Limited-Edition ‘Top Gun' 40th Anniversary Helmet Popcorn Buckets Just Landed
Believe it or not, Top Gun opened in theaters 40 years ago. In honor of the anniversary re-release, AMC is celebrating with commemorative, limited-edition helmet popcorn buckets. And fans…well, feel the need for speed!
Movies like Risky Business, Taps, All the Right Moves, and The Outsiders made Tom Cruise a star. But it wasn't until Top Gun that the actor found an entirely new level of worldwide fame. Released on May 16, 1986, Top Gun featured Cruise as the cocky but lovable Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. The all-star cast also included Val Kilmer as Maverick's nemesis, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Anthony Edwards as Mav's BFF, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, Tom Skerritt as Mike "Viper" Metcalf, Meg Ryan as Goose's wife, and Kelly McGillis as Maverick's love interest.
As if the first one wasn't enough, just over 36 years later, the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, hit theaters. Starring Miles Teller as Goose's son and featuring some of the original cast (most notably Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer), the update became an instant fan favorite. With a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this flick is clearly a winner. And now that it's the 40th anniversary of the ‘86 version, you can watch both films on the big screen again.
While you go to the theater for the film, the overall experience isn't complete without a buttery tub of popcorn. Forget about a plain plastic bucket or paper bag. Now that Top Gun is out, AMC is treating fans to a commemorative helmet. Choose between a blue Maverick helmet and a red Goose helmet, each filled with a large popcorn (or get both!). But wait, that's not all. You can also snag a large drink in a special Top Gun souvenir cup right now.
What do movie-goers think about the new limited-time AMC Top Gun collectibles? It doesn't look like they've "lost that lovin' feeling" for the movie or its merch. We scrolled through the theater's Instagram announcement and found comments such as, "Went on a goose chase (pardon the pun) and after three theaters finally got both," and, "Iceman cup? Let's go!"
Based on the comments, the buckets (we mean helmets) and cups are going fast. So don't wait to catch the re-release and nab your popcorn-drink combo. Even the film's star posted that he can't wait to catch the movie again. Cruise recently shared a carousel of throwback pics on Instagram, writing, "I'm so excited to celebrate 40 years of Top Gun with you all. It's so much fun to see these two films back on the big screen!"
Top Gun is back in theaters starting May 13, 2026.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 5:35 PM.