When “Top Gun: Maverick” launched in 2022, nearly 40 years after the 1980s original, few people thought it could ever be as iconic.
Maybe a film about Navy pilots wouldn’t be able to compete with “Spider Man,” “Black Panther,” and “Deadpool.”
After all, for the last few decades, the box office has belonged to “Avengers” and other dwellers of the Marvel-verse.
“Top Gun” was the highest-grossing film of 1986, but it has since been criticized as predictable, shallow, and light on character development.
Suffice it to say, expectations were pretty low overall, especially since the release of “Top Gun: Maverick” had been delayed repeatedly due to the pandemic.
💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter💰💵
But the sequel surprised everyone, including critics: it got a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96% from critics and 99% from audiences.
And on its opening day, the movie broke box-office records — bringing in $124 million in the U.S. and another $124 million worldwide — and then had the smallest drop ever recorded for a film’s second weekend, as reported by the BBC.
The movie also had staying power, sticking around in theaters for 22 weeks (some films only show in theaters for a few weeks before going to streaming).
And now three years after its release, “Top Gun: Maverick” has a new flight plan that will have it landing on the Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas is known for its over-the-top spectacles including a synchronized New Year’s fireworks show at The Strat, which will also be home to the new “Top Gun” experience.
Image source: RYO Alexandre/Shutterstock
‘Top Gun Las Vegas’ is coming to the Strip
Paramount Global and Advent Allen Entertainment announced they will join forces to produce an immersive experience in a currently undeveloped part of The Strat Hotel, Casino, and Tower.
“Guests will embark on a pulse-pounding, gravity-defying ride using state-of-the-art thrill ride systems and immersive technology that will redefine the meaning of adventure,” according to a joint statement from the partners.
There is also a plan for fighter-jet simulators and a Top Gun: Maverick’s Hard Deck bar and restaurant featuring — great balls of fire! — live piano singalongs.
Advent Allen Entertainment is led by the team that developed the New York New York Hotel & Casino.
Related: Off-the-Las Vegas Strip resorts report cases of deadly disease
“This innovative venture marks a new milestone for ‘Top Gun’ and expands Paramount’s portfolio of immersive entertainment,” said International Markets President and CEO Pam Kaufman in the statement.
“Paramount is committed to delivering authentic, mind-blowing experiences for fans, and Mark Advent and Bill Allen are the perfect team to make this destination soar,” Kaufman said.
Immersive experiences like what’s anticipated for The Strat, are a growing sector in entertainment.
Immersive experiences are increasingly popular
Immersive experiences, so-called because when you participate in such an experience, you have the perception of being surrounded by and part of a specific environment, are gaining traction.
Virtual reality technology has made possible the kinds of experiences that involve sight, sound, touch, and even smell.
While the Walt Disney Company and Universal continue to pour billions into theme parks around the world, many companies are also developing smaller, more focused efforts.
Related: Iconic Las Vegas Strip eatery permanently closes after long run
Netflix, for example, is set to open its first two Netflix Houses later this year in Pennsylvania and Texas, and they are described as places for fans to live the stories they love.
“Imagine waltzing with your partner to an orchestral cover of a Taylor Swift song on a replica of the ‘Bridgerton’ set — and then walking around the corner to compete in the Glass Bridge challenge from “Squid Game,” per the company’s blog.
Also coming to Las Vegas: “Horror Unleashed,” from Universal, described on the company’s website as “four haunted houses, each with their own terrifying stories: ‘Universal Monsters,’ ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ ‘Scarecrow: The Reaping,’ and ‘Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer.'”
Each of four haunted houses is a fully themed immersive entertainment area with its own unique live horror experience.
“Top Gun Las Vegas” is expected to launch in summer 2028.
Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast
