Watch Tom Cruise Go Hypersonic in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ | Anatomy of a Scene

“Want Mach 10? Let’s give ’em Mach 10.”

That line, delivered by Maverick (Tom Cruise) in the long-anticipated, and already quite popular, sequel to “Top Gun,” may help to prepare audiences for the fact that things have become a little bit more updated in the sky since the 1986 original.

This early sequence has Maverick arriving to discover that the hypersonic flight test he was meant to perform has been canceled by an admiral (Ed Harris), who would prefer to spend on drones.

But “canceled” is not in Maverick’s vocabulary, and he proceeds with the test as planned, aiming to reach Mach 10 speeds.

Discussing the scene, the director Joseph Kosinski said that he and his crew designed the sleek aircraft in conjunction with Skunk Works, a division of Lockheed Martin.

It is based on an aircraft “that may or may not exist,” he said. The shots of it in the hangar are “a full-scale mock-up that we built with their cooperation.”

Kosinski said the scene was meant to “take a turn and take ‘Top Gun’ into the future. Here we see Maverick on the very cutting edge of aviation.”

Pay close attention to the final shot of the scene, where Maverick takes off. It had to be done by one of the few Navy pilots cleared to fly what is called a low-altitude transition maneuver. The pressure wave the maneuver created destroyed a piece of the set, which meant the crew was only able to do the shot once.

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[RS-jblf]

Tom Cruise is a saviour of cinema. So glad he was able to convince Paramount and Skydance to hold off streaming. This deserved a theatrical release and was all the more enjoyable and immersive for it. I’ve watched the movie 2 times now in the cinema. It is the best film of 2022 thus far.

[tanneroz]

That hypersonic flight test could have been a great ending for a good movie, yet it is just a starting appetizer for the Maverick. The best movie I have seen over the last 8 years.

[UndercoverPirate]

"That is not a stunt man" Harris taking a pressure wave to the face 😂

[FredericoRoberto]

I watched this scene twice on IMAX. This airplane crossing the skies must be one of the most beautiful pieces of film caught on camera. Sheer emotion.

[martinXY]

"Mr Kosinski, the pressure wave destroyed the set. Nothing is left standing!"
"Nothing at all?"
"Nothing. Except for Ed Harris."

[lorraine]

This hypersonic sequence is visually the best and most beautiful of the film, but one of many. The cinematography is on point.

[errhka]

Absolutely stunning work by the production team for this film. I cannot speak highly enough of their efforts to make just a great movie.

[moonshinefilms]

Ed took the pressure wave to the face! Love it

[chriswong]

My man Ed Harris taking one for the team in the face. Legend!

[RRRRobbbb]

I liked how they included the "transition to scramjet" sequence at mach 3 to make the scene accurate.

[cpehansen]

Hats off to you Mr. Kosinski. You, Tom, and Chris McQuarrie made one of the best films of all time, made a film that was way better than it had any right to be. Thank you for one of the best cinematic experiences of my life

[MrSidney]

Those scenes of this aircraft crossing the skies at full speed were the most sublime shots. Gave me chills

[kurtdewittphoto]

I freaking love this movie. I'm going to go a 2nd time. And hopefully a 3rd time with my dad.

[Josh-bliu]

this movie was beyond my wildest expectations, as some one who grew up watching over and over as kid in VHS and with high expectations it still blew me away, so far seen the movie 7x and plan to see it many more times

[imjustsmedude]

If you don't see this movie in theaters, are you ever really "seeing" it?

[bessarion]

This is as close to a perfect movie as I have seen in the last 20 years.

[iamadityaahir]

When he said, "He's the fastest man alive". That was sooo good!

[UserInterface]

Tom Cruise: I do my own stunts
Ed Harris: I do my stunts too by taking a pressure wave to the face without flinching

[fatherleo]

I've been going to the movies for many years but for some odd reason I never watched a film in IMAX...so after a 2 year hiatus from cinema (covid) I decided to to finally watch a movie in IMAX and it happened to be Top Gun: Maverick.

I think I made an excellent choice.

[RH-nkeo]

One of the best movies I have watched. This will go down as the best sequel ever made. Sorry Terminator 2!