In 1986, Tom Cruise starred in the role that helped catapult his career into the stratosphere with the original “Top Gun.”

Now, 36 years later, he returns to the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The first thing I can say about “Top Gun: Maverick” is that fans of the original are going to be anything but disappointed. This follow-up goes full-throttle on action, nostalgia and some scenes of genuine, high-powered emotion. There’s more than enough to equal and, dare I say, surpass the original.

Cruise returns as Maverick, who is still in the same position 30 years later, passing over promotions so he can stay in the air. He gets orders from the commander of the Naval Air Forces (Jon Hamm) to train a new group of Top Guns for a mission to destroy a uranium enrichment facility. Maverick doesn’t believe the pilots are ready for a mission of this magnitude, and he’s further pressured when one of them happens to be Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of Goose.

Maverick reluctantly begins training them, and it’s here where the film’s biggest strengths come into play. The movie is loaded with sensational aerial sequences that put us in the thick of the action, and that’s further intensified by the use of IMAX cameras placed inside the cockpits of real practical jets, allowing the audience to feel every movement and vibration.

It proves to be a convincing, authentic experience.

Jennifer Connelly costars as Maverick’s new love interest, replacing Kelly McGillis. She’s a single mom who owns a bar, and together, she and Cruise have the same amount of chemistry as he and McGillis did in the predecessor. Even one scene has some effective, sly humor after they’ve had a romantic night.

However, “Top Gun: Maverick” has much more going for it than action and romance. There’s also some unabashed nostalgia, such as Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” playing over the opening credits, and another volleyball game in which Cruise proves that, at almost 60 years old, he can still hold his own.

There’s also some great camaraderie between the pilots and some one-liners that are reminiscent of the banter in the original.

As for emotion, there’s a few scenes that do provide some well-earned moments, including a reunion between Maverick and Iceman (Val Kilmer).

“Top Gun: Maverick” gives audiences everything they could want in a summer spectacle. This sequel flies high into the danger zone — and then some.

Grade: A-

(Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some strong language.)