In original versions of the first "Top Gun," the romance between Maverick and Charlie was much more out of focus than it was in the final cut audiences saw. The increased focus on the romance came after some negative feedback from exhibitors ahead of the movie's release, according to an interview with Chris Lebenzon and Billy Weber in The Hollywood Reporter.
"It was the exhibitors that wanted to extend the love story. We were basically done with the movie, and they had a screening in New York for exhibitors that went very well and a screening on the West Coast for exhibitors that went very well. And they did one in Chicago that didn't do very well. And the Chicago exhibitors came out saying, 'We wish there was more of a love story.' Boom," said Lebenzon. The filmmakers quickly shot two more scenes with Cruise and Kelly McGillis: an elevator scene, and the famous love scene set to "Take My Breath Away."
