It is rare that a motion picture captivates audiences across decades, earning the admiration of generation after generation of moviegoers. “The Wizard of Oz,” “Star Wars,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and even Disney’s animated “The Beauty and the Beast,” are among a select few classic films whose popularity has endured, remaining just as beloved today as when they first hit the silver screen.
“Top Gun,” without question, has proven itself to also be one of those few films that has stood the test of time, capturing viewers’ imagination and keeping them on the edge of their seats for 40 years.
For nearly two decades, “Top Gun” Movie Night on the USS Midway Museum has been a center-of-the-universe event in San Diego. Each year, thousands of “need for speed” fanatics pack Midway’s flight deck to watch this salute to naval aviation under the stars.
“There’s a reason people come back year after year,” said Vanessa Pineda, one of the movie night coordinators. “Midway’s “Top Gun” party and movie night is more than a movie, it’s part of San Diego’s story. Watching it aboard Midway, surrounded by the sights and sounds of naval aviation and thousands of fellow fans, creates an experience that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else.”
“Nobody doesn’t like “Top Gun,” even after 40 years,” said John Merritt, a “Top Gun” super fan who goes by the call sign Skidvoodoo and displays movie-related memorabilia during the event on Midway. “It has hit so many generations and inspired so many people. A lot of former naval aviators were inspired to join the Navy because of the film. There’s not many things that hit on that level. It’s not just entertainment, it changed a lot of lives.”
“There’s a reason people come back year after year,” said Vanessa Pineda, Midway’s assistant marketing director and one of the movie night coordinators. “Midway’s “Top Gun” party and movie night is more than a movie, it’s part of San Diego’s story. Watching it aboard Midway, surrounded by the sights and sounds of naval aviation and thousands of fellow fans, creates an experience that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else.”
“Nobody doesn’t like ‘Top Gun,’ even after 40 years,” said John Merritt, a “Top Gun” super fan who goes by the call sign Skidvoodoo and displays movie-related memorabilia during the event on Midway. “It has hit so many generations and inspired so many people. A lot of former naval aviators were inspired to join the Navy because of the film. There’s not many things that hit on that level. It’s not just entertainment, it changed a lot of lives.”
In 2026, on the 40th anniversary of the original film, Midway decided to take the event to a higher level of flight by showing “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick” as a double feature on consecutive nights.
While the movies were the main attraction, one of the biggest thrills for movie night attendees was the chance to meet and get photographs with one of the world’s most renowned Maverick impersonators.
“Performing at “Top Gun” Movie Night aboard the Midway was honestly a surreal experience,” said Jerome LeBlanc, who goes by the stage name of California Tom Cruise. “What really stood out to me was seeing families, veterans, aviation enthusiasts and longtime “Top Gun” fans all sharing the same excitement together. Taking photos with everyone and hearing their stories reminded me how deeply this movie connects people emotionally. Being able to interact with guests in that environment felt less like a performance and more like being part of a shared celebration.”
Joining Jerome were several former F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet naval aviators who actually supported the production of both films. Interacting with “Top Gun” fans at the flight-deck Danger Zone display, they too could feel the energy the movies create.
“The movie nights were amazing,” said Marco Cromartie, a former F-14 radar intercept officer who was an extra in the original film. “It was great to see ‘Top Gun’ fans from around the world and from every generation. Their passion, energy and excitement was special. It really added to the Midway Magic.”
“What is so amazing about being involved with this movie is the fan base,” said Aaron Vernallis, a former F/A-18 pilot who flew in scenes in “Top Gun: Maverick.” “They truly love aviation and everything about the film. On movie night, we met fans from Australia, Korea, Japan and many other distant locations. It truly is an internationally loved film. It was really cool to see the younger fans in their flight suits, walking amongst the aircraft on the flight deck. You could really see how magical a night it was for them.”
Whether it’s the spectacular aerial flight scenes, the flawed but heroic nature of the main characters, or the coming-of-age theme woven through the films, “Top Gun” has evolved from simply being a high-pulse-rate action film to achieving true cultural and theatrical immortality. There’s a lethally attractive combination of elements in the movie that keeps generations enthralled by these cinematic phenomena.
“It’s become a Memorial Day weekend tradition that people look forward to every year,” said Vanessa, who joined the Midway family in 2006. “There’s simply nowhere else you can celebrate the legacy of “Top Gun” than in its hometown aboard a historic aircraft carrier. It’s the reason this event is a sellout every year.”
“I wasn’t even born when the first “Top Gun” came out, but I’ve loved the movie since as far back as I can remember,” said Karen Blanchard, who attended movie night with friends. “I’ve seen it more times than I can count and this is my second time watching it on Midway. The movie is even more exhilarating to watch here on the flight deck with all the other crazy ‘Top Gun’ fans. I’ll be back again next year.”
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