The Poster Memorabilia blog

Hollywood's Hottest Guys Show Up for Top Gun: Maverick

A film critic throws her objectivity out the window for one night in San Diego.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

As a woman who watches and critiques movies for a living, I try to be as objective and as refined as I can. I hold back my gender bias in my reviews and focus more on the artistic merit and technical feats in every film I see.

However, allow me to throw all of that out the window for this one post, because I can't help but gush at the men of Top Gun: Maverick!

There have been many movies that assembled handsome movie stars in the past. The 2001 remake of Ocean's 11 is one, as is Scorsese's 2006 hit, The Departed. Even the original Top Gun from 1986 had Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Rick Rossovich and Tim Robbins.

Hollywood hasn't exactly been forthright in highlighting women beyond their looks, so you're just gonna have to excuse me if I've developed a preference for what I call “handsome movies.” I try not to objectify these men as best I can, but I can't help it for some films. I especially had a hard time with Top Gun: Maverick.

I rarely hyperbolize my opinions in my reviews, but I do honestly believe that Top Gun: Maverick had the hottest male cast I've ever seen. As if it weren't enough that we had Cruise back, they just had to add Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, and more.

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You probably think I'm exaggerating, right? Well, I'm not! I confirmed this myself when I went to the film's San Diego premiere in 2022. I was there as a fan—and admittedly, as an autograph hound too—and saw all of them in person. It took everything in me to not drool in front of their faces.

First there was Tom Cruise. All I saw was the handsome Maverick from the original film, all grown up, but as magnetic as ever. It was the first time I ever got up close and personal to the legendary star, and I instantly understood how he bagged Nicole Kidman and Penélope Cruz back in the day.

“It took everything in me to not drool in front of their faces.”

The younger guys weren't too far behind, either. Miles Teller was already a big name at that point in his career, and I was confident the movie would only earn him countless more female and gay fans. It was also before Glen Powell hit it big with his 2023 rom-com, Anyone But You, but that night, I already saw the future big-screen hunk Hollywood hadn't noticed yet.

Both of them were in tip-top shape to take on the Cruise and Kilmer mantle if they decide to continue the franchise with this new generation. And it helps that the other younger cast members were just as handsome and charming.

It was a pleasure seeing Jay Ellis, Lewis Pullman, Manny Jacinto, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis, and Bashir Salahuddin. Each of them was more dashing than the next, and it was then that I realized that Hollywood is set with its new slate of upcoming movie stars.

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Oh! I almost forgot the older new cast members too. Many are already aware of how handsome and charming Jon Hamm is, but seeing him in person is a different story. He still looked like Don Draper up on that red carpet at the premiere. Charles Parnell rivaled him with ease, blinding us with his pearly whites.

As a woman and a feminist, I have to shout out Jennifer Connelly and Monica Barbaro, too. Connelly has always been stunning, and she proved to be a good match for Cruise, both in the film and on the red carpet. Barbaro is a star in the making. I'm glad she's made it big since then, and excited to see what's in store for her.

I still watch Top Gun: Maverick from time to time, if only to see these handsome men (and gorgeous women) in action. I'm proud I got their autographs on my movie poster, but seeing them in person was more than enough.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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