In a move that would earn an appreciative nod from his rebellious Flyboy namesake, Top Gun: Maverick kicks off the summer season with an early touchdown at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater.

The sequel to producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s 1986 classic action-drama, which is set to premiere nationwide on Friday, May 27, will premiere on Tuesday, May 24 for a special Early Access premiere of Top Gun Tuesday” to land on Chattanooga’s biggest screen. Tickets for this premiere event cost $18 and include fan gifts and an additional six minutes of footage.

A limited number of daily screenings for Top Gun: Maverick follows the premiere, beginning Thursday May 26th and ending Sunday June 5th. All shows are in 2D.

Often delayed after its announcement in 2017, loner is the long-awaited retaliation for Tom Cruise’s legendary role as Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

In the 1986 original, Cruise’s Maverick is a carefree first lieutenant who’s more concerned with buzzing traffic control towers than keeping his turn. However, after a first-class completion of a harrowing mission, Maverick and his best friend and wingman, “Goose” (Anthony Edwards), are sent to the Navy’s elite Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS, aka “TOPGUN”).

There they compete alongside other charismatic students and teachers such as “Ice” (Val Kilmer), “Viper” (Tom Skerritt), “Jester” (Michael Ironside) and “Merlin” (Tim Robbins) for the highest honors in the school. Oh, and then there’s a now-iconic, torrid romance between Maverick and civilian flight instructor Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (Kelly McGillis).

In the sequel, Maverick now works as a test pilot and has barely progressed in the Navy, only achieving the rank of captain despite more than three decades of service. Despite this, his flying punches are unabated and he is prompted to return to TOPGUN. This time, however, he’s on the other side of the lectern, serving as an instructor for a new class of wannabe aces like “Hangman” (Glen Powell), “Phoenix” (Monica Barbaro), “Payback” (Jay Ellis). ) and Goose’s son Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller).

Like the legendary original from the 80s, loner will be packed with exciting dog fights and breathtaking flight maneuvers in state-of-the-art aircraft. Those moments are made all the more exciting thanks to the facility’s IMAX with laser projection system on the Tennessee Aquarium’s giant, six-story screen. The unmatched brightness and definition of the theater’s visuals combined with thunderous 12-speaker audio will make viewers feel like they’re flying in formation with Maverick and company.

Additional details, advance tickets and a screening schedule for Top Gun: Maverick — including the Top Gun Tuesday Early Access premiere — are available at tnaqua.org/imax/top-gun-maverick.