Kurt Russell, known for his role in Escape From New York and his background as a former pilot, recognized the importance of Top Gun: Maverick for movie theaters struggling to recover post-pandemic. Before the film’s release in May 2022, Russell sent a personal letter to Tom Cruise, urging the actor to keep the theatrical experience alive amid the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Russell told Entertainment Weekly,
“I actually sent Tom a note because I thought that this was the type of movie that we needed to try and get the movie business back on track, which it’s been struggling to do ever since COVID. People got out of the habit of going to watch something collectively and got used to watching things at home.”
The Growing Influence of Streaming and Theatrical Challenges
The 74-year-old actor noted that streaming platforms have surged in popularity as audiences shifted from theaters to home viewing during the pandemic. He added that
“a lot of people from our business [pivoting] over to that”
instead of traditional film releases, highlighting the film industry’s ongoing adjustment to new viewing habits.
The Success and Story Behind Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick served as a highly anticipated sequel to the 1986 original, starring Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete Maverick Mitchell. The film follows Maverick as he trains a team of young Navy pilots to navigate a perilous mission. Alongside Cruise, the cast features Glen Powell, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, and Lewis Pullman, who helped bring the high-stakes narrative to life.
Upon release, the movie became a massive box office success, grossing $1.48 billion worldwide and ranking as the 15th highest-grossing film ever. It was also the second highest-grossing film in 2022, only surpassed by Avatar: The Way of Water. Beyond commercial earnings, the movie earned six Academy Award nominations and won the Oscar for Best Sound at the 2023 ceremony.
Upcoming Projects and New Collaborations
Plans for a third Top Gun installment are already underway, with director Joseph Kosinski in talks to return behind the camera. Meanwhile, Kurt Russell is working with Kosinski again, directing Lewis Pullman in a new Super Bowl commercial for Michelob ULTRA. The ad, called The ULTRA Instructor, features Russell helping Pullman’s character, Greg, improve his skiing skills in a humorous blend of football season and the approaching Winter Olympics.
Russell shared his enthusiasm for the commercial, saying,
“We love watching the Super Bowl, and it’s fun to watch the commercials too. I gotta say, on that day, they’re very different…. They’re a little bit like a mini movie. They’re water cooler fare, and the next day it’s fun to talk about them. So I looked at it as something like, ‘Hey, let’s go after this. Let’s have some fun with this thing.’”
The Larger Impact on the Film Industry
Top Gun: Maverick’s success demonstrated that blockbuster films could still draw large audiences to theaters despite the pandemic’s lingering effects and the rise of streaming services. Kurt Russell’s initiative in encouraging Tom Cruise underlines how key figures in the industry are actively seeking ways to revive the traditional cinema experience. As production for the next Top Gun chapter moves forward, the film’s achievements serve as a hopeful sign for movie theaters and studios navigating a changing entertainment landscape.
