15 Action Films From The 1980s You Must Watch

Before he became the action hero we all know him by today, Tom Cruise was mostly starring in dramas. But it was his role as the hotshot pilot Maverick that helped set him up for future action films and as one of the most iconic actors of his generation.

The story follows Lt Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he attends the Topgun Naval Fighter Weapons School. He sets out to prove that he is the best pilot in his class while also romancing his flight instructor, butting heads with his rival Iceman and playing volleyball with his co-pilot Goose.

The plot is pretty straight forward; hotshot pilot shows promise, but must learn how to work as part of a team if he is to succeed.

But audiences were never in it for the plot. They were in it for the exhilarating acrobatics and intense dogfights that had never been captured on film before and highlighted how awesome the F-14A Tomcat really is.

Whether it’s inside their cramped cockpits or in the air alongside them, the film does a phenomenal job at capturing the awesome capabilities of a modern fighter jet, complete with a thrilling showdown against some Russian MiGs.