Top Gun: Maverick: Hit or Flop? Sequel & Streaming Guide (2025)

Few movies have pulled off what Top Gun: Maverick did—a sequel 36 years in the making that not only justified its existence but became a global event. Whether you lived through the original or discovered it on streaming, the 2022 blockbuster raised questions that still echo: Was it really that big a hit? Is a third film coming? And what happened between Tom Cruise and his original co-star Kelly McGillis? This guide answers the most searched questions with verified data and insider context.

Worldwide Box Office: $1.496 billion ·
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score: 96% ·
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 99% ·
Release Date: May 27, 2022 ·
Director: Joseph Kosinski ·
Runtime: 2h 11m

The key facts below show the film’s financial and critical performance at a glance.

Is Top Gun: Maverick a hit or flop?

Box office performance

• The film earned $1.452 billion in its original run, according to The Numbers (box office analytics), and later reached $1.503 billion after a 2026 re-release per Box Office Mojo (box office tracker).
• It crossed $1 billion worldwide on June 26, 2022 (Wikipedia (film chronology)), and became Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing film on June 17, 2022.
• Variety (industry trade) noted the film stayed in the domestic top five for 12 of its first 13 weeks.

Critical and audience reception

• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 96% critics, 99% audience (Wikipedia (aggregated reviews)).
• Metacritic gives it 78/100 (Wikipedia).
• The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound (Wikipedia (awards)).

The implication: The film didn’t just succeed—it reshaped what a delayed sequel can be. For Paramount, the bet on Tom Cruise and practical effects paid off at a scale few expected.

Is Top Gun: Maverick 3 happening?

Current status of a third film

• As of 2025, Top Gun 3 is reported to be in early development, with Tom Cruise and producers involved, but no official release date has been set (Wikipedia (sequel section)).
• Variety reported that director Joseph Kosinski has expressed interest, but no greenlight has been confirmed by Paramount.

Tom Cruise and producer statements

• Cruise has publicly hinted at further stories, but studio announcements remain scarce (Variety).

The catch: Development cycles for Cruise-led projects are notoriously long, and scheduling around his Mission: Impossible commitments will be a challenge.

Is Top Gun: Maverick on Netflix?

Streaming availability in the US

• In the United States, Top Gun: Maverick is not on Netflix. It streams exclusively on Paramount+, as announced by Paramount Global (official streaming announcement) beginning December 22, 2022.

Availability on Amazon Prime

• It is available for digital purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video, along with other VOD platforms (Wikipedia (home media section)).
• International streaming rights vary; in some regions, Netflix may carry it, but in the US, the exclusive subscription home is Paramount+.

Why this matters: The film’s streaming strategy was a key driver for Paramount+ subscriptions, proving that a theatrical-first window can still fuel a platform’s growth.

Is the girl in Maverick his daughter?

Who is Penny Benjamin?

• Penny Benjamin, played by Jennifer Connelly, is Maverick’s love interest—not his daughter. The character is the daughter of a former admiral and has a daughter of her own, but no biological link to Maverick (IMDb (character description)).
• The confusion may stem from the film’s opening scene, where Penny and Maverick have an awkward reunion that hints at past romantic history, not paternal ties.

Did Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis get along?

• Kelly McGillis, who played Charlie in the original, did not return for the sequel. She has stated in interviews that she and Cruise were not close friends after filming (IMDb (cast biography notes)).
• Cruise has rarely commented on the relationship publicly, focusing instead on his work with the new cast.

Is Tom Cruise still friends with Kelly McGillis?

• Based on available statements, the two have not maintained a friendship. McGillis said they were “never really friends” after the movie (IMDb). Cruise has not contradicted this.

Who is richer, Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?

• Tom Cruise’s net worth is estimated at around $600 million, Brad Pitt’s at roughly $400 million, according to Forbes (celebrity wealth tracking). The gap is driven by Cruise’s profit-participation deals in the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises.

The pattern: The film deliberately sidesteps the original love triangle by introducing a new romantic arc, allowing the story to evolve without rehashing old dramas.

Why does the navy not like Maverick?

In-universe reasons

• In the film, Maverick’s repeated insubordination, risk-taking, and refusal to follow orders make him a headache for the chain of command. Admirals like Cain (Ed Harris) openly state he should have been court-martialed (IMDb (plot summary)).
• His attachment to his late friend Goose’s son, Rooster, leads to emotionally charged decisions that put missions at risk.

Real-world Navy perspective

• The U.S. Navy has largely embraced the franchise for recruitment and morale, but some veterans have criticized the film’s portrayal of modern naval aviation protocols (Wikipedia (accuracy discussions)).
• In reality, the Navy cooperated extensively with the production, providing aircraft and carrier access, so institutional dislike is more narrative than fact.

What this means: The Navy’s official support and the film’s box office success suggest that Hollywood and the military can find common ground—even when the hero is a rule-breaker.

Timeline

• 1986 – Original Top Gun released, starring Cruise as Maverick (IMDb (original film)).
• 2018 – Paramount officially announces Top Gun: Maverick (Wikipedia (development history)).
• May 27, 2022 – Theatrical release (IMDb).
• Dec 2, 2022 – Two-week IMAX re-release ahead of streaming (Forbes).
• Dec 22, 2022 – Global debut on Paramount+ (Paramount Global IR).
• May 15, 2026 – Scheduled re-release in select theaters (Box Office Mojo).

Quotes

“Audiences seemed to want both the theatrical and at-home experience.”

— Joseph Kosinski, director, as quoted in Variety

“Top Gun: Maverick lands on Paramount+ globally beginning Dec. 22.”

— Paramount Global, official press release

Summary

Top Gun: Maverick proved that a legacy sequel can be both a critical darling and a box office behemoth—but its real legacy may be the questions it left unanswered. For Paramount, the decision to fast-track Top Gun 3 or let the franchise rest is clear: either ride the wave of goodwill and deliver another theatrical event, or risk losing the momentum that turned a 36-year-old property into a billion-dollar brand.

For a detailed breakdown of the film’s financial and critical success, check out Top Gun: Maverick – Hit oder Flop?.

Frequently asked questions