Films Like Top Gun: 10 Must-See Aerial Action Thrillers

1. Iron Eagle (1986)

Iron Eagle is an American action film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Jason Gedrick, Louis Gossett Jr., David Suchet, and Larry B. Scott. The film follows the story of Doug Masters (Gedrick), a young Air Force pilot whose father is shot down and killed by an enemy MiG fighter jet. Doug is determined to avenge his father's death and joins a secret mission to rescue American prisoners of war from a hostile country.

Iron Eagle was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $75 million at the box office. The film was praised for its exciting action sequences and patriotic themes. Iron Eagle is considered to be one of the best aerial action films ever made.

2. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick is a sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun. The film stars Tom Cruise as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, who returns to the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School to train a new generation of pilots. Top Gun: Maverick was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.4 billion at the box office. The film was praised for its stunning visuals, intense action sequences, and heartwarming story. Top Gun: Maverick is considered to be one of the best films of 2022.

3. Stealth (2005)

Stealth is an American action film directed by Rob Cohen and starring Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, and Sam Shepard. The film follows the story of three fighter pilots who are assigned to test a new stealth fighter jet. The pilots must learn to work together and overcome their own personal demons in order to complete their mission.

Stealth was a commercial success, grossing over $160 million at the box office. However, the film was met with mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film's action sequences and visuals, while others criticized the film's story and characters.

4. The Right Stuff (1983)

The Right Stuff is an American epic drama film directed by Philip Kaufman and starring Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, and Fred Ward. The film follows the story of the Mercury Seven, a group of seven astronauts who were selected to participate in the United States' first space program.

The Right Stuff was a critical and commercial success, winning four Academy Awards and grossing over $170 million at the box office. The film was praised for its accurate portrayal of the space program and its memorable performances. The Right Stuff is considered to be one of the best films of the 1980s.

5. Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13 is an American biographical drama film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton. The film follows the story of the Apollo 13 mission, which was scheduled to be the third lunar landing mission. However, the mission was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded on board the spacecraft.

Apollo 13 was a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards and grossing over $350 million at the box office. The film was praised for its suspenseful story, stunning visuals, and heartwarming performances. Apollo 13 is considered to be one of the best films of the 1990s.

6. Armageddon (1998)

Armageddon is an American science fiction action film directed by Michael Bay and starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler. The film follows the story of a group of oil drillers who are recruited to land on an asteroid and detonate a nuclear bomb to prevent it from colliding with Earth.

Armageddon was a commercial success, grossing over $550 million at the box office. However, the film was met with mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film's action sequences and visuals, while others criticized the film's story and characters.

7. Deep Impact (1998)

Deep Impact is an American disaster film directed by Mimi Leder and starring Robert Duvall, Tea Leoni, Elijah Wood, and Vanessa Redgrave. The film follows the story of an asteroid that is on a collision course with Earth. A group of scientists and astronauts must work together to develop a plan to destroy the asteroid before it can impact Earth.

Deep Impact was a commercial success, grossing over $350 million at the box office. The film was met with mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film's action sequences and visuals, while others criticized the film's story and characters.

8. The Martian (2015)

The Martian is an American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, and Jeff Daniels. The film follows the story of an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after a storm destroys his spacecraft. The astronaut must use his ingenuity and resources to survive on Mars and find a way to signal for help.

The Martian was a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards and grossing over $630 million at the box office. The film was praised for its suspenseful story, stunning visuals, and heartwarming performance by Matt Damon. The Martian is considered to be one of the best films of the 2010s.

9. Ad Astra (2019)

Ad Astra is an American science fiction film directed by James Gray and starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, and Liv Tyler. The film follows the story of an astronaut who travels to the outer reaches of the solar system in search of his father, who disappeared on a mission to Neptune.

Ad Astra was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $150 million at the box office. The film was praised for its stunning visuals, introspective story, and compelling performance by Brad Pitt. Ad Astra is considered to be one of the best science fiction films of the 2010s.

10. Dune (2021)

Dune is an American epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and Josh Brolin. The film follows the story of a young man named Paul Atreides, who is destined to become the leader of the desert planet Arrakis. Paul must navigate the treacherous politics and dangerous creatures of Arrakis to fulfill his destiny.

Dune was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $400 million at the box office. The film was praised for its stunning visuals, epic story, and compelling performances. Dune is considered to be one of the best films of 2021.