Top Gun
Here's what we found in Top Gun. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Top Gun
Top Gun (1986) is an iconic action-drama film that follows the ambitious naval aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he attends the elite Fighter Weapons School. The movie chronicles his intense training, fierce competition with fellow pilots, and a burgeoning romance with his civilian instructor, Charlie Blackwood. Alongside themes of love and rivalry, Maverick grapples with the loss of a close friend and learns critical lessons about teamwork and accountability. The film is renowned for its thrilling aerial dogfights and memorable soundtrack, making it a definitive cultural touchstone of the 1980s. While it addresses mature themes and features suggestive content, it primarily focuses on military aviation and personal growth. Originally rated PG, the film's content often prompts a modern re-evaluation to a PG-13 equivalent due to its portrayal of intense action, a significant character death, romantic encounters with implied sexual activity, and some coarse language. It captures the adrenaline-fueled world of fighter pilots and their personal struggles, offering a blend of high-octane excitement and emotional depth. The movie's enduring popularity and influence on pop culture underscore its status as a classic, appealing to audiences interested in military dramas, action, and stories of overcoming adversity.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
"Top Gun (1986)" is widely recognized for its strong homoerotic undertones, particularly in the interactions between male pilots and specific scenes, even though there are no overtly LGBTQ+ characters or plotlines. Critics and scholars have noted this subtext, and director Tony Scott acknowledged drawing inspiration from a gay photographer's work for the film's aesthetic. The actress playing Maverick's love interest, Kelly McGillis, later came out as lesbian.
The beach volleyball scene features shirtless, oiled-up male pilots, including Maverick and Iceman, with lingering camera shots and is set to Kenny Loggins' "Playing With The Boys". This scene is frequently cited as a prominent example of the film's homoeroticism. The intense rivalry and "bromance" between Maverick and Iceman are often interpreted as having significant sexual tension, with "flirtatious comments" and "intense eye contact" in locker room scenes. Val Kilmer (Iceman) once jokingly rated the film's homoerotic content an "11" out of 10.
Would these 1 concern matter to your family?
Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
PG-13 (for ages 13 and older). While originally rated PG in 1986, the film contains intense action sequences, a tragic character death, sexually suggestive content, moderate profanity, and themes of rebellion that would align more closely with a modern PG-13 rating.
Good to Know
"Top Gun (1986)" is notably different from its sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick (2022)", in its approach to certain content. While "Maverick" features more intense and realistic aerial combat and a higher frequency of strong language including an F-bomb, it is generally considered "less sweaty and lighter on the sexy stuff" compared to the original. The original "Top Gun" has been noted for its "creepy behavior toward women in bars" by some contemporary reviews comparing it to the sequel. The original film's PG rating is often seen as lenient by today's standards, with many believing it would receive a PG-13 if released currently.
What are you watching next?
Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.
No credit card required — join hundreds of families