After 36 years of anticipation, Tom Cruise returns to the big screen as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun: Maverick.” The film is a continuation of its original, “Top Gun,” with new characters and some of the original cast. Starring alongside Cruise, other big names appear in the credits. Val Kilmer returns as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Miles Teller joins as Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, and Jennifer Connelly plays love-interest, Penny Benjamin. Other famous actors featured include Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, and Ed Harris, all portraying other naval members. These talented actors create a story of excitement, one that covers a wide spectrum of emotions. With everything from tear-jerking embraces to nail-biting chases, “Top Gun: Maverick” is guaranteed to have viewers on the edge of their seats.

  The movie brings back characters from the original “Top Gun” movie and builds off of a new mission with Goose’s son, Rooster, who made brief appearances as a child in the original movie. The new mission requires dangerous techniques that Maverick has been instructed to teach the new “Top Gun” students, which Rooster is a part of. Throughout the film, the audience sees the conflict in Rooster and Maverick’s relationship and how it has developed since Goose’s death. Viewers also see appearances from other original characters such as Iceman, played by Val Kilmer who returned despite suffering from throat cancer. 

  The movie is perfect for anyone that is a lover of the original “Top Gun” movie, as it has many references to the original movie and side remarks that can make anyone with knowledge of the first movie laugh. “Top Gun: Maverick” was also well created to make it feel real by using real fighter planes and other technology to add to the full effect. Watching the action in theaters brings out all the sounds and magical cinematography. For those who can’t make it to see the movie in theaters, it is set to begin streaming on Paramount+ later this summer.