Top Gun: Maverick 'a safe space for man-tears,' says star

Memorial Day moviegoers may have discovered a reason why Tom Cruise’s new film has such a successful opening weekend –  it made men cry.

Top Gun: Maverick brought in a massive $160.5 million over the long holiday weekend, taking the record for biggest Memorial Day opening from 2007’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

And moviegoers are sharing on social media how the sequel to the 1986 classic brought tears to grown men’s eyes.

Actor Glen Powell, who plays a cocky Lieutenant in the movie, defended these emotional men on Twitter by posting, “’Top Gun: Maverick’ should be a safe place for man-tears.”

“Top Gun: Maverick” should be a safe place for man-tears. https://t.co/1h2mDEZZFb

— Glen Powell (@glenpowell) May 28, 2022

He was responding to one fan who tweeted a “shout-out to the guy next to me who’s girlfriend made fun of him for crying at the end.”

Others who watched the movie this weekend chimed in with similar stories.

“Yes, I am a proud member of the ‘My Boyfriend Cried (Multiple Times) During #TopGun” club,” wrote user @rachmeetsworld.

yes, I am a proud member of the “My Boyfriend Cried (Multiple Times) During #TopGun” club pic.twitter.com/xEMV1JuKIf

— Rachel Paige (@rachmeetsworld) May 26, 2022

“My least favourite part of Top Gun: Maverick was when my girlfriend loudly said “are you crying?” and a bunch of people started looking at me,” tweeted @STEEEZUSCHRIST.

My least favorite part of Top Gun: Maverick was when my girlfriend loudly said “are you crying?” and a bunch of people started looking at me

— Steven Castillo (@STEEEZUSCHRIST) May 26, 2022

There were also stories of male bonding at showings of Maverick. Powell retweeted one of how an older man and his 30-something son cheered together during the movie and hugged after it ended.

Been popping into theaters to just watch audiences reactions to this film. Men, women, old, young. It’s all fist pumps, hugs, and high fives on the walk out. This is why we love the movies. https://t.co/gtcbpdzBhv

— Glen Powell (@glenpowell) May 28, 2022

Hollywood Reporter confirms that part of Top Gun: Maverick’s success was owed to moviegoers over the age of 35, which had largely stopped going to theaters. 55% of Top Gun’s audience from the weekend was 35 and older, including 38% over 45 and 18% over 55, which the Hollywood Reporter said was “an unheard of stat in today’s times.”

Recent blockbusters, like those based on comic books, had been driven by moviegoers in the younger 18-34 age group. Of Doctor Strange 2’s opening audience, over 66% were under 35, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Males made up 58% of Memorial Day ticket buyers for Top Gun. For comparison, Fifty Shades of Grey’s opening weekend audience was almost 70% female.