Top Gun: Maverick Becomes Surprise Streaming Hit

The $1 billion action blockbuster has quietly become a late-night favorite on Paramount+.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:40am

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An extreme close-up of shimmering, high-contrast sequins and velvet textures, conceptually representing the glamour and celebrity appeal of the Top Gun franchise.The continued streaming success of the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick reflects the film's enduring popularity and Paramount+'s ability to attract viewers with high-profile content.NYC Today

Top Gun: Maverick, the 2022 legacy sequel that grossed nearly $1.5 billion at the global box office, has become a surprise streaming hit on Paramount+. The film, which Steven Spielberg said 'saved Hollywood' during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been in the top 10 most-watched titles on the platform for over two years and shows no signs of slowing down.

Why it matters

Top Gun: Maverick's continued streaming success highlights the film's enduring popularity and ability to attract new viewers, even years after its initial theatrical release. The blockbuster's performance on Paramount+ also underscores the platform's growing importance as a destination for high-profile, crowd-pleasing content.

The details

Top Gun: Maverick, which reunited Tom Cruise with the role of Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, has been streaming exclusively on Paramount+ since its initial release. The film's official synopsis describes it as a story about 'Maverick confronting his past while also training a group of younger Top Gun graduates, including the son of his deceased best friend, Goose, for a dangerous mission.'

  • Top Gun: Maverick was released in theaters in May 2022.
  • The film has been streaming on Paramount+ since its initial release.

The players

Tom Cruise

The lead actor who reprised his role as Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick.

Steven Spielberg

The acclaimed filmmaker who praised Top Gun: Maverick as a film that 'saved Hollywood' during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paramount+

The streaming platform that has hosted the exclusive streaming run of Top Gun: Maverick since its release.

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What they’re saying

“I believed it 'saved Hollywood,' and allowed movie theaters to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

— Steven Spielberg

What’s next

Paramount is currently developing a third installment in the Top Gun franchise, with Tom Cruise expected to reprise his role as Maverick. The studio is working to overcome production challenges to bring the sequel to the big screen.

The takeaway

Top Gun: Maverick's continued success on Paramount+ underscores the film's enduring popularity and the platform's ability to attract and retain viewers with high-profile, crowd-pleasing content. The upcoming third installment in the franchise will be closely watched as Paramount seeks to capitalize on the franchise's renewed popularity.