If you think Hollywood is all about fast cars and flashy parties, think again! The real magic happens behind the scenes, where dedication meets creativity. Just ask Tom Cruise, the man who turned a simple script into an aviation classic.
After a rocky experience working with Ridley Scott on Legend, which crashed and burned at the box office, Cruise was understandably alarmed about taking on new projects without the right groundwork. With producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer presenting him with the Top Gun script, the actor recognized its potential but felt it needed improvement.
The Making of Tom Cruise’s Top Gun
Tom Cruise’s journey of playing Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in Top Gun wasn’t a walk in the park. After a tough experience with Ridley Scott on Legend, the Risky Business star, 62, wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be left holding the bag again.
Legend was met with a storm of criticism and ultimately flopped at the box office, bringing in just $23.5 million against a $25 million budget (see The Numbers). It was a tough lesson for Cruise. So when producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer pitched Top Gun, the actor saw a diamond in the rough but felt it “needed a lot of work” (via Rolling Stone).
Rather than jumping in with both feet, he made a bold proposal: he wanted to roll up his sleeves and collaborate on the script before committing. Cruise informed the producers:
After two months, if I don’t want to do it, the script’s gonna be in good enough shape, and you’ll have more of a sense of what you want to do. And there are other actors.’ I think they were kind of taken aback at first, [but] after coming off Legend, I just wanted to make sure that everything was gonna go the way we talked about it.
What followed was a creative partnership where they spent hours perfecting the script. And their hard work truly paid off. Top Gun rocketed to $357 million at the box office on a mere $15 million budget (Box Office Mojo), propelling Cruise to new heights. His dedication shows that sometimes you have to put your nose to the grindstone to achieve greatness.
Inside Tom Cruise’s Preparation for Top Gun
When it comes to bringing characters to life, Tom Cruise doesn’t just scratch the surface; he dives right into the deep end. During an interview with The Uncool, he shared how he immersed himself in the world of fighter pilots while preparing for his role in Tony Scott’s Top Gun. With an eye for authenticity, Cruise spent nearly nine months alongside these skilled aviators to truly grasp the emotional weight of their service.
As part of his commitment, he and his team traveled to Washington to have a sit-down with the Navy’s secretary, all in the quest to secure fighter jets for the film. Reflecting on the exhilarating experience of flying, he described it as intensely thrilling, perfectly capturing the nail-biting reality of a fighter pilot’s life.
These guys do it every day and you know why they want it. Flying is so intense and emotional.
Cruise’s goal wasn’t to create just another war flick; he wanted to connect with the personal stories of the pilots. He further admitted:
Ever since I got involved in Top Gun, I didn’t want to make a warmonger movie.
He was determined to explore what drives these extraordinary individuals to soar through the skies. And this thoughtful approach brought a wealth of emotion to Cruise’s performance. The film also starred Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, and Anthony Edwards.
You can stream Top Gun on Paramount+.
