As the first reviews started coming in, it became more and more obvious that Top Gun: Maverick had done the unexpected, it had delivered a great story that was uplifted by phenomenal performances and visuals. As audiences started pouring into the cinema, these reviews were further confirmed.

The movie's biggest pièce de résistance came when critics and viewers alike commented on it being, not just as good as, but actually better than its predecessor. While Tom Cruise and Joseph Kosinski obviously had ample time to work on the project, its success is one that very few, if any, expected. Not only did the movie jet through the opening box office, it doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Updated on December 1st, 2022 by Jordan Iacobucci:

Top Gun: Maverick hasn't stopped tearing its way through the world, now preparing to top streaming charts across the country upon its Paramount+ release. Audiences will now finally have the chance to relive 2022's biggest film yet, and find all-new ways to prove that this long-awaited legacy sequel is, against all odds, actually better than the original film.

Bigger Budget

It is no secret that Top Gun: Maverick had more resources at its disposal than the original film did. In fact, though the original Top Gun had a minuscule budget of $15 million (via The Numbers), the sequel had more than $100 million extra to work with, having been given a production budget of $170 million (via The Numbers).

As a result of its exponentially larger budget, Maverick was able to pull off a wider range of feats in its runtime than the original. Thankfully, the filmmakers put their resources to good use, using the extra money to craft awe-inspiring shots rather than pouring the budget into CGI or recruiting other big-name actors to appear in minor roles.

It's A Different Kind Of Blockbuster

The 2022 cinematic landscape that Top Gun: Maverick was released into is decidedly different than that of 1986. The sequel was released in an age of franchise films and cinematic universes, especially those of the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which have dominated the box office in recent years.

Top Gun: Maverick offered a very different kind of blockbuster in comparison to what audiences are typically treated to in the modern era of filmmaking. And, though there is nothing inherently wrong with massive franchises, Maverick also proved that audiences are interested in diversified cinematic offerings, especially after the film outearned several highly-anticipated Marvel projects this year.

It Plays Into The Nostalgia

Top Gun has something on its side that most movies don't - nostalgia. It was a given before the movie ever came out that a lot of people who watched the original film during their childhood would return to the cinema for the sequel. What was not given, however, was the new generation of fans that the second film attracted.

The sequel plays into the nostalgia just enough, both directly and indirectly, to give a whole new flavor to the franchise. Instead of fully depending on its predecessor, Top Gun: Maverick gives just enough attention to pay tribute to what was and chooses to focus on what will be.

A Different Kind Of Masculinity

Top Gun, while lauded for its overall story, didn't exactly present women in the best light - ironic, considering the female lead was an instructor to the Top Gun crew. It also presented a very certain kind of masculinity that some might deem to be out-of-date and even toxic at times. Thankfully, this is not the case with its sequel.

Top Gun: Maverick - one of Cruise's best action movies to date - doesn't do away with every aspect of masculinity, nor should it. Instead, it tweaks the idea of masculinity to suit the times. Instead of overbearing men and innuendo-filled moments, the movie presents men who, while keeping their "manhood" intact, don’t go around behaving like jerks.

Clarity Of The Mission/Flightplan

One of the biggest complaints about Top Gun, in hindsight, is the fact that the movie doesn't do a good job of telling its audience the exact intricacies of its mission. While it may not seem to matter, the reaction to the sequel says that it most definitely does.

Not only is the mission's plan extremely simple and direct, but it's laid out very succinctly in an attempt to give the audience - who are not all naval aviators - ease of understanding. The movie also runs through the route so many times in training that the audience knows what to expect during the mission. Clarifying details like this goes a long way in creating a more immersive experience for its viewers.

Added Element of Comedy

Anyone who has seen Top Gun will agree that the movie wasn't exactly a comedy. Similar to its predecessor, no one expected Maverick to be much of a comedy either, making the many elements of hilarity in the movie a very welcome surprise.

Adding well-placed instances of comic relief - not an overwhelming amount that makes it seem like the creators are begging for validation - also shows that iconic pieces of work can be made better. Moreover, this proves to creators that they shouldn't necessarily be afraid to experiment by adding new facets to a pre-existing piece of work.

A Better Love Story

Of course, every story is empty without the hero pining after his love interest. The sequel, however, does better than the original by making Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly, a character in her own right before sending Maverick after her to let the audience know her purpose in the story. Yes, she's a love interest, but she was a friend before that.

Penny is someone who knows Pete as a person and doesn't care much for the cocky pilot front that he presents. She isn't waiting around for him to make up his mind about how he feels and certainly isn't the "struggle" he has to overcome. In a much-appreciated plot decision, she also does not abandon her plans with her daughter or invite Pete on a mother-daughter trip, instead, she finds him afterward. There's no dramatic gesture, just the realistic acceptance of each other, which works well with Maverick's character arc (and age).

Better Representation Of Female Characters

While the original Top Gun is beloved for a variety of reasons, it is difficult to deny that its female characters are rather flat and one-dimensional. The sequel amends this difficulty quite naturally, making sure to give its female characters an even landscape to their male counterparts.

Maverick not only includes a more interesting love interest in Jennifer Connelly's Penny but also better represents female characters in general. Phoenix, in particular, serves as a massive step forward for the franchise, as she is depicted as being just as skilled a pilot as the other Top Gun recruits.

It Plays To Cruise's Strengths

In the decades since the original Top Gun was released, Tom Cruise has become one of the biggest movie stars of all time. The actor has become extremely well-known to cinephiles around the globe, particularly for his roles in major action franchises like Mission: Impossible and Jack Reacher.

With the added benefit of Cruise's stardom, Maverick manages to play to its leading actor's strengths. Though the film's action mostly takes place in the form of dogfights and trench runs, the climax also sees Cruise engage in one of his typical action star sequences as he and Rooster attempt to escape enemy territory after being shot down.

Breathtaking Visuals

It is clear just how much effort went into the visuals in Maverick's first flight alone. After taking off in the Darkstar, the cinematography seen is absolutely breathtaking. The scene of the jet cutting through space and leaving behind a white trail against the endless sky is a simply mesmerizing way to open the sequel.

These are all the affordances that come with evolving technology, however, the choice to creatively monetize them visually was one that paid off really well. Not only does it add to what the original created but, because every scene depends on visual artistry, it elevates the movie and makes it that much more magnificent.

A Great Script

Without faulting the first movie’s script, it's important to note that the sequel tells its story with much more conviction and efficiency, developing the plot far better than its predecessor. The original also had the minor problem of delivering an extremely macho and ego-driven lead character, which isn't always a compelling personality to follow. Meanwhile, the sequel puts in additional effort to recreate Maverick in the light of more modern times while maintaining aspects of his younger version.

Moreover, not only do the supporting characters not feel like throwaways, but they each bring something new to the story. On top of these brilliantly written characters, the story follows a very well-thought-out plot that focuses on growth. The subtle debate of man vs. machine, and time as a reminder of mortality also serve as perfect undertones.

Side-Characters With More Relevance

Unlike Top Gun, the sequel isn't only about its cocky male lead, but rather chooses to shine a spotlight on its side characters. The supporting cast doesn't feel as though they are only there to aid Maverick's story and, more importantly, they aren't simply one-dimensional figures, as is often the case in the original.

Not only does the movie have a diverse cast, but it also has diversity in characteristics and behavior. Bob is a far cry from the orthodox naval aviators shown in the previous films. Unlike Iceman, Hangman doesn't have a blind following of mindless lackeys. Moreover, Phoenix's character is never treated any differently than the men, which was refreshing for many audiences. The most important difference, however, lies in the fact that each character has so much more to give that it leaves the audience wanting spin-offs focused solely on them.

Maverick And Iceman's Friendship

The developing friendship between Maverick and Iceman is a key plot point in the original Top Gun, as the two hotshot pilots go from rivals to close allies during their training. The original film memorably ends with their truce, as Iceman assures his former rival that he can "be my wingman anytime."

Maverick manages to improve on its titular character's relationship with Iceman despite actor Val Kilmer's real-life physical limitations. In a single scene, the film provides decades' worth of backstory for the two iconic characters, revealing their continued offscreen partnership in the years since the original film. This was a terrific way for the sequel to honor Val Kilmer's contributions to the original film and develop his character in a meaningful way prior to his death later in the film.

The Aerial Sequences

The mind-blowing and exceptional aerial sequences were one of the most notable differences Maverick had from the original. What makes these scenes different in this movie is the fact that they were all done practically. Not only did the cast members have to learn to fly a jet, but they shot their scenes while flying.

In true Tom Cruise-stunt fashion, each actor went through a rigorous five-month training program to get flight-ready. Further, Cruise, Kosinski, and the rest of the team worked hard at figuring out how to put cameras in the jets themselves. This was done in an attempt to catch the realistic manner in which g-force affects a pilot and this resulted in adrenaline-pumping aerial sequences that had viewers on the edge of their seats.

Maverick's Developed Character Arc

The epitome of what the sequel does far better than its predecessor is visible with the lead himself. Maverick isn't the same character who was completely focused on oozing machismo and letting his ego and arrogance drive him. In this film, he isn't afraid to show emotion and be vulnerable.

Right from the beginning, it becomes clear that Maverick is in no way healed from Goose's death. This character choice in and of itself speaks volumes about how hard the creators worked to rebuild a character that just wouldn't have worked if they'd presented him the way he was in 1986. Even Maverick’s relationship with other characters is much more focused on humanizing him and removing his more toxic traits. This is essentially what makes this movie so appealing: it tries its best to remove everything that didn't work and focuses on what made Maverick such a great character all along.

NEXT: The 10 Funniest Quotes From Top Gun Maverick