Celebrate Top Gun Day!

To some, this weekend is all about Mother’s Day. To others, it’s time to party down in celebration of Top Gun Day—which is today, May 13.

Those of you who know your movie history might be asking, “Hmm… the original Top Gun was released on May 16 in 1986. So why is Top Gun Day on the 13th?”

The hilarious answer is: the original group that organized this “holiday” had a typo in their materials and listed it as the 13th instead of the 16th. By the time they realized their error, too many plans had already been put in motion!

So how does one honor Top Gun? It’s simple: watch the first movie, followed by Top Gun: Maverick! Or make it a three-fer and add in the documentary The Real Top Guns, which is currently free on demand.

If you want to go totally crazy, add in some knock-offs for fun, like Top Gunner and Top Gunner: Danger Zone.

Got some money to spend? Treat yourself to a pair of the famous Maverick (Tom Cruise) Ray-Bans—specifically model 3025 (Aviator Classic, naturally).

Have even MORE money to spend? As in, a small fortune? Then spring for a Kawasaki H2 motorcycle as seen in the sequel. Fun fact: The bike Maverick rode in the original movie was actually the world's fastest motorcycle at the time: the Kawasaki GPz900R.

Blasting a playlist of the best songs from both soundtracks is a given. You’ve got “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins, “Playing with the Boys” by Kenny Loggins again, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by The Righteous Brothers, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin (which won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Song), “I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic, “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga, “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis as well as the version by Miles Teller, and of course the "Top Gun Anthem" by Harold Faltermeyer.

Finally, you’ll want to mix up some custom cocktails for the occasion. I’m thinking the Maverick Mai Tai, the Goose Gimlet, the Iceman Long Island Iced Tea, the Rooster ‘Rita, the Hangman Highball … you get the picture.

And at the end of the evening, you can toast to the fact that Top Gun: Rooster—a third film in the Top Gun franchise—is allegedly in the works. Since Top Gun: Maverick was the top movie of 2022 and raked in more than $7.37 BILLION worldwide, I’d bet on a third installment happening. I feel the need… the need … for another Top Gun movie!