Film · in order
Top Gun Movies in Order
There are just two Top Gun movies. Watch the 1986 original first, then the 2022 legacy sequel Top Gun: Maverick, which is set 36 years later and directly references the first film's events.
Top Gun Movies in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
The Top Gun franchise is refreshingly simple to sort out: there are only two films, and release order, chronological order, and ideal watch order are all the same. Start with Top Gun (1986), Tony Scott's sun-drenched, jet-fueled blockbuster that turned Tom Cruise into a global star, and finish with Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Joseph Kosinski's long-awaited follow-up.
Release order is the only order you need. The two films are separated by 36 years in both the real world and the story, and Maverick is a true legacy sequel rather than a reboot or a parallel tale. It picks up the life of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell decades after the original and assumes you already know what happened at the Navy's Fighter Weapons School.
The one genuine gotcha is emotional rather than logistical: Maverick leans heavily on the legacy of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, whose death anchors the first film. A central thread of the sequel involves Maverick's relationship with Goose's son, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, and the guilt Maverick still carries. Watch Maverick without the original and most of its biggest beats land flat. So even though the films stand apart in time, the first is essential setup.
A third film is now officially in development, confirmed by Paramount in 2026 with Cruise returning, but it has no release date and does not change the viewing order for what exists today. If you enjoy this brand of high-stakes practical aviation and old-school movie-star charisma, the same creative DNA runs through other Tom Cruise vehicles like the Mission: Impossible series, which shares Cruise's commitment to real stunts and large-format spectacle. Director Joseph Kosinski also made the visually kindred Oblivion. But within Top Gun itself, the assignment is easy: two movies, watched oldest first.
Timeline 1986โ2022
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
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Frequently asked questions
How many Top Gun movies are there?
There are two Top Gun movies: Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). A third film is in development but has not been released, so only these two exist to watch.
What order should I watch Top Gun in?
Watch them in release order: Top Gun (1986) first, then Top Gun: Maverick (2022). The sequel is set 36 years later and directly references the original, so the 1986 film is essential setup.
Do I need to watch the original before Top Gun: Maverick?
Yes. Maverick is a legacy sequel that builds on the death of Goose and Maverick's bond with Goose's son, Rooster. Watching the 1986 film first makes the sequel's emotional beats land.
Is Top Gun: Maverick a reboot or a sequel?
It is a direct sequel, not a reboot. Tom Cruise returns as Pete Mitchell decades later, continuing the same character's story rather than restarting it.
How far apart are the two Top Gun movies set?
About 36 years. The original released in 1986 and Maverick in 2022, and the in-story gap matches that real-world span, with Maverick acknowledging the time that has passed.
Will there be a third Top Gun movie?
Yes. As of mid-2026, a third Top Gun film has been officially confirmed in development, with Tom Cruise returning as Maverick, Jerry Bruckheimer producing, and Ehren Kruger writing. No release date has been announced yet, so for now the franchise you can watch is still just the two released films.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, variety.com, Wikidata
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