Summary
- The best Top Gun quotes are just as memorable as the film itself, highlighting Maverick's character and various aspects of the movie.
- Maverick's decision to become an instructor in the sequel was teased at the end of the original Top Gun, showing his path in the franchise.
- Maverick's reckless nature as a pilot is questioned, but he believes good instincts are crucial and can save the day in dangerous situations.
The best Top Gun quotes help to show how the movie became such an iconic bit of entertainment. The 1986 film had Cruise playing Maverick, a skilled and arrogant fighter pilot who competes against the world's best in the Top Gun flight school. There are so many famous scenes and moments that fans remember, but some of the lines are just as memorable as the amazing aerial dogfights that Maverick gets himself into. With the franchise given a new life with Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, many people returned to the original and relived the most memorable Top Gun quotes.
While the aerial action and 80s vibes are what most people remember about the movie, there are many Top Gun quotes that have stayed with fans and become as famous as the movie itself. Many of these quotes highlight how Cruise's character of Maverick became such a beloved movie hero. Other Top Gun quotes highlight aspects of the movie, from the romance to the humor to the rivalries. Certain Top Gun quotes even become better after watching Top Gun: Maverick. Looking back on these lines might make fans want to revisit Top Gun all over again.
"I Thought Of Being An Instructor, Sir."
Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick finds the former hotshot of the Top Gun class return after years away as Maverick becomes an instructor for Top Gun's new generation of would-be pilots. However, this development was actually teased decades earlier at the end of Top Gun. After completing the program, the commanding officer asks him what he would like to do next. Instead of going off to save the world, Maverick insists he wants to return as an instructor - as if setting up the sequel that came decades later. It is interesting to see Maverick immediately seeing that as a path for himself even though the sequel shows him somewhat forced into the role of instructor.
"So, You're The One."
Charlie
While Top Gun: Maverick 's romance with Jennifer Connelly's Penny was a highlight of the sequel, fans shouldn't forget about Maverick's first love interest. Anyone who has seen a movie before would be able to predict that Maverick and Charlie will fall for each other by the end, but the relationship does start off rather cold. With Charlie as the new intelligence officer lecturing the Top Gun candidates, she is not impressed with Maverick's arrogant ways.
As he interrupts the lecture to boast about his skills in front of everyone, Charlie challenges that ego. There is a sense that she has seen this kind of arrogance before, and she is willing to wait to see if he is all talk or not. It helps to cement Charlie as more than just a love interest as she is one who will challenge Maverick.
"You Don't Have Time To Think Up There. You Think, You're Dead."
Maverick
There is often the question in the movie as to whether Maverick's reckless nature as a pilot is a good quality or a danger. While it feels at times that it comes from Maverick's arrogance, he does give some insight into how he operates in a cockpit. Explaining his method to Charlie, Maverick insists that the thing a pilot needs most is good instincts. Given the dangerous situations they find themselves in, Maverick feels that there is no time to think, only to act. Though it does get him into trouble, the movie shows that having a pilot who can respond due to gut instinct can save the day.
"You Two Really Are Cowboys."
Iceman
Seeing Val Kilmer return as Iceman is one of the best callbacks in Top Gun: Maverick, especially seeing how much the relationship between him and Maverick grew over the years. Certainly, in the first movie, he is not afraid to confront Maverick and Goose about their style of flying. As a more cautious and perhaps intelligent pilot, Iceman sounds like a disciplining parent as he calls Maverick and Goose cowboys. While it shows the difference between these two rivals, it is also hard not to see Iceman's valid points.
"When I Fly, I'll Have You Know That My Crew And My Plane Come First."
Maverick
While Maverick is confident in his style of flying and isn't afraid to push the boundaries, he does seem bothered with being perceived as a reckless pilot. It is something he fiercely pushes back against, especially when it comes to questioning the safety of others. Maverick seems genuinely angry that he is doubted in this matter and makes it clear that the plane he is flying and the crew that depends on him always come first. It does seem to be a battle within Maverick to be the best and to protect those he cares about.
"Every Time We Go Up There, It's Like You're Flying With A Ghost."
Goose
Something that fans might forget when rewatching the movie is how much the memory of Maverick's father plays into Top Gun. He was seen as another top pilot who died in action and that loss could be what pushes Maverick to do the things he does. Goose seems to recognize this and even worry about how much of a distraction it is for Maverick. It seems that Maverick is chasing something when he flies, trying to be as good as the memory of his father. Interestingly, the memory of Goose is what later haunts Maverick.
"God, He Loved Flying With You, Maverick."
Carole
While Top Gun: Maverick is the kind of sequel fans can watch without seeing the original, it does a great job of making the loss of Goose in the first movie really matter. Maverick is clearly filled with guilt over the death of his best friend and wingman, blaming himself for what happened. Though Carole is clearly crushed by losing Goose, she can at least offer these bittersweet words of comfort that Goose loved when he flew with Maverick and likely wouldn't have traded it for anything. However, that trust he had for Maverick is also something that stays with him.
"The Pentagon Sees To It That I Know More Than You."
Charlie
Once again, this is a quote that allows Charlie to be more than a love interest as she is given her own strength and authority in the story as well. Having her as the intelligence officer makes it so, that despite the pilots' skills, she always has a certain power over them. She is also not afraid to throw this in Maverick's face when he gets a little too cocky. When he tells her that his impressive flying mission was classified, Charlie points out that there is nothing Maverick is aware of that she doesn't already know.
"You Gotta Let Him Go."
Viper
Another aspect of the first movie that is being touched on in the sequel is the death of Goose. It is a pivotal moment in the first movie and puts Maverick at a crossroads where his guilt over the accident nearly leads him to quit. However, Viper is the one who gives him the motivational talk he needs to hear. He explains that it is something he needs to put behind him. However, with Maverick encountering Goose's son in Top Gun: Maverick, that loss comes back to haunt him. Quite perfectly, that movie forced both Maverick and Rooster to stop allowing the death of Goose to hang over their heads.
"That Was Some Of The Best Flying I've Seen To Date — Right Up To The Part Where You Got Killed."
Jester
This quote was uttered by Jester, who secretly admired Maverick's uncanny flying skills, and his ability to think quickly in a high-octane situation. However, he was less than impressed with Maverick's recklessness, which threatened to derail not only his career but the lives of his team. After his hot-shot attitude is cooled following a loss to Viper and Jester, Maverick is forced to stare down the barrel of reality when Jester accosts him in the changeroom, publicly lauding his flying skills in front of the other pilots, while dealing a critical blow to his ego at the same time. It is a perfect encapsulation of the best and worst of Maverick as a pilot.
"Remember Boys, No Points For Second Place."
Slider
With competition heating up for the TOPGUN trophy, Maverick and Goose are forced to step up their game against Iceman's team, including the arrogant Slider, who fires off this quote in an attempt to demoralize them. While Iceman and Slider are keen to win, the former is more concerned with Maverick's recklessness in the air, a fact which only raises tensions between the two, right up to the point where the unthinkable happens. The competition aspect among the eager pilots is one of the best aspects of Top Gun and makes it out to be a bit of a sports movie as well.
"You're Not Going To Be Happy Unless You're Going Mach 2 With Your Hair On Fire."
Charlie
As Maverick wrestles with his own hot-headed attitude, Charlie attempts to help him reconcile it with his superb flying skills, and find a comfortable middle ground. This quote proves that she wasn't totally convinced but instead believes Maverick may be too obsessed with flying close to the razor's edge to change. It's a quick, but effective examination that sums up Maverick's character. That wild approach makes him a bit of a wildcard, but also makes him a great hero from the 80s action movie era. Though Charlie doesn't appear in Top Gun: Maverick, it is easy to see how advice like this left a lasting impact on him.
“Watch The Birdie!”
Goose
The introduction to the film sees Maverick and Goose set upon by two aggressive MiG-28s attempting to intimidate U.S. forces. While both sides come dangerously close to firing off a shot, neither is willing to pull the trigger, instead opting to outflank each other in a show of skill and determination. Maverick decides to up the ante by turning his F-14 Tomcat upside down, directly above the canopy of one of the MiGs. Rather than resort to violence, he simply flips off the opposing pilot and laughs, while Goose takes a polaroid of the encounter. It is one of the moments that cements Goose as one of the great movie sidekicks.
“This Is What I Call A Target-Rich Environment.”
Maverick
Maverick was every bit as arrogant and overcompensating in the air as he was on land. A ladies' man by nature, his newfound status as a top-grade fighter pilot would certainly have been enough to attract a bountiful amount of attention from the opposite sex. Upon visiting a bar with Goose, Maverick begins scoping out the lovely ladies before uttering this quote. For all his confidence and bravado, however, Maverick strikes out with the one woman who catches his attention, which is comically ironic, to say the least.
"Sorry Goose, But It's Time To Buzz The Tower."
Maverick
Maverick is certainly one of the best pilots in the sky, but he has a reputation for being reckless as well. Sometimes that unorthodox attitude is exactly what the situation needs, but most of the time, it just gets him in trouble. After accomplishing a flight lesson, Maverick is pumped up and requests a flyby of the tower. Even though he is denied, Maverick has already decided he's going for it, despite Goose's protests. It's a fun moment that shows the rebellious attitude of Maverick that he cannot help but get himself in trouble.
"She's Lost That Loving Feeling."
Maverick
Aside from all the excitement of the flight school, Top Gun also succeeds with its compelling romance. Maverick sets his sights on Charlie in a bar, unaware that she is actually one of his instructors at the school. But just like in the skies, Maverick has a unique approach to his targets. As he and Goose discuss how he'll woo this beautiful woman, Maverick says "She's lost that loving feeling" which Goose is not happy about. They proceed to sing the Righteous Brothers' famous song before the entire bar joins in. It's a cheesy but undeniably fun moment that shows the charms of Maverick and proves he doesn't take himself too seriously.
"Great, Then I Won't Have To Worry About You Making Your Living As A Singer."
Charlie
Part of the reason the relationship between Maverick and Charlie works so well is that she is unimpressed with his cocky attitude and smooth gimmicks. This even comes after his valiant effort to woo her with a singalong performance. Charlie ensures Maverick that the way to win her heart is not so easy. Finding out that he is a pilot, Charlie delivers this great insult to his subpar singing skills and shows that she might be the much-needed person to deflate his ego a bit.
"Because I Was Inverted."
Maverick
The early sequence of Maverick and Goose taking a picture of the enemy plane is a great introduction to Maverick as one of the best pilots in the sky. However, his antics are stunning enough that he has a hard time getting anyone to believe them. When Charlie tells the class of pilots the secrecy of the enemy planes, Maverick is all too happy to boast about snapping a picture.
Charlie is dubious about this claim to begin with and it only gets more unbelievable when Maverick explains his plane was inverted. Though it isn't easy to convince his fellow pilots of this, the fact that the audience saw him do something everyone else thinks is impossible makes him a hero worth cheering for.
"Talk To Me, Goose."
Maverick
The relationship between Maverick and Goose makes for one of the best action movie friendships. Though Maverick is a skilled pilot, he also relies on Goose as a partner in the skies, often using the catchphrase "Talk to me, Goose," to get his wingman's read on the situation. Losing Goose and that voice in the cockpit with him is part of the reason Maverick has such a hard time getting back in the sky.
During the climactic dogfight at the end of Top Gun, Maverick tries to get over his guilt of what happened to Goose and fly with that instinct that made him one of the best. However, in a touching moment, he speaks to Goose once again and asks for his guidance, proving that their bond was a big part of Maverick's abilities as a pilot.
"Take Me To Bed, Or Lose Me Forever."
Carole
Top Gun arguably introduced a lot of big names in small roles. One of the most recognizable faces that pop up is Meg Ryan in her big-screen debut. Ryan plays Carole, Goose's fun and energetic wife. Though it is not a large role, Ryan shows off a lot of the charm and humor that would soon make her a big star in the movie business. As Goose and Maverick double-date, Carole, yells to her dear husband, "Take me to bed, or lose me forever." It's a goofy line, but Ryan knows how to sell it. In that small role, she helps to make Goose's death more tragic as it establishes his loving family and how their cheerful time together in this scene is quickly shattered shortly after.
"I'll Fly With You."
Viper
Though Maverick strives to be the best pilot around, he has to compete with Viper (Tom Skerrit), the head instructor of Top Gun school. While Viper is hard on Maverick and calls him out for his mistakes, he sees the potential in the young man. After Goose's death, it is Viper who convinces Maverick that he needs to get back in the cockpit and continue. After graduating, Maverick is given his first assignment and told he will be assigned a new partner. But Viper says Maverick could call him if he needs one, saying "I'll fly with you." It is a moment of acceptance in that Maverick is not only being told he can fly with the best but that Viper trusts him even after Goose's death.
"I Am Dangerous."
Maverick
Maverick's rival in the Top Gun school is Iceman (Val Kilmer) and he makes for a great 80s movie villain, albeit a likable one. Iceman is the complete opposite of Maverick, flying by the book and showing tremendous patience while up in the air. He sees Maverick's reckless behavior as a liability in the sky. As the two butt heads, Iceman calls Maverick dangerous. Maverick snaps back, "That's right, Ice…Man, I am dangerous." Cruise's delivery and the way he and Kilmer play off each other make this a great and memorable faceoff, cementing their compelling rivalry.
"Son, Your Ego Is Writing Checks Your Body Can't Cash."
Stinger
One of the most entertaining clichés in 80s action movies is the tough authority figure who always chews out hotshots for their reckless behavior. Top Gun continues this tradition with Stinger, Maverick and Goose's superior officer, who gives them a verbal berating after pulling another of their stunts.
As Stinger breaks down all of Maverick's accomplishments, he quickly follows up by pointing out all the times he screwed up. In a classic boss line, he tells Maverick "Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash." Not only is it funny, but it actually sums up Maverick pretty well. One of the reasons Top: Maverick is seen as the better movie is because it puts Maverick's macho ego in check while allowing him to still be himself.
"You Can Be My Wingman Any Time."
Iceman
Though Maverick and Iceman are enemies at first, it's clear they have a lot in common. They are both arrogant and think they are the best around, so it's natural they would butt heads. But all that changes when the two pilots have to work together in a real dogfight. While Iceman is still not confident in Maverick as a team player, Maverick pulls through, taking out the enemies and saving Iceman. Back on the ground, Iceman finally admits Maverick is a good pilot, telling him "You can be my wingman any time." Maverick responds, "Bulls***. You can be mine." The respect earned between them perfectly sets up the friendship between Maverick and Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick.
"I Feel The Need…The Need For Speed!"
Maverick
There is no line as iconic as this in the entire movie. As Maverick and Goose prepare to take to the skies again, they pump themselves up with this mantra, "I feel the need…the need for speed!" It is another example of a corny 80s movie line that is mocked by some, but it also gets the energy going. These are the kind of guys that live for that adrenaline rush. It is also an appropriate summation of Tom Cruise's personality in general as he always seems to be striving to go bigger and faster with his movies - something he continues in Top Gun: Maverick.