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Anime & Manga

Fan Works

  • Pokémon Crossing: One of Butch's Pokémon is nicknamed Maverick, and Butch yells "ride into the danger zone" during his gym battle.

Films - Live-Action

  • Hot Shots! is essentially a Whole-Plot Reference to Top Gun, playfully skewering just about every trope used in the film.
  • Proud and Confident does for Hong Kong's SWAT Team, what Top Gun does for the US Air Force. There's even a kickass musical bonding montage lifted from the film.
  • Wanted: Wesley references the movie by asking Fox if her name is a callsign, "like Maverick".
  • The Congress, set mostly in a collective hallucination that looks like a trippy '30s cartoon, has Tom Cruise showing up in his Maverick attire, or at least someone using his likeness as their toon avatar.
  • In Order of Disappearance (as well as its 2019 American remake Cold Pursuit) has the protagonist's brother with the nickname "Wingman" and he explains it's from Top Gun, quoting the "you can be my wingman" line.
  • Captain Marvel: In the comics, Carol Danvers' pet cat is named "Chewie". For the movie, the cat's name was changed to "Goose", which fits Carol's job as a fighter pilot.
  • The Flash (2023): One of the many alterations in the new timeline, where Kevin Bacon is now the star of the original Top Gun instead of Tom Cruise.

Literature

  • In The Mermaid's Mirror, Kai, who is desperate for a cool surfer nickname, lets his sister Ani borrow his short board if she calls him Maverick for the rest of the day. Ani mutters, "I'll call you Goose the rest of the day."
  • Siren Novels: In Undercurrent, Vanessa and Parker take turns singing their favorite cheesy movie songs. Vanessa's is "Danger Zone."
  • Tempest (2011): In Tempest Rising, Kona won't give Tempest a straight answer to her questions. Tempest says, "Is this one of those if-you-tell-me-you'll-have-to-kill-me things?" Kona doesn't get the reference, so Tempest explains that it's from Top Gun.

Live-Action TV

  • In the Broad City episode "Twaining Day," Abbi wants to train Shania Twain. She says, "Let me train her with you. I could be your Goose!" Trey says, "Do not bring up Top Gun right now." The reference works, though, and Trey lets her help.
  • NCIS: Tony, The Movie Buff, is constantly quoting from other movies. In one episode, where he loses his voice from overexertion, Ducky gets back at his habit by telling him, "Your ego's writing checks your body can't cash."
  • In The Orville Lt. Gordon Malloy, Ace Pilot of the titular ship, is apparently a fan of the movie, fitting his characterization as a Fan of the Past and a Military Maverick. During a space battle in the episode "Identity, Pt. 2", he's at the controls of a starfighter and quotes Maverick to his (nonhuman) wingman—"Just a walk in the park, Kazansky!"—before doing Iceman's famous bite at him. Said wingman obviously doesn't get the reference.
  • Temps de chien: In the second episode, one scene has Jean-Philippe talking to his plane pilot named Maverick.

Video Games

  • Saints Row: The Third turns Boss, Laura Bailey!Boss in particular, into a fan of the film: half the voice samples will reference the movie in one mission, and she will make numerous comments about it.
  • Three stations in Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion are named after Top Gun characters: Maverick Station, Goose Station, and Iceman Station. Fittingly, all three stations involve piloting an Inkjet in order to reach the goal. Furthermore, the subtitles of the three missions are "Revvin' up your Inkjet...", "Listen to its howlin' roar", and "Jet into the danger zone..." — all referencing the lyrics to Danger Zone, which famously is featured in the film's soundtrack.
  • In Unreal Tournament 2004, winning an air-to-air fight either with the Raptor or the Cicada has the announcer proclaiming "Top Gun!"
  • Wing Commander centered on a pilot known as Maverick, with Iceman being one of his squadmates. However, in this case, "Maverick" is lampshaded as being an Ironic Nickname for a cool-headed by-the-book pilot. His wingman Maniac is another matter entirely...

Web Comics

Web Video

Western Animation

  • Archer's Catchphrase is "Danger Zone", and both the song and film itself are frequently mentioned. Kenny Loggins also did an Adam Westing appearance in the episode "Baby Shower" and did a country-music cover of the song.
  • What If…? (2021): In "What If... Thor Were an Only Child?", Maria Hill mentions that Carol Danvers' cat "could devour whole armies", leading to this exchange:
    Darcy: You've got a cat? What's its name?
    Carol: Goose.
    Darcy: Ooh, Top Gun! You're Maverick! Is your ego writing checks that your skills can't cash?
    Carol/Maria: [simultaneously] No./Yes.

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