While the Hollywood industry is the place numerous nameless faces come every day to try to fulfill their dreams of fame and fortune, there aren’t many that reach the top, Thus, stars like Tom Cruise are revered as the faces of the industry due to their wide-reaching influence over the public with the help of their memorable performances across several iconic films over the years.
And now, sitting at the apex of what can be termed Hollywood royalty, there are few that might doubt the capability of the star when it comes to delivering something exceptional to the audience members. Then, it might be hard for most of his fans to believe that the most iconic film of his career came to him due to being part of a commercial flop.
Tom Cruise Received Top Gun Because He Was Part Of Ridley Scott’s Legend
Across his illustrious career which spans almost 40 years in the Hollywood industry, there are so many highly successful films Tom Cruise has been a part of that it’s hard to keep track. From his long-running Mission: Impossible series to many standalone films, the star has distinguished himself as an actor at the top of the hierarchy. Therefore, it might be a little shocking to hear that the only reason he got to become part of Top Gun was that he was part of Ridley Scott’s 1985 box office flop Legend.
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After his risque yet outstanding performance in 1983’s Risky Business, Cruise was working with legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott on his fantasy adventure Legend. during this time, he received an invitation from the director himself, who was telling the Jack Reacher star to have a meeting with his brother Tony Scott. If you think that the name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the man behind the iconic Top Gun, one of the most popular films in cinema history. In an interview, Cruise said:
“I remember I didn’t address ‘Top Gun’ during that time period, I was focused on shooting Legend… In 1984, Ridley said, ‘You gotta meet my brother.’ He’s going to direct this film ‘Top Gun.’ It had things I love: movies and aviation.”
And while the aviator film went on to earn a whopping $357 Million against a budget of $15 Million, Ridley Scott’s collection made a disappointing $23.5 Million.
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Why Was Top Gun Such An Iconic Film?
In the year 1986, when technology wasn’t as advanced as today, Top Gun proved to bring a stunning visual feast with the help of realistic fighter jet acrobatics and dogfights that kept the audience at the edge of their seats. This, coupled with the bond of friendship that Maverick, Iceman, and Goose shared on-screen instilled a sense of camaraderie. And one of the biggest cultural influences that this film had on the world was the instant rise in the enlistments of recruits for the US military after its release, which made it a symbol of patriotism.
Top Gun, streaming on Paramount+.
Source: Men’s Journal
