade. 

“Theme From Shaft” (Shaft)

To later generations, Isaac Hayes is probably best known as the voice of Chef on South Park, but for any film fan from the ‘70s, he’s the guy who wrote and recorded the soundtrack to the original Shaft. The whole soundtrack is filled with funky goodness, but the theme song remains the most iconic. It’s been referenced in pop culture all over the place, including in a very funny bit on Newsradio in the ‘90s and of course, in an episode of The Simpsons in Season 2. 

“Mrs. Robinson” (The Graduate)

It was pretty rare in the 1960s to get a pop group, or folk duo in this case, to do an entire film soundtrack, but in the case of The Graduate, it was a brilliant decision. Simon & Garfunkel wrote and recorded the soundtrack, which includes one of the best songs of the 20th century, “Mrs. Robinson.” In the years since it was released in 1968, it’s been covered by many other artists including Frank Sinatra and The Lemonheads, who had a big hit with it in the ‘90s. 

“(I've Had) The Time of My Life” (Dirty Dancing)

When it was released in 1987, Dirty Dancing grew its audience through word of mouth and people returned again and again, Like the movie, the final song of the film “(I've Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes gets people coming back to it over and over. It’s a beloved song for multiple generations. It even won the Oscar for Best Original Song, one of the most enduring songs to ever do so. 

“Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

Unless you already know that “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” by BJ Thomas is from Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid you’d never guess it. It seems so out of place, yet somehow works perfectly in the movie. The movie is an all-time great Western and the song feels straight out of the era the movie came out, the late ‘60s. It’s popular today to make period pieces with modern music, but it was a rarity then.

“Tears In Heaven” (Rush)

Eric Clapton’s plaintiff hit “Tears In Heaven” is a great example of a song far outshining the movie it was written for. Rush, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jason Patric is largely forgotten these days but the song, which Clapton wrote about his young son who tragically died, has endured for decades and is still a highlight of his live concerts. 

“Footloose” (Footloose)

Kenny Loggins just churned out hit after hit in the ‘80s. Most of them came from movies, like his iconic “Footloose” from the Kevin Bacon movie of the same name. The movie feels a little dated these days, but the song is a perfect moment in time that makes it, in fact, timeless. We dare you to try to not sing along and dance when you play it by yourself in the car. Go on, try. 

"Check On It" (The Pink Panther)

Let’s be honest, the 2006 version of The Pink Panther starring Steve Martin is mostly forgettable. The exception is co-star Beyonce and her banger of a hit “Check On It.” It’s vintage Beyonce and should be played at a high volume, as much as possible. It’s been far more enduring than the movie it came from. 

“Young And Beautiful” (The Great Gatsby)

One of the most striking things about Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby was the modern music set against the backdrop of 1920s America. The soundtrack is fantastic and Lana Del Ray’s "Young And Beautiful" is a song that people still love listening to today. 

“Eye Of The Tiger” (Rocky III)

One of the best songs to get you pumped up and psyched for…anything really… is “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor. Written as the theme song for Rocky III the song has since become the ultimate 1980s anthem and has been used in countless movies and TV shows, not to mention commercials and, of course, in sports stadiums all over the world.

"Crazy For You" (Vision Quest)

Did you know that the Madonna hit "Crazy For You"  is from a movie soundtrack? No? That’s not a surprise. The song was first released as part of the soundtrack for Vision Quest. The movie was nowhere near as big a hit as the song, which Madonna actually performs in the film. The song was so much more popular, in fact, that when the movie was released worldwide, the name was changed to Crazy For You in some countries. 

“We Don't Need Another Hero” (Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome)

The late Tina Turner had one of the most enduring careers in showbiz history.  One of her best appearances was in 1985’s Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Even more memorable was the song she recorded for the soundtrack, “We Don't Need Another Hero,” which became one of the biggest hits of her legendary career. 

“I Don't Want to Miss a Thing” (Armageddon)

Aerosmith has been one of the biggest bands in the world for decades now but their only #1 hit came from the Armageddon soundtrack. Despite multiple songs making their way into the Top 10, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” is the only one to hit the pinnacle for the Boston band. 

“Superfly” (Superfly)

Superfly is probably the most famous movie in the 1970s genre known as blaxploitation. While it’s a great movie that has a strong cult following, the soundtrack has endured even more, especially the theme song of the same name, written and performed by the great Curtis Mayfield. 

“Take My Breath Away” (Top Gun) 

It’s very rare for a soundtrack to have more than one hit, but the soundtrack for Top Gun had 3 Top Ten hits, with “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin reaching  #1. It also won the Oscar for Best Song and has become a staple of 80s music stations in the years since. 

“Power Of Love” (Back To The Future)

Huey Lewis and The News’ "Power Of Love" from “Back To The Future” just oozes great ‘80s power pop. One of the biggest hits of the band’s career, the song is even featured within the story of the movie when Marty McFly’s (Michael J. Fox) band, The Pinheads, play it in their audition for the battle of the bands before the judge, played by Huey Lewis, tells them it’s just too loud. It’s a song we’d all love to see The Pinheads play in real life, right?

“Wing Beneath My Wings” (Beaches)

Bette Midler’s biggest hit came fairly deep into her amazing career when she hit it huge with the theme song from her movie Beaches. Midler has continued to sing it often, including at a memorial for 9/11 victims in 2001 at Yankee Stadium, just days after the attack. The movie, while good, isn’t on the same level as the song. 

So here's our list of songs that are at least as enduring as the movies they come from. There's no doubt in the years to come, more tunes will emerge like these because we all love songs like this. 

Everyone — from some of the greatest action movie heroes to even some of the funniest sitcom protagonists — needs a friend by their side to help them out of a jam or just to keep their spirits up. For that reason, we love a good sidekick, and the following are some of our all-time favorites from the big and small screen.

Short Round (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)

Ke Huy Quan's young companion to Harrison Ford's titular hero in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom said it best: "... you listen to me more, you live longer!" You could even argue that Short Round is the true hero of the 1984 sequel for his bravery in breaking an enchanted Indy's spell and his brave help rescuing kidnapped children from the Thuggee cult.

Robin (Batman)

Despite the campy nature of the character, there might not be a more iconic iteration of Robin than Burt Ward's '60s-era portrayal. His sharp wit, outstanding courage, and loyalty to Adam West's Batman in the series and theatrical spin-off make him just as important to Gotham City's safety.

Chewbacca (Star Wars)

Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is not quite the "lead" character of the original Star Wars movies, but he and his furry companion, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), absolutely steal the show. The Millennium Falcon pilot and the Wookiee represent the strongest kinds of friendships in which one understands the other, literally, better than anyone else could.

George Costanza (Seinfeld)

Loyalty, support, compassion (yada, yada, yada) are attributes of an honorable sidekick, but not George Costanza (Jason Alexander). In fact, in many of the best episodes of Seinfeld, he is often relying on Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) to help him out. Nevertheless, despite all the times the comedian could have justifiably shunned George out of his life, the pair maintain a friendship is one of the few endearing things about the cynical sitcom. 

Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Top Gun)

We cannot think of a more bromantic dynamic from the 1980s than the personal and professional relationship between Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his RIO, Goose (Anthony Edwards), in Top Gun. Maverick could have never asked for a better wingman, which makes his untimely death (after his head hit the jet canopy during ejection), one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in cinema.

Ethel Mertz (I Love Lucy)

Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) would have had even more splainin' to do if not for her landlady and best friend, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), helping her out of trouble on occasion. Some of the best episodes of I Love Lucy see them going on crazy adventures together, such as when they got a job at a chocolate factory with a high-speed conveyor belt.

Ron Weasley And Hermione Granger (Harry Potter Movies)

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) may have been the titular wizard, but the film franchise inspired by the hit young adult fantasy book series was really about a trio. The Boy Who Lived could not have asked for a better and more loyal pair of friends to help him contend with deadly forces surrounding Hogwarts than Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).

Barney Fife (The Andy Griffith Show)

When it comes to being Mayberry's deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts in his scene-stealing role from The Andy Griffith Show) certainly has his shortcomings. When it comes to being a friend to his Sheriff, Andy Taylor (Griffith), and a dedicated resident of the town, he could not be more perfect.

Dr. Emmett Brown (Back To The Future)

The only real reason we count Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown as a sidekick is because he gets second billing to Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly in the time travel movie masterpiece, Back to the Future, and its sequels. In any other story, the out-of-time teen would be considered the second banana to the brilliant, yet eccentric, inventor of the modified DeLorean who is ultimately responsible for Marty's successful trip back to 1985. 

Genie (Aladdin)

The only other genie-master dynamic in pop culture history that we might compare Aladdin (Scott Weinger) and Genie (Robin Williams) from Disney's 1992 animated classic to is Jeannie and the Captain from I Dream of Jeannie. The big, blue, highly energetic magical being grants wishes to the title character not just out of obligation, but because he genuinely likes the poor young man, who kindly offers to wish for his freedom at the end.

Dr. John Watson (Sherlock Holmes)

Watson is more than just the narrator of the mysterious adventures of Sherlock Holmes. As one can see in Guy Ritchie's film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and the modern-day reimagining, Sherlock, the world-famous detective's flatmate and companion — also a war veteran — plays a pivotal role in all his many investigations.

Gromit (Wallace & Gromit Franchise)

There are many cases in which the sidekick proves to be the true brains behind the operation and the canine half of the world-famous stop-motion animated duo of Wallace & Gromit is one of the most essential examples of this. The silent, but notably expressive, beagle is often the one who gets himself and his bumbling human companion (an absent-minded inventor) out of trouble.

Garth Algar (Wayne's World)

Behind every great TV host is a great sidekick and the Ed McMahon to Wayne Campbell's (Mike Myers) Johnny Carson is Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) in. Despite his awkward characteristics, the blonde metalhead is really the glue that holds their cable access program, Wayne’s World, together in the original SNL sketch and movies it inspired in 1992 and 1993.

Cameron Frye (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

When you really think about it, while Matthew Broderick’s fourth-wall-breaking character is the titular protagonist of 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the true heart, soul, and center of the story is his best friend, Cameron Frye. In fact, it is Alan Ruck’s neurotic teen who inspires Ferris to skip school and tour Chicago in the first place and it is his emboldened transformation by the end that makes their risky adventure worth it.

Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

The personal and professional relationship between chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is one of the most problematic in TV history, to say the least. However, in spite of their frequent conflicts, Jesse has been known to support his business partner (and vice versa) when they both stood in the face of the same greater dangers in some of the best episodes of Breaking Bad.

Donkey (Shrek)

A protagonist does not always come to appreciate (or even like) their sidekick in an instant, such as in the first of the Shrek movies when Donkey (Eddie Murphy) crosses paths with the titular ogre (Mike Myers). Luckily, after enduring a perilous journey rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) together, Shrek came to see the talkative animal as a true friend… who still gets on his nerves on occasion.

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) takes his position as Assistant to the Region Manager a little too seriously at times, exhibiting a loyalty to Michael Scott (Steve Carell) that the absent-minded manager for Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch does not always deserve. However, that is what made the beet-farming, bobblehead collector more than a great colleague, but a great friend, and a perfect choice to take over the branch when The Office ended.

Igor (Young Frankenstein)

Among the different iterations of Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s lab assistant, Igor, we are partial to Marty Feldman’s portrayal (who pronounces it “eye-gore”) in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. He and Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (who initially pronounces it “fronk-en-steen”) make a lively comedic duo in, with the 1974 horror-comedy classic, whether he is making a grave mistake or spouting a one-of-a-kind one-liner.

Samwise Gamgee (The Lord Of The Rings Movies)

One does simply walk into Mordor, especially without a selfless, loyal, and honest companion at their side. It is a good thing that Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) found exactly that in his best friend and gardener, fellow hobbit Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) during his mission to defeat the One Ring in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal fantasy novels.

Spock (Star Trek)

The one character whom every fan of the original Star Trek series wanted to be more than Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was his second-in-command, Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Also serving as the USS Enterprise’s science officer, the Vulcan was not one to be messed with (immediately knocking people out with his signature nerve pitch), but was still a kind and gentle soul who was always sure to let Captain Kirk know when any of his calls were “highly illogical.”

Silent Bob (Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse)

Not every sidekick needs to crack jokes or provide words of encouragement to make an impression on their buddy or their audience. Case in point: Silent Bob — the “hetero life mate” to motor mouth Jay (Jason Mewes) whom Kevin Smith casts himself as in most of his movies (including Clerks and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back), in which he does have at least one amusing to say.

Barney Rubble (The Flintstones)

While Wilma Flintstone was always putting her husband in his place for his bone-headed ideas, at Fred’s side helping him along the way is his best pal, Barney. You could argue that Mr. Rubble was even closer and more loyal to his friend and neighbor than his own wife, Betty, and son, Bamm-Bamm.

Bubba (Forrest Gump)

A good friend like Benjamin Buford Blue, better known as “Bubba” (Mykelti Williamson), is not something you can find just around the corner, but Tom Hanks’ Academy Academy Award-winning title role from 1994’s Forrest Gump, certainly did. Their brotherly bond was formed and tragically ended during the Vietnam War, during which Bubba passed away, but Forrest kept his promise to him to go into the shrimping business and put his name in the company title: Bubba Gump Shrimp.

Agent 99 (Get Smart)

Bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) is no James Bond, which is why it is good that he had a partner like Agent 99 to help him on missions to stop KAOS. Played by Barbara Feldon on creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry’s spy comedy series, Get Smart, 99 is easily the more competent member of the duo, let alone of the best agent at CONTROL.

Dory (Finding Nemo)

In the beloved Pixar movie, 2003's Finding Nemo, the over-protective clown fish, Marlin (Albert Brooks), would have never been able to find his eponymous son (Alexander Gould) without the help of his newfound friend, Dory (Ellen Degeneres). As we also come to find out, Marlin's friendship is what helped improve her memory, making them a duo for the ages.

Ed Norton (The Honeymooners)

One of the best qualities of most sidekicks is acting as their friend’s conscience and pointing them in the right direction, but that is not quite the case for Ed Norton (Art Carney). The sewer worker not only went along with but even encouraged most of the schemes hatched by his neighbor, Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) on The Honeymooners.

Randy Hickey (My Name Is Earl)

My Name is Earl is the sitcom that tells the story of a man (Jason Lee) hoping to better his life by making amends for the terrible things he has done in the past. Helping him along the way is his simple-minded, but good-natured, younger brother, Randy (Ethan Suplee), who admirably looked up to Earl even when he was still a troublemaker.

Duckie (Pretty In Pink)

Some sidekicks do not receive the attention or admiration from their companion that they desire and Philip F. “Duckie” Dale (Jon Cryer) from Pretty in Pink is a textbook example of this. However, at the end of the John Hughes-penned 1986 coming-of-age favorite, Duckie encourages his life-long friend, Andie (Molly Ringwald), to choose Blane (Andrew McCarthy) over him, and such a love is stronger than any high school romance.

Lane Kim (Gilmore Girls)

Not enough sidekicks are treated like true family, making Lane Kim (Keiko Agena) on Gilmore Girls a heartwarming rarity. Not only does the witty punk rock drummer boast a strong sisterly bond with Rory (Alexis Bledel), but Lorelai (Lauren Graham) treats her almost like a second daughter.

Patrick Star (SpongeBob Squarepants)

Jacques Cousteau would have to search the entire deep blue sea before he could find a friendship between two marine animals as impenetrable as that of SpongeBob Squarepants (Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke). A moment that best summarizes their bond is when the Krusty Krab fry cook asks the unemployed starfish what he does whenever he is away from home, to which he tearfully responds, “Wait for you to come back.”

Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski)

A prime example of a sidekick who almost always leads the protagonist into more trouble is John Goodman’s Walter Sobchak from the Coen Brothers’ hilarious 1998 cult favorite, The Big Lebowski. However, despite his misguided ideas and potential pathological dishonesty — did he really serve in Vietnam? — the avid bowler’s willingness to help The Dude (Jeff Bridges) through his ins, outs, and what-have-yous, and even on Shabbos, is still quite admirable.

Pedro Sanchez (Napoleon Dynamite)

Jon Heder’s title role in 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite is so awkward and perfidious that he has trouble making friends (and even relating to his own family) until he meets Pedro Sanchez (Efren Ramirez). The friendship quickly proves to be a match made in heaven, leading to some of the funniest and most heartwarming moments in the high school movie genre’s history.

We wish we had people like these in our lives to be at our side and give us a kick when we need it.

If you grew up anytime from the 1950s to the 1980s, The Cold War was omnipresent. Bomb drills, proxy wars, and fear of a nuclear apocalypse were on everyone's minds, pretty much all the time. It was a scary time, to be sure, but it also produced some great movies. This is a list of all those great movies that couldn't have happened without The Cold War and the fear of the Soviets. 

The Hunt For Red October

Nothing sums up the Cold War quite like a good Tom Clancy story, and The Hunt For Red October is one of the author's best, and Sean Connery's performance as a Soviet submarine captain equals it. It was also the first book to get turned into a film, though it was ironically released in 1990, just months after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

Oppenheimer

While 2023's Oppenheimer is partly about the development of the bomb during World War II, before the Cold War, the portrayal of the Red Scare and J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) having his security clearance taken away for being a suspected communist fits firmly in the Cold War era. 

The Spy Who Loved Me

In a way, almost every James Bond movie from Dr. No to A View To A Kill is Cold War adjacent, at least. In The Spy Who Loved Me, however, Bond (Roger Moore) is pursued by Soviet agents in the beginning, and then teams up with a KGB agent, Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) to thwart the evil Stromberg's plans for world domination over both countries. 

Bridge Of Spies

There is no more true example of a Cold War movie on this list than Bridge Of Spies. For starters, it's based on a true story about a prisoner exchange between the US and the USSR, including one very famous U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell). The movie takes place during one of the "hottest" moments of the Cold War, when tensions were almost boiling over. 

WarGames

By the 1980s, the Cold War was so ubiquitous in American life that even teen romance movies took place with the backdrop of potential nuclear war. WarGames, with Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, is the best example of this, as Brodderick's character unwittingly almost starts World War III. 

Dr. Strangelove

Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb depicts the epitome of Cold War nuclear missile madness. The obscurity of it all is presented in such a perfect way, that if this had been the only Cold War movie, it would tell the whole story. 

The Right Stuff

There may not be any nukes in The Right Stuff, but it has to be on any list of Cold War movies. The space race was a major component of the competition between the USA and the USSR. the specter of the Soviets looms over everything in the movie, and the true story it is based on. 

Charlie Wilson's War

One of the biggest aspects of the Cold War was the proxy wars that the two superpowers fought and supported. The Soviets provided weapons and support for the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War and the US supported the Afghan Mujahidin after the USSR invaded Afghanistan. Charlie Wilson's War shows the CIA's support and how Congress funded the US's allies in the war. 

Stripes

Cold War movies aren't all serious, though. Stripes has one of the best lines in the history of war movies, when Winger (Bill Murray) explains that invading Czechoslovakia is like invading Wisconsin. It's not Moscow! 

Red Dawn

Director John Milius' Cold War fever dream, Red Dawn, depicts an actual hot war between East and West, with nothing but a group of high schoolers fighting off the Russians and Cubans. It's a ridiculous movie, but it's still a classic for anyone who grew up in the 1980s. It's also remembered for being the first movie ever rated PG-13. 

By Dawn's Early Light

HBO's By Dawn's Early Light brings to bear all of our worst fears of a Soviet first strike in a nuclear attack and the holocaust that could happen after such an event. With an all-star cast that includes James Earl Jones, Martin Landau, Powers Boothe, Rebecca De Mornay, Darren McGavin, and Rip Torn, it's a much better movie than it's remembered for being. 

Gotcha!

1985 Gotcha! is a really fun movie about a college student (Anthony Edwards) who unwittingly finds himself in the middle of a Cold War dispute when he falls in love with who he thinks is a Czechoslovakian woman (Linda Fiorentino), but finds out later something very different. It also features a great scene at the infamous Checkpoint Charlie in a divided Berlin. 

Spies Like Us

Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd star as bumbling would-be spies in Spies Like Us who find themselves in the middle of the Cold War when the CIA sends them out as patsies, but they end up the heroes anyway. 

Thirteen Days

It's been said that the closest the USSR and the USA came to actually fighting a real war was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was a terrifying moment that was really well chronicled in Thirteen Days with Bruce Greenwood playing President Kennedy and Kevin Costner as one of his closest advisors. 

Good Night, And Good Luck

One of the more fascinating aspects of the Cold War didn't really involve the Russians directly. McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the 1950s show just how scared some American politicians were of the influence of communism around the world and at home. Good Night, And Good Luck brings the Red Scare to life on the big screen, explaining it to a younger generation that didn't remember it directly. 

Miracle

The geopolitics of the Cold War were so pervasive that they even reached sporting events, like the 1980 Winter Olympics. Miracle tells the true story of the underdog 1980 US Olympic hockey team who beat the mighty Soviets in Lake Placid, eventually winning the Gold Medal. It was much more than just a hockey game. 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Although most of the movies on this list involve the United States, in a very real way, Europe was the front line in the Cold War. The dividing line between East and West ran right down the middle of the continent and the Brits were very much involved in fighting the espionage battle, as depicted (fictionally) in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 

The Shape Of Water

Guillermo del Toro's The Shape Of Water adds a love story and some science fiction to the commentary on the Cold War.  Sally Hawkins plays a cleaning lady who discovers that her facility is conducting experiments on a humanoid amphibian to get a leg up on the Soviets in the '60s. It's a weird movie, and one you wouldn't expect to incorporate the Cold War, but that's what makes the subject so fascinating. 

The Good Shepherd

Director Robert De Niro's spy movie The Good Shepherd, starring Matt Damon tells the largely fictionalize-but-based-on-a-true-story tale of Edward Wilson (Damon) and the creation of the art and science of counterintelligence at the CIA, which before the events in the movie, did not really exist. 

Crimson Tide

The Cold War reached right down to the men and women on the front of the conflict, especially those on a nuclear submarine like the one Gene Hackman's character captains in Crimson Tide. While the movie is fictional, it's not hard to believe something like it, a conflict between two officers (Hackman and Denzel Washington) over the launching nukes, could have happened in real life. 

Rocky IV

Rocky IV is pure, unadulterated pro-America jingoism, but that doesn't mean it's a bad movie. It's over-the-top and ridiculous, sure, but it actually does capture how many Americans felt in Reagan's America, that we had the Soviets on the ropes and we were one knockout punch away from winning. It turns out, that wasn't far off in 1985 when the movie came out. 

K-19: The Widowmaker

Harrison Ford plays a Soviet submarine captain in K-19: The Widowmaker and if you think that sounds ridiculous, you're only partly correct. The title, and a brief description, make the movie sound insane, and it is, but it's also kind of great. Ford pulls off the role and director Kathryn Bigelow someone makes the crazy premise work. It's the sort-of-true story of the captain of the first Soviet nuclear sub and it's fun, if far from perfect.  

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind is a bonkers movie, supposedly based on the bonkers life story of Chuck Barris, the original host of The Gong Show and, at least according to him in his autobiography, a spy against the Soviets during the Cold War. Whether or not you believe Barris (most don't), the movie is a really fun watch. 

Spy Game

You can't go wrong with a team of Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, and director Tony Scott and while Spy Game isn't the best movie for any of them, it's still a wonderful movie. Though it's set a couple years after the Cold War ended, much of the movie happens in a flashback to 1970s East Berlin, setting it firmly in the heart of the quiet conflict. 

No Way Out

No Way Out is pure 1980s Cold War. Kevin Costner plays a Navy officer who gets involved with another officer's girlfriend, played by Gene Hackman and Sean Young, respectively. Costner's character is also working for the CIA, looking for a mole, who is suspected to be Hackman's character. There is a murder, and everyone is trying to pin it on everyone else, so the movie is kind of all over the place, but it's still a classic. 

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

Author John le Carre wrote some of the best Cold War spy fiction of his day and the movie The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is based on one his best books. The great Richard Burton stars as a British spy who is sent to East Germany as a double agent, to help spread misinformation through the Warsaw Pact countries. Released in 1965 when tensions were high, it's a spy movie classic. 

Firefox

To be fair, Firefox, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood is really a heist movie disguised as a Cold War movie. Eastwood's character, whose mother is Russian, is charged with infiltrating the Soviet Union and stealing a cutting edge jet fighter plane. It's everything you would expect from a military movie made in the 1980s. 

Top Gun

In Top Gun Maverick and the boys might not have been fighting the Russians, but make no mistake, the movie was, in a real way, fighting the Russians by getting America fired up about its own military. The movie, made with the help of the Defense Department, is awesome, to be sure, but it's also a piece of serious Cold War propaganda. 

X-Men: First Class

The X-Men, both in the comics and in their on-screen story, began in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, so it makes sense that both sides would be interested in recruiting the mutants for their powers. This is central to the origin story film X-Men: First Class. Professor X and Magneto both go to work for the CIA in the movie, infiltrating the Soviet Union to rescue other mutants. 

Atomic Blonde

released in 2017, but set just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Atomic Blonde tells the story of an MI6 agent, played by Charlize Theron, sent to recover a stolen file containing "The List" of the names of all the spies in Berlin. Lorraine (Theron) is one of the best agents MI6 has... or is she?

Little Nikita

Decades before The Americans came Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix in Little Nikita, about a teenager (Phoenix) who is told he isn't who he thinks he is, and that his parents, unbeknownst to him, are Soviet spies raising him as an American. If you were a kid in the '80s, this was something you actually worried about. For real. 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. from the early '60s was an early attempt by television to bring Cold War espionage into the homes of Americans. The 2015 movie, set in the early '60s, doesn't set the Soviets as the bad guys, instead, East and West team up to take out their old foes, Nazis. 

Salt

Angelina Jolie stars in Salt as a suspected Russian sleeper agent, after she grew up in the USSR, but works now for the CIA. While it's not set during the Cold War, it has heavy Cold War overtones. It might as well be the US versus USSR, rather than the US vs. Russia as it's presented. 

It's safe to say that these won't be the final say on the Cold War on film. With so many stories to tell over the decades-long standoff, filmmakers will certainly continue to mine it for great ideas and exciting stories. 

Mistakes happen. We're all human, including the most talented people in Hollywood, and we all make them. Given how huge some productions are, and the coordination it takes to make a big Hollywood movie, it's actually amazing more mistakes don't happen. When they do sneak through into a final product, you can be sure people will talk about them, so here are some of the errors we're still thinking about, even years later. 

Pretty Woman's Ever Changing Breakfast

One of the most famous continuity errors in Hollywood history has to be the now-infamous breakfast scene in Pretty Woman. When Vivian (Julia Roberts) sits down for breakfast, she picks up a croissant and starts to eat it. A couple of seconds later, the scene cuts back to her and she takes a bite of a...pancake. Then after another cut, she takes the same bit of a clearly different pancake. 

Han's Hands In The Empire Strikes Back

Han Solo (Harrison Ford) being frozen in carbonite is one of the most iconic scenes in film history, and yet, there is something that just doesn't make sense. When Han is led to the machine and lowered into it, his hands are tied at the wrist in front of him and his arms are tied to his side. When his frozen body emerges, his hands are separated at his side. 

Oppenheimer Flags With Too Many Stars

Even Best Picture winners can have mistakes, but this one, as some fan theories pose, may have been intentional. In one scene, Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). In one scene in the movie, Oppenheimer is being cheered on by people waving American flags that have 50 stars on them, but in 1945, when the scene takes place, there were only 48 stars on the flag. Some have argued that this was intentional on director Christopher Nolan's part, as the story is being told by Oppenheimer in the future. 

The Octopus In The Goonies

The Goonies is a classic, and one line has confounded viewers for decades. At the end of the movie as the kids are recounting their adventures to the reporters, Data (Ke Huy Quan) tells them that "the octopus was really scary." What octopus you might ask? Well, in a deleted scene the Goonies do encounter an octopus, but it was cut from the final version. 

The Fake Baby In American Sniper

Practical effects can make things look more realistic, or, as in the case of a swaddled baby in American Sniper, very fake. In one scene Bradley Cooper holds his character's "baby" in his arms, clearly using a level to move the prop and make it look real. 

Dorothy's Black Shoes In The Wizard Of Oz

Everyone would agree that Dorothy's ruby slippers in The Wizard Of Oz are among the most iconic movie props in history, they are even in the Smithsonian. Yet, in the scene where she is picking apples, she's wearing ordinary black shoes. 

The Holdovers Has Modern Cars

The Holdovers was one of the best movies of 2023, though it was set in 1970 and 1971. Whenever a movie is filming exterior shots for period pieces, there is a risk of missing something in the background, and in The Holdovers, it was modern cars parked on the side of the road in Boston. 

Braveheart Car

Braveheart doesn't have the best reputation for accuracy among historians, but even the most stringent critic can forgive the fact that for a brief moment, really no more than a single frame, there is clearly a car behind the Scottish soldiers. 

Jacob's Moving Tattoo In Twilight

This one seems pretty easy to mess up, and it's fairly minor, but still. In the Twilight series, Jacob (Taylor Lautner) has a tattoo that migrates up and down his arm. The tat, obviously a temp for the movie, starts high on his shoulder but later is closer to his bicep. This is a little pedantic, sure, but you can also be sure that people who watch the movie over and over notice it every time. 

The Dark Rises...And Misspells Things

I before E, except after C and in sounding like...heist. We'll be the first to admit that the English language has some strange rules that don't always apply, which is why it's easy enough to excuse the crew on The Dark Knight Rises for misspelling the word "HEIST" in a newspaper headline, spelling it "HIEST." 

The Klutzy Storm Trooper In Star Wars

One of the most infamous movie mistakes comes from one of the biggest movies of all time. The case of the klutzy stormtrooper in the original Star Wars is one of the most inadvertently funny moments in Hollywood history. It's so funny that later versions of the movie added in a sound effect to draw attention to the mistake. 

The Ben-Hur Wrist Watch

1959's Ben-Hur is one of the great epics from Hollywood's golden age. The huge set pieces and hundreds of extras make for an amazing watch. With all that going on, especially in the film's famous chariot race scene, it's understandable that the crew would miss that one of the actors driving a chariot was wearing his wristwatch. 

Van Ant-Man And Giant Ant-Man

Even blockbusters with huge budgets sometimes overlook stuff. Case in point: Avengers: Endgame. The end of Endgame is one of the greatest moments in the history of the MCU, it's an epic battle that includes every Avenger battling Thanos and his army. It's so big, that there are even two Ant-Mans. One Ant-Man is busy trying to hotwire his van, but when it cuts to the wide shot of the battle, there is giant Ant-Man battling it out with his Avenger buddies in the background. Oops. 

De Niro To Dummy In Casino

Martin Scorsese's Casino is an amazing movie, but there is one thing that eagle-eyed viewers catch every time they watch it. In the scene when Robert De Niro's character's car is blown up in an attempt to kill him, there is a cut just moments before the explosion where the actor has clearly been replaced by a dummy. At least no De Niros were hurt in the making of the film. 

Cardboard Cut-Out In Three Men And A Baby

This one goes back decades. For years, there were even rumors of a ghost on the set of Three Men and A Baby when a cardboard cut-out prop was left in the wrong place on set. The prop, seen behind a curtain in a scene with Ted Danson was clearly not supposed to be there, and in the days before we all had the ability to freeze-frame everything, the rumor spread like wildfire. 

Bullet Holes In Pulp Fiction

While Pulp Fiction certainly plays with time and reality in some ways, one way Quentin Tarantino probably didn't mean to is with the bullet holes in the wall of the apartment at the beginning after Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) shoots Brett (Frank Whaley) but before he gets shot at. If you look closely, you can see there are suddenly holes in the wall behind Jules, holes that wouldn't be there until Brett's friend shoots at Jules. 

Clueless Car Crash

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her friends are not very good drivers in Clueless. While taking her driver's exam in her brand new Jeep, Cher attempts to change lanes and sideswipes a parked car, taking off her side mirror. Literally moments later, she pulls the Jeep over and the mirror is miraculously back where it belongs. It's a Beverly Hills miracle. 

An Explosive Gas Canister In Gladiator

Period pieces, especially those set in ancient times, are susceptible to missing more modern objects in the frame. Take one of the best ever, Gladiator for example, when a chariot crashes at the Coliseum and a gas canister is exposed, hidden underneath, presumable to help propel the prop. 

A Car In The Shire In LOTR: Fellowship Of The Ring

J.R.R. Tolkien probably didn't intend for there to be cars in the Shire in Lord of the Rings, yet, there is one. In a wide shot, as Sam and Frodo are just starting out on their journey in Fellowship Of The Ring, in the top right of the screen, there is a clearly visible car driving down a dirt road in the background. If they had hitched a ride, it would've made for a much shorter trilogy. The car has since been edited out of later versions. 

Dorothy's Hair

Hairstyles can be especially tricky sometimes, and this is very evident in The Wizard of Oz as the length of Dorothy's pigtails changes a number of times throughout the movie. 

Keeping Them Separated In Raiders 

Sometimes, the mistakes we focus on aren't really mistakes, but they aren't perfect filmmaking, either. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) famously hates snakes. When he falls into the pit of snakes in the Egyptian desert, a cobra rises up to strike. Luckily for Indy, there is clearly (ahem, pun intended) a piece of plexiglass between him and the snake. It was edited out of later versions. 

Tran's Shirt In The Fast And The Furious

No one has ever called the Fast franchise high art, that's not the point. Like many films that are high art, however, there are mistakes. Like in the original The Fast And The Furious, when Tran is in his car ready to drag race. First, he's wearing a black t-shirt, then, right before the race starts, he's suddenly wearing a black tank top. It got really hot, really quickly. 

JFK's Clothes In Forrest Gump

Even in black and white, audiences know when the color of a costume changes. Or, in this case, two different videos of John F. Kennedy were used when Forrest Gump "met" the former president. His suit and tie are clearly two different colors, one darker than the other, in the clips. 

Let There Be Light In Gone With The Wind

During the Civil War, it was reasonable to expect to see gas lamps on the streets of Atlanta. What you wouldn't expect, or even know about, are electric lamps like the ones mistakenly used in the movie. Thomas Edison was only about 17 years old at the time. 

Horse Kick In The Last Samurai

Sometimes what is funny to us, was probably no laughing matter on the set. In a calvary scene in The Last Samurai, there is clearly a moment when an extra gets kicked by a horse as Tom Cruise's character rides in. Ouch. But funny. 

The Sweeper In Quantum Of Solace

Finding good extras is never easy. Take, for example, the case of the phantom sweeper in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. In a scene with Bond on a pier, there is an extra in the background meant to be a worker on the docks. He's sweeping with a big broom, but that's not enough to keep his job, as he's just sweeping air. 

The Cop In Two Places Batman Begins

In Batman Begins, either every cop looks exactly the same, or one actor was used to play two different cops, or in Christopher Nolan's Gotham City, one person can be in two places as once. Come to think of it, with Nolan involved, maybe this was on purpose?

The Cowboy Pirate Of The Caribbean

If you saw a cowboy and a pirate together at a Halloween party, you wouldn't think twice about it. When you see a pirate amongst the pirates in Pirates Of The Caribbean, you know it's a mistake, but that's what happened in Curse of the Black Pearl when it appears a crew member was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. 

A Parsec Is Not A Measure Of Time, Han! 

One of the all-time classic nerd-out moments comes in the original Star Wars when Han Solo famously tells Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) that he did the Kessel Run in  "less than 12 parsecs!" Unfortunately for Han, parsecs are a measure of distance, so it tells Obi-Wan nothing about how fast the Millennium Falcon is. 

Buddy The Elf Isn't The Worst Dresser in Elf

Sure, Buddy's suit in Elf stands out among the throngs on the streets of New York, but in one scene, there is an extra with a way a worse sense of fashion, as he has buttoned his suit jacket to his overcoat. We've all had mornings like that though. 

Maverick's Sunglass In Top Gun

Tom Cruise made Ray Ban Aviators the hottest glasses of the 1980s by wearing them in the original Top Gun. Maverick's glasses, however, are magical, as one of the last scenes of movie, when he Iceman (Val Kilmer) confronts him to tell him he can be his wingman anytime, Maverick takes off the glasses. Then they hug, and Slider (Rossovich) picks Maverick up and, like magic, the glasses are back on. 

Where Is Ben Going In The Graduate?

Sometimes movies have to do things that automatically make the mistakes to be more cinematic. Like in The Graduate when Ben (Dustin Hoffman) is supposed to driving to Berkeley on the Bay Bridge, but he's clearly on the top deck, which only heads the other direction, towards San Francisco. Obviously, it makes for the better shot than with a deck above him in his awesome Alfa Romeo, but it's still the wrong way.