17 References Between The 2022 “Top Gun: Maverick” And The 1986 “Top Gun”

“Top Gun” is an action drama movie directed by Tony Scott and inspired by the article of the same name in California magazine published three years earlier than the movie production. The movie which was released in May 1986 reflects its status as the world’s top cinema market. It is 26 years since the iconic movie premiered, and we still remember a lot of nostalgic callbacks to the 1986 "Top Gun".
And now, here comes the “Top Gun: Maverick” which receives many expectations from the sequel’s fans. Still, the movie plot is good enough to maintain the "iconic" status. Tom Cruise is old but still got it made. The sequel to "Top Gun" has everything a commercial action movie needs, including super movie stars and heart-stopping combat scenes that would blow your mind.
Today, we have compiled a list of nostalgic callbacks to the original movie. Scrolling down and enjoy!

#1 The Iceman's return by Vl Kilmer

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#2 Tom Cruise's exciting return as Maverick

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#3 Hangman (Glen Powell) is an emotional role of Rooster throughout the movie. We might find Iceman and Maverick in the original have a lot in common.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#4 A black title card describing the Top Gun school followed by a montage of Navy flight deck operations is the opening in both movies.

Source: Paramount Pictures

#5 It would not be a Top Gun movie without "Danger Zone", and this movie uses it twice.

Source: Paramount Pictures

#6 In the original movie, Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly) didn't appear but was mentioned as Maverick'ex-girlfriend.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#7 Rooster (Miles Teller) is Goose's son, who appeared in Top Gun as a baby.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#8 Maverick is still grieving Goose (Anthony Edwards) and seems to have lingering guilt about his death. This is the movie's biggest connection to the events of the original.

Source: Paramount Pictures

#9 Goose and Maverick are first sent to Top Gun despite not following orders, then Ed Harris's appearance as Rear Admiral Cain mirrors the scene in the original movie.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#10 In the original movie, Goose played and sang "Great Balls of Fire". Now Rooster does the same in the 2022 movie.

Source: Miles Teller

#11 Maverick is a homage to the volleyball scene in the 1986 Top Gun.

Source: Paramount Pictures

#12 Maverick took many lessons as a Top Gun instructor from the experiences in his first movie.

Source: Paramount Pictures

#13 Maverick's entrance in the original movie is reflecting his arrival to the 1986 Top Gun with "Danger Zone" playing in the background.

Source: Paramount Pictures

#14 In the original, Maverick rides a Kawasaki bike. And in "Top Gun: Maverick", he did the same with the more modern one.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#15 Maverick bumps heads with his Top Gun supervisor, again. In 1986, it was Viper (Tom Skerritt); in 2022, it turns to Cyclone (Jon Hamm). Anyways, Maverick still wins their begrudging respect by the end of both movies.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#16 Rooster and Maverick fly in an F-14 Tomcat, which is the exact plane Maverick flew with Goose.

Source: Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

#17 And finally, the tiniest of the Easter eggs: Hangman picks a song on the jukebox early in the movie, then he punches numbers 8 and 6 which is exactly the mirror of OG Top Gun came out in 1986.

Source: Paramount Pictures