Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun'Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection Tap Here To Add Us Weekly As A Trusted Source Add as a preferred source on Google It's been 40 years since we first felt the need ... the need for speed. Top Gun hit theaters exactly four decades ago, and in honor of the high-flying classic's milestone, we're breaking down 25 behind-the-scenes facts about the film that made Tom Cruise a superstar. For instance, Val Kilmer - who played Iceman in the film - claimed that he was the only actor who didn't have a certain physical reaction while up in the air.