Top Gun 2 will receive an exclusive theatrical release before it drops on streaming services. The much-delayed sequel’s Memorial Day weekend premiere comes nearly three years after Top Gun: Maverick was originally supposed to debut in theaters, but anticipation for the Tom Cruise stunt-filled action drama hasn’t waned. Rather than opt for a streaming debut amid a global pandemic, Paramount Pictures and the team behind Top Gun 2 held out in hopes of a bigger theatrical premiere, so its online debut and streaming future aren't at the forefront of the studio's mind.

Premiering 36 years after the original movie, Top Gun 2 brings back Tom Cruise as Maverick and Val Kilmer as Iceman to train a new generation of pilots at the premiere flight academy. Joining Top Gun’s original actors as new recruits are Miles Teller’s Rooster, Glen Powell’s Hangman, Lewis Pullman’s Bob, and Jay Ellis’ Payback, with Jennifer Connelly’s Penny replacing Charlie as Maverick’s love interest. The long-awaited Top Gun 2's reviews are already significantly more positive than its predecessor, meaning the demand to watch it both in theaters and online is apt to be higher than anticipated.

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As Top Gun 2 is being distributed by Paramount, the high-profile release is likely to follow the studio's previous trend for streaming drops. While the studio has yet to announce an official streaming release date for Top Gun 2, their recent movies have typically received a 45-day exclusive theatrical window before dropping on Paramount+. The Lost City premiered in theaters on March 25 and arrived on Paramount+ for streaming on May 10, giving the film a 46-day window. If Tom Cruise's Top Gun 2 follows this same release strategy, viewers can expect the sequel to be available for streaming via Paramount+ on or around July 11, 2022 at the earliest – though July 15 seems more likely for a Friday streaming release.

Tom Cruise smiling while riding a motorcycle in Top Gun: Maverick

Paramount’s past releases have primarily been available online after 45 days, but Top Gun 2 could be a significant exception. Considering Top Gun: Maverick is one of the studio’s biggest releases of the last few years and Tom Cruise has notably advocated for theatrical viewings over streaming releases, Paramount may decide to delay the sequel’s online availability. Rather, the film could see a longer lifespan on the summer blockbuster slate, where the studio can recoup even more of its budget through the box office. If so, the Paramount+ streaming availability of 2022's Top Gun 2 could be delayed until August or September when theatrical attendance dies back down.

Before Top Gun: Maverick arrives online, audiences can stream the original 1986 Tom Cruise movie on Netflix and Paramount+ with subscriptions. Like Paramount’s 2022 releases Scream 5 and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it can be reasonably assumed that Top Gun 2 will only be available to stream on Paramount+, with other platforms like Netflix or HBO Max needing to wait a significant amount of time before they can license the sequel. In order to watch Top Gun and Top Gun 2 back-to-back on streaming, viewers will need to have subscriptions to Paramount+ or purchase the sequel online.

Next: Top Gun 2 Can Set Up A Sequel Without Tom Cruise

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