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Jordan Williams
Published 8 minutes ago
Jordan is the Senior Editor for Movies & TV News at Screen Rant. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Media Studies. An editor, writer, and digital media specialist based in New York City, you can also find her bylines on Business Insider.
Jordan originally hails from Washington State, giving her an undying loyalty to any Seattle sports team, though she's also spent time in Virginia, Oregon, and New Orleans. She runs on coffee and classic movies, taking pride in having seen every film on AFI's 100 Greatest Films list and every Best Picture Oscar winner.
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Paramount has confirmed that Tom Cruise's iconic cult classic movie Top Gun is officially returning to theaters in 2026. Its upcoming slot will mark Top Gun's fourth major theatrical release in 40 years, including its original debut in 1986, 3-D release in 2013, and pre-Top Gun: Maverick re-release in 2021.
As Paramount continues adding to its 2026 and beyond theatrical lineup, Variety has reported that Top Gun's 40th anniversary re-release has been slated for May 13, 2026. This falls close to its original 1986 premiere date of May 16, with the film's theatrical run thus far culminating in a $357 million box office haul.
Maverick (Tom Cruise) looks at the camera with other pilots sitting behind him in Top Gun (1986).
So far, all but one major movie release in the Top Gun franchise has occurred in the month of May. The original launched on May 16, 1986, with the 2021 re-release on May 14, the highly successful sequel Top Gun: Maverick on May 27, 2022, and now the 2026 re-release on May 13. The only one to curb this trend is the 3D re-release from 2013, which hit theaters in February.
Top Gun Theatrical Releases
Release Date
Top Gun
May 16, 1986
Top Gun 3D Re-Release
February 8, 2013
Top Gun 2021 Re-Release
May 14, 2021
Top Gun: Maverick
May 27, 2022
Top Gun 40th Anniversary Re-Release
May 13, 2026
Tragically, this will mark the very first Top Gun theatrical release without original and sequel star Val Kilmer, who portrayed the franchise's beloved character Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025 at the age of 65, with many of his Top Gun co-stars like Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, and Jennifer Connelly paying tribute to the legendary actor after the devastating news.
Though the franchise is no stranger to a May premiere, Top Gun's next re-release date wedges it between two highly anticipated 2026 franchise movies. Its May 13 drop will follow close on the heels of Mortal Kombat II on May 8, while leading into the long-awaited release of Disney's The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22.
The return of the original movie into theaters will inevitably also revive demand for Tom Cruise to reprise his role of Maverick yet again, with Top Gun 3 reportedly already in the works at Paramount. While there have been few updates about the story, returning cast, and timeline for a third movie, an August 2025 report revealed that Top Gun 3 remains a priority for Paramount.
Perhaps a strong showing in theaters for Top Gun's 40th anniversary re-release will put more pressure on Paramount to move up production on the next sequel, which should at least have a much shorter delay than Maverick's 36-year wait. As the first Top Gun release since Maverick's $1.496 billion box office run, the anniversary theatrical return puts the franchise back into the spotlight amid growing anticipation for its future.
26
8.9/10
Top Gun
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed PG Drama Action Release Date May 16, 1986 Runtime 110 minutes Director Tony Scott Writers Jack Epps Jr., Jim CashCast
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