Top Gun: Maverick Cleverly Avoids Every Legacy Sequel Mistake
Warning: Spoilers for Top Gun: Maverick!
As the latest film to be part of this new wave of legacy sequels, Top Gun: Maverick more than succeeds at justifying the need for its own existence. However, this might come as a surprise as there wasn’t exactly high demand to revisit the world created in Tony Scott’s original film, as beloved as it may be. The first Top Gun was so steeped in ‘80s iconography and music that it seemed untouchable, and it’s safe to say that not many fans would’ve expected a sequel that not only improves on the original but reflects on its own legacy in a multitude of ways.
Set 36 years later, Top Gun: Maverick follows Pete «Maverick» Mitchell, who continues to push his own limits as a fighter pilot for the Navy. After taking things too far in an experimental speed test, he’s sent back to the flight program and instructed to prepare Top Gun 2's cast of new characters for what is essentially a suicide mission. Coming back to Top Gun, Maverick is determined to push these pilots to the limits but is shaken by the presence of Rooster (Miles Teller), the son of his former wingman who died in the original film.
Related: Top Gun: Maverick Justified The Original Movie’s Silliest Scene
Top Gun: Maverick understands what it means to be a successful legacy sequel. It perfects the formula that many of its contemporaries struggle with, leaning too hard into indulgence or a “bigger is better” approach. The film succeeds by grounding the story in the modern world without losing reverence for the tone of the original, effortlessly switching between the goofier feel of Tony Scott’s version and a slick, high-stakes modern blockbuster. It invites comparisons with some of Tom Cruise’s recent work, especially Mission
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