Tom Cruise shares classic video thanking fans for watching Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise has thanked fans for watching Top Gun: Maverick in the most Tom Cruise way possible, having thrown himself out of a plane.

Watch his high-flying video message to fans here:

Earlier this year, Cruise reprised his role as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the sequel to the hugely popular 1986 action flick, which followed a rag-tag team of fighter pilots as they honed their skills at the US Navy's Fighter Weapons School, also known as Top Gun.

The new instalment proved to be a huge hit with fans, smashing box office records while also being described as ‘one of the greatest sequels of all time’ by us.

"For all the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s worth, Top Gun’s long-awaited, stupidly-doubted sequel represents a lost era of mainstream, shameless filmmaking: ultimately IP-driven, but huge-hearted, stand-alone bombast capable of rousing any crowd without serialised tidbits, teases and cameos, not to mention packing some of the most impressive, dynamic action the big screen has ever seen," our glowing write-up said, adding: "Top Gun: Maverick is blockbuster nirvana.

"In other words, it will take your breath away."

Paramount Pictures

Now Cruise has ended his incredible year by throwing some of the love back to fans, having thanked everyone for their support on the Top Gun franchise.

But he didn’t just film a quick video in selfie mode from his sofa, as many of us might be inclined to do.

Nope, naturally Cruise took to the skies for his heartfelt message, having jumped from a moving plane.

Just before the leap, he said to the camera: “Hey everyone! Here we are over sunny South Africa.

“And we’re filming Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning parts one and two.

“I didn’t want the year to end without thanking you all for coming out to the theaters, and thank you for supporting Top Gun: Maverick.”

Twitter/Tom Cruise

Sat beside him was Top Gun: Maverick screenwriter – and Dead Reckoning director – Christopher McQuarrie, who joked to Cruise to keep his message brief so that they could get the shot.

But Cruise wasn’t finished there.

As he sailed through the skies, he continued: “Where was I? Oh yeah. Thank you for supporting Top Gun: Maverick, and thank you for allowing us to entertain you.

“It truly is the honour of my lifetime. Yep, very lucky.

“Very lucky. I’m running out of altitude, so I better get back to work. We gotta get this shot.

“You have a very safe and happy holiday. We’ll see you at the movies.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is due to hit cinemas in July next year.