Run time: 137 mins

The need for speed is back. Decades on, the heart-pounding sequel finally soars onto screen.

30 years after the events of the original, Maverick has been constantly dodging promotion so he can do what he loves most; fly planes. He’s about to be grounded for good when he’s sent back to Top Gun to train a group of pilots for a top-secret mission that will be the ultimate test of their skills. Little does he know, it will also be an exercise that allows him to put his past to rest.

You have to hand it to Tom Cruise. Who else could anchor a bigger, brighter blockbuster than this? Creating a worthy sequel to a near-legendary film can be a minefield. And when that movie was released over a generation ago, the stakes are even higher. White-knuckle from beginning to end, Maverick pulls it off in every way imaginable.

Follow-ups are a regular part of our cinematic diet, but this is a real game-changer. Like its pilots, and especially their leader, Top Gun: Maverick has joined the elite. This is how it’s done.