The Poster Memorabilia blog

The Top Stars of Top Gun

Cruise, Ryan, Robbins — a decade of collecting the A-listers hiding in one 1986 cast.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

Looking back on it, I was surprised at how many A-listers starred in Top Gun. Tom Cruise was such a big star, even then, that he tends to be the only one people remember from the movie. But besides him and Val Kilmer, did you know that the film also featured Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins?

These are actual Hollywood icons today. There's no denying that Tom Cruise is a living legend, but Meg Ryan was the queen of rom-coms in the 90s, while Tim Robbins was one of the best dramatic leads of the same era. The late Val Kilmer was nothing to scoff at, too, starring in classics like Tombstone, Heat, and Batman Forever.

Unfortunately, I never got Kilmer's autograph on my Top Gun movie poster. I still regret it, especially since the other stars got to sign the poster. I would've completed the cast if I'd gotten his autograph, and it still eats at me to this day.

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The silver lining here is that I had amazing encounters with the big names from the movie. Tom Cruise is always a fun time since he genuinely seems like a good guy. I saw him in person at the premiere of Edge of Tomorrow in New York City back in 2014. Always the quintessential Hollywood leading man, he looked good posing for the cameras and approaching fans.

I remember feeling a bit nervous since other fans brought posters of his more modern films, like Mission: Impossible, Eyes Wide Shut, and of course, Edge of Tomorrow. My Top Gun poster stood out like a sore thumb, and I was afraid I'd embarrass myself in front of one of the world's most famous actors.

“Little did I know that he'd end up liking my poster the most.”

Little did I know that he'd end up liking my poster the most. He gave me a big grin as he signed it, and told me how cool it was that I had it. I'm sure it made his night. Well, I’m not 100% sure, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Cruise wasn't actually the first cast member I asked to sign the poster. It was Meg Ryan, whom I met when she appeared at the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala at Lincoln Center a month before. I hadn't seen her in a minute, so I was shocked she still looked the same as she did in the 90s. She was also so nice when I asked for her autograph that it was the most pleasant celebrity encounter I ever had.

As for Tim Robbins, I finally met him at the 30th anniversary reunion of The Shawshank Redemption at the TCM Classic Film Festival in 2024. He was also so nice, and when I went up to him with two posters, he signed both. He even giggled when he saw my Top Gun poster and was impressed that Tom Cruise and Meg Ryan had already signed it.

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In the ten years between getting Ryan's and Robbins' autographs, I also met Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt and got them to sign the same poster. They were pleasant encounters, but they hardly deserve as big a mention as the other three.

I still find it unbelievable that I actually met Tom Cruise, Meg Ryan, and Tim Robbins in person, let alone got their autographs. It really shows that Top Gun had one of the best casts ever.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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