When Top Gun premiered in 1986, it became a huge cultural hit and firmly established Tom Cruise as a leading actor in Hollywood. The movie’s innovative flight scenes and memorable music raised the bar for action films, and many have tried to copy its style ever since. Four years later, Cruise teamed up with director Tony Scott again for another fast-paced movie widely seen as a copy of Top Gun, and it recently became available on Paramount+.
The 1990 film Days of Thunder, directed by Tony Scott, has recently become available on Paramount+. Often described as “Top Gun on wheels” when it was released, it now streams alongside both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick. Instead of fighter jets, this movie features the high-speed world of NASCAR racing, with Tom Cruise playing Cole Trickle, a gifted but fiery young race car driver. The cast also includes Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Nicole Kidman, and Cary Elwes.
Days of Thunder Improved Upon Top Gun
While Top Gun was the more popular and widely seen film, Days of Thunder is arguably the stronger movie. Though the plots and characters are very similar to Top Gun, Days of Thunder feels like an improvement, addressing some of the earlier film’s weaknesses.
Building on the ideas from Top Gun, the film delivers a more unified and emotionally resonant story, striving to show the human side of its main character. While Top Gun was criticized for not developing its characters deeply – focusing instead on Maverick’s confidence and external struggles – this film delves into Cole’s inner vulnerabilities, forcing him to face his personal and physical weaknesses. This makes for a much more engaging story that values depth and character over constant action, though there’s still plenty of exciting action to enjoy.
Although Days of Thunder had some good qualities – including a noteworthy score by Hans Zimmer – it didn’t achieve the same level of success as Top Gun. Worldwide, it earned $157.9 million, which was less than half of Top Gun‘s $357 million. Critics weren’t impressed either, giving Days of Thunder a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Top Gun‘s 59%. Audiences gave Days of Thunder a 60% approval rating.
What’s New on Paramount+?
While Days of Thunder is a great choice, it’s just one of many movies now available on Paramount+. Several new titles were added on November 1st, including 21 Jump Street, American Made, Blades of Glory, Dinner for Schmucks, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and almost all of the Indiana Jones films.
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2025-11-28 02:10