Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Kernel Score: 96% · 10,642 ratings · Rated PG-13

Genres: Action, Drama

Released: 2022-05-21

Runtime: 131 minutes

Is Top Gun: Maverick worth watching?

Must-watch. A rare sequel that tops the original, with real flying, a likeable Tom Cruise and a clean, emotional story. Its action is thrilling and easy to follow.

Watch it if you

  • like big action done with real stunts
  • enjoy nostalgia that earns its place
  • want a crowd-pleaser

Skip it if you

  • dislike military flag-waving
  • want deep character drama

Best for: Big-screen action night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Top Gun: Maverick

  • Stream: Netflix, Paramount+, YouTube TV
  • Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell finds himself training a detachment of TOP GUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.

Top Gun: Maverick parents' guide: ages 10+

Parents need to know that Top Gun: Maverick is a PG-13 military action drama with combat sequences but strong messages about teamwork, mentorship, and sacrifice.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Aerial combat and military action with peril and a dangerous wartime mission, but limited graphic content for its PG-13 rating.
  • Language: Some — Some mild to moderate profanity in the military setting.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Top Gun: Maverick

If you liked Top Gun: Maverick, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Top Gun (1986) — 85%: The original, which this sequel builds on.
  • F1 (2025) — 87%: Another big, real-feeling racing film.
  • Crimson Tide (1995) — 80%: Tense military thriller aboard a submarine.
  • The Hunt for Red October (1990) — 83%: Smart military thriller with strong tension.
  • Greyhound (2020) — 86%: Tense naval film with a clear, lean story.

Director

Joseph Kosinski

Cast

  • Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell
  • Val Kilmer as Adm. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky
  • Miles Teller as Lt. Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw
  • Jennifer Connelly as Penny Benjamin
  • Bashir Salahuddin as Wo-1. Bernie 'Hondo' Coleman
  • Jon Hamm as Adm. Beau 'Cyclone' Simpson
  • Charles Parnell as Adm. Solomon 'Warlock' Bates
  • Monica Barbaro as Lt. Natasha 'Phoenix' Trace
  • Lewis Pullman as Lt. Robert 'Bob' Floyd
  • Jay Ellis as Lt. Reuben 'Payback' Fitch

Top Gun: Maverick FAQ

Is Top Gun: Maverick worth watching?

Must-watch. A rare sequel that tops the original, with real flying, a likeable Tom Cruise and a clean, emotional story. Its action is thrilling and easy to follow.

Where can I watch Top Gun: Maverick?

In the US you can stream Top Gun: Maverick on Netflix, Paramount+ and YouTube TV and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.

Is Top Gun: Maverick OK for kids?

Top Gun: Maverick is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 10+. Parents need to know that Top Gun: Maverick is a PG-13 military action drama with combat sequences but strong messages about teamwork, mentorship, and sacrifice.

What movies are like Top Gun: Maverick?

If you liked Top Gun: Maverick, try Top Gun, F1, Crimson Tide and The Hunt for Red October.