Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

 

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is still writing checks his body can't cash.  He puts his Darkstar program in jeopardy after destroying a prototype trying to go past Mach 10.  Tom "Iceman" Kazansky assigns him to the NAS North Island Top Gun school to teach a new generation how to tackle their assignment - taking out an unsanctioned uranium plant with a long list of obstacles.  Among his students is Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, son of the late Nick "Goose" Bradshaw.   Rooster holds contempt for Maverick since he pulled his Naval Academy application.  Maverick also reunites with former flame Penny Benjamin.  After some spectacular air combat, their mission impossible became mission accomplished as Maverick and Rooster bury the hatchet.

Initial development plans for a Top Gun (1986) sequel started back in 2010.  It wasn't until 2018 that cameras started rolling.  The film was originally set to be released in July 2019 but was delayed a year to shoot some additional action sequences.  It was then delayed several times due to Covid.  The wait was worth it as the film was a worthy follow up to the 80s classic.  It grossed over 700 millions dollars and was the biggest movie of 2022.  Critics praised the film, some even calling it better than its predecessor.  The only misfire was Lady Gaga's snoozefest of a song, which almost took my hearing away.

Top Gun: Maverick was filmed in San Diego, Coronado, Santa Clarita, San Pedro, CA

Location: North Island Naval Air Station

Address: Alameda Boulevard & Third Street, Coronado, CA

The football scenes were filmed here as well at Breaker's Beach, where the Hard Deck Bar was constructed.

Location: Penny's House

Address: 391 W 40th Street, San Pedro, CA

Not a bad view...

Location: Iceman's Funeral

Address: 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

This spot is near Western Drive & West Portal on the west side of the cemetery...

Location: Cecil's Cafe

Address: 15564 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita, CA

Halfway House Cafe

Locations Visited: January 2023, July 2024

Related Locations: 

Top Gun (1986), Berlin - Take My Breath Away (1986)

Locations Master List

Berlin - Take My Breath Away (1986)

 

Music producer Giorgio Moroder had already composed Danger Zone for the Top Gun (1986) soundtrack when Jerry Bruckheimer asked him to do a love song.  After laying the demo, Tom Whitlock wrote the lyrics to Take My Breath Away.  The Motels were initially considered for the song.  Moroder had produced new wave band Berlin's "No More Words" and thought they would be a good fit.  Take My Breath Away was the second single from the soundtrack and soared all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.  It went on to win the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song.  For the music video, the band performs the song in an aircraft boneyard.

Location: Aircraft Boneyard

Address: 1434 Flight Line, Mojave, CA

Mojave Air & Space Port

This photo was taken about a mile from the entrance...

Location Visited: June 2024

Related Locations: 

Top Gun (1986), Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Locations Master List

Top Gun (1986)

 

U.S. Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's ego is writing checks his body can't cash.  After disobeying an order to land so he can help out his wingman, Maverick and his Radar Interceptor Officer Nick "Goose" Bradshaw head to Top Gun, a training program where the best of the best pilots go.  There, he catches the eye of astrophysicist Charlie Blackwood, whom he serenaded at a bar the evening before.  Maverick takes her breath away, leading to a romantic tryst with lots of tongue.  Maverick continues his daredevil maneuvers, rubbing Tom "Iceman" Kazansky the wrong way.  After a tragic accident kills Goose, Maverick questions whether he should continue.  Upon graduation, he and Iceman are assigned to a disabled communication ship in hostile waters.  After a spectacular display of flying, Maverick come to terms with Goose's passing and continues his relationship with Charlie.

Top Gun was a massive success upon release and ended up being the #1 movie of 1986.  The soundtrack soared to the top of the Billboard charts thanks to the hit songs Take My Breath Away (1986) and Danger Zone.  Harold Faltermeyer's incredible score certainly deserves a mention.  The film is also responsible for increasing enlistment interest for the Navy.  Top Gun also has the distinction of being one of the most difficult Nintendo games ever released. 

Top Gun was filmed in San Diego and Oceanside, CA

Location: Charlie's House (Original Location)

Address: 102 N Pacific Street, Oceanside, CA

The Victorian house where Charlie resided was in the danger zone of being torn down to make way for a hotel project.  By 2010, it was the only house remaining on the block.  Luckily the Oceanside Historical Society took it under their wing and house was saved and eventually moved one block north...

Location: Charlie's House (New Location)

Address: 216 N Pacific Street, Oceanside, CA

Now standing in front of the Mission Pacific Hotel, Charlie's House opened as The Famous High Pie in 2022, serving up a variety of confectionary treats...

Location: Charlie's Back Porch

Address: 5555 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA Paramount Pictures

The scene on Charlie's back porch was filmed after production wrapped on location and the back of Paramount's First Aid Building was dressed up to look like it...

Location: Maverick's Hard of Hearing

Address: 2820 Roosevelt Road, San Diego, CA

Liberty Station

At the time of filming, the area where Charlie follows Maverick to his motorcycle was the Naval Training Center.  Military use ended in 1997 and the area was subleased to small businesses and renamed Liberty Station.  The Solare Ristaurante now stands where the lovers spat took place...

Location: Fast & Furious Foreplay

Address: 519 W Laurel Street, San Diego, CA

Location: The Restaurant

Address: 600 W Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA

It's always nice to see an establishment embrace its filming location history and Kansas City BBQ certainly does.  The original piano used during filming can be found along with walls of photos.  Some memorabilia was destroyed in a 2008 fire...

Location: Maverick & Charlie Riding Motorcycle

Address: N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA

This area is near the Fish Market restaurant....

Location: Viper's House

Address: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego

Cabrillo National Monument 

Viper's House is located at the New Point Loma Lighthouse.  It's on government property so you can't access it, but you can get a good glimpse of the buildings from the road.  After you enter the visitor's center, you can take Cabrillo Road down or you can hike it from the top...

 

Locations Visited: July 2024

Related Locations:

Berlin - Take My Breath Away (1986), Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Locations Master List