Others in the culture had floated this notion. It lures you in with its soaring jets and preening male fighter jocks, but the real story is one about male vulnerability. RELATED: The frustrations of 'Stranger Things' and Gen X's '80s nostalgia habit The ode to 'F Yeah!' masculinity in 'Top Gun' was so loud and fever-pitched, that armchair Gen X cultural critics could not resist the urge to drown it out with a half in jest, half serious counter melody that cried out, 'Don't you see! They're all just gay!' Part of this theory's ubiquity came out of a need to release the massive bear hug with which 'Top Gun' had wrapped around pop culture.

'See how the camera lingers on the glistening abs and tight jeans of Tom Cruise! It's all about the unspoken homoerotic!' The theory was based on two pillars: a half naked Iceman (Val Kilmer) getting very close to a half naked Maverick (Tom Cruise) during the locker room scenes to bitingly decry that he's 'dangerous.' And, of course, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, those volleyball scenes.

In the late '90s or early aughts, if the movie 'Top Gun' came up, someone would be bursting with newfound zeal to educate you on what the film was really about – and that was, why of course – repressed homosexuality. With the long-awaited 'Top Gun' sequel hitting theaters in what might be the most anticipated blockbuster in years, it's worth revisiting an earlier critique of the original that's still prevalent today.