Original artwork, not a still
Maverick
I feel the need, the need for speed!
— Top Gun ‧ 1986
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is two young pilots admitting out loud that the danger is the point: they want the rush, rules or no rules. Maverick says the first half and Goose, the film's fun-loving heart, finishes it, which is why it was never a solo line. It slipped into everyday speech as the catchphrase for anything fast, from sports cars to deadlines.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Top GunShow the scene
In Top Gun (1986), Tony Scott's film about the Navy's elite Fighter Weapons School at Miramar, hotshot pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his radar officer Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw are hauled up early on by the instructors for breaking the rules in training. Walking off down the corridor afterwards, unrepentant, Maverick starts the line and Goose finishes it with him, the two slapping a high five. The pair's flyby of the control tower, which spills coffee over the commander, is part of the same reckless streak. The line is on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest movie quotes.
Sources (3)
- Wikiquote: Top GunHeader, dialogue and taglinesReference checked
- Top Gun Wiki: Top GunPlotReference checked
- Top Gun Wiki: QuotesMaverick and GooseReference checked
Context reviewed
