Is Top Gun appropriate for children?

# Top Gun - Parent Guide Top Gun follows elite fighter pilots training at a prestigious academy, featuring intense aerial combat sequences and strong violence that may be intense for younger children. The film includes moderate sexual content and some drinking scenes. While rated PG, it's better suited for children ages 13 and up who can handle action-heavy material.

What age is Top Gun suitable for?

Our verdict for Top Gun is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is Top Gun safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

None

🔞

Sexual Content

Moderate

👻

Horror / Scary

None

About this movie

Type

Movie

Released

1986

Rating

Genre

Action, Drama, Romance

Synopsis

For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.

Cast

Tom Cruise

Maverick

Kelly McGillis

Charlie

Val Kilmer

Ice

Anthony Edwards

Goose

Full cast on IMDb ›

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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