Maybe the best blockbuster movie of recent years is on TV tonight

It’s an absolute modern classic.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Wednesday, 17 July) is Top Gun: Maverick, the over $1 billion grossing Oscar-winner released in 2022.

A sequel to the 1986 action classic Top Gun, Tom Cruise reprises his role as the daredevil naval aviator Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell.

Having fallen out with his bosses (represented by Ed Harris), Maverick’s old friend Iceman (Val Kilmer) lands him a position training a group of younger Top Gun graduates for a specialised mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.

Maverick’s job is complicated by the presence of Lt. Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw (Miles Teller) in the group, the son of the older pilot’s best friend when he was in navy training who died in the air.

As such, Maverick is faced with a dilemma: Should he forbid Rooster from embarking on the dangerous mission or prepare him for it?

With its winning central performance by Cruise, its brilliant ensemble cast – featuring a scene-stealing Glen Powell and Jennifer Connelly – smart screenplay and stunning action set-pieces, Top Gun: Maverick earned rave reviews upon release.

Widely considered superior to its already iconic predecessor, the sequel went on to earn six Oscar nominations including in the Best Picture category. It wound up taking home the Best Sound trophy.

Top Gun: Maverick is airing on TV tonight at Film4 at 9pm. It is also streaming on Netflix.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

The Escapist – Legend – 9pm

In this very good thriller drama we’ve recommended before, a prisoner (Brian Cox) 14 years into a life sentence hatches a plan to escape upon receiving upsetting news about his daughter.

Hitman: Redemption – Legend Xtra – 9pm

Also known as Asher, Ron Perlman stars in this action thriller about an aging hitman whose last job goes sideways.

Beverly Hills Cop III – Sky Showcase – 10pm

The much-maligned third entry in the action comedy franchise.

Hostel – Legend – 11pm

Eli Roth’s notoriously violent 2005 horror which is due to get a TV reboot.

The Sorcerers – Legend Xtra – 11.05pm

This ’60s sci-fi horror from Britain has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Baywatch – Film4 – 11.35pm

Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron star in this big-screen version of the iconic lifeguard series.