21+ High-Flying Action Movies Like Top Gun You Can’t Miss

Movies Like Top Gun (Top Picks At A Glance)

Movies like Top Gun are a rarity. They come along once in a while and dazzle us with their starring actors, thrilling action sequences, and inspiring plot.

It can be hard to find other movies that compare to the masterpiece that is Top Gun. So, we’ve taken the liberty of finding a few similar films for you to check out.

Mad Max: Fury Road Movie Description

In a post-apocalyptic world, the War Rig–a huge armored vehicle–is seized by Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) and Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy). They are running away from the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), who rules over the Wasteland that exists many years after society has collapsed.

Along with Furiosa, there are five other women who have attempted to escape from Joe’s grasp. If they want any chance of survival, they need to outrun the warlord in a high-speed chase across the desert.

• Where Was Mad Max: Fury Road Filmed?

First Man Movie Description

Neil Armstrong and other astronauts risk their lives in training for the Apollo 11 mission, which will take them to the moon.

On July 16, 1969, they make history as the first humans to ever reach the lunar surface.

• Movies Like First Man

Days Of Thunder Movie Description

Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) is a rookie NASCAR driver with a lot to prove. He’s always been competitive with Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker), another veteran driver, but when they both get injured in a crash, they become close friends.

With Cole’s spirits high after he starts dating neurosurgeon Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), and Rowdy still healing from his injuries, Cole decides to race Rowdy’s car in the Daytona 500 against newcomer Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes).

American Made Movie Description

Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) was approached by a CIA case officer, Monty Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson), for help. Barry was employed by the CIA to take aerial photographs in Central America. Barry would be using the cover of a Drug Lord which eventually became all too real.

Now that the FBI, DEA, and ATF are investigating him, he may not be able to rely on the CIA for help – especially considering how dangerous it would be for them if they were associated with him. If that weren’t enough pressure, the Cartel may kill Barry to eliminate any loose ends.

• Best Cartel Movies

The Fugitive Movie Description

Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is on the run after being wrongly accused of murdering his wife. He is pursued by a team of U.S. marshals, led by Deputy Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), who will stop at nothing to capture Richard.

As Richard discovers the secrets behind his wife’s murder, he races against time to expose the killer before it’s too late.

Saving Private Ryan Movie Description

Private John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad venture behind enemy lines during the Allied invasion of Normandy to save a fellow soldier, Private James Ryan.

As they search for Ryan, the squad experiences the horrors of war first-hand that will change them forever. Each man on the mission comes to understand himself in a new way, through their journey.

The Right Stuff Movie Description

The film tells the story of America’s early space program, from its beginnings in the late 1950s to the successful launch of John Glenn (Ed Harris) into orbit in 1962.

It focuses on the lives of the Mercury astronauts, including Glenn and Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn), and their families. The challenges and frustrations of space travel are depicted alongside the personal crises these pioneers faced during a time of great political turmoil and technological innovation.

Black Hawk Down Movie Description

U.S. Special Forces are flown into Somalia to provide humanitarian aid and destabilize the government, but they soon find themselves in the midst of a violent battle.

The enemy force brings down two Black Hawk helicopters, leaving a team of stranded soldiers behind. These soldiers must fight against the endless gunfire as they wait for rescue.

Lone Survivor Movie Description

In the midst of a dangerous mission to track down a Taliban leader, four Navy SEALs are caught in a brutal battle against overwhelming odds.

With their own lives on the line, the brave soldiers must find a way to survive against an enemy that seems impossible to defeat.

• Movies Like Lone Survivor
• Where Was Lone Survivor Filmed?

Iron Eagle Movie Description

Doug Masters (Jason Gedrick) is not your average fighter pilot. In order to accurately hit his targets, he needs to listen to music. So when his father is sentenced to death for trespassing in a foreign country, Doug takes it upon himself to fly across the Atlantic and start a daring rescue mission.

Along the way, he teams up with Col. Chappy(Louis Gossett Jr.), an experienced pilot who helps Doug navigate the skies and complete his mission.

Apollo 13 Movie Description

As the Apollo 13 spacecraft hurtles out of control on its way to the moon, the three astronauts aboard must face dangerous challenges if they are to return home safely.

With their oxygen tanks rapidly running out, they must find a way to fix the ship’s damaged systems and survive the wrath of space. Based on true events, this thrilling drama is a testament to the human spirit under pressure.

Dunkirk Movie Description

After the fall of France in 1940, a number of Allied soldiers became trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk.

By working together, the British and French forces were able to evacuate 330,000 troops from the beach using any vessel that could be of service. This was no easy feat, but through cooperation and determination, they were successful.

• Where Was Dunkirk Filmed?

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi Movie Description

As the radical Islamic militants attack the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11th, 2012, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens (Matt Letscher) and Sean Smith (Christopher Dingli) suffer fatal injuries.

A CIA outpost known as “The Annex” hears of the attack and sends members of the GRS team to engage the enemy forces and save any remaining Americans.

Midway Movie Description

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese navy launches a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Six months later, on June 4, 1942, they launch another strike against American ships in the Pacific.

For three days, the U.S. Navy and a squad of fighter pilots fight in one of the most crucial battles of World War II.

Ford v Ferrari Movie Description

Shelby (Matt Damon) and Miles (Christian Bale) work together to build a revolutionary car for Ford. They’re looking to take on Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and this is sure to be a race to remember.

• Best Car Movies

Crimson Tide Movie Description

The USS Alabama sets out to stop a potential nuclear Armageddon after a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a worldwide threat.

The submarine’s captain, Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman), signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington). When Ramsay insists on an aggressive course of action, Hunter leads a potential mutiny to stop him from possibly making matters worse.

Mission: Impossible Movie Description

The United States government agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is given a covert assignment with his mentor Jim Phelps (Jon Voight). Unfortunately, during their mission, Phelps is killed and Ethan becomes the primary suspect in the murder.

On the run from law enforcement, Hunt enlists the help of Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to break into a highly guarded CIA building and clear his name of any wrongdoing.

Independence Day Movie Description

When aliens descended upon Earth, they begin to demolish its cities. Humanity is powerless against them, and all hope seemed lost. However, a small group of people refuses to give up.

They formulated a plan to save humanity and will fight tooth and nail to see it through. Even if it means dying in the process.

Blue Thunder Movie Description

Frank Murphy is a Los Angeles police officer who is chosen to test-run Blue Thunder, a high-tech experimental attack helicopter.

Murphy and his partner discover that the government intends to use their new helicopter for corrupt purposes. They must now put a stop to it before it’s too late.

Behind Enemy Lines Movie Description

Lt. Chris Burnett is a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Navy during the Yugoslavian war. While on routine patrol, he breaks off his route and sees Serbian forces violating the peace agreement.

The Serbs see him, and he’s forced to crash-land behind their lines. With the Serbs on his heels, Burnett must hope that his commander sends in a rescue mission.

Pearl Harbor Movie Description

This film follows American boyhood friends Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) as they enter World War II as pilots.

Rafe is so excited to participate in the war that he goes to Europe to fight alongside England’s Royal Air Force, leaving his girlfriend Evelyn at home. To ease her sorrow, Evelyn spends time with Danny. The three of them eventually meet again in Hawaii shortly before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

Memphis Belle Movie Description

As the crew of the Memphis Belle bomber prepare for their 25th and final sortie into enemy territory, Capt. Dennis Dearborn (Matthew Modine) is under pressure from Army public relations man Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer (John Lithgow) to earn a victory for the Allies. Tensions are high as the bomber takes flight, and the crew must face the dangers of enemy fire and mechanical failure.

G.I. Jane Movie Description

After political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft), the U.S. Navy begins a female integration pilot program and selects Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil (Demi Moore) as the first woman to begin training.

Despite Urgayle’s (Viggo Mortensen) efforts to push her out, O’Neil–through determination and resilience–wins his respect and through this grueling course.

5 More Movies Like Top Gun (Honorable Mentions)

While the films mentioned above are our top picks for movies like Top Gun, there are also several honorable mentions worth checking out. These films may not have made the main list, but they still offer similar elements such as high-flying action, intense aerial combat, and military themes.

From action-packed thrillers to patriotic dramas, these honorable mentions are sure to provide the same heart-pumping excitement and adrenaline rush that fans of Top Gun have come to love.

• Only The Brave (2017)
• Flyboys (2006)
• A Few Good Men (1992)
• Red Tails (2012)
• Firefox (1982)