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Tom Cruise Gives Master Class in Humility at PGA Awards

'Maverick' did more than 'save' theaters. He's telling others how to do the same

Steven Spielberg said it best. Tom Cruise saved Hollywood.

Hyperbolic? Perhaps, but Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick” not only crushed the box office competition week after week last year, but it also coaxed audiences across the board to see films in theaters again.

That mattered coming on the heels of the pandemic lockdowns. Cruise’s decision against releasing “Maverick” on streaming platforms first paid off handsomely.

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Surpasses $700M At Summer Box Office

Except Cruise isn’t content to deliver crowd-pleasing, apolitical films like “Maverick.” He keeps reminding us how he became a movie star in the first place.

We made it possible, the Joes and Janes who line up to see his films. And he can’t stop thanking us for the privilege.

Late last year, Cruise performed a jaw-dropping stunt on the set of his next “Mission: Impossible” sequel, using the moment to thank audiences for supporting “Maverick.”

“Thank you for supporting Top Gun: Maverick, and thank you for allowing us to entertain you. It truly is the honor of a lifetime.”

“I’m running out of altitude, so I have to get back to work. We have to get this shot. You have a very safe and happy holiday, we’ll see you at the movies.”

Now, Cruise is bringing his charm offensive to the awards circuit. He didn’t land a Best Actor nomination for “Maverick,” but the film is one of 10 films up for Best Picture at the March 12 Academy Awards telecast.

The actor did snag a coveted honor from the Producers Guild of America, and he used the occasion to thank both his fellow collaborators and the industry itself.

Tom Cruise honored at PGA Awards

The long, deeply personal speech included comments you won’t hear on any awards stage this year.

“You’ve all enabled me [to have] the adventurous life I wanted, and I’ve been able to travel the world and work and watch films in so many countries to share in their cultures and realize how much we all have in common and to admire our differences.”

How … subversive.

Most awards shows promote Identity Politics or describe how the show business machinery mistreats select groups.

Not Cruise. Nothing but unity, gratitude and positive thoughts for his fellow artists. Imagine if more stars follow that blueprint.

This part of his speech should make the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention.

“I wanna thank all the audiences for whom I serve first and foremost for allowing me to entertain you, and I promise I’ll always do everything I can to accomplish that goal,” he said.

“Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One” opens July 14.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One | Official Teaser Trailer (2023 Movie) - Tom Cruise

8 Comments

  1. I think his performance in Maverick was the best of his career. There are a few things about his personal life that I don’t like, but he is a stellar actor. A-list all the way. And he showed the industry that if you make *good* movies that don’t patronize or indoctrinate the audience, people are still happy to pay for movie tickets.

  2. Love Tom Cruise, always. Mission Impossible movies are great! I am sad for the distance between him and his Daughter. However there’s always two sides to every story. Tom Cruise is a wonderful actor! He also seems like a very genuine person. In my opinion Suri is losing a lot, not seeing her Dad. I’m sure he Loves her!

  3. First of all I have to say I can’t believe what’s his name who acts as if he lives with Tom Cruise and is qualified to speak as if he’s in Tom’s inner circle, which allows him to say such snarky remarks about Tom’s daughter being abandoned which we all know she is not because she lives with her mother. So stick to the facts. Fact number one Tom Cruise is in our lifetime one of the best of the best in the movie industries. Fax # 1so are most his movies. Fact #3 he has integrity fact #4 he has extremely high qualifications of acting skills fact #5 he’s one of the best stunt men alive. #6 he has trained most of the people he works with to become more highly qualified actors and stunt people, who I am sure they would all agree to say the same on his behalf & there’s #7 he is very generous.#8 every one who has worked with him will tell you they like himFact #9 his three kids will all say he’s a good father and they love him and that probably should have been number one.And I don’t think I need to say more. Except that I will and that is that I am indeed grateful his movies and that they are in theaters and I will be buying movie tickets because big theaters are the best to watch great movies first.

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