Fact Finder - Movies

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Top Gun: Maverick' became a symbol of the survival of movie theaters. Tom Cruise insisted on delaying the film's release until it could be shown on the big screen, refusing to sell it to streaming platforms. The film used actual fighter jets (F/A-18 Super Hornets) and custom-designed cockpit cameras to capture real G-force effects on the actors. This commitment to practical filmmaking resonated with audiences, leading the film to gross over $1.4 billion. It became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's career and was credited by industry veterans like Steven Spielberg with 'saving Hollywood’s ass' by bringing older demographics back to theaters.