The love life of Tom Cruise could itself make for a Hollywood blockbuster. Born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on the 3rd of July 1962, the American actor and producer got his start at age 19 in 1981 in the film Endless Love.
Originally, Cruise had aspired to become a Catholic priest after he was awarded a church scholarship at a Franciscan seminary. However, given Cruise’s love for the ladies, acting it seemed was best suited for a man of his talents.
Lucky With The Ladies
Cruise’s breakthrough film was the romantic comedy Risky Business in 1983, in a starring role.
His co-star from the film, actor Curtis Armstrong, revealed that Cruise killed time by entertaining local young women, “…young girls — late teens — lined up in the hall outside of Tom's room,” he writes in his memoir.
In total Cruise has been married and divorced three times with several high-profile relationships before, and after each marriage and subsequent divorce.
Click next to see if you can name them all:
Locking Lips With Locklear
Heather Locklear revealed that she went on a date with Tom Cruise in the early 80s right after he made his big screen debut in Taps which had come out in 1981. Locklear described to Chelsea Handler on Chelsea Lately that she first saw Cruise’s famous dancing moves which he would showcase later in Risky Business, while at a club with the young actor.
“You know in Risky Business where he does that dance in his underwear, and he does the splits?” Heather recalled. “We were dancing at a club and he went into that, he started doing the splits. You just kinda stand there and don't know what to do. Do you dance around him? So I was like, ‘I'll just sit down and you can .’”
Little Love On The Prairie
Cruise is believed to have dated Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert during his early Hollywood years. According to the actress, the couple met while “he was a struggling starving actor, and I was working. I actually bought him his first set of dishes.”
Gilbert also admitted to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live! In 2014 that the couple never went all the way physically, although “we made out”. She said Cruise was a good kisser.
Risky Business
Cruise seems to bring his A-game to the set as he developed a romantic relationship with his co-star early on in his career. On the set of Risky Business, actress Rebecca De Mornay and Cruise had a steamy affair which was well-known among the crew.
At the time De Mornay was 24 years old, while Cruise was 21. To add to the controversy, De Mornay was at the time in a relationship with actor Harry Dean Stanton who was himself 33 years her senior. The on-screen chemistry was certainly felt off screen as well.
De Mornay, however, told People in October 1983 that she didn't have a boyfriend and one of the reasons she liked Cruise so much was, “I think he is an innocent person and that makes me feel good.”
Selective Interpretation
Due to Cruises upbringing in a religious household, he was said to be “born-again Christian” by his Risky Business co-star Curtis Armstrong. “He had actually considered shepherding souls for a living,” wrote Armstrong in his memoir.
When asked if he would like to join the guys for a drink at the bar, Tom once responded, “I like to read the Bible a little before bed.” Cruise said reading the scriptures helped keep him “on the right track”.
However, when it came to love and ladies, Cruise was more flexible about its interpretation. Beginning with his affair with Rebecca De Mornay, it soon became evident Cruise had a sparkle for older women.
Tommy & Cher
Following his relationship we De Mornay, Cruise briefly dated singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa who was nine years his senior in 1985. It was around this time the actor had a fling with singer Cher. Cruise was 23 at the time while Cher was 39. “I was crazy about him,” Cher told Oprah Winfrey
“He was shy. He said he felt like such a boob in school and nobody talked to him. We went on a date once for dinner in a New York restaurant and the waitress was from his old school. He told me she never talked to him back in school, but now he was recognized he got all her attention. It could have been a great big romance because I was crazy for him.”
In 2013 on Watch What Happens Live! in 2013, Cher said Cruise definitely made her “top five” list of lovers in life. “I loved him though, he was amazing,” she added.
Marriage To Mimi
After Cruise’s relationship with Cher, he met Gung Ho actress Mimi Rogers at a dinner party in 1985 while Cruise was filming Top Gun. Despite the fact Rogers was dating one of Cruise’s friends at the time, the two ultimately got together and tied the knot on May 9. 1987 in upstate New York. At the time Cruise was going on 25, while Rogers was 31.
Fellow actor and friend, Emilio Estevez was Cruise’s best man, while his mother, Mary Lee South, told People magazine that her new daughter-in-law was “top notch”.
Introduction To Scientology
This marked Rogers second marriage, having been previously married to Scientology counselor Jim Rogers from 1976 to 1980. It is widely believed Rogers is the one who introduced Cruise to Scientology taking him under her wing. Furthermore, Rogers’ father, Phil Spickler, was an incredibly close friend of the founding father of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard.
As such, Rogers was a respected auditor in Scientology which meant he was qualified to ask a parishioner questions which they were required to respond honestly, without judgment from the auditor. Although Rogers would later Scientology, Cruise fascination with the religion was only just beginning.
Her Instrument Needed Tuning
Tom Cruise’s marriage to Mimi Rogers didn’t last long, however, as the couple announced their divorce in early 1990 in a joint statement, “While there have been very positive aspects to our marriage, there were some issues which could not be resolved even after working on them for a period of time.”
In a 1993 interview with Playboy, Rogers gave some further insight as to why the marriage had ended, “Well, here's the real story. Tom was seriously thinking of becoming a monk. At least for that period of time, it looked as though marriage wouldn't fit into his overall spiritual need. And he thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument.”
She candidly added, “My instrument needed tuning.”
Marrying Nicole
Following his divorce from Mimi Rogers, Cruise met Australian actress Nicole Kidman during the casting of the racing drama film Days of Thunder in November 1989. The actor wasted no time as he proposed to Kidman as soon as his divorce from Rogers was finalized, with the two marrying on Christmas Eve 1990 in Colorado. Cruise was 28 at the time, while Kidman was 23 years old.
“He basically swept me off my feet,” Kidman reminisced to Vanity Fair in 2002. “I fell madly, passionately in love. And as happens when you fall in love, my whole plan in terms of what I wanted for my life—I was like, ‘Forget it. This is it.’ I was consumed by it, willingly. And I was desperate to have a baby with him. I didn't care if we were married. That's what I wish I'd done.”
Eyes Wide Open
The newlyweds adopted two children, Isabella and Connor, in 1993 and 1995 respectively, during their marriage. Furthermore, the newly labeled power couple even starred in two more films together, the epic romantic adventure drama film Far and Away and the erotic drama film Eyes Wide Shut.
The latter of which the two later admitted was an extremely intense shoot. In fact, Guinness World Records recognizes Eyes Wide Shut as the longest constant movie shoot, "for over 15 months, a period that included an unbroken shoot of 46 weeks".
Always And Forever?
After Eyes Wide Shut’s release, Cruise commented on their final experience of working together, “Our marriage is stronger because of it. And our friendship is deeper.” Kidman likewise commented, “All I can say is that I hope we are together when we are 80,” Kidman told Talk in 2000. “I can't say we will be, but I will be so devastated if we are not.”
As such, the Australian actress was perhaps blindsided when Cruise filed for divorce just a few months later. “Citing the difficulties inherent in diverging careers which constantly kept them apart, they concluded that an amicable separation seemed best for both of them at this time,” announced their longtime representative regarding the couple’s split on Feb. 5, 2001.
Scientology > Marriage
Even at that time, Kidman’s reluctance to accept Scientology as well as her opposition to bring up their kids in the religion was reportedly a major factor in the couple’s split. Even during the couple’s divorce, Kidman stated she did not want their children raised as Scientologists. She has been reluctant to discuss Scientology since her divorce.
When asked why the marriage ended, Cruise told Vanity Fair in October 2001, “She knows why, and I know why. She's the mother of my children, and I wish her well. And I think that you just move on. And I don't say that lightly. I don't say that with anything. Things happen in life, and you do everything you can, and in every possible way, and there's a point at which you just sometimes have to face the brutal reality.”
"Potential Trouble Source"
In a 2015 documentary film, former Church of Scientology executive Mark Rathbun claimed that he was instructed to “facilitate break-up with Nicole Kidman”. In the same documentary, Cruise's auditorMarty Rathbun further claimed Kidman had been wiretapped on Cruise's suggestion.
Another reason for Kidman being allegedly labeled a P.T.S. (Potential Trouble Source) by the Church of Scientology was because her father was a psychiatrist (the church doesn’t believe in the profession). As such, Kidman was seen as an enemy of the church. When asked about her decision to leave the church, Kidman insisted “I’ve chosen not to speak publicly about Scientology.”
"I Utterly Respect Their Beliefs"
Nicole Kidman revealed she still loved her ex-husband in the June 2006 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal, stating, “He was huge; still is. To me, he was just Tom, but to everybody else, he is huge. But he was lovely to me and I loved him. I still love him.”
Kidman later stated her respect for her children’s religious faith, “I have two children who are Scientologists – Connor, and Isabella – and I utterly respect their beliefs,” she said.
Vanilla Sky
Cruise met Spanish actress Penelope Cruz on the set of 2001 science fiction psychological thriller film Vanilla Sky. “I'm very, very happy with my relationship,” Cruise told People in the summer of 2003 about his relationship with Cruz while denying they were engaged.
The two made their first public appearance as a couple in August 2001 at the film premiere of Cruz’s film Captain Corelli's Mandolin. “It was special for me that he wanted to share it with me that way,” the actress told Good Morning America at the time. She insisted they didn’t get together until filming wrapped. “I've never fallen in love with someone I'm working with. It's always been afterward.”
After the couple split in 2004, Cruz's rep denied that Scientology played a role, going so far as to say that the actress, while not a Scientologist, had found the church courses she took to be "beneficial."
Auditions For A Girlfriend?
It was revealed by Vanity Fair in 2012, that Iranian-born actress, Nazanin Boniadi, known for her roles on How I Met Your Mother, Scandal, and Homeland, quietly dated Cruise from October 2004 to January 2005. The relationship began after the Church of Scientology launched a secret project to find Cruise a new girlfriend by holding a series of “auditions” of Scientologist actresses.
Following their breakup, Boniadi left the church. When asked about Cruise by The New York Post in 2013, the actress responded, “I'd rather not talk about that. It's something that I'm not happy to...” She added, “Like I said, I have so many positive things happening in my life, it's a shame not to talk about that.” Cruise was reportedly the one who ended things.
Modern Couple?
Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara was chosen as a potential wife for Cruise by the church and briefly dated the actor shortly after his split from Penelope Cruz. The actor apparently wanted a partner who would embrace Scientology. The two were spotted leaving a party together in 2005.
When asked by the Daily Beast in 2011 that there hadn’t been much information about what it was like to date Cruise, Vergara laughed and exclaimed, “Let's keep it that way! I don't want to talk about that!”
The Infamous Couch Moment
By May 2005, the whole world knew Tom Cruise was madly in love as he made a public declaration of his love for actress Katie Holmes on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The actor jumped up and down on Winfrey’s couch as the new couple were soon dubbed “TomKat” by the media, having begun dating just a month earlier.
In June Cruise responded to the public’s reaction to him being in love. He told MTV News, “People are going to do what they're going to do. Here's the thing, you can't think about it in terms of what people are going to do or say."
"It's 'I want to share my life with this woman. This woman is exceptional, she's special, she's extraordinary and I have great respect for her.' It's someone who's saying 'I've got nothing to hide, I'm happy.' I'm happy, man!” In June 2005, the couple were engaged after just seven weeks of dating.
Holmes Is Where The Heart Is
In October of 2005, TomKat announced they were expecting a child. On April 18, 2006, their daughter Suri was born on the first anniversary of their first date. The name “Suri” apparently derives from the Persian meaning “Red Rose”, as well as a derivative of the Hebrew name “Sarah”. In the October 2006 cover of Vanity Fair, Suri made her public debut alongside her parents.
TomKat tied the knot on November 18th of the same year at a 15th-century Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy, in a Scientology ceremony attended by many Hollywood stars. David Miscavige, the head of the Church of Scientology, served as Cruise’s best man. Previously, in late 2004, Miscavige had created the Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor and awarded it to Cruise.
The 10-Day Divorce
On June 29, 2012, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise after five and a half years of marriage. As Holmes’ father was a divorce attorney, he had written up a detailed prenuptial agreement. As a result, a divorce settlement was signed less than two weeks later, on July 9, 2012. The couple were last photographed together on June 16, 2012, in Iceland.
The couple had “officialized” their marriage in Los Angeles, with their divorce processed in New York. The precise terms of their settlement are not publicly available as New York requires all divorce documents remain sealed. However, Holmes it was revealed, would have custody of Suri.
It Was Mostly About Suri
It was rumored Scientology had again remained at the center of the couple’s marital woes. A source told Us Weekly that during the marriage’s final days, Holmes reached out to Nicole Kidman for support. Holmes, who was raised a Catholic, had first begun studying Scientology shortly after the couple started dating.
Those close to the actress stated Holmes believed she had enough reason to fear that Cruise would abduct Suri. She also feared intimidation by the Church of Scientology. Following the couple’s divorce, Holmes returned to the Roman Catholic Church and began attending New York’s St. Francis Xavier Church.
In 2013, Cruise admitted that his ex-wife Katie Holmes divorced him in part to protect the couple's daughter Suri from Scientology. He also confirmed Suri is no longer a practicing member of the church.
"Suppressive Person"
After Nicole Kidman divorced Cruise and broke away from the church, she was named a suppressive person, which meant she more or less lost contact from her own practicing Scientology children. She wasn't even invited to her daughter's wedding. During Holmes marriage, it was reported that members of the church had even moved into their home.
After Holmes divorced Cruise, she was labeled a suppressive person and an "anti-social individual", with whom Scientologists must cut out of their lives. Referring to her marriage to Cruise in October 2014, Holmes told People, “I don't want that moment in my life to define me, to be who I am. I don't want that to be what I'm known as. I was an actor before, an actor during and an actor now.”
Age Coincidence
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorced in June 2012 when she was 33 years old. Likewise, Cruise's second marriage, to Nicole Kidman ended when she was 33 years old in February 2001. Cruise's first marriage to Mimi Rogers ended in divorce in February 1990 one month after her 34th birthday.
However, the couple had separated several months prior at the end of 1989 and released a statement in January (before Rogers' 34th birthday) announcing their split. Some suggest this isn't merely a coincidence, with there being an underlying philosophy within the religion itself. Interestingly, the religion was founded in Phoenix, Arizona on the 33rd parallel.
Good Knight
After his divorce from Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise was rumored to be dating Cameron Diaz, his Knight & Day co-star. Asked how she spent her 40th birthday on The Graham Norton Show, the actress replied, “I happened to bump into Penélope Cruz, Javier , Tom and his son in a hotel and joined them for dinner.”
She continued, “At midnight I said, 'I'm 40!' so we took pictures and then said, 'Goodnight, see you later, blah, blah, blah,' and I haven't seen him since. But the next thing I know, apparently I am dating him and it's full on and he is coming after me!” Cruise's representatives confirmed that “he and Cameron are friends only”.
Perfect Fit?
In July 2012, it was reported by Radar Online that Tom Cruise had dated fellow Scientologist Yolanda Pecoraro after his divorce from Katie Holmes. Experts at the time predicted she would be the perfect fit for the actor as she was a practicing Scientologist herself with the two having dating previously.
The actress at the time told the Enquirer, “Yes, I knew and still know Tom Cruise. And no, I’m not married or engaged.” The two reportedly first met in Spain in 2004 at a Scientology center opening, where the actor fell head over heels for her. The two then apparently went on a double date with David and Victoria Beckham at a Real Madrid soccer game.
Orange Is The New Lie
It was speculated in 2014 that Tom Cruise and That ‘70s Show actress Laura Prepon were dating. The actress, however, was quick to quash rumors, saying, “It's just so funny that, when people don't know, they just make stuff up, apparently I'm dating Tom Cruise right now,” the Scientologist actress told She Knows.
“And apparently he doesn't want me doing because I portray a lesbian and I'm a Scientologist. This is false. Where are they even getting this stuff? It's unbelievable to me.”
ScarJo & Tom?
Just like Sofia Vergara, the Avengers actress reportedly wasn’t into Cruise’s lifestyle. Although, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Cruise were never photographed on a date together, in February 2005 they did appear friendly at Ambassadors for Humanity gala honoring former-President Bill Clinton which benefited the Shoah Foundation.
The Handmaid’s Rumor
It was reported in 2012 Tom Cruise and fellow Scientologist and actress Elisabeth Moss were dating. The Handmaid’s Tale star, unlike Cruise, has largely opted to keep quiet about her association with the church. She has only described it as “grossly misunderstood”.
Moss, however, was quick to put to rest rumors she was dating Cruise, saying she didn’t have time to date, “It’s actually a problem. But I’m very focused on my work,” she said. Like Cruise Moss too had recently been divorced at the time.
Mystery Woman
Us Weekly reported that Tom Cruise had been dating a woman for several months according to a source. The source described the unnamed British woman with whom the actor was serious about as “very normal and pretty”. This happened during the filming of Cruise’s film, Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2016.
Soon enough, the identity of the mystery woman was revealed.
Romance Impossible?
It turns out that the mystery British woman in question was an actress that Cruise had been working with on the set of Mission Impossible: Fallout. Vanessa Kirby, who had recently come to prominence for her role as Princess Margaret in the critically acclaimed series The Crown, actually suggested in an interview that she was secretly dating someone.
Based on the set photos of the pair, everything seemed to add up to the possibility that Cruise and Kirby might actually be an item.
"None Of It Is Real"
In July 2018, the actress confirmed to ET Online that she was dating War & Peace actor Callum Turner with whom she had been for some time. The actress revealed her shock to the rumors, “The most disconcerting thing was the people I didn’t think would believe it, did, and they were texting my boyfriend, asking, ‘Are you OK?’ I don’t think they believe anything they read now because you just can’t.”
She strongly denied the reports stating, “None of it is real. To be getting married to him? Not even a snog, it was marriage.”
Most Ludicrous Rumors
Cruise has been part of several wild relationship rumors over the years. Some of the more bizarre ones often featured prominent actresses. For example, in 2017 the National Enquirer reported Angelina Jolie was dating Cruise in order to make her ex-husband Brad Pitt jealous.
This report interestingly contradicted another one which stated Jolie wasn’t looking to date at the time. Cruise was also reported to be dating Jane Fonda at one time.
Hollywood Couples
Being in the public eye where every minute detail of one’s life can be scrutinized, theorized, and publicized can take its toll on celebrities, particularly their relationships. Tom Cruise had widely publicized marriages to actresses Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, respectively.
However, all three marriages had one common element which led to their demise.
Church Of Scientology
Cruise is known to be an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology as well as its associated programs. The church features a number of prominent figures in the entertainment industry being part of their secretive organization. So much so, in fact, the church as its own celebrity center. However, Cruise remains the religions poster boy and most respected advocate.
The actor has credited Scientology, specifically the L. Ron Hubbard Study Tech, in helping him overcome dyslexia. In the 2000s, Cruise’s Scientology belief led him to criticize psychiatry and anti-depressant drugs, particularly for 9/11 rescue workers.
The actor’s efforts to promote Scientology as a religion in Europe also sparked controversy, as did a leaked video interview of the star promoting the religion.
Defending Scientology
Although Cruise generally comes across as quite friendly in interviews as well as on red carpets, he snapped in an interview in 2005. In the actor’s infamous television interview with host Matt Lauer on the Today Show, the host asked Cruise whether his fiancée Katie Holmes was embracing Scientology.
Cruise snapped quickly responding, “It’s something you don’t understand. You can be a Christian and be a Scientologist. It is a religion in that it deals with the spirit, you as a spiritual being.” Cruise went on with his verbal assault, even demeaning the host’s intelligence. The moment came as a shock to everyone.
Cruise Behind Closed Doors
Cruise has been involved with Scientology since 1990 and remains the church’s most prominent individual. However, those within the religion insist that the actor is completely different in person. Actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini left the organization in 2013 and began publicly criticizing the church.
The actress claims she had personal contact with both Cruise and then-wife Katie Holmes. Remini said of Cruise, “There is a public persona of the guy who looks at you directly in the eye and shakes your hand and hugs you and is an attentive person to you and there’s the person behind the mask who is a completely different person.” She labeled him “diabolical”.
Cult Or Church?
Many argue that Scientology is, in reality, a cult and commercial enterprise as opposed to the religion. Several ex-members have been vocal advocates critical of the church, even going so far as to have it banned. A central tenet of Scientology is its Doctrine of Exchange, which dictates that each time a person receives something, he or she must give something back.
Scientology is recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States and other countries, with study materials and auditing courses being made available to members in return for “fixed donations”. The Church of Scientology and its affiliated entities are estimated to make around USD $500 million in annual revenue.
The church has also been known to engage in harassment and abuse of civil courts to silence its critics it perceives as “Fair Game” people, its enemies.
International Base
Gold Base, is the confidential de facto international headquarters of the Church of Scientology. It is located in San Jacinto, Riverside County, California which is about 100 miles (160 km) from Los Angeles. The compound is heavily guarded and comprised of about fifty buildings which are surrounded by high fences with blades. It is continuously monitored by patrols, cameras, and motion detectors.
Up to 1,000 members of the Sea Org who are known to be the elite “inner core” of the Church of Scientology live and work on the base. According to some former members of the church, conditions are harsh with staff paid only $50 for a 100-hour week. They are subjected to punishment for failing to meet work quotas and reports state 100 people a year attempt to escape the facility. However, most are soon caught and returned by “pursuit teams”.
Sea Organization
The Sea Organization (Sea Org), describes itself as a “fraternal religious order, comprising the church's most dedicated members”. It has been described as a paramilitary organization and as a private naval force as it has operated several vessels in its past as well as displaying a maritime tradition. Sea Org has also been compared to a monastic organization.
Ex-members and scholars describe it as a totalitarian organization marked by intensive surveillance and a lack of freedom. Despite many accounts of mistreatment from ex-members, law enforcement investigations and lawsuits have so far failed due to the First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom as well as the church's ability to rely on "ministerial exemptions" in employment law.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, David Miscavige, the de facto leader of Scientology, is the highest-ranking Sea Org officer and holds the rank of captain. Sea Org members are said to make a lifetime commitment to Scientology by signing a billion-year contract. The contract is officially described as a symbolic pledge.
The Number 33
In Scientology, the number 33 plays a prominent role and is known as the “Master Teacher”. It is said to symbolize altruism and raising mankind's positive energy. This goes hand in hand with Scientology's philosophy which is said to “to enable Man to improve his lot through understanding” according to the church's website.
As noted, 33 also happened to be the age in which Tom Cruise announced each of his divorces from his three wives.
Religion Comes First
The connection between Cruise’s marriages ending with the number 33 may all just be pure coincidence. However, the actor has always displayed that his commitment to the church always comes first.
Cruise is known to put his dedication to Scientology above his interpersonal relationships. Thus, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for the actor to run his life based on numerology. Only time will tell what lies ahead.
Movies Always Got In The Way
Even though Cruise’s affiliation with Scientology can be the main contributing factor to all of his marriages, another big obstacle was the actor’s heavy work schedule. With 52 film credits to his name, the actor is often filming during the year and means he has rarely taken an extended break from acting through his nearly four decades in the industry.
Facts And Secrets From Top Gun
In 1986, the action drama film Top Gun was the highest grossing film of the year and was inspired by an article titled “Top Guns” published in California magazine three years earlier. The film grossed US$356 million against a production budget of only US$15 million.
The movie has become part of popular culture and is several quotable lines have become catchphrases. The soundtrack of the film likewise is one of the most popular soundtracks of all time, reaching 9x platinum status. The film even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Take My Breath Away” performed by Berlin.
There were many behind-the-scenes facts the audience didn’t know, however, until now. Read on.
“The Danger Zone” Almost Wasn’t A Loggins Song
Before filming began, co-producer Jerry Bruckheimer sent composer Harold Faltermeyer a script of Top Gun. The composer had previously worked with Bruckheimer and the film’s co-producer Don Simpson on the films Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop.
Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock worked on numerous songs including the Oscar-winning “Take My Breath Away”. Kenny Logins was not the first choice to record the song “Danger Zone” which was played three times in the film. Following the release of Loggin’s single, his album sales exploded, selling 7 million copies in the United States alone.
Originally, Toto and REO Speedwagon were the two groups considered due to disagreements such as wanting to record their own composition, and disputes between lawyers and producers of the film, respectively.
Tom Cruise Talked About Throwing Up
Cruise shared a humorous story about how he threw while filming on an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!:
“Anyway, we did all the training, and then came the day that we’ve got to fly . We set up the cameras, and it wasn’t like today. It was really challenging—quite brilliant of Tony Scott, how he figured out how to do it. But the guy who flew me in the first flight, his name was Bozo . The pilot’s name was Bozo! So, I’m strapping in, we’re getting in there, and you just see the helmet go on that says ‘Bozo.’ I’m like, ‘Bozo?’”
As Bozo was going through the check sheet, Cruise noticed the emergency lights were on, “And we were about to take off!” he recalled. “I remember saying, ‘Bozo, these lights… There’s a lot of red lights.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.’ He starts turning them off. I’m like, ‘OK.’ He’s like, ‘They don’t call me Bozo for nothing.’”
“My head was on the ground! I was pressed on the floor holding my vomit. I’m trying to press the talk button; it was on the foot. I kept going, ‘Bozo! Bozo! Bozo!’ I was choking, and he just kept pulling up and up and up,” the actor said.
“Finally, he released and we were going straight ahead. I said, ‘Bozo, what’s the matter with you, man? Didn’t you see? You pulled up and my head was hitting the floor.'” However Bozo wasn’t bothered. According to the Cruise, Bozo responded, “‘Well, I told you they don’t call me Bozo for nothing.’”
Edwards Was The Only Actor Who Didn’t Throw Up
Anthony Edwards, who plays TJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw in the film, is the only actor who didn't vomit while in the fighter jets. All of Tom Cruise’s character, LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell’s, stunt flying in the film was done by Scott Altman, who later went on to become an astronaut.
Filming the pilot scenes involved flying around in VF-114 Aardvarks and VF-213 Black Lions. All fighter jets were flown by military pilots who ensured the actors were given real-world experience they themselves faced on a regular basis.
“Danger Zone” Boosted Navy Enrollment
The U.S. Navy reportedly described the “Danger Zone” video as “the most effective recruiting poster ever produced”. The song included some of Kenny Loggins own improvisation on the original lyrics and with the music video being released in May 1986. The video included dramatic clips from the film.
The Memory Of Art Scholl
During the filming of some sequences from a civilian aircraft longtime Hollywood stunt pilot Art Scholl was killed after crashing off the Pacific Coast. The stuntman died when his Pitts S-2 camera plane failed to recover from a flat spin and plunged into the Pacific Ocean.
The pilot’s last words over the radio were, “I have a problem - I have a real problem.” The exact cause of the crash has never been determined, nor was the aircraft or Scholl’s body ever recovered. The film is dedicated to his memory.
Tom Cruise As Maverick (Then)
Tom Cruise received widespread attention for starring in the action drama Top Gun in 1986 as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell which cemented his status as a superstar. The actor turned aged 24 shortly after the film hit theaters and was Hollywood’s hottest young actor.
A year later, Cruise married his first wife, Mimi Rogers, who introduced the young actor to Scientology. The marriage officially ended in 1990 with many speculating the religion played a hand in the marriage’s demise.
Anthony Edwards As Goose (Then)
Anthony Edwards had already starred n several hit films prior to being cast as LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw in Top Gun. His previous hit film was 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds. The actor had also appeared on the sitcom It Takes Two from 1982-1983. The actor also made a cameo appearance in the 1982 coming-of-age comedy film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
After playing Goose in Top Gun, however, Edwards name was more widely known in the industry as well as among filmgoers. Edwards at the time said, playing Goose was his best work. While he had no intention to outshine Cruise, he was determined to play the character to the best of his ability.
After filming had concluded, onscreen lovers, Meg Ryan and Anthony Edwards became an item.
The Love Scene
The film’s famous love scene between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, who played Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood, was filmed five months after filming had wrapped. A test audience who saw the movie prior to release were annoyed there was no love scene. The producers obliged and summoned the two actors to Chicago to film the infamous elevator scene and the sex scene.
Due to the fact it was months after filming had wrapped, both actors were sporting different looks at the time. McGillis had lost approximately sixteen pounds, while Cruise was filming The Color of Money, so his hair was much longer in the two scenes.
McGillis’ hair was also much darker, hence why it was covered underneath a cap in the elevator scene, and why the bedroom scene was tinted blue.
Shirtless Scenes Were Also Added Later
“We’re paying $1 million for Tom Cruise so we gotta show some flesh,” recalled technical adviser Pete Pettigrew of what the filmmakers said regarding the need for a locker room scene.
Likewise, in the famous volleyball scene, Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards) play volleyball against Mav’s ultimate adversary, LT Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (Val Kilmer), and his co-pilot LTJG Ron "Slider" Kerner (Rick Rossovich), there is noticeably not much more story told during the sweaty sequence except for the build up of Maverick’s impending date with Charlie (Kelly McGillis).
It turns out, director Tony Scott knew full well that women and men alike would likely be titillated by the sight shirtless actors and so put the film’s pretty-boy pilots on fully oiled display. The sequence relies heavily on action, music video-style editing, and close-ups to make up for a lack of plot progression.
International Superstar
During a 2014 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host asked Tom Cruise about the first time he traveled the world to promote a movie. Cruise revealed that he was the one who came up with the idea of premiering films in other countries, although he admitted “it took him a few years to get it going”. Kimmel responded, “So all these other actors must want to kill you.”
Cruise also said that it was indeed during the foreign press junket tour for Top Gun that he first traveled overseas for a movie premiere. In all it took four months to complete with the actor spending weeks in every city the cast visited in Italy, France, and Japan.
Tom Cruise Faked His Height
Tom Cruise stands at 5’7” *(1.7m) tall and with many of his co-stars usually being taller than the leading man, the actor is known to have given himself a boost to make himself appear taller in films. Cruise is three inches shorter than co-star Kelly McGillis, which the studio wasn’t too thrilled about.
To even up their heights, Cruise wore special cowboy boots which gave him a little more height, while McGillis didn’t wear any shoes at all during their scenes.
In the final scene, where Maverick is sitting at the counter, the audience sees someone go up to the jukebox and put in a quarter for “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. When Maverick and Charlie walk up to each other, Kelly McGillis was actually standing in a trench dug by the crew because they wanted her and Tom Cruise to appear the same height.
Kelly McGillis As Charlie (Then)
One year before Top Gun’s release, Kelly McGillis, who plays Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood in Top Gun, starred opposite Harrison Ford in Witness which was a critical and commercial hit. The actress earned Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for her role. McGillis had studying acting at the prestigious Julliard School before beginning her film career in 1983’s Reuben, Reuben.
The 5’10” blonde bombshell won over audiences with her role in Top Gun. At the time of filming McGillis had been married and divorced once. Kelly McGillis fell for Barry Tubb (who played LTJG Henry "Wolfman" Ruth), literally. "She fell down in the middle of the street, and she had my heart." The two later dated from 1986 to 1987.
Meg Ryan As Carole Bradshaw (Then)
Meg Ryan had begun her film career in the early 80s and soon began receiving roles which made a mainstay on film and television. Top Gun was the actress’s feature film debut where she plays she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Naval Flight Officer Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards). The two dated in real-life once filming wrapped up.
The very same year, Ryan starred in the film Armed and Dangerous. Years later she would reunite with her Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer in the 1991 film The Doors.
Tom Cruise Saved Ray-Bans
Aviator sunglasses are a style of sunglasses which were developed by Bausch & Lomb and later marketed as Ray-Ban Aviators. The company worked with US Army Air Corps Colonel John A. Macready to create aviation sunglasses that would reduce the distraction for pilots caused by the intense blue and white hues of the sky.
The glasses are characterized by dark, often reflective lenses. The lenses have an area two to three times of the area of the eyeball as well as very thin metal frames with double or triple bridge (“bullet hole”), and bayonet earpieces or sometimes flexible cable temples that hook behind the ear. The lenses are slightly convex rather than flat.
After a slump in sales during the 70s and early 80s, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses jumped a whopping 40%, due to characters wearing them in the film. Previously, when Risky Business came out in 1983, Tom Cruise wearing the iconic Wayfarers in the film rescued the Ray-Ban brand with sales shooting up 50%. This came at a time when the company was about to discontinue Wayfarers.
Visit The Famous Bar
The piano scene and final bar/jukebox scene in the film were shot in a San Diego restaurant named “Kansan City BBQ” which is situated at the corner of Kettner Boulevard and West Harbor Drive. The restaurant previously housed many props and memorabilia from Top Gun.
Although a 2008 fire destroyed much of the establishment including memorabilia, the restaurant has since been restored to its original state. The two most recognizable pieces which remain are the piano and one of Maverick’s original flight helmets used during filming.
“Stars Wars On Earth”
The film was reportedly inspired by an article in the May 1983 issue of California magazine which featured the U.S. Navy’s TOPGUN School. The article was titled “Top Guns” and was written by Ehud Yonay.
The author took readers into the cockpit with vivid descriptions and was supported by some iconic photography by Tom Kasser as well as aerial photography by then-Lieutenant Commander Charles "Heater" Heatley.
The article followed the TOPGUN fighter pilots stationed at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego County. “Fightertown” is the nickname given to the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. The film’s co-producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, loved the article so much that he pitched it to his producing partner, Don Simpson as “Star Wars on Earth”.
The Participation Of The U.S. Navy
The producers wanted the assistance of the US Navy in the production of the film. In fact, the Navy was influential regarding final script approval which resulted in changes being made. For example, the film’s opening dogfight was originally set to occur in Cuba but was moved to international waters. The language of the film, likewise, was toned down.
Furthermore, a scene which featured crash on the deck of an aircraft carrier was scrapped.
The $25,000 Course Change
The studio backing the film, Paramount Pictures, paid as much as USD $7,800 per hour for fuel and other operating costs whenever aircraft were flown outside of their normal duties. The Navy also made several aircraft from F-14 fighter squadron VF-51 "Screaming Eagles" available for the film.
Most of the carrier flight deck shots were during normal aircraft operations and the film crew had to mostly film whatever they could, with occasional flybys being requested by them.
At one point, the film’s director Tony Scott wanted to shoot aircraft landing and taking off against the backdrop of a sunset. During one sequence, the film’s commanding officer changed the ship’s course, thereby altering the light. When Scott asked if they could revert to their previous position, he was informed it would cost USD $25,000 to do so. Scott immediately wrote the captain a USD $25,000 check in order to continue shooting for five more minutes.
Mighty Mistakes
Although the Navy played a big part in the film’s production, there were still many inaccuracies in the film. In fact, there is an entire website dedicated to the 79 reported errors in the film in regard to the U.S. Navy.
Some of these complaints include there being no such thing as the Top Gun trophy, Top Gun being one word – “Topgun”, and any pilot showed up to a flight brief wearing a cowboy hat would have his wings pulled immediately. Also, forward pushing the throttles, and Maverick “hits the brakes”, would increase power, not decrease it.
The Cast Lived It Up
As a way to bring the cast together and to foster an atmosphere of camaraderie, they were encouraged to spend time together and head out for partying during the San Diego shoot. Val Kilmer says in the film’s DVD commentary that, “I remember it being one giant weekend, as far as making the thing.”
Interestingly most of the actors playing the F-14 Fighter Pilots including Val Kilmer, Rick Rossovich, Barry Tubb, & Whip Hubley stayed at the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego on the west side of Mission Bay. However, Tom Cruise & Anthony Edwards stayed up in La Jolla to reflect their respective character's separation on film from the other pilots.
Furthermore, the tension between Maverick and Iceman isn't just down to good acting, apparently, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer kept their distance from each other and never socialized.
The Problems Of Director Tony Scott
Tony Scott is the brother of the well-known director, Ridley Scott. Together the brothers worked together on films as producers for decades. The partnership ended when Tony Scott committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in 2012. Top Gun was by far the biggest hit of Scott’s career. Tony Scott called the film the "purest form of escapism" and said it "mainlines entertainment."
Scott was hired after producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were impressed by a commercial, he had made for Swedish automaker Saab in the early 1980s where he filmed a car racing a jet. They also liked his work on the 1983 film The Hunger. Following the film’s release, Scott found himself on Hollywood’s A-list action directors.
Val Kilmer’s Ad-Lib
Val Kilmer didn’t want to be part of the film but was forced to due to contractual obligations. When the guys, as students, are first being spoken to by Charlie in the hanger, Maverick explains that he gave “the bird” to a MiG. Charlie asks him how he saw the MiG so close to which he replies he was flying inverted.
At this moment, Iceman shouts out “bullshit” with everyone bursting out laughing. The line was ad-libbed by Kilmer, and the reactions of everyone are genuine.
Meg & Anthony
In the movie, Anthony Edwards plays Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, the husband of Meg Ryan’s character Carole Bradshaw. Although Ryan only appears in a small capacity in the movie, her poignant portrayal at the loss of her husband is etched into the minds of audiences and helped humanize Maverick.
It turns out sparks were flying between Edwards and Ryan behind-the-scenes as the two went public with their relationship once filming ended. The two even moved in together with rumors claiming Edwards proposed to Ryan at one point. The relationship lasted a year from 1986 to 1987.
An Officer And A… Gentlewoman?
Maverick’s love interest, Charlie, was also changed from a female enlisted member of the Navy to a civilian instructor contracted with the Navy due to the US military’s prohibition of fraternizing between officers and enlisted personnel.
The "Charlie" character reportedly replaced an aerobics instructor from an early draft as a love interest for Maverick, following the producers being introduced to Christine "Legs" Fox, a civilian mathematician employed by the Center for Naval Analyses as a specialist in Maritime Air Superiority (MAS), developing tactics for aircraft carrier defense.
The Top Gun Look
Top Gun no doubt had a very specific look and feel to it. Now famous for his provocative fashion and celebrity photography, fashion photographer Bruce Weber’s first book served as inspiration for the look of the Navy pilots depicted in “Top Gun.”
Paramount executives were nervous about it at the time as they feared frightened that the director, Tony Scott, may have been taking too much inspiration from Weber, whose artistic photos of nude and scantily clad men were most popular within the gay community at the time.
Tom Cruise Was Hand Picked
The filmmakers wanted Tom Cruise as Maverick from the onset, however, the actor kept turning it down. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer ultimately convinced Cruise by arranging a ride for the actor along with the Blue Angels.
The producer recalls, “So they (the Navy) take Tom up there, and they do five Gs. They do barrel rolls, they do everything. He's heaving in the plane. He gets on the tarmac, runs to a pay phone ... and he said, 'I'm in. I'm doing the movie. I love it. This is great.'”
Cruise first met director Tony Scott while working for his brother, Ridley Scott, on Legend in 1985. Cruise later reunited with Tony Scott, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Don Simpson on Days of Thunder in 1990.
Goose’s Death
Goose’s original death was slated to be a result of a mid-air collision, however, the Navy wouldn’t approve this, so it was changed to a more realistic scenario depicting a real-life accident, but not one which resulted in death, unlike the movie.
The Pentagon demanded script approval as they wanted to make sure the Navy would be portrayed in a positive light. This is another reason why they changed Goose’s death was changed to an ejection mishap as the Navy didn’t want audiences to think many pilots were crashing.
The “Real” Top Gun School
Top Gun is based on the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, popularly known as TOPGUN. The preferred name of “Topgun” can be seen on the caps several aviators wear. The school is located within the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar just like in the film.
In 1996, the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, including its TOPGUN training program, was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada and merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center.
Hilariously, the real TOPGUN school imposes a US $5 fine to any staff member who quotes the movie. The “Topgun” program was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 2011.
Tom Cruise (Now)
After Top Gun’s release, Tom Cruise received receiving widespread attention as the hit film’s leading man, as well as cementing his status as a Hollywood superstar. Cruise continued to release hit after hit and even his dealings with the Church of Scientology proved to play second fiddle to his status as a film icon.
Cruise’s love life, however, was always rocky with his three marriages all ending in divorce amid rumors that his affiliation with the Church of Scientology played a crucial role in their demise. The actor has two adopted children with second wife Nicole Kidman and one biological child with third wife Katie Holmes.
Anthony Edwards (Now)
These days, Anthony Edwards is best known for his role as Dr. Mark Greene on the medical drama ER. Edwards starred in the show’s first eight seasons being the only original character to die on the show. He received one Golden Globe award, six SAG awards, and also nominated for four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards.
Edwards has also acted in other notable films such as Zodiac, and Miracle Mile, as well as a recurring role in the comedy-drama television series Northern Exposure. Edwards also voiced of Echo, one of the fighter jets, in the animated film Planes. The actor was married from 1994 to 105 to Jeanine Lobell and the couple have four children, one son and three daughters.
Kelly McGillis (Now)
Following her role in Top Gun, Kelly McGillis went on to star in the 1988 legal drama film The Accused alongside Jodie Foster who won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also married twice more, once to Fred Tillman from 1989 to 2002, with whom she has two daughters, and later after coming out as a lesbian, entered a civil union with Melanie Leis in 2010, before having it annulled a year later.
McGillis has also recently opened about her experience as a rape survivor along with her girlfriend in 1982 after she was raped by two men while getting out of the shower. In 2013, after a long hiatus from the industry, the actress appeared in the horror film We Are What We Are. The actress has acted on and off but generally preferred smaller productions as opposed to larger ones.
Meg Ryan (Now)
Meg Ryan was only beginning her career when Top Gun hit screens in 1986. She gained recognition in independent films such as Promised Land, and later became a cultural icon in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally…. Subsequently, the actress starred in several other romantic comedies such as Sleepless in Seattle, French Kiss, You’ve Got Mail, and Kate & Leopold.
Ryan was married to actor Dennis Quaid from 1991 to 2001 from which she has one son. In 2006, Ryan also adopted a girl from China. Since 2010 she has been with singer-songwriter John Mellencamp to whom she is engaged.
Top Gun: The Rides
Top Gun became a cultural icon following its release in the mid-1980s. The Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio was owned by Paramount Pictures in 1993, and the film company went ahead and built a Top Gun roller coaster ride. The suspended style coaster has a terrain layout which hugs the hills and trees to make it run at 51 miles per hour which seem a lot faster during the nearly 2-minute ride. The ride was said to emulate an F-14 Tomcat. The ride was later renamed following a change of ownership and copyright complications.
The Great America amusement park located in Santa Clara in California features an inverted coaster called “Top Gun” which first opened in 1993. It reaches 50 miles per hour, including three exciting inversions as well as the initial 91-foot drop. This ride was renamed Flight Deck later.
Two other Top Gun inspired rides exist, one in Carowinds amusement park in North Carolina which is also an inverted coaster lasting 2 minutes and 47 seconds while reaching 62 miles per hour through six inversions, and another inverted coaster in Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario which reaches 50 miles per hour and lasts 90 seconds.
Rumors Of A Sequel
Following the success of Top Gun, many fans wondered if a sequel would ever become a reality. In fact, at the time a script for "Top Gun 2" was completed shortly after the release of the film, but it broke down in pre-production because of two reasons.
The first was that the military's technology had become updated and they didn't want camera crew anywhere near their new aircraft. The second reason was that Tom Cruise did not want a sequel and only finally agreed to star in one for a very high amount which was deemed “unaffordable”.
The then-script followed the adventures of Maverick as an instructor at the Top Gun academy, with the twist for the sequel being a cocky female reminiscent of himself joining the team.
Filming Has Begun For A Sequel
A sequel for Top Gun is currently in production and set for a June 2020 release. The film stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm and Ed Harris among others.
The film will reportedly focus on the end of the dogfighting era set against the role of drones in modern aerial warfare. Cruise’s character, Maverick, will fly an F/-18 Super Hornet. In June 2017, Cruise revealed the title would be Top Gun: Maverick.
Cruise further said, “Aviators are back, the need for speed. We’re going to have big, fast machines. It’s going to be a competition film, like the first one…but a progression for Maverick.” Harold Faltermeyer will return as composer for the film, while musician Kenny Loggins confirmed “Danger Zone” would feature in the film.
$10,000 An Hour
For every hour of flight time with an F-14, it cost Paramount Pictures $10,000. This turned out to be a fraction of what it cost to make the film. Other planes shots such as the F-14 squadrons, VF-114 Aardvarks and VF-213 Black Lions were equally expensive to film onboard the USS Enterprise.
In all, it cost the studio $15 million to produce the film. However, with the film grossing over $356 million at the box office and being the highest movie of the year both domestically and internationally, the price paid was certainly worth it.
Ally Sheedy Missed An Opportunity
Actress Ally Sheedy was originally given the role of Charlie but turned it down citing that she didn’t think anyone would want to see a movie about fighter pilots. She said in an interview, “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?” The actress later said she regretted the decision (obviously). She also said she will never judge a role by herself again.
Some Thought There Was ‘Too Much Flying’
During the production of the movie, Paramount Pictures apparently felt there was “too much flying” in the movie set at a US Navy's Fighter Weapons School. Adding more time with the cast on the ground, a love scene and suddenly the movie about fighter pilots seemed more digestible to the general public.
Mixed Reviews
Upon its release, Top Gun received generally mixed reviews from film critics, although most praised its action sequences, effects, aerial stuns, and acting performances with Cruise and McGillis receiving the bulk of the praise. However, audiences clearly felt differently. Rotten Tomatoes for example has 55% rating for the film by critics, but holds a 88% audience rating.
The critical consensus states, “Though it features some of the most memorable and electrifying aerial footage shot with an expert eye for action, Top Gun offers too little for non-adolescent viewers to chew on when its characters aren't in the air.”
Know Your Audience
During a break in the filming of the hangar scene, a group of Navy officers who were being used as extras approached Tony Scott and complained about the unrealistic collection of patches on the flight suits of the actors.
The director replied, paraphrasing, "We're not making this movie for Navy fighter pilots, we're making it for Kansas wheat farmers who don't know the difference."
Highest-Grossing Film In 1986
Against a budget of $15 million, Top Gun grossed nearly $177 million in the United States alone and another $177 million internationally. It was the highest-grossing film of 1986 beating out the likes of Crocodile Dundee, Platoon, Aliens, The Golden Child, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
A Quality Recruitment Film
After Top Gun’s release, the Us Navy stated that the number of young men joining wanting to be Naval Aviators went up by 500%. The Navy even had recruitment booths in some theaters to attract enthusiastic patrons high on adrenaline.
Paramount offered to include a Navy recruitment advertisement on the initial home video release in exchange for debts owed to the U.S. Navy for their cooperation. However, the advertisement agency who produced ads for the Navy advised the Pentagon that the movie itself was enough of a propaganda tool stating an official recruitment advertisement would be superfluous.
Only Allowed Two Missiles
During the production of the film, the U.S. Navy assisted the production team in man respects, however, in some cases this came with its own limitations. For example, the Navy only authorized two missile shots to be filmed for the movie. These shots were filmed from different angles so that they could be used repeatedly during dogfighting scenes.
This is easy to tell as the aircraft firing the missile is holding a steady altitude position, something which would never happen in a real dogfight.
All the other shots were conducted using miniatures of planes and rockets. The company which produced and fired the model missiles did such a convincing job that the Department of Navy conducted a preliminary investigation as to whether additional live missiles were fired beyond the authorized two.
Bryan Adams Refused To Allow His Music To Be Used
Bryan Adams was asked to if he would allow his song “Only the Strong Survive” to be used on the soundtrack for the film as well as perform the track "Danger Zone", however, the singer refused saying e felt the film glorified war. The musician didn’t want any of his work linked to it as a result.
A Cartoon Cast Reunion?
Disney released a computer animated sports comedy film titled Planes in 2013 with a voice cast of who’s who in Hollywood. A mini-tribute was given when both Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards were cast as voice actors in the film.
China Stole Footage From The Movie
In January 2011, China’s state broadcaster China Central Television published a television news story attempting to showcase the efficiency of Chinese Fighter pilots. However, the story incorporated footage from Top Gun’s action sequences. Chinese internet users quickly noticed the plagiarism, and the broadcast was swiftly withdrawn.
To make matters worse, the story ran after a Chinese campaign to purge forged reports. Chinese Central Television declined comments on the incident.
A VHS First Was Sold Alongside Top Gun
In 1987, Top Gun broke more records, this time in the home video market. After signing a then-massive $8 million marketing campaign to include a 60-second Top Gun inspired fighter pilot themed Diet Pepsi commercial prior to the film, the VHS copy was sold for a cheaper price.
As a result, the advance demand made the film the best-selling videocassette in the industry’s history on pre-orders alone. It was one of the first video cassette releases in the $20 price range. This was again reflected by strong DVD sales, which only increased when a special-edition version was released in 2004.
Bad At Math Or Privy To Classified Secrets?
There is a theory which suggests Paramount Pictures’ producers were privy to government secrets, which only became public information many years later. When filming the movie, the United States’ bombing of Cambodia was believed to have commenced in March 1969.
However, in 2000, then-President Bill Clinton declassified military files which revealed the bombing had begun years earlier on October 4, 1965. In the film, Maverick’s father Duke Mitchell’s plane is said to have disappeared on November 5, 1965. Coincidence or did someone accidentally spill the beans?
It Cost Way More To Make Charlie Sheen’s Parody Of The Movie
