Ryan Reynolds confessed that he became obsessed with planes after watching Top Gun. And it might be hard to judge the Free Guy actor, since the movie had a similar impact on generations of cinephiles. The 1986 film remains a fan favorite for its awe-inspiring aerial action, impressive visuals, thrilling scenes, and, most importantly, Tom Cruise’s charm and confidence.

Top Gun: Maverick arrived more than three decades after the original film, and a third movie is now in development, clearly showing how much love still exists for the franchise. The same can be said for Reynolds, who fell in love with airplanes after watching the movie for the first time. So much so that his commitment bordered on matrimonial intentions.

While speaking to USA Today for Mayday, Ryan Reynolds revealed that he watched Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, with his brother Patrick at a movie theater in Vancouver and described it as mind-blowing. He recalled being mesmerized by the aerial scenes and how cool the planes looked on the big screen. Before praising Cruise’s action and aura on screen for making the movie even more incredible, Reynolds revealed that he had an obsession with planes after watching the film.

"As a young kid, you were watching this movie where you never thought airplanes could be that cool,” he said. 

"I was like, ‘Maybe if I'm lucky, I could marry an airplane. I don't know if anyone's ever joined bodies in such a way, but I'll find a way. I'll be so good to it. I'll treat it so great. I will never disrespect it,'” he joked about it.

Now, Reynolds confession to USA Today might be right about the love for planes and the impact Tom Cruise had on audiences with his films. That love now stands translated in his new film Mayday, which follows a U.S. Navy fighter pilot played by Reynolds. His plane goes down over Soviet Russia during a secret mission, and he is rescued by an ex-KGB agent who loves America. The upcoming film also draws inspiration from Top Gun, as writer John Francis Daley explained.

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While Reynolds has often played fighter pilots during his career, he does not appear particularly fond of flying planes himself.

Ryan Reynolds has a love for planes and has portrayed fighter pilots several times, including in The Adam Project and now Mayday. However, the actor has no interest in flying a plane as a hobby, unlike Tom Cruise, who often flies his own aircraft. Speaking to PEOPLE, Reynolds shared that he does not have much faith in his ability to fly a plane himself.

“I don’t have a tremendous amount of faith in me as a pilot,” he said. 

He further shared that he appreciates the hobby but feels much more relaxed when he is flying with a real pilot. Regardless, the actor does a good job of portraying the tension of being a pilot inside a plane. Fans will get to see him take on the role once again when Mayday releases on September 4, 2026.

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What do you think about Ryan Reynold's obsession with Top Gun and planes? Let us know in the comments.