Retired British acting legend Michael Caine gave his opinion on Tom Cruisesuperstar status. Two-time Oscar winner Caine made his breakthrough in 1964 with Cy Endfield’s epic war film Zuluand had one of the most brilliant careers in Hollywood. Cruise rose to prominence in 1983 when he starred in Risky businessand its monitoring All the right movesand became one of the most successful and prominent movie stars in the world. His films have grossed over $12 billion collectively, making him one of the most profitable and highest paid actors in the history of cinema.
In Caine’s new memoir, by The timesthe Get Carter actor remembers meeting with young Cruise which happened around the time Cruise was Risky business. Caine remembers Cruise asking for advice that would help him achieve career longevity, as well as his contemporary’s positive attitude and drive to succeed. He also fondly remembers how his wife provided the Mission: Impossible actor to join him at his 90th birthday dinner. Check out Caine’s full comments below:
I turned around and there was a young actor, very polite, asking questions about how to not just be a flash in the pan. That was Tom, probably at the time of Risky business.
I don’t remember what I said, but it obviously didn’t hurt him! There was something special about him. He had a great attitude, this sense of balance. What interests me is that he really is one of the last true movie stars. People will see a movie just because he’s in it. Brad Pitt is a star, Morgan Freeman also has some of that quality. There are so few nowadays – not like John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart or Cary Grant.
[Shakira] I arranged for Tom Cruise to come to my dinner at the River Café as a surprise. I was very moved.
The actor is still an important presence at the box office
Among audiences and critics, Cruise is highly regarded, and his superstar status is clear from the box office success of many of his films. He still holds a Guinness World Record for most consecutive films grossing $100 million; Jack Reacher (2012), Oblivion (2013), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), Jack Reacher: Never Come Back (2016), The mummy (2017), Made in America (2017), and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018). However, as Caine’s comments illustrate, Cruise is also well-regarded by his peers, likely due to his strong work ethic and dedication to his craft.
The post-pandemic success of Top Gun: Maverickwhich Cruise produced and starred in, prompted Steven Spielberg to tell the star that he “saved Hollywood.”
As Cain points out, there are very few real, genuine movie stars working in the industry Now, with franchises and characters taking prominence over movie stars as icons, and there are very few actors out there who can guarantee a strong box office run on their name alone. Cruise is undoubtedly one of those starsand his role as a producer also helped him have a more practical impact on the creative side of filmmaking. The post-pandemic success of Top Gun: Maverickwhich Cruise produced and starred in, prompted Steven Spielberg to tell the star that he “saved Hollywood.”
Our Take on Cruise’s Lasting Stardom
Cruise may continue to be a leading star, but may have to step away from action roles
Despite some off-screen controversies throughout his career, Cruise remains one of the most influential and iconic movie stars in the world, and there’s no reason why that can’t continue. However, I believe that to ensure longevity, Cruise will need to move away from the action genre that has served him so well, as there is only so long that he can continue to perform his own stunts. Since Mission: Impossible franchise ends, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cruise taking on more dramatic and villainous roles, similar to those in films like Magnolia and Guarantee.
Source: The times