The continued success ofTop Gun: Maverickat the box office has raised the question of further movies in the franchise being considered. While the phenomenal success of the belated sequel to the 1986 movie has certainly reignited interest in the Tom Cruise-led film, would the nostalgia that helped the sequel become a success continue to carry over into a third movie. For producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the possibility ofTop Gun 3all depends on it happening if it happens.
WhenTop Gun: Maverickfinally hit cinemas this year after a lengthy Covid delay, no one expected to see the movie not only top the box office for weeks and become the highest-grossing movie of the year, but also soar up the list of highest grossing movies ever to land in 12th place globally and sixth place, above the mightyAvengers: Infinity War, on the domestic list. Of course, that kind of success always comes with the burden of expectation that a sequel will immediately follow, but that may not be the case with theTop Gunfranchise.
Although there have been plenty of rumors about sequels, spin-offs and even a TV series,Jerry Bruckheimeris keeping his card close to his chest when it comes to discussing follow-ups to this year’s biggest movie. In a recent interview withRadio Times, the producer said:
“I can’t tell you what the future is going to bring. If you’d asked me in ‘86, ‘Do you think you’ll have a sequel out in a few years?’ I’d have said maybe. But it took 30-something years to do it!”
Related:Top Gun: Maverick Director Reflects on Showing Val Kilmer His Completed Scene For the First Time
Top Gun: Maverick Surpassed All Expectations This Summer
While this year was expected to be a big year for Marvel Studios at the box office, with sequelsDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessandThor: Love and Thunderthought to be the most likely contenders to be the highest-grossing movies of the year along with the likes ofJurassic World: Dominion, no one really sawTop Gun: Maverickhaving a real chance to top the year’s box office.
Top Gunwas a hit in 1986, but did not massively outshine any other movie releases of the decade in terms of either reviews or box office takings. For that reason, it was thought thatTop Gun: Maverickwould join other legacy sequels that brought a nostalgic hit for many older fans and did enough to warrant the movie being made. Instead, the film has taken over $1.4 billion and is now looking to be a success all over again on digital home release, as well as Blu-ray and DVD releases still to come.
For Tom Cruise, the film has become his biggest ever movie hit, something that also can be said for Paramount Pictures, but the actor is not resting on his laurels and will soon be seen in the two-partMission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which may or may not be his finalM:Imovies, and he has plenty of other films in the pipeline. For this reason alone, anotherTop Gunsequel could happen at some point, but probably not with Cruise’s involvement, and that would possibly be a big mistake.
