Thirty-six years after Top Gun left an indelible mark on pop culture, we knew we had to go big for the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. We wanted to perpetuate excitement and momentum for the film’s release through a high-energy, action-packed red carpet event, with moments from all of the film’s stars hosted by well-known MTV News talent. We also wanted to capitalize on participation from Tom Cruise, with a helicopter entrance stunt that would highlight his enduring legacy as the biggest action star on the planet. With participation from over 150 Paramount Global YouTube Channels, this event was the biggest global content push in our company’s history, and Paramount’s biggest livestream EVER.
MTV News, Paramount Brand Studios and Paramount Pictures pulled out all the stops on the deck of the historic USS Midway, in San Diego Bay, with Josh Horowitz as home base host and interviewer along with correspondents Dometi Pongo and Simone Boyce. The hour-long livestream captured all of the action from the star-studded red carpet, with exclusive interviews from the cast, including Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jay Ellis, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Connelly. The filmmakers, including producer Jerry Bruckheimer and were also on the red carpet to offer their behind-the-scenes perspectives. And, in a moment truly worthy of the franchise, Tom Cruise landed live on the deck of the USS Midway in a helicopter: a cinematic action sequence we captured in all its breathtaking glory.
In a feat of cross-company synergy, we worked with Paramount YouTube channels from around the globe to secure participation from over 150 Paramount Global channels, driving excitement for fans around the world. We began early tune-in promotion two days before the event with static assets across social platforms, securing participation from all major players such as Paramount Pictures, Top Gun and MTV News, with additional support from other Paramount Global handles such as The Drew Barrymore Show, Entertainment Tonight and Showtime. YouTube houses the complete long-form livestream, available on VOD immediately after. Additional short-form content was also seeded out across Paramount Global’s social handles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, highlighting cast interviews, candid moments and of course Tom Cruise’s helicopter arrival.
Our Top Gun: Maverick livestream was an unequivocal success. While Top Gun: Maverick was a huge 2022 box office hit both domestically and internationally, earning $1.4B+ at the global box office, and on Paramount+, Top Gun remains the most-viewed film across the platform. Top Gun: Maverick surpassed the hype that was generated prior to launch, making its way into cinema history as the fifth highest-grossing domestic release of all time.
