1986’s Iron Eagle is often considered a Top Gun clone, but it actually hit theatres months before that Tom Cruise movie became a pop culture phenomenon. The story of a teenaged wanna-be fighter pilot, Doug Masters (Jason Gedrick), who takes an F-16 to go rescue his father (cult star Tim Thomerson), a pilot who’s been shot down, Iron Eagle was only a modest hit. It grossed about $ 24 million at the box office but was a significant hit on home video and cable.
It actually spawned a low-key franchise centred around Louis Gossett Jr’s Chappy Sinclair, a veteran pilot who trains Masters for his mission and helps save the day. None of the sequels were particularly good, despite the best efforts of Gossett and director Sidney J. Furie (who would helm all of the movies). The sequel, Iron Eagle II, which was made in Canada, killed Doug Masters off in the first scene, only for him to return in the fourth film, but played by another actor. By the time the franchise ended, it was considered bargain basement, direct-to-video fare. Still, the original was a pretty big-budget studio movie that holds up well – and it’s got a killer soundtrack.
Iron Eagle Revisited is written, narrated and edited by EJ Tangonan and Adam Walton produces. Do you have fond memories of Iron Eagle? Let us know in the comments!