The whole movie can be taken as a sort of metaphor for how movie stars like Tom Cruise and the movies he makes, with real stunts and little CG, are a dying bree

The whole movie can be taken as a sort of metaphor for how movie stars like Tom Cruise and the movies he makes, with real stunts and little CG, are a dying breed. Especially the scene with Admiral Caine telling Maverick that drones replacing pilots is inevitable, and Maverick replying, "Maybe, but not today."