Tom Cruise Receives First Honorary Oscar After 45 Years: "Hope I Break Fewer Bones"

"Making movies is not just what I do?it's what defines me"
Standing ovation from Spielberg and other Hollywood figures

Tom Cruise Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Tom Cruise received his first Oscar after 45 years since his debut. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Cruise with an honorary award recognizing his lifetime achievements at the 16th Governors Awards held in Los Angeles on the 16th (local time).

Taking the stage as the final honoree, Cruise said, "Making movies is not just what I do-it's what defines me." He went on to thank the studios, production crews, stunt teams, and theater owners in turn, emphasizing, "None of this would mean anything without the audience."

When he asked, "Will everyone who has worked with me please stand up?" longtime collaborators such as director Steven Spielberg, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Christopher McQuarrie rose from their seats. Cruise remarked, "All of you are present in every frame of my films."

Prior to the award presentation, Alejandro Gonz?lez I??rritu, director of Cruise's upcoming film, described him as "not just a filmmaker, but cinema itself." A video montage followed, showcasing scenes from his 45-year career, including 'Top Gun,' 'Jerry Maguire,' 'Minority Report,' and the 'Mission: Impossible' series. As Cruise took the stage, the audience gave him another standing ovation.

The Governors Awards are a ceremony for honorary Oscars, but they also serve as a gateway to Oscar season. This year, Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ariana Grande, and others attended the event.

Until now, Cruise had been nominated three times in acting categories and once for Best Picture, but had never won a competitive Oscar. However, he is credited with elevating the realism of the action genre by performing dangerous stunts himself and reviving the North American box office after the pandemic with 'Top Gun: Maverick.' Director Spielberg even remarked, "You saved the movies."

At 63, Cruise remains active. He is preparing a new film for next year and plans to continue the 'Mission: Impossible' series. At the end of his acceptance speech, Cruise joked, "I hope I break a few less bones in the future."