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Friend of Tortoise Exclusive

The need for speed: celebrating Top Gun

The need for speed: celebrating Top Gun

This event is exclusive to Friends of Tortoise

After years of delays, Top Gun 2: Maverick finally hits UK cinema screens on 27 May. The original is a bona fide classic, memorable for the bomber jackets, the aviators and the need for speed. 

On paper, Top Gun is a film about fighter pilots and dogfights, but the reality is so much more. It’s an endlessly quotable study in heroism and masculinity with a killer soundtrack. This is a film sweaty with homoeroticism, helped by that volleyball scene and lots of hunky naked men wearing small towels. Its high-octane, full-throttle patriotism avoids feeling toxic, and it’s the best recruitment ad the US Navy never commissioned. It’s a film that defined a decade, how has it stayed relevant? Perfect for rookies or die-hard Top Gun fans, join us for a ThinkIn where we explore how Top Gun has stood the test of time.

editor and invited experts

Matt d’Ancona
Editor

Marina Hyde
Guardian Columnist

Mark Simpson
Journalist and Author