Top Gun-Themed Vegas Bar Sparks Franchise and Industry Shakeup

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Before the release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” fans will have an immersive experience at a themed bar inspired by Top Gun, opening at “The Strat” in Las Vegas, Nevada. Amidst a challenging economy, Paramount, the franchise owners, aim to capitalize on this idea, and if successful, plan to expand these Top Gun-themed bars globally. This new venue could be likened to an adult version of Universal Studios’ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, offering special drinks, allowing visitors to dress up as Navy pilots, and even take pictures with actors resembling Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer.

Showcasing a naval-aviation motif and honoring the lifestyle of fighter jets (no word yet on whether there will be makeshift volleyball courts for spontaneous games), Paramount aims to expand this venture into an international phenomenon. However, there’s much more to this than meets the eye, offering valuable insights into consumer preferences, both within and beyond the traditional movie theater environment. As conventional cinemas wane in popularity, these unique attractions offer a safer investment option, as studios grapple with understanding audience tastes. Diversifying into high-end theme parks has proven to be more profitable and stable, as intellectual property holders are taking on progressively risky bets regarding films.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

As we eagerly anticipate another installment in the Top Gun series, Paramount is planning to captivate both nostalgic viewers and new moviegoers with an enticing alternative. Through a partnership with Advent Allen Entertainment, Paramount aims to divert the attention of Las Vegas tourists from slot machines and shows towards jet simulators, a souvenir shop offering replica flight jackets, licensed Ray-Bans, and Miles Teller action figures. Mark Advent, CEO of Advent Allen Entertainment, hinted at an exclusive chance for fans to immerse themselves in the Top Gun experience and express their affection for the films with The Hollywood Reporter.

We’re excited to partner with Paramount to breathe life into this classic, high-energy adventure story. Our goal is to create experiences that showcase camaraderie, quality, the rush of speed, and the exhilaration of flight. We are putting our best efforts forward and can’t wait to elevate Top Gun to new heights on The Strip and beyond!

To put it simply, The Strat is in dire need of high-profile acts compared to Paramount, as a plethora of rides, gimmicks, and overhyped locations have fallen short in capturing the attention that the rest of Las Vegas enjoys. In essence, this part of the city has been striving for years to reinvent its image.

The attempt to showcase the northern end of Las Vegas, such as the LV Grand Prix F1 race, hasn’t been very effective in drawing tourist revenue to the neglected section of the Strip. With race cars seemingly unable to fulfill the craving for speed, wouldn’t Tom Cruise, perhaps, be able to satisfy it instead?

Reading Between the Lines of the ‘Top Gun’ Restaurant

In my perspective, much like The Strat, Paramount, a company I follow, seems to be facing some tough times. Just recently, as reported by the L.A. Times, it incurred a significant loss of approximately $286 million from its streaming platforms, including Paramount+ and Pluto. Interestingly, this loss was considered a positive sign compared to previous years, highlighting the heavily indebted state of Paramount. To add to its woes, the company, which also owns CBS, is trying to avoid a potential $20 billion lawsuit settlement with Donald Trump, related to the network’s interview with Kamala Harris on the CBS news show 60 Minutes.

The Top Gun bar and grill, or its future form, follows reports that Paramount Pictures is in dire need of financial aid from Skydance Media, a situation we delved into last year. Skydance Media’s CEO, David Ellison, aims to take over the once-respected company from the Redstone family. Although the deal isn’t finalized yet, it’s likely to be completed within the next year.

How We Got From Screening Films To “Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience”

It makes sense for Paramount to follow Disney’s lead, even if it might seem like they doubt their main business, movies. Just as Disney has segmented its business into three parts, such as “Disney Experiences” that manage theme parks, attractions, and hotels, Paramount appears to be considering a similar strategy. Given that Disney is currently building its seventh park (in Abu Dhabi), despite some underperformance at the box office with their films, Paramount’s move seems shrewd. Merely adopting Alamo Drafthouse-style upgrades, like adding recliners and cocktails, may not be enough to compete effectively.

According to Deadline’s report, an increasing trend among cinemas is their transformation into adult entertainment venues, offering more than just films – think F/A-18 cockpit simulators, karaoke sessions, and ax-throwing. These theaters are aiming for a unique experience, referred to as “Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience” at a SXSW panel. So, while movies may still be screened, you might find one playing on a monitor behind the skee-ball machine if you look carefully through the steam rising from your steak dinner.

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2025-06-05 02:02