Published reports give no indication of whether theaters are being compensated for their cooperation, or whether they're giving away the space for free, out of a warped sense of patriotism. The war-flick opportunism comes at a time when the Navy—like other branches—is facing a challenging recruiting environment. 

As Nicholas Slayton explains at Task & Purpose, recruiters' presence at theaters is a sequel in itself, reprising a tactic employed at screenings of the 1986 original. Top Gun: Maverick is a smash hit, hauling in $160 million in its four-day opening. That's Tom Cruise's best ever, which says a lot.

As is the case with almost every Hollywood movie that portrays the military, the Pentagon's exploitation of the movie started way back before production. 

To gain the military's cooperation in making a film—which boosts realism and cuts production costs—movie-makers must submit their scripts for approval by the Pentagon's Entertainment Media Office. Glen Roberts, who runs the office, told The Guardian his mission is to "project and protect the image of our armed forces."