I watched “Top Gun” in a big old-fashioned theater in Buenos Aires. I thought the opening sequence on the deck of the carrier was powerful. So powerful, in fact, that if there had been a Navy recruiter’s table in the lobby, this old zoomie would’ve enlisted right then and there. I was also hoping that my then 18-year old son would have been motivated to join up too. He didn’t.
You can likely blame the infamous volleyball scene for that.
I hear they're going to update that scene in the sequel by having all the pilots do some CrossFit in skin-tight unitards.
Top Gun came out when my son was an infant. We watched it when he was old enough to appreciate it and he is now in the Marine aviation program. It did have an impact, phony or not!