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Tom Cruise’s 7 Closest Hollywood Friends (And 6 Celebs He Avoids)

There are many different sides to Tom Cruise and it's unclear if anyone knows who he truly is. He has made some good friends and a few enemies.

• Tom Cruise has a polarizing reputation in Hollywood due to his support of Scientology and controversial opinions, but he also has a tight circle of friends.
• Cruise's closest friends include David Beckham and Jerry Seinfeld, with whom he has had strong bonds and long-lasting friendships.
• On the other hand, Cruise has feuded with individuals like Brad Pitt, and he has a contentious relationship with Leah Remini due to her criticism of Scientology and him personally.

There are many sides to Tom Cruise . He's one of the highest-grossing actors of all time and has starred in a string of classic movies, such as Top Gun, A Few Good Men and Jerry Maguire. He is also known for his role as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise.

However, Cruise is one of the most polarizing celebs in Hollywood. He has been vocal about his support of Scientology, and he sometimes shares controversial opinions. Cruise has a tight circle of friends, but he is always looking to expose more people to his world. At the same time, he has a few enemies that he's feuded with over the years. It's time to take a closer look at Cruise's buddies and rivals.

'Mission Impossible': The Cast Ranked From Richest To Poorest

Updated on October 2nd, 2023 by Abigail Thomas: Tom Cruise has continued to be a very polarizing actor. While some recent co-workers, like Miles Teller, have nothing but positive things to say about Cruise, others want nothing to do with the Top Gun: Maverick star. Rumors have also circulated that Cruise has stepped away from Scientology , which is surprising considering his previous commitment to the religion.

13 Tom Cruise Is Friends With Soccer Star David Beckham

The iconic soccer player David Beckham can genuinely do it all. He's a talented athlete and world-famous celeb, and he is hugely popular among both his fans and other celebrities. Beckham and Tom Cruise are good friends with a tight bond. They've often gone on late-night motorcycles rides together through the streets of Los Angeles. Cruise even attempted to convince Beckham to join Scientology. However, David and Victoria Beckham decided that it wasn't a good fit for them. Regardless, Beckham and Cruise remain the best of friends.

12 Brad Pitt And Tom Cruise Are Top-Tier Frenemies

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt are natural enemies. Cruise dominated the 80s, while Pitt was the man of the 90s. Regardless, rumors suggest these two megastars have been secretly feuding for over 25 years .

These Tom Cruise Movies Have Grossed Over $100 Million At The Box Office

Reportedly, the feud started when they worked together on the 1994 horror film Interview with a Vampire. Pitt admitted to feeling "miserable" during filming. He also found Cruise to be a bit annoying. There's a great deal of professional jealously and competition between them, as their films sometimes go head-to-head in the theaters. They both enjoy gloating when their movie wins at the box office.

11 Tom Cruise Has A Close Friendship With Fellow Actor Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise have a very close friendship and have been friends for years. At one point, Stiller and his then-wife Christine Taylor would go on family outings with Cruise and his then-wife Katie Holmes . Stiller and Cruise remain friends even after all these years, and they've supported each other through difficult times. Cruise also made a surprise appearance in Stiller's film Tropic Thunder. Cruise and Stiller's friendship is tight and unbreakable, which is rare in Hollywood.

The Uncredited Role That Put Tom Cruise's Career Back On The Map

10 tom cruise tries to avoid brooke shields.

Brooke Shields and Tom Cruise had a very public feud that they eventually put behind them. Regardless, Cruise avoids running into Shields when he can. In 2005, Cruise criticized Shields for going on anti-depressants to help with her postpartum depression . Shields didn't back down and responded with some harsh words towards Cruise. They continued to feud for several months until Cruise apologized privately. Shields called the apology "heartfelt" and accepted it. Later, Shields attended Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding.

9 Simon Pegg And Tom Cruise Have An Interesting Friendship

Simon Pegg and Tom Cruise's friendship is like no other in Hollywood. Of course, they appear to have nothing in common. Tom Cruise is predominantly an action star, while Pegg gained fame for his roles in several comedy movies. But Cruise and Pegg became close friends while working on the Mission: Impossible films. Cruise is the star of each film, but Pegg is prominent in the series and feels that the media misunderstands his good friend.

8 Tom Cruise Does Not Think Highly Of Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise have one of the strangest feuds in Hollywood, and the dispute's pretty one-sided. In 2019, Bieber sent out a tweet challenging Cruise to a fight in the Octagon. Bieber's sudden feud with Cruise seemed to come out of nowhere.

There was never any confrontation or behind -the-scenes drama. Bieber mocked Cruise and was confident that any company would want to sponsor the fight. Of course, Cruise ignored Bieber, and the feud died down. Later, Bieber claimed it was a prank, although he re-issued the challenge in 2020.

7 Tom Cruise Has Been Friends With Dakota Fanning For Most Of Her Life

In 2005, Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning starred in the sci-fi film War of the Worlds. At the time, Fanning was a child actor that was on the rise in Hollywood. Cruise and Fanning formed a tight friendship that continues to this day. Since Fanning's 11th birthday, Cruise has sent her a gift every year. Fanning admits that he usually sends her a new pair of shoes, but she is amazed he continues the tradition.

6 John Travolta And Tom Cruise Have A Rocky History

Tom Cruise and John Travolta have been both friends and enemies. They're two of Scientology's most famous celebs, however rumors suggest that Travolta and Cruise are bitter enemies . Former Scientology members claim Travolta and Cruise have been battling for the top spot in the church.

Travolta is jealous of Cruise being the church's favorite. According to sources, Travolta was furious when Cruise won the Freedom Medal of Valor . Travolta feels that he should be getting the same level of recognition as Cruise.

5 Comedian And Actor Jerry Seinfeld Is Friends With Tom Cruise

Iconic comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Tom Cruise have been good friends for years and they have a lot in common. They're both two of the wealthiest and most famous Hollywood stars. Seinfeld also admitted that he had some brief interest in Scientology in the 70s. The two Hollywood megastars have hung out in New York and Los Angeles. They're so close that they've even spent time with each other's families. Of course, they also make sure they have a lot of bro time, just the two of them.

How Close Are Larry David And Jerry Seinfeld Today?

4 why does tom cruise have a feud with leah remini.

Leah Remini was once a proud member of The Church of Scientology but is now an outspoken critic. She wrote a book and produced a series based on her experiences. Of course, Remini singled out several members, most notably Tom Cruise. She claims that Cruise is the most powerful member of the church and is fully aware of the abuses, though Cruise and the church deny all of Remini's claims.

Regardless, their feud continues to intensify. Remini even encouraged Katie Holmes to come forward and expose Cruise. It's safe to assume that Cruise and Remini won't be going out to dinner anytime soon.

3 Miles Teller Loves His 'Top Gun: Maverick' Co-Star Tom Cruise

Top Gun fans were over the moon when they learned that a sequel was finally in the works. The film of course starred Tom Cruise, and it also brought in actor Miles Teller. Though Teller had to be convinced by Cruise to join the film, Teller adored working with Cruise and has nothing but praise to say about the actor .

"I've said when I've been talking about Tom's performance in this film," Teller said of Cruise to Associated Press . "We give actors so much credit in movies for performing skills, for playing instruments or singing or gaining weight and losing weight. And the skills that Tom is putting on display in Top Gun and so many of his movies, that's a product of thousands of hours practice."

2 Tom Cruise Makes Shakira Uncomfortable

Tom Cruise and Shakira made headlines in May 2023 when they both attended the F1 Grand Prix in Miami, Florida. They were pictured spending time together, and it was clear that Cruise was mesmerized by the singer.

The feeling was sadly not mutual. Though Cruise spoke with his friends about the connection they had , Shakira did not feel a connection. Cruise reportedly sent Shakira flowers after the race, but she was not interested in pursuing a relationship with him. Shakira was begging for Cruise to stop flirting with her, as she had no interest.

1 Mark Wahlberg Is Not A Fan Of Tom Cruise

Mark Wahlberg made it clear to fans that despite being in the same business, he does not appreciate Tom Cruise. After Cruise made a comment comparing his job to "fighting in Afghanistan" in 2013, Wahlberg had quite a bit to say about how disrespectful the statement was.

"I don't give a f*ck what you did. You don't do what these guys did. For somebody to sit there and say my job was as difficult as somebody in the military's. How f*cking dare you. While you sit in a makeup chair for two hours."

Sources: usatoday.com, usmagazine.com, businessinsider.com

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Tom Cruise Movies List

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Endless Love (1981)

R | 116 min | Drama, Romance

Parental disapproval of a passionate romance between two teenagers leads to arguments, circumstance, insanity and tragedy.

Director: Franco Zeffirelli | Stars: Brooke Shields , Martin Hewitt , Shirley Knight , Don Murray

Votes: 9,572 | Gross: $31.18M

2. Taps (I) (1981)

PG | 126 min | Drama

Military cadets take extreme measures to ensure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers.

Director: Harold Becker | Stars: George C. Scott , Timothy Hutton , Ronny Cox , Sean Penn

Votes: 20,086 | Gross: $35.86M

3. The Outsiders (1983)

PG | 91 min | Crime, Drama

In a small Oklahoma town in 1964, the rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, heats up when one gang member accidentally kills a member of the other.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: C. Thomas Howell , Matt Dillon , Ralph Macchio , Patrick Swayze

Votes: 97,440 | Gross: $25.60M

4. Losin' It (1982)

R | 100 min | Comedy, Drama

Set in 1965, four rowdy teenage guys travel to Tijuana, Mexico for a night of partying when they are joined by a heartbroken housewife who is in town seeking a quick divorce.

Director: Curtis Hanson | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jackie Earle Haley , John Stockwell , John P. Navin Jr.

Votes: 5,225 | Gross: $1.25M

5. All the Right Moves (1983)

R | 91 min | Drama, Romance, Sport

An ambitious young football star is trapped in a dying mill town--unless his gridiron skills can win him a way out.

Director: Michael Chapman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Lea Thompson , Craig T. Nelson , Charles Cioffi

Votes: 20,390 | Gross: $17.23M

6. Risky Business (1983)

R | 99 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

A Chicago teenager is looking for fun at home while his parents are away, but the situation quickly gets out of hand.

Director: Paul Brickman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Rebecca De Mornay , Joe Pantoliano , Richard Masur

Votes: 99,767 | Gross: $63.50M

7. Legend (1985)

PG | 94 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Romance

A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Mia Sara , Tim Curry , David Bennent

Votes: 72,424 | Gross: $15.50M

8. Top Gun (1986)

PG | 109 min | Action, Drama

As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Tim Robbins , Kelly McGillis , Val Kilmer

Votes: 502,271 | Gross: $179.80M

9. The Color of Money (1986)

R | 119 min | Drama, Sport

Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Paul Newman , Tom Cruise , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Helen Shaver

Votes: 93,230 | Gross: $52.29M

10. Cocktail (1988)

R | 104 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A talented New York City bartender takes a job at a bar in Jamaica and falls in love.

Director: Roger Donaldson | Stars: Tom Cruise , Bryan Brown , Elisabeth Shue , Lisa Banes

Votes: 91,807 | Gross: $78.22M

11. Rain Man (1988)

R | 133 min | Drama

After a selfish L.A. yuppie learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother in Ohio that he didn't know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.

Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Dustin Hoffman , Tom Cruise , Valeria Golino , Gerald R. Molen

Votes: 546,358 | Gross: $178.80M

12. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

R | 145 min | Biography, Drama, War

The biography of Ron Kovic . Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country for which he fought.

Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Tom Cruise , Bryan Larkin , Raymond J. Barry , Caroline Kava

Votes: 115,873 | Gross: $70.00M

13. Days of Thunder (1990)

PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Drama, Sport

A young hot-shot stock car driver gets his chance to compete at the top level.

Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Nicole Kidman , Robert Duvall , Randy Quaid

Votes: 96,354 | Gross: $82.67M

14. A Few Good Men (1992)

R | 138 min | Drama, Thriller

Military lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee defends Marines accused of murder. They contend they were acting under orders.

Director: Rob Reiner | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jack Nicholson , Demi Moore , Kevin Bacon

Votes: 287,154 | Gross: $141.34M

15. The Firm (1993)

R | 154 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller

A young lawyer joins a prestigious law firm only to discover that it has a sinister dark side.

Director: Sydney Pollack | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Gene Hackman , Hal Holbrook

Votes: 147,626 | Gross: $158.35M

16. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

R | 123 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror

A vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.

Director: Neil Jordan | Stars: Brad Pitt , Tom Cruise , Antonio Banderas , Kirsten Dunst

Votes: 347,240 | Gross: $105.26M

17. Mission: Impossible (1996)

PG-13 | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.

Director: Brian De Palma | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jon Voight , Emmanuelle Béart , Henry Czerny

Votes: 470,090 | Gross: $180.98M

18. Jerry Maguire (1996)

R | 139 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.

Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Tom Cruise , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Renée Zellweger , Kelly Preston

Votes: 286,895 | Gross: $153.95M

19. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

R | 159 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller

A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing.

Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Tom Cruise , Nicole Kidman , Todd Field , Sydney Pollack

Votes: 374,865 | Gross: $55.69M

20. Magnolia (1999)

R | 188 min | Drama

An epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of love, forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jason Robards , Julianne Moore , Philip Seymour Hoffman

Votes: 328,344 | Gross: $22.46M

21. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

PG-13 | 123 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

IMF agent Ethan Hunt is sent to Sydney to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called "Chimera".

Director: John Woo | Stars: Tom Cruise , Dougray Scott , Thandiwe Newton , Ving Rhames

Votes: 377,546 | Gross: $215.41M

22. Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)

Not Rated | 142 min | Documentary, Biography

The career and life of Stanley Kubrick is explored through pictures, clips from his films, his old home movies, comments from his colleagues and a narration by Tom Cruise .

Director: Jan Harlan | Stars: Katharina Kubrick , Malcolm McDowell , Stanley Kubrick , Barbara Kroner

Votes: 12,203

23. Vanilla Sky (2001)

R | 136 min | Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

A self-indulgent and vain publishing magnate finds his privileged life upended after a vehicular accident with a resentful lover.

Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Tom Cruise , Penélope Cruz , Cameron Diaz , Kurt Russell

Votes: 285,587 | Gross: $100.61M

24. Space Station 3D (2002)

Not Rated | 47 min | Documentary

From outer space countries don't exist.

Director: Toni Myers | Stars: Tom Cruise , James Arnold , Michael J. Bloomfield , Robert D. Cabana

Votes: 1,748 | Gross: $93.37M

25. Minority Report (2002)

PG-13 | 145 min | Action, Crime, Mystery

John works with the PreCrime police which stop crimes before they take place, with the help of three 'PreCogs' who can foresee crimes. Events ensue when John finds himself framed for a future murder.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tom Cruise , Colin Farrell , Samantha Morton , Max von Sydow

Votes: 584,087 | Gross: $132.07M

26. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

PG-13 | 94 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

Upon learning that his father has been kidnapped, Austin Powers must travel to 1975 and defeat the aptly named villain Goldmember, who is working with Dr. Evil.

Director: Jay Roach | Stars: Mike Myers , Beyoncé , Seth Green , Michael York

Votes: 222,815 | Gross: $213.31M

27. The Last Samurai (2003)

R | 154 min | Action, Drama

Nathan Algren, a US army veteran, is hired by the Japanese emperor to train his army in the modern warfare techniques. Nathan finds himself trapped in a struggle between two eras and two worlds.

Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Tom Cruise , Ken Watanabe , Billy Connolly , William Atherton

Votes: 470,782 | Gross: $111.11M

28. Collateral (2004)

R | 120 min | Action, Crime, Drama

A cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.

Director: Michael Mann | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jamie Foxx , Jada Pinkett Smith , Mark Ruffalo

Votes: 432,904 | Gross: $101.01M

29. War of the Worlds (2005)

PG-13 | 116 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

An alien invasion threatens the future of humanity. The catastrophic nightmare is depicted through the eyes of one American family fighting for survival.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tom Cruise , Dakota Fanning , Tim Robbins , Miranda Otto

Votes: 475,000 | Gross: $234.28M

30. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

IMF agent Ethan Hunt comes into conflict with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer who threatens his life and his fiancée in response.

Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Tom Cruise , Michelle Monaghan , Ving Rhames , Philip Seymour Hoffman

Votes: 390,573 | Gross: $134.03M

31. Lions for Lambs (2007)

R | 92 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Injuries sustained by two Army rangers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a congressman, a journalist and a professor.

Director: Robert Redford | Stars: Tom Cruise , Meryl Streep , Robert Redford , Michael Peña

Votes: 52,684 | Gross: $15.00M

32. Valkyrie (2008)

PG-13 | 121 min | Drama, History, Thriller

A dramatization of the July 20, 1944 assassination and political coup plot by desperate renegade German Army officers against Adolf Hitler during World War II.

Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Tom Cruise , Bill Nighy , Carice van Houten , Kenneth Branagh

Votes: 259,150 | Gross: $83.08M

33. Tropic Thunder (2008)

R | 107 min | Action, Comedy, War

Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller , Jack Black , Robert Downey Jr. , Jeff Kahn

Votes: 447,788 | Gross: $110.52M

34. Knight and Day (2010)

PG-13 | 109 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

A young woman gets mixed up with a disgraced spy who is trying to clear his name.

Director: James Mangold | Stars: Tom Cruise , Cameron Diaz , Peter Sarsgaard , Jordi Mollà

Votes: 210,272 | Gross: $76.42M

35. Takers (2010)

PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Crime, Drama

A group of bank robbers find their multi-million dollar plan interrupted by a hard-boiled detective.

Director: John Luessenhop | Stars: Chris Brown , Hayden Christensen , Matt Dillon , Michael Ealy

Votes: 65,769 | Gross: $57.74M

36. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.

Director: Brad Bird | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jeremy Renner , Simon Pegg , Paula Patton

Votes: 528,253 | Gross: $209.40M

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Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including Risky Business , A Few Good Men , The Firm , Jerry Maguire , and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Who Is Tom Cruise?

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, better known as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to Mary and Thomas Mapother. Cruise's mother was an amateur actress and schoolteacher, and his father was an electrical engineer. His family moved around a great deal when Cruise was a child to accommodate his father's career.

Cruise's parents divorced when he was 11, and the children moved with their mother to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Glen Ridge, New Jersey, after she remarried. Like his mother and three sisters, Cruise suffered from dyslexia, which made academic success difficult for him. He excelled in athletics, however, and considered pursuing a career in professional wrestling until a knee injury sidelined him during high school.

At age 14, Cruise enrolled in a Franciscan seminary with thoughts of becoming a priest, but he left after a year. When he was 16, a teacher encouraged him to participate in the school's production of the musical Guys and Dolls . After Cruise won the lead of Nathan Detroit, he found himself surprisingly at home on the stage, and a career was born.

'Taps,' 'The Outsiders'

Cruise set a 10-year deadline for himself in which to build an acting career. He left school and moved to New York City, struggling through audition after audition before landing an appearance in 1981's Endless Love , starring Brooke Shields. Around this same time, he snagged a small role in the military school drama Taps (1981), co-starring Sean Penn .

His role in Taps was upgraded after director Harold Becker saw Cruise's potential, and his performance caught the attention of a number of critics and filmmakers. In 1983, Cruise appeared in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Outsiders , which also starred Emilio Estevez , Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe —all prominent members of a group of young actors the entertainment press dubbed the "Brat Pack." The film was not well received, but it allowed Cruise to work with an acclaimed director on a high-profile project.

'Risky Business'

His next film, Risky Business (1983), grossed $65 million. It also made Cruise a highly recognizable actor — thanks in no small part to a memorable scene of the young star dancing in his underwear.

In 1986, after a two-year hiatus, the budding actor released the big-budget fantasy film Legend , which did poorly at the box office. That same year, however, Cruise's A-list status was confirmed with the release of Top Gun , which co-starred Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan . The testosterone-fueled action-romance, set against the backdrop of an elite naval flight school, became the highest-grossing film of 1986.

'The Color of Money,' 'Rain Man' and 'Born on the Fourth of July'

Cruise followed the tremendous success of Top Gun with a string of both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. He first starred in The Color of Money (1986) with co-star Paul Newman , and then went on to work with Dustin Hoffman on Rain Man (1988). Cruise's next role, as Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in the biopic Born on the Fourth of July (1989), earned him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

'A Few Good Men,' 'The Firm' and 'Interview with a Vampire'

In 1992, Cruise proved once more that he could hold his own opposite a screen legend when he co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men . The film grossed more than $15 million its first weekend and earned Cruise a Golden Globe nomination. He continued to demonstrate his success as a leading man with The Firm (1993) and Interview with a Vampire (1994), which co-starred Brad Pitt.

'Mission: Impossible,' 'Jerry McGuire'

Next, Cruise hit the big screen with two huge hits—the $64 million blockbuster Mission: Impossible (1996), which the star also produced, and the highly acclaimed Jerry McGuire (1996), directed by Cameron Crowe. For the latter, Cruise earned a second Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe for Best Actor.

'Eyes Wide Shut,' 'Magnolia'

Cruise and then-wife Kidman spent much of 1997 and 1998 in England shooting Eyes Wide Shut , an erotic thriller that would be director Stanley Kubrick 's final film. The movie came out in the summer of 1999 to mixed reviews, but that year Cruise enjoyed greater success with the release of Magnolia . His performance as a self-confident sex guru in the ensemble film earned him another Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

'Vanilla Sky,' 'The Last Samurai'

Cruise then starred in the long-awaited smash hit Mission: Impossible 2 in 2000, alongside Anthony Hopkins , Thandie Newton and Ving Rhames. In 2002, he starred in Vanilla Sky , his second collaboration with Crowe, as well as Steven Spielberg 's Minority Report . The following year, Cruise traveled to Australia to shoot the $100 million war epic The Last Samurai, which earned him another Golden Globe nomination.

'War of the Worlds'

Cruise proved he remained a top draw by starring in the Spielberg-directed remake of the science-fiction classic War of the Worlds (2005), which grossed more than $230 million at the box office.

His next effort, Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), also scored well with audiences. However, Cruise was faced with a professional setback in August when Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year relationship with the actor. The company's chairman cited Cruise's erratic behavior and controversial views as the reason for the split, though industry experts noted that Paramount more likely ended the partnership over Cruise's high earnings from the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Cruise quickly rebounded and on November 2, 2006, he announced his new partnership with film executive Paula Wagner and the United Artists film studio. Their first production as a team, the political drama Lions for Lambs (2007), proved a commercial disappointment despite a strong cast that included Meryl Streep and Robert Redford .

'Tropic Thunder'

Taking a break from weighty material, Cruise delighted audiences with his performance in the comedy Tropic Thunder (2008). Despite his relatively small role in a movie that featured Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller , Cruise stood out by obscuring his trademark good looks to play a balding, obese movie studio executive.

'Valkyrie,' 'Rock of Ages'

In December 2008, Cruise released his second project through United Artists. The film, Valkyrie , was a World War II drama about a plot to assassinate German leader Adolf Hitler . Cruise starred as a German army officer who became involved in the conspiracy.

Cruise returned to one of his most popular franchises in 2011 with Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol . Breaking into new territory, he then starred in the 2012 musical Rock of Ages . Although Cruise received some positive reviews for his performance as a rock star, the movie failed to attract much of an audience.

'Jack Reacher,' 'Edge of Tomorrow'

Returning to his mainstream action roots, Cruise starred in the 2012 crime drama Jack Reacher , based on a book by Lee Child. He then headlined a pair of science-fiction adventures, Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Showing no signs of slowing down, the veteran actor in 2015 delivered his usual high-energy performance for the fifth installment of his blockbuster franchise, Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation .

Latest Movies and Familiar Franchises

In 2016, Cruise reprised the role of Jack Reacher for Never Go Back . He then headlined a reboot of The Mummy (2017), which performed respectably at the box office but was savaged by critics, before earning better reviews later that year for the crime thriller American Made .

2018 brought a return to familiar territory for Cruise, who starred in Mission Impossible —Fallout that summer. Prior to its release, he tweeted a photo to mark day 1 of production on the long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick , scheduled for a June 2020 release.

Scientology and Personal Life

Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers in 1987. It was through Rogers that the actor became a student of Scientology, the religion founded by writer L. Ron Hubbard. Cruise credited the church with curing his dyslexia, and he soon became one of its leading proponents. However, while his spiritual life flourished, his marriage to Rogers ended in 1990. That same year, Cruise made the racecar drama Days of Thunder alongside Kidman. Though the movie was unpopular among critics and fans alike, the two lead actors had real chemistry. On Christmas Eve 1990, after a brief courtship, Cruise and Kidman married in Telluride, Colorado.

Divorce from Kidman

For much of the 1990s, Cruise and Kidman found themselves fiercely defending the happiness and legitimacy of their marriage. They filed two different lawsuits against tabloid publications for stories they considered libelous. In each case, the couple received a published retraction and apology, along with a large monetary settlement which they donated to charity. The couple has two children, Isabella and Connor.

On February 5, 2001, Cruise and Kidman announced their separation after 11 years of marriage. The couple cited the difficulties involved with two acting careers and the amount of time spent apart while working. Following the divorce, Cruise briefly dated his Vanilla Sky co-star Penelope Cruz , followed by a much-publicized relationship with actress Katie Holmes. A month after his ties to Holmes became public, Cruise professed his love for the actress in a now-famous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, during which he jumped on Winfrey's sofa, shouting "Yes!"

Marriage to Katie Holmes

In June 2005, after a two-month courtship, Cruise proposed to Holmes in a restaurant at the top of the Eiffel tower. In October, they announced that they were expecting their first child together. The hasty proposal and surprise pregnancy quickly became tabloid gossip. But Cruise made even bigger headlines that year as an outspoken advocate for Scientology. He openly criticized former co-star Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants during her recovery from postpartum depression. He also denounced psychiatry and modern medicine, claiming Scientology held the key to true healing. Cruise's statements led to a heated argument with news anchor Matt Lauer on The Today Show in June 2005, for which Cruise later apologized.

In 2006, Cruise and Holmes welcomed daughter Suri into the world. That year, they were married in an Italian castle, with celebrities Will Smith , Jada Pinkett Smith , Jennifer Lopez and Victoria and David Beckham among those in attendance. However, the storybook romance wouldn't last, and in June 2012, the couple announced their separation.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1962
• Birth date: July 3, 1962
• Birth State: New York
• Birth City: Syracuse
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including 'Risky Business,' 'A Few Good Men,' 'The Firm,' 'Jerry Maguire' and the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise.
• Astrological Sign: Cancer

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Tom Cruise Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/tom-cruise
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: March 26, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. We have worked as daily newspaper reporters, major national magazine editors, and as editors-in-chief of regional media publications. Among our ranks are book authors and award-winning journalists. Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. To meet the team, visit our About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us

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Tom Cruise  is celebrating his birthday with fans!

The  Mission Impossible  actor rang in the big 6-1 at the  Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One  premiere in Sydney, Australia, with some of the film's stars and a bevy of excited Australian fans by his side.

"It was great to spend my birthday with fans today. Thanks for coming out to the premiere!" Cruise captioned the tweet on Monday, which featured photos from the red carpet, a fireworks show and pics of the actor signing autographs for fans.

While it's no secret that Cruise has a mega fanbase, ET is helping celebrate his 61st birthday by looking at the action star's inner circle, which includes the likes of other A-list actors such as  Will Smith , Val Kimer and more.

Cruise and Smith's friendship dates back to the early aughts, with Cruise even surprising Smith at this hand and footprint ceremony at Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater in 2007.

"He's truly an exceptional, exceptional human being," Cruise told ET of the  King Richard  actor.

"Wherever Will Smith is, that's where the party is," he added. "Everybody knows that. When I was doing  Born   on the Fourth of July , his music got me through that picture."

The pair has even engaged in some friendly competition over the years, with Smith noting in Mark Manson's book,  Boom , "I started quietly monitoring all of Tom's global promotional activities, and I vowed to do two hours more than whatever he did in every country."

They've worked together as well, with Cruise doing some uncredited work on the Smith-led  I am Legend  that same year.

"He's read five drafts of the script, sent me notes. We are committed to helping each other be able to be the best that we can be," Smith told ET at the time.

Jerry Bruckheimer

In addition to working together on  Top Gun , Cruise has a close relationship with the famed producer. First collaborating on the original film in 1986, the pair teamed up again 36 years later for the Oscar-winning sequel, Top Gun: Maverick .

"Great actor. Great partner. If you're in a foxhole, you want Tom Cruise next to," Bruckheimer told ET 2016.

The award-winning producer said of Cruise's character, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, "It's an iconic character that he helped create."

As for what took the film so long? Both Bruckheimer and Cruise said that it had to be "perfect" before bringing back the beloved story to fans.

"He's the hardest working actor I've ever worked with," Bruckheimer added in 2021.

Cruise and Kilmer developed their friendship on the  Top Gun  set, with Kilmer starring as Tom Kazansky, a top naval aviator and Mitchell's rival turned friend in the film. Their friendship stood the test of time, with Cruise including Kilmer in the sequel amid ongoing issues with his voice following a battle with throat cancer. The reunion was an emotional one, with the producers using AI to help bring Kilmer's voice back for the short cameo.

"You see that scene, it's very special," Cruise told ET during the film's premiere in 2022. "The first one, I really rallied hard for him. I was like, 'Val, you gotta make this movie. You're gonna be amazing.'"

As for Kilmer, he told ET back in 2020 that his memories with Cruise were "filled with laughter," adding that while filming the original, the pair "laughed all day long."

Dakota Fanning

Cruise remained close with his  War of the Worlds  daughter after he and Dakota Fanning starred in the film together in 2005. 

"He has sent me a birthday gift every year since I was 11 years old. It's usually shoes," Fanning said on a  Watch What Happens Live  appearance. 

He also has kept a relationship with the film's director, Steven Spielberg , who had some kind words for the actor during the Oscars luncheon in February.

"You saved Hollywood, and you might have saved theatrical distribution," the Academy Award-winning director said of Cruise getting fans back to movie theaters following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other members of Cruise's circle include Tom Hanks , Kirsten Dunst, Jimmy Fallon and Rosie O'Donnell, who have all been recipients of the actor's famed white chocolate-covered coconut Bundt cake.

His  Mission Impossible  co-stars have gotten a taste of it too, with Henry Cavill telling ET, "It was the most decadent, the most amazing cake."

Angela Bassett  added, "I literally ate the entire cake except for one slice."

As for Simon Pegg, he said the cake was so good he couldn't wait for a fork, eating it with his fist instead.

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El lado oscuro de Tom Cruise: todo lo que debes saber sobre su participación en la Cienciología

¿Es la Iglesia de la Cienciología una secta? ¿Tom Cruise es su recurso publicitario más valioso? La pregunta se repitió con frecuencia durante las últimas semanas después de que la película Top: Gun Maverick se convirtiera en un éxito . De súbito, el habitual discreto Cruise volvía a estar en el centro de un huracán mediático. Desde una entrevista con James Corden hasta un agradecimiento a través de Twitter . El actor se volvió especialmente activo después de un considerable período de silencio. 

O mejor dicho, escuchar de él a través del éxito de sus películas o sus hazañas en la filmación de cualquiera de ellas. Pero ahora, la perenne sonrisa de Tom Cruise volvió . Y al mismo tiempo, los rumores sobre el extraño sistema de prácticas seudo religiosas con el que se ha visto relacionado por años. En especial, la organización que se autodenomina Iglesia y que tiene un lugar preponderante en su vida. 

No se trata de un tema sencillo. La Iglesia de Cienciología es una especie de curiosidad pop. En su definición más inmediata, la Cienciología tiene un credo y un sistema de creencias propios. Todo unido a una idea pseudoreligiosa desarrollada en 1954 por el autor estadounidense L. Ron Hubbard. Al otro extremo, la Iglesia de la Cienciología es el grupo de corporaciones que se dedican a la expansión de dichas creencias. Entre ambas cosas, la percepción general que se trata de una secta, ha sido constante durante las últimas décadas. Una discusión aún sin una respuesta clara. 

Las especulaciones sobre sus agresivos métodos de reclutamiento y su curiosa estructura, con frecuencia despiertan el desconcierto público. Hace poco, la actriz Elisabeth Moss, admitió para el NewYorker formar parte de la organización. Y enfatizó que los rumores alrededor del grupo eran exagerados. “En realidad, son bastante abiertos y capaces de compartir conocimientos”. Pero la actriz no se extendió en detalles. Tampoco respondió a la pregunta sobre la naturaleza religiosa de la estructura central de la organización. De hecho, Moss logró apartar la conversación de la Iglesia y que su alusión a su participación fuera un detalle menor en la conversación. 

Pero con Tom Cruise todo es por completo distinto. Es el rostro más conocido de la Cienciología, el más ferviente seguidor y el símbolo de estatus más importante del grupo. De hecho, su connotada participación ha provocado todo tipo de rumores alrededor del actor. Incluyendo un peso constante sobre su imagen pública. Desde su orientación sexual, hasta el hecho de que su vida romántica y personal es controlada minuciosamente por el grupo. Todo lo que rodea a Cruise y se relaciona con la Cienciología es lo suficientemente opaco como para intrigar. Y razones no faltan. 

Tom Cruise y La Iglesia de la Cienciología: Una larga historia misteriosa

Según el escritor de The Daily Beast Tony Ortega , en 2009 el FBI inició una profunda investigación contra la Cienciología. Un dato que también corroboró Lawrence Wright para el New Yorker en el 2011 . La intención era demostrar que la Iglesia que difunde sus creencias mantenía rehenes en su Int Base de Hemet (California). Al final, la investigación se detuvo y en la actualidad la organización niega que algo semejante hubiese ocurrido. No obstante, Ortega afirma en su reportaje que la investigación se detuvo, pero dejó algo claro. Hay interés legal sobre las prácticas de la Cienciología y sobre sus miembros.

Pero ya la existencia de la investigación había sido confirmada por ex Cienciólogo Marc Headley , en su libro Blown for Good publicado en el 2009. Además, Headley dejó claro algo más: la importancia capital de Cruise en la organización. Según el escritor, el actor salvó en más de una ocasión a la Iglesia de la Cienciología de la ruina, del descrédito o incluso de problemas legales. Todo lo que brinda un aire aún más extraño de la relación entre Cruise y la Iglesia. Un vínculo que alcanza ya casi 36 años. 

En 1986, la actriz Mimi Rogers introdujo a su, por entonces pareja, en el mundo de la Cienciología. Lo hizo casi por accidente en medio de una las peores crisis que ha atravesado la organización. Para entonces, su fundador y escritor de lo que se considera su sistema de creencias L. Ronald Hubbard, acababa de morir. La organización se tambaleaba en medio de la anarquía estructural y el hecho de que David Miscavige, de apenas 25 años, intentaba tomar el poder interno. A todo lo anterior, había que sumar que la pugna por el liderazgo, solo incluía a Los Cienciólogos más dedicados. O lo que es lo mismo, los que se agrupaban bajo una rama de la organización denominada Organización del Mar. Esta última, el anillo más secreto y confidencial de las creencias. 

En un inesperado movimiento estratégico que incluyó una autoproclamación, Miscavige terminó por sofocar cualquier disidencia y convertirse en la cabeza visible de la Iglesia. Para su fortuna, Mimi Rogers insistió en que el funcionario conociera a Tom Cruise. Por entonces, el actor ya había filmado Risky Business y acaba de estrenar la primera entrega de Top Gun. Y era la estrella de Hollywood más querida por toda una generación de espectadores. Su llegada a la Cienciología convirtió a la organización en centro para famosos de envergadura en Los Ángeles. 

La confluencia de ambas situaciones, convirtió a Tom Cruise en el principal rostro de la Iglesia. Uno tan reconocido como para que toda la fama y prestigio de todas las corporaciones relacionadas con las creencias, se sostuvieran en Cruise y su fama. A partir de entonces, la Iglesia de la Cienciología ha crecido y ampliado su rango de influencia, hasta convertirse en un símbolo de estatus de considerable poder. ¿Un dato curioso? Un año después de hacerse miembro formal de la Cienciología, Mimi Rogers y Tom Cruise contrajeron matrimonio . La ceremonia se llevó a cabo el 9 de mayo de 1987, el día más sagrado del calendario de la Cienciología y que celebra el nacimiento de la organización. O mejor dicho, la publicación en 1950 de Dianética: La ciencia moderna de la salud mental de Hubbard, el texto que dio origen a sus creencias. 

La Cienciología, la religión que nació de un libro de ciencia ficción 

El libro Dianética: La ciencia moderna de la salud mental convirtió a Hubbard en una celebridad de la autoayuda y cimentó su imperio económico. El libro fue la base para la Cienciología (como creencia) y después como organización (la Iglesia). Cinco años después, su llamado Proyecto Celebridad abrió las puertas al reclutamiento de estrellas y figuras populares. Para 1956, el grupo definió sus directrices, que se basan en textos de ciencia ficción del propio Hubbard y una combinación de creencias. 

En resumen, la Cienciología es una terapia que incluye el reconocimiento de vidas pasadas y la promesa de superpoderes a quienes sean capaces de recordarlas. Esa connotación sobre la eternidad incluye incluso, vidas de otros planetas. Constituida como organización religiosa a partir de 1957, comenzó a captar adeptos y a disfrutar de las excepciones tributarias relacionadas con organizaciones semejantes. Pero en especial, su intención era convertirse en un exclusivo grupo y símbolo de estatus. 

En 1975, John Travolta entra a formar parte de la organización y la Iglesia comienza a ser conocida en los predios de Hollywood por su influencia.En 1979 se incorporó la por entonces estrella Kirstie Alley. Pero fue la inclusión de Cruise el golpe definitivo para abandonar su cualidad de rareza en el ámbito de las creencias en norteamérica. Y en específico, en un lugar de considerable relevancia en la meca del cine. 

Tom Cruise: el héroe de una misteriosa Iglesia 

Según el ex cienciólogo Bruce Hines , cuatro años después de su matrimonio Mimi Rogers fue “conminada” a apartarse de Tom Cruise. Y no se trató solo de una recomendación, sino de lo que se supone fue una orden directa que debía acatar. ¿El motivo? El súbito amor del actor por la actriz australiana Nicole Kidman. Siempre según Hines, la organización consideró que Kidman beneficiaría la carrera de Cruise. El sonado divorcio y posterior matrimonio de Cruise desconcertó a Hollywood. Pero también demostró (o pareció demostrar) la influencia de la Iglesia sobre el actor. 

El sonado divorcio y posterior matrimonio de Cruise desconcertó a Hollywood. Pero también demostró (o pareció demostrar) la influencia de la Iglesia sobre el actor

Apenas dos años más tarde, Nicole Kidman, que hasta entonces había sido un miembro entusiasta de la creencia, se separó de ella. Y su ruptura provocó que Cruise se apartara por primera vez de la organización desde que se convirtió en adepto. De 1992 al 2000, Cruise se distanció de celebraciones y cualquier tipo de actividad relacionada con la Iglesia. El ex líder cienciólogo Mike Rinder contó a Newsweek que Miscavige estaba enfurecido por la influencia de Kidman sobre Cruise. En palabras de Rinder, el momento de mayor tensión entre la Iglesia y el actor ocurrió cuando Cruise viajó a Inglaterra a petición de Stanley Kubrick. Cruise y Kidman vivieron en Londres durante la filmación de Eyes Wide Shut , que se llevó a cabo entre 1996 a 1998. La distancia permitió a Cruise establecerse por primera vez lejos de la Iglesia en diez años.

Pero en el 2000, la tensión constante e imparable sobre Cruise rindió frutos. Durante todo los años de convivencia en común, Kidman soportó asedio e incluso espías de la Cienciología. Finalmente, pidió el divorcio. Según el documental Scientology, Going Clear de Lawrence Wright , la ruptura ocasionó que Cruise volviera a la organización. Y esta vez, bajo la supervisión directa de Miscavige. Para 2003, Cruise volvía a ser el activo más rentable de la organización. Tanto como para viajar a Missouri para participar en la gran inauguración de una sede de Applied Scholastics. La organización, vinculada de forma discreta pero inequívoca a la Cienciología, distribuye textos de Hubbard en las escuelas públicas norteamericanas. 

En el 2004, también se le vio en la inauguración de una “Organización Ideal” de la Cienciología en Madrid. Se trató de uno de los primeros pasos del grupo para sustituir a sus antiguas Iglesias, por nuevos edificios, con toda una nueva percepción sobre la fe y la discreción. En el mismo año, comenzaron los rumores acerca que Cruise había recurrido a la Iglesia para encontrar pareja . La petición movilizó de inmediato al centro mismo del grupo. Corrieron rumores de audiciones para encontrar a “la esposa ideal” de Cruise, en la que incluso fue incluida Claire Danes, actriz de Homeland. 

Bajo la tutela de Shelly Miscavige, actrices y modelos (pertenecientes a la cienciología o no), desfilaron frente a las cámaras. Y aunque Cruise y la Iglesia lo han negado en público, los informes sobre los extraños eventos fueron recopilados en un reportaje por Vanity Fair . En el texto puede leerse el testimonio de la actriz Nazanin Boniadi, que fue escogida por la Cienciología como pareja de Cruise. Posteriormente, el actor rompió con Boniadi cuando ella se quejó del comportamiento de David Miscavige. La organización hizo arreglos para que el empresario Tommy Davis rompiera con la actriz, sin que Cruise tuviera que presentarse. En el 2005, Tom Cruise y Katie Holmes anunciaron su relación, en lo que se supone fue otra selección de la iglesia para el actor. 

El extraño cienciólogo Tom Cruise

También en el 2005, el actor comenzó a promocionar de manera más agresiva a la Cienciología. Al mismo tiempo se encontraba en la promoción de la película de ciencia ficción La Guerra de los mundos , dirigida por Steven Spielberg. Las entrevistas que brindó se convirtieron en fuente de comentarios y sorpresas. El actor increpó de manera agresiva y directa al periodista Matt Lauer cuando este le preguntó sobre la postura de la Cienciología sobre la psiquiatría. 

La conversación fue tan malsonante como para provocar el análisis público de que la Iglesia se opone a los métodos de salud mental. Tom Cruise siguió teniendo un comportamiento errático e inexplicable , que llegó a su punto más desconcertante cuando saltó sobre el sofá de Oprah Winfrey. Según explicó en el mismo programa, se trató de una explosión de Hollywood por “su amor recién nacido”. 

Cruise y Holmes se convirtieron en padres de una niña al año siguiente y en noviembre del mismo año contrajeron matrimonio. Pero mientras el actor parecía atravesar la etapa más feliz de su vida, comenzaron a ocurrir hechos preocupantes a su alrededor. Todos relacionados con la Iglesia y su organización interna. Ese fue el año (y en esa boda) en que la actriz Leah Remini advirtió la ausencia de Shelly Miscavige , de la que todavía se desconocen noticias. El hecho provocó un distanciamiento de la actriz de la Iglesia (en la que creció) y después su definitiva ruptura. 

En el 2008 se filtró un inquietante video en que se ve a Tom Cruise celebrando el hecho de ser cienciólogo. En el 2011, Lawrence Wright escribió un artículo para el New Yorker , en el que mencionó por primera vez la investigación del FBI a la cienciología. Y al año siguiente, Katie Holmes abandonó a Cruise y comenzó un sonado proceso de divorcio. El suceso conmocionó a la prensa y despertó sospechas de carácter de secta de la Iglesia. 

Aún en la actualidad es complicado decir cuál es la relación real de Tom Cruise y la Cienciología. O al menos, qué tan cierto son los rumores en que continúa en la organización debido a secretos comprometedores. Pero según Tony Ortega y buena parte de los ex cienciólogos, la situación es más complicada que eso. Se trata simplemente que Cruise es un ferviente creyente y que basa buena parte de su baremo moral en la Iglesia de la Cienciología. Una relación inquietante que sigue siendo parte del lado oscuro e inexplicable del actor. 

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A few months ago the trades announced that Tom Cruise signed a strategic partnership with Warner Bros. to develop and produce original and franchise theatricals for Cruise to star in. At the time, what exactly he was planning to develop remained unknown.

Now GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT can exclusively report that one of those movies will be a remake of the 1977 Clint Eastwood action thriller The Gauntlet . Tom Cruise will take over the role originally played by Eastwood in the movie, that of alcoholic Detective Ben Shockley.

The original version of The Gauntlet was also directed by Clint Eastwood, but our source tells us Christopher McQuarrie will direct the Tom Cruise version. Tom Cruise will, of course, produce as part of his new deal with Warners.

McQuarrie has become Tom Cruise's go-to director over the years. He directed Tom Cruise on movies like Jack Reacher , The Mummy , and three Mission: Impossible (soon four) movies. Now Christopher McQuarrie is working with Cruise on The Gauntlet .

This information comes from the same proven source that has broken several other, now confirmed , WB-related stories for us. GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT ‘s editorial policy prohibits me from printing stories submitted by sources without a proven track record.

The Gauntlet is not one of Eastwood's better-known projects. It received mixed to favorable reviews on its release. The story involves a detective ordered to escort a prostitute to a trial, where she's expected to testify against the mob.

As you'd expect, things don't go well, and Detective Shockley ends up under attack and on the run. The movie's filled with some pretty big action set pieces, including high-speed pursuits with helicopters and motorcycles. There's even a road warrior-style chase in a hastily armored bus. It's easy to imagine Tom Cruise turning that into one of his stunt-laden action flicks, only with perhaps a grittier twist than what we've come to expect from him in the Mission: Impossible films.

GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT

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