Cannes Day 2: Tom Cruise and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Celebrate the Big Screen Experience

"Top Gun: Maverick" beat the third installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" in record Memorial Day weekend opening box office numbers. Tom Cruise's "Top Gun" sequel brought in $160.5 million over the four days, while "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" brought in $153 million in 2007, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Top Gun: Maverick" marks a career best opening for Cruise who, up until this point, had not had an opening exceed $100 million.

Jerry Bruckheimer has plenty to celebrate over Memorial Day weekend, literally watching the long-awaited sequel to 1986’s Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, beat his previous domestic box office opening record for the holiday previously set by 2007’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. 

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorThe original “Top Gun” is a study in Hollywood moviemaking of a certain era — an era captured in the pages of Variety as the movie was birthed starting in mid-1983 until its triumphant release by Paramount Pictures three years later.The movie came together during the period when Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were at the peak of their powers as red-hot producers of culture-shaking films such as 1983’s “Flashdance” and 1984’s “Beverly Hills Cop.” The film that the pair crafted with numerous screenwriters (more on that in the clips), director Tony Scott and veteran producer Bill Badalato launched Tom Cruise to a new level of stardom and created a legacy sturdy enough for Cruise, Bruckheimer and Paramount to leap back to the top of the box office nearly 40 years later with the long-delayed, made-for-movie-screens sequel “Top Gun: Maverick.”As demonstrated by the steady pace of news about “Top Gun,” Simpson and Bruckheimer had a ton of clout with Paramount and the industry at the time. They even were able to control the rights to the soundtrack for the film — something they learned from the success of “Flashdance” and “Beverly Hills Cop.” Simpson-Bruckheimer Prods.

Val Kilmer reprises his role as Iceman in the new movie Top Gun: Maverick and his voice in the film was created using A.I. technology.

original “Top Gun” movie debuted in 1986, the blockbuster led to a major bump in Navy recruiting — reportedly a whopping 500%.“I don’t know if that figure is accurate but I will tell you that it definitely had an effect on recruiting if only one guy, which is me,” Captain Brian Ferguson, 53, told The Post. “I saw the movie, thought it looked like the most exciting job in the world.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been praised by the stars of Top Gun: Maverick after the glamorous London royal premiere.READ: Prince William reveals George, Charlotte and Louis's reaction to their parents' glitzy Top Gun outingGreg 'Tarzan' Davis shared details of meeting the British royals, and called them "disarming," sharing that they made everyone feel comfortable and that it "felt I had known them for so long".WATCH: Prince William and Kate Middleton resemble movie stars as they greet crowds"It can be a little intimidating, there are so many rules in place and I thought, 'oh if I mess up, what may happen?' but they are so disarming, I felt I had known them for so long and William was very engaging," he shared with HELLO!Movie star Tom Cruise and legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer introduced the royal couple to the film's stars, including Jennifer Connolly and Glen Powell, who were lined up against the backdrop of a real P51 fighter plane, like the one Tom pilots in the film.GALLERY: Duchess Kate and Prince William resemble movie stars at Top Gun: Maverick premiere "William had wandered past and then came back to talk to me more - we had a nice long talk, it was an incredible experience," Tarzan added.But he joked that he couldn't share what their conversation was about, quipping: "See if I tell you I may not be invited back to London!" Tarzan greeting Duchess Kate and Prince WilliamJennifer recently spoke about what it was like to meet Prince William and Kate, sharing that the meeting with the Duke, in particular, was a special one since it tied back to her meeting with his mother, Princess Diana.She revealed that this was her second royal premiere following one for the 1986 movie Labyrinth, where she got

As tough as Iceman. Val Kilmer has been on a health journey ever since he was diagnosed with throat cancer more than five years ago.

Top Gun is launching some branded clothing in time for the sequel's release. With Top Gun: Maverick now taking flight, the iconic fashions worn by Tom Cruise have inspired some tees that will spruce up any wardrobe. Unisex options and customisable sizes are available on Lost Universe for the Top Gun logo Navy T-shirt, which is on sale for £15 or a two-for £25 limited time offer if you need a few new fashion options.

In 1983, producer Jerry Bruckheimer was flipping through the May issue of California magazine when he was struck by a story. "Top Guns" read the headline, with a large photograph from inside the cockpit of an F-14 fighter jet.The story opened: "At Mach 2 and 40,000 feet over California, it’s always high noon." "I saw that cover and I said, ‘We gotta do this.This looks great,'" recalls Bruckheimer. "It's 'Star Wars' on Earth." And at the box office, "Top Gun" did nearly reach "Star Wars" proportions.

NEW YORK -- In 1983, producer Jerry Bruckheimer was flipping through the May issue of California magazine when he was struck by a story. “Top Guns” read the headline, with a large photograph from inside the cockpit of an F-14 fighter jet. The story opened: “At Mach 2 and 40,000 feet over California, it’s always high noon.”“I saw that cover and I said, ‘We gotta do this.

Thirty-six years after the release of “Top Gun”, Tom Cruise returns to one of his most iconic screen roles in the long-awaited sequel “Top Gun: Maverick”.

Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, and Jon Hamm pose together while attending the Royal Film Performance of their new movie Top Gun: Maverick on Thursday (May 19) at Leicester Square in London, England.

British royalty meets Hollywood royalty! Prince William and Duchess Kate walked the red carpet alongside Tom Cruise at the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise had a special lady in attendance at the U.K. premiere of . On Thursday, Hayley Atwell, 40, attended the event, which was held at London's Leicester Square.Atwell, who's set to co-star alongside Cruise in the 2023 flick, , stunned in an all-black look, which featured a long sleeve crop top and a maxi skirt with a thigh-high slit.Meanwhile, 59-year-old Cruise, who was photographed greeting Prince William and Kate Middleton at the premiere, looked dapper in a classic tuxedo and bow tie.  Along with being co-stars, Cruise and Atwell, who attended Wimbledon together last July, are rumored to have dated.

Prince William “have a lot in common” as Britain's royals joined the Hollywood star on the red carpet in London for the U.K. premiere of the new “Top Gun” movie.William and his wife, Kate, joined Cruise Thursday on a star-studded red carpet at Leicester Square for the premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick,” in which Cruise reprises his role as U.S.

Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Connelly gather up for a giant group photo at the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday (May 18) in Cannes, France.

Tom Cruise mania descended Wednesday in Cannes where the actor made a whirlwind appearance at the film festival, walking the red carpet, receiving a surprise Palme d’Or and watching a squadron of French fighter jets fly over the European premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Tom Cruise revealed "Top Gun: Maverick" would "never" make its theatrical debut on a streaming network despite years of setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruise and the "Top Gun" team touched down at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday afternoon for the European premiere, a spectacle that included eight fighter jets flying high above the Palais, with red and blue smoke streaming from behind to match the colors of the French flag.

Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Connelly pose for photos together at the Top Gun: Maverick photo call at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday (May 18) in Cannes, France.