Where Was Top Gun: Maverick Filmed?

You may have read my recent article on Top Gun. You’ll have to forgive me for writing an article about the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. Both movies give you an inside look into aerial dog fights that will leave you feeling dizzy. Movies like these are best watched on the big screen so you can get the full effect. So where was Top Gun Maverick filmed? Pretty much the same place as Top Gun with a few slight variations. So let’s get into it.

Where Was Top Gun: Maverick Filmed?

Top Gun: Maverick was filmed mainly at US Navy air stations. The base scenes were shot at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, and the crew also filmed at NAS Lemoore and NAS Fallon, at NAS Whidbey Island and aboard Navy aircraft carriers.

The flying scenes used real US Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, with the actors riding in the back seats. Only the Darkstar hypersonic jet was a full-scale mockup.

Top Gun: Maverick Plot

Top Gun: Maverick follows Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise), who is called back to the Top Gun school to train a team of young pilots for a dangerous strike on an unnamed enemy nation. One of them is Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his late friend Goose, and Maverick has to face his past to bring the team home.

The film features intense dogfights between fighter jets, as well as dramatic sequences featuring the aircraft carriers and other naval vessels used by Navy personnel.

Who Was In The Cast

Tom Cruise returns as the iconic fighter pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, with Val Kilmer reprising his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. Miles Teller plays Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Goose’s son. Supporting roles include Jennifer Connelly as Penny Benjamin, Maverick’s love interest, Monica Barbaro as the pilot Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, Glen Powell as Hangman, Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson and Ed Harris as Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain.

The film also features appearances by real-life pilots and military personnel, including Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt “Sparky” Powers and Marine Corps Capt. Adam “Sticks” Lazzara. In addition, the production team worked closely with the Navy to secure real aircraft and locations for filming.

The Director

Top Gun Maverick was directed by Joseph Kosinski, who is well-known for his work on the popular science fiction films Oblivion and Tron: Legacy. He worked with a team of producers and stunt coordinators to create intense aerial sequences involving high-performance fighter jets, as well as realistic naval scenes featuring manned vessels and aircraft carriers.

Kosinski also worked with the Navy and other military personnel to film on real aircraft carriers, using their coordination and expertise to ensure that the scenes accurately portrayed what it is like for a pilot in a high-stakes aerial dogfight. With his experience in crafting breathtaking action sequences, Joseph Kosinski has created an exciting film that will captivate audiences.

Can You Visit the Set?

Some of the places you see in the movie can be visited, but many scenes were shot on sets or on active Navy bases that are closed to the public. The Hard Deck bar is fictional.

Penny’s house is a private home in San Pedro, near Los Angeles, so admire it only from the street.

The Cecil’s Cafe scenes were actually filmed at the Halfway House Cafe just outside Santa Clarita.

Frequently Asked Questions

And That’s a Wrap!

San Diego will provide plenty of entertainment for you whether you are traveling with children or a bunch of friends. You don’t have to be a Top Gun fan to enjoy everything that San Diego has to offer. But if you have a military background, you’ll enjoy visiting the sites used in the making of the movie. 

If you do decide to visit San Diego to see the Top Gun Maverick film location, be sure to let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.