30 Best Movies like Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun explores the earlier career of Pete Maverick Mitchell, focusing on his time as a talented Top Gun pilot. Both films center on Navy aviators, intense aerial training, and the challenges of elite military pilot programs, offering direct continuity in character journey, high-stakes missions, and personal growth.

For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot. Top Gun is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 1986 with an average rating of 7.1 by 9,753 people. The movie made an estimated total of $356,830,601 in the box office.

Stealth follows advanced Navy pilots undertaking perilous missions with cutting-edge aircraft technology. Like Top Gun: Maverick, it places skilled aviators in high-pressure scenarios where teamwork, innovation, and leadership are tested through specialized and unprecedented flight operations within a military aviation context.

Deeply ensconced in a top-secret military program, three pilots struggle to bring an artificial intelligence program under control ... before it initiates the next world war. Stealth is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 5.5 by 1,189 people. The movie made an estimated total of $76,932,943 in the box office.

Behind Enemy Lines is set within the military, focusing on a Navy pilot navigating life-or-death situations while stranded in hostile territory. Both films feature modern aerial combat, elite military expertise, and the tension resulting from missions demanding extreme piloting skill and courage.

While flying a routine reconnaissance mission over Bosnia, fighter pilot Lt. Chris Burnett photographs something he wasn't supposed to see and gets shot down behind enemy lines, where he must outrun an army led by a ruthless Serbian general. With time running out and a deadly tracker on his trail, Burnett's commanding officer, Admiral Reigart, decides to risk his career and launch a renegade rescue mission to save his life. Behind Enemy Lines is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,680 people. The movie made an estimated total of $91,753,202 in the box office.

Flight of the Intruder revolves around Navy aviators assigned dangerous missions during wartime. The film highlights the risks and camaraderie among pilots, echoing Top Gun: Maverick’s emphasis on the unique pressures and relationships forged within elite military flight crews on specialized operations.

U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Jake Grafton and his bombardier buddy, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil Cole, are two soldiers embedded in the Vietnam War growing frustrated by the military's constraints on their missions. Despite the best efforts of their commanding officer, Cmdr. Frank Camparelli, to re-engage them, this disillusioned pair decide to take the war effort into their own hands with an explosive battle plan that could well get them court-martialed. Flight of the Intruder is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 1991 with an average rating of 5.8 by 147 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,587,732 in the box office.

Twelve O'Clock High centers on pilots leading high-risk bombing missions during war, delving into the strains of command and the sacrifices required of elite airmen. The theme of leadership under extreme pressure resonates closely with Maverick’s role training a new detachment for a critical assignment.

In the early days of daylight bombing raids over Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a 'hard luck' bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets. Twelve O'Clock High is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 12m runtime, released in 1949 with an average rating of 7.2 by 162 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,225,000 in the box office.

Red Tails depicts a group of fighter pilots confronting dangerous missions and breaking boundaries within the military. Both movies emphasize aerial dogfights, the skill of military aviators, and how teamwork and determination define success in challenging and historically significant flight operations.

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II. Red Tails is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.7 by 726 people. The movie made an estimated total of $50,365,377 in the box office.

Only the Brave, though focused on a different field, examines a veteran leader training and guiding a specialized team through life-threatening situations. The dynamic of mentorship, responsibility, and the high-stakes teamwork echoes Maverick’s journey as an experienced instructor directing new recruits.

Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots battle deadly wildfires to save an Arizona town. Only the Brave is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 13m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.5 by 1,915 people. The movie made an estimated total of $25,754,775 in the box office.

Dunkirk presents the challenges faced by pilots and soldiers during a critical wartime evacuation. The focus on survival, relentless tension during large-scale military operations, and sacrifices made by skilled professionals link it thematically to the intensity and valor seen in Top Gun: Maverick.

The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II. Dunkirk is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.5 by 17,765 people. The movie made an estimated total of $549,136,737 in the box office.

Days of Thunder shares a creative team and star with Top Gun: Maverick and follows a talented risk-taking professional facing competition and personal growth. Instead of jets, the film centers on racing, but both explore mentorship and the pressure-cooker environment of high-performance teams.

Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries-- and his fear. Days of Thunder is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 1990 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,755 people. The movie made an estimated total of $157,920,733 in the box office.

Fire Birds portrays military helicopter pilots training for and undertaking dangerous operations. It features a rigorous flight training program, the struggle to master advanced aerial techniques, and the bonds forged in challenging environments, mirroring structural and thematic elements of Top Gun: Maverick’s Naval aviator narrative.

A joint task force operation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Army has been formed to dismantle one of the largest drug cartels operating in South America. Multiple attempts to assault the cartel's mountainous compound have been thwarted by a Scorpion-attack helicopter piloted by a cartel leader, Eric Stoller (Bert Rhine). After having several aircraft shot down, most notably a pair of UH–60 Black Hawks and their AH–1 Cobra escorts, the army turns to the new AH–64 Apache attack helicopter, which can match its enemies' maneuverability and firepower. Fire Birds is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 25m runtime, released in 1990 with an average rating of 5.0 by 199 people.

Devotion chronicles the experiences of military aviators on a critical mission, focusing on the personal and professional challenges unique to the elite pilot community. Like Top Gun: Maverick, it explores themes of duty, mentorship, and the entirety of the aviation brotherhood during significant missions.

The harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen. Devotion is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 19m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 7.1 by 840 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,768,133 in the box office.

The Right Stuff details the selection, training, and test flights of pioneering pilots facing dangerous new frontiers in aviation. The character arcs of skilled airmen balancing ambition, risk, and camaraderie closely mirror the specialized mission training and seasoned perspective found in Top Gun: Maverick.

At the dawn of the Space Race, seven test pilots set out to become the first American astronauts to enter space. However, the road to making history brings momentous challenges. The Right Stuff is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 3h 13m runtime, released in 1983 with an average rating of 7.4 by 987 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,500,000 in the box office.

Flyboys centers on pilots joining elite air combat units, facing daunting missions and forming tight-knit military bonds. The premise of young aviators stepping up under intense circumstances links thematically with the specialized training and hazardous operations addressed in Top Gun: Maverick.

The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots. Flyboys is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 18m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 6.5 by 862 people. The movie made an estimated total of $17,858,059 in the box office.

Bat✯21 focuses on the rescue of an experienced military officer behind enemy lines, highlighting the risks and teamwork inherent in dangerous missions. Both films emphasize the expertise and adaptability needed by personnel in aviation-centric military roles amidst extraordinary circumstances.

Lt. Col. Iceal "Ham" Hambleton is a weapons countermeasures expert and when his aircraft is shot over enemy territory the Air Force very much wants to get him back. Hambleton knows the area he's in is going to be carpet-bombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. Working with an Air Force reconnaissance pilot, Capt. Bartholomew Clark, he maps out an escape route. Bat★21 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 6.3 by 222 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,966,256 in the box office.

Memphis Belle follows a bomber crew preparing for their final, risky mission during wartime. From the pressures of aerial combat to the camaraderie among flying specialists, the film shares Top Gun: Maverick’s emphasis on specialized military missions, teamwork, and the resolve needed for survival.

The "Memphis Belle" is a World War II bomber, piloted by a young crew on dangerous bombing raids into Europe. The crew only have to make one more bombing raid before they have finished their duty and can go home. In the briefing before their last flight, the crew discover that the target for the day is Bremen. Memphis Belle is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 1990 with an average rating of 6.7 by 439 people.

Midway tells the story of a pivotal naval air battle, showcasing the skill and bravery of military pilots facing overwhelming odds. Both films focus on Navy aviators, strategic operations, and the tension of flying critical missions for the success of broader military objectives.

The story of the Battle of Midway, and the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome massive odds. Midway is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 2h 18m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.1 by 2,765 people. The movie made an estimated total of $127,400,000 in the box office.

The Guardian features an experienced professional taking on a teaching role, guiding a new generation through demanding rescue operations. The mentor-student relationship and themes of perseverance and self-sacrifice parallel Maverick’s evolution as he instructs talented recruits for complex missions.

A high school swim champion with a troubled past enrolls in the U.S. Coast Guard's 'A' School, where legendary rescue swimmer Ben Randall teaches him some hard lessons about loss, love, and self-sacrifice. The Guardian is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 19m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,706 people. The movie made an estimated total of $94,973,540 in the box office.

Brotherhood of the Wolf combines action-driven teamwork with a focus on strategic missions, albeit in a very different setting. Both films highlight a specialized group navigating unusual and treacherous assignments, emphasizing camaraderie, discipline, and a heightened sense of professional trust.

In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his Native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast. Brotherhood of the Wolf is a movie from France in French, with a total 2h 31m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 6.7 by 1,767 people. The movie made an estimated total of $70,800,000 in the box office.

Crimson Tide examines the high-stress decisions and leadership struggles aboard a naval vessel during a critical military standoff. Elements of chain of command, pressure under fire, and the weight of responsibility echo Maverick’s central challenges while training and leading pilots.

After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible Armageddon. When Ramsey insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him. Crimson Tide is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,031 people. The movie made an estimated total of $157,387,195 in the box office.

Greyhound places a military officer in command during a perilous convoy mission, focusing on strategic navigation, teamwork, and critical decisions under threat. The naval setting and emphasis on leadership in dangerous, high-stakes situations intersect with the operational tension and expertise found in Maverick’s story.

A first-time captain leads a convoy of allied ships carrying thousands of soldiers across the treacherous waters of the "Black Pit" to the front lines of WWII. With no air cover protection for 5 days, the captain and his convoy must battle the surrounding enemy Nazi U-boats in order to give the allies a chance to win the war. Greyhound is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.4 by 3,382 people.

Iron Eagle III sets itself in the world of combat aviation, with seasoned pilots flying daring missions. It examines aerial warfare, skilled flight maneuvers, and how expertise and courage define those who tackle nearly impossible aerial operations, themes central to Top Gun: Maverick.

Chappy discovers a drug-smuggling scheme at his own air base. It turns out that the lives of some village people in Peru are at stake, and he decides to fly there with ancient airplanes and friends to free them. Iron Eagle III is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 4.1 by 73 people.

633 Squadron centers around the planning and execution of a difficult bombing mission by a squadron of elite pilots. The depiction of intense aerial warfare, teamwork, and the preparation for pivotal operations links strongly with Top Gun: Maverick’s focus on specialized, high-risk flight undertakings.

When Norwegian resistance leader Lieutenant Erik Bergman reports the location of a German V-2 rocket fuel plant, the Royal Air Force's 633 Squadron is assigned the mission to destroy it. The plant is in a seemingly-impregnable location beneath an overhanging cliff at the end of a long, narrow fjord lined with anti-aircraft guns. The only way to destroy the plant is by collapsing the cliff on top of it. 633 Squadron is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 1964 with an average rating of 6.2 by 77 people.

The Great Santini focuses on the demanding life and leadership of a Marine aviator, exploring family, mentorship, and the cost of professionalism in military service. This character-driven narrative about a seasoned veteran resonates thematically with Maverick’s journey as both pilot and instructor.

As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot. The Great Santini is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 1979 with an average rating of 6.8 by 73 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,700,000 in the box office.

Hell's Angels centers on the perilous world of military pilots, depicting the formation of air crews and their struggles during dangerous missions. The shared focus on dogfighting, pilot camaraderie, and the risks of aviation within a military structure link it thematically to Top Gun: Maverick.

When the Great War breaks out, brothers Roy and Monte Rutledge, each attending Oxford University, enlist with the Royal Flying Corps. Hell's Angels is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 1930 with an average rating of 6.6 by 110 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,000,000 in the box office.

Phoenix, while set in a different context, addresses the personal and psychological battles faced by individuals operating in high-pressure, rule-bound environments. Both films examine themes of expertise, self-mastery, and navigating complicated team dynamics under intense scrutiny.

Gambling fever -- along with a brutal bookie -- leads three crooked cops into a double-dealing scheme that lands them in hot water way over their heads. Phoenix is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 5.5 by 77 people.

Rescue Dawn is driven by the ordeal of a military aviator fighting for survival after a mission goes awry. The story’s roots in real-life military operations, reliance on flight expertise, and focus on resilience mirror elements of high-stakes aviation drama seen in Top Gun: Maverick.

A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War. Rescue Dawn is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,454 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,177,143 in the box office.

The Last Starfighter, though leaning into science fiction, features a talented protagonist recruited for specialized training and combat piloting. Both movies revolve around individuals rising to meet advanced flight challenges and adapting quickly to new roles demanding technical and personal growth.

Video game expert Alex Rogan finds himself transported to another planet after conquering the video game The Last Starfighter, only to find out it was just a test. He was recruited to join the team of best Starfighters to defend their world from the attack. The Last Starfighter is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 6.6 by 782 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,733,290 in the box office.

Broken Arrow centers on advanced military pilots confronting high-tech threats and betrayal within their ranks. Both films are grounded in aerial combat, military operations, and the tension of defending against unprecedented dangers with expert piloting skill and command experience.

When rogue stealth-fighter pilot Vic Deakins deliberately drops off the radar while on maneuvers, the Air Force ends up with two stolen nuclear warheads -- and Deakins's co-pilot, Riley Hale, is the military's only hope for getting them back. Traversing the deserted canyons of Utah, Hale teams with park ranger Terry Carmichael to put Deakins back in his box. Broken Arrow is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 6.1 by 1,707 people. The movie made an estimated total of $150,300,000 in the box office.

Enemy at the Gates captures the deadly challenges and psychological toll of military specialists in high-pressure environments. While focusing on snipers in wartime rather than pilots, it mirrors Top Gun: Maverick’s emphasis on elite training, focused expertise, and surviving against the odds.

A Russian and a German sniper play a game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad in WWII. Enemy at the Gates is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 7.4 by 4,116 people. The movie made an estimated total of $96,976,270 in the box office.

Unbroken follows the endurance and resilience of a military aviator who survives a harrowing ordeal at sea and in captivity. The film’s themes of survival, personal strength, and the unique tests faced by combat pilots complement the struggles and determination seen in Top Gun: Maverick.

A chronicle of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II. Unbroken is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.4 by 4,407 people. The movie made an estimated total of $163,400,000 in the box office.