I wasn’t planning on prioritizing this film at Cannes, but I will probably be lining up now for its first screening at Lumiere on 05.20.22.

Did we really need a sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun”? Of course not. The film captured the zeitgeist of an era that's long, long gone and the idea of a succeeding film without original director, the late Tony Scott, feels a bit off.

Regardless, Tom Cruise's "Oblivion" director, Joseph Kosinski, was hired to direct “Top Gun: Maverick,” which has been penned by a whopping four screenwriters: Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible — Fallout) Peter Craig (12 Strong), Justin Marks (Counterpoint), and Eric Warren Singer (American Hustle).

After Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux showered it with praise on numerous occasions these last few years, ‘Maverick’ was just screened for media and theatre exhibitors at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The reactions have all been raves. Of course, take it all with a grain of salt, but even Jeff Sneider like it!

“TOP GUN: MAVERICK is the perfect blockbuster. Not only did it feature dazzling aerial combat sequences, but I actually cried, it’s that emotional. And call me crazy, but I humbly predict that it WILL land a Best Picture nod next year. It’s not just THAT good, it’s VERY good” Jeff Sneider

“Top Gun” is actually perfect — JD Dillard

“During the screening of TOP GUN: MAVERICK, a man in his fifties yelled out in what sounded like a fit of pure ecstasy during one of the aerial stunts. He sounded like he was being raptured. I cannot wait for the dads of the world to experience this movie this summer.” — Rob Saucedo

“These TOP GUN 2 reactions are the least surprising reviews in some time. Have heard these type of reactions for over a year and I stand by that come Dec. 31 it will be one of the top 5 biggest films of 2022 and with what we know feel will be bigger then BATMAN” — Justin Kroll

Top Gun: Maverick nails it. Huge, emotional, LOUD Hollywood moviemaking at its most rah-rah ridiculousness. Shirtless beach football, Kenny Loggins, Val Kilmer, final 30 minutes of pure action. Also extremely interesting geopolitical angle I’ll have to get into later… — Barry Hertz

Top Gun: Maverick is a profound cinematic experience and easily the best film of the year. What Kosinski, McQuarrie, Hamilton and of course @TomCruise have accomplished is epic and intimate, heart stopping and heartbreaking. However good you think it’ll be, it’s better. — Drew Taylor

The cast assembled for the sequel is impressive, to say the least, it includes includes Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, and Ed Harris. 

"Top Gun: Maverick" will hit theaters on June 26, 2020.