Directed by Tony Scott and starring the incomparable Tom Cruise, TOP GUN (1986) features an iconic line counted by the American Film Institute among the most memorable movies quotes in the history of the art form: “I feel the need – the need for speed!” Visit the AFI Catalog to learn more about TOP GUN....

In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan, enthusiastic patriotism and the popular blockbusters of the day — the RAMBO and ROCKY franchises among them — were part of the defining Americana at the nation’s core, which is why Tony Scott’s TOP GUN became a hit, and the highest-grossing film of 1986. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the…