Approximately 36 years separate Top Gun (1986) from its sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Tom Cruise took to the sky as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, now a teacher at his alma mater, the U.S. Navy-Fighter Weapons School. The enduring popularity of these films highlights a consistent fascination with aviation and the thrilling world of military pilots.
Relive exhilarating aerial stunts, iconic musical moments, and the camaraderie among the pilots in Top Gun: Maverick, which brought back many beloved references from the original. If you enjoyed the high-octane action and dramatic narratives of the Top Gun movies, you’ll be thrilled to discover that the world of cinema offers many other Best Fighter Aircraft Movies that capture the intensity, skill, and bravery of fighter pilots. From historical dramas set in World Wars to modern action-thrillers and even insightful parodies, there’s a rich catalog of aviation films waiting to be explored.
‘Aces High’ (1976)
Malcolm McDowell portrayed Major Gresham in the 1976 film Aces High. Major Gresham leads the 76th Squadron, a group of pilots including Lieutenant Croft (Peter Firth). These young pilots often underestimate the extreme risks involved in joining the force during wartime. Lt. Croft initially idolizes Major Gresham until he witnesses his leader’s questionable behavior during flights.
The film effectively portrays the intense tensions of World War I air combat from a British perspective. Aces High delves into the brutal experiences and psychological toll the war took on the soldiers involved, showcasing dogfights and the difficult realities faced by early fighter pilots. Beyond military use, aircraft serve various roles, including roles as french fire fighting aircraft.
‘Hot Shots!’ (1991)
Charlie Sheen flying a fighter jet in Hot Shots! parody movie
Topper Harley (Charlie Sheen), the son of famous pilot Leland “Buzz” Harley, is called back into service despite his preference for a quiet life. He’s assigned a mission to neutralize a nuclear plant. Joining a quirky group of fellow pilots, Topper confronts aspects of his complicated past.
As Top Gun became an icon of 80s aviation films, Hot Shots! emerged as its perfect parody counterpart in the 90s. Fans of the Top Gun films will immediately recognize iconic scenes cleverly altered for comedic effect, including exaggerated takes on famous stunt sequences, making it one of the most entertaining fighter pilot parodies.
‘The Tuskegee Airmen’ (1995)
Laurence Fishburne as a pioneering African American pilot in The Tuskegee Airmen
“Tuskegee Airmen” is the collective name given to the pioneering African American pilots who trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field and flew in the U.S. Army Air Corps. The film centers on Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne), a dedicated pilot in training who aspires to join this groundbreaking group, navigating both rigorous instruction and pervasive racial discrimination from within the military ranks.
Similar to many powerful war films, The Tuskegee Airmen is based on real historical events. The first squadron of African American pilots formed the 332nd Fighter Squadron and played a crucial role in World War II. The movie powerfully depicts their unwavering determination to prove their capability and patriotism as skilled soldiers and aviators. While these were pioneering military pilots, other us fire fighting aircraft have also played crucial roles in national service.
‘Pearl Harbor’ (2001)
Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale in the Pearl Harbor aviation drama
Best friends Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) join the war effort as Air Corps Pilots. Their paths diverge when Rafe volunteers to fight alongside the British forces, while Danny is stationed at Pearl Harbor. Before their separation, they both meet nurse Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), leading to a complex romantic entanglement.
While featuring the dramatic attack on Pearl Harbor as its backdrop, the film also significantly explores the deep friendship between Rafe and Danny and their competing affections for Evelyn. Their shared passion for flying, stemming from a childhood adventure with Rafe’s father’s plane, forms a core bond that is tested by war and love.
‘Behind Enemy Lines’ (2001)
Owen Wilson as a downed US Navy pilot in the movie Behind Enemy Lines
Some pilots, like Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson), find themselves growing weary of routine flights, losing the initial excitement. Chris Burnett and his friend, Lieutenant Jeremy Stackhouse (Gabriel Macht), are assigned a reconnaissance mission over Bosnia. They inadvertently fly over a “No Fly Zone,” where they make a shocking discovery about hidden mass graves in the area below.
Behind Enemy Lines stands out as one of Owen Wilson’s notable roles outside of the comedy genre. After being spotted in enemy territory, Chris and Jeremy are forced to eject from their aircraft. The film then transforms into a tense survival thriller as Chris must evade hostile forces on the ground and make his way back to friendly lines. The development of aviation technology is vast, involving many fire fighting aircraft companies focused on specialized designs.
‘Flyboys’ (2006)
The Lafayette Escadrille was a famed squadron within the French Air Service during World War I, uniquely composed of American volunteer pilots. Young men from varied backgrounds, seeking adventure or driven by idealism, joined this unit to fight for France before the official U.S. entry into the war. Blaine Rawlings (James Franco), a Texan farm boy, Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis), an African American boxer, and Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine), pressured by his father, are among the diverse recruits.
Tom Hardy as a Spitfire pilot in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk
Set early in World War I, Flyboys depicts an era of aviation less technologically advanced than the jets seen in Top Gun. Nevertheless, the movie features thrilling aerial dogfights and daring maneuvers as these nascent fighter pilots navigate the dangers of early air combat and face enemy attacks, echoing the high-stakes flying seen in more modern aviation films. For those interested in acquiring specialized planes, information on fire fighting aircraft for sale is available.
‘Dunkirk’ (2017)
The film Dunkirk chronicles the tense evacuation of Allied soldiers (British and French) from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, as German forces close in during World War II. Director Christopher Nolan structures the narrative across three perspectives: land (the soldiers on the beach), sea (the civilian boats coming to rescue), and air (the pilots providing cover). The soldiers on the ground were vulnerable targets for German bombers and fighter planes.
Dunkirk is a powerful historical drama that eschews Nolan’s typical complex narratives for a visceral, intense portrayal of survival during a pivotal moment in World War II. The air sequences feature British Spitfire pilots engaging German aircraft in desperate battles to protect the vulnerable troops below, highlighting the crucial role of fighter planes in the evacuation effort.
‘Midway’ (2019)
Ed Skrein as a US Navy pilot during the Battle of Midway movie
Following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which drew the United States into World War II, American commanders anticipated Japan’s next move would be an assault on Midway Atoll. The film Midway focuses on the decisive Battle of Midway in 1942, a critical turning point in the Pacific theater of the war.
The events depicted in Midway are closely based on the historical details of the battle that took place from June 4-7, 1942. Both in history and the film, the confrontation involved intense naval engagements and, significantly, extensive use of carrier-based fighter planes and bombers. Figures like Dick Best (Ed Skrein) are shown training and leading pilots despite the hazardous operational conditions they faced. Different aircraft models serve diverse purposes, including models like the 744 fire fighting aircraft.
‘Greyhound’ (2020)
Set in 1942, Greyhound follows Captain Krause (Tom Hanks) as he commands a U.S. Navy destroyer escorting a convoy of supply ships across the treacherous North Atlantic to Great Britain. The convoy must navigate the “Black Pit,” a vast area beyond the range of air cover from either side, where storms and enemy threats are constant dangers.
While primarily a naval film focused on submarine warfare, Greyhound also features threats from the sky. The convoy is not safe from long-range enemy aircraft that attempt to target the ships with bombs and torpedoes, adding an aerial dimension to the constant peril faced by Captain Krause and his crew as they battle U-boats and overhead attacks.
The world of aviation cinema extends far beyond the iconic flights of Maverick. These films offer diverse perspectives on the courage, challenges, and technological evolution associated with flying and fighting in the skies. If you’re captivated by the power and grace of aircraft and the stories of those who pilot them, this list provides an excellent starting point for your next movie marathon.
