Paramount Undecided on When ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Will Stream on Paramount+
After a series of long delays, “Top Gun: Maverick” finally arrived in movie theaters on May 27. The 36-years-later sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” filmed primarily in 2018 but remained on the shelf due largely to producer and star Tom Cruise insisting that the movie debut on the big screen, rather than on a streaming service.
The gamble paid off and the film has been a massive hit, earning more than $466 million domestically and $885 million worldwide, making it the top movie of the year thus far.
However, because of that success, many have wondered when they might get the chance to watch “Top Gun: Maverick” from the comfort of their own homes, but that remains an open question. Paramount+, the streaming service owned by “Top Gun” studio Paramount, typically has a 45-day window between its movies coming out in theaters and arriving on the service. However, the studio has been clear that the 45-day default does not apply to “Top Gun: Maverick.”
That question came up in a Variety interview with Paramount Global’s streaming chief Tom Ryan following the company's announcement of a new slate of international content.
Top Gun: Maverick
After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) finds himself training a detachment of TOP GUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.
This crowd-pleasing action flick dominated the box office for most of 2022. The cast includes Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell.
Ryan discussed the company’s windowing strategy, stating that Paramount has had success with such films as this year’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” which arrived on Paramount+ 45 days after it came out in theaters. However, when Ryan was asked about “Top Gun: Maverick,” it was clear that the blockbuster hit is an exception to the 45-day custom.
“We haven’t decided on that [the theatrical window for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’] yet,” Ryan told Variety. Last month, The Streamable predicted that the movie wouldn't hit streaming until at least Labor Day weekend, and more likely later in September.
As for the original “Top Gun,” it had a window, leading up to the sequel’s release when it was available to stream on Netflix, before it left May 30. However, the 1986 film remains available to stream on both Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and more. The lineup includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.