‘Round the Square: Talk to me, Goose
Round the Square
May 5, 2026

‘Round the Square: Talk to me, Goose

TOP GUN: Have you lost that lovin’ feeling? Do you feel the need — the need for speed?

It was 40 years ago this month that those phrases, along with Ray Ban aviators and bomber jackets, soared into American culture with the hit film Top Gun.

“Talk to me, Goose.”

Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis and Tom Skerritt starred in the blockbuster, which was the highest grossing film of 1986. The song “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins became a quick hit, along with “Take My Breath Away.”

“Your ego’s writing checks your body can’t cash.”

It’s flying back to theaters for the anniversary, complete with popcorn buckets shaped like Maverick’s and Goose’s fighter pilot helmets, as selected locations of course.

The original Top Gun and the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick will be a double feature in many locations.

The impact of the original is still being felt 40 years later. Those bomber jackets and Ray Bans never really went out of style. After the film, sale of Ray Bans Aviators increased 40%. The Top Gun watch is still a best seller.

The first film created a huge interested in military aviation, and drove up recruitment.

It also popularized the phrase “top gun” as a measure of excellence.

Tom Cruise became box office gold after the film, going on to become an action hero. Val Kilmer went on to a premier 1990s film career, while Anthony Edwards went on to star in television’s super hit “ER.”

The sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, was a blockbuster, too. It made over $1.4 billion and has again led to a spike in the popularity of the name Maverick for newborns.

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