Perhaps the delivery ceremony of the Oscars which is held next March, will take place at the top of one film or another. But for Steven Spielbergthis year and probably the next ones already have a big winner: Tom Cruise. This was confessed to him at the previous Film Industry Awards Nominees Luncheon.
The industry gathered all the photography nominees before the awards ceremony and between so many illustrious names and so many giants from the mecca of cinema, two of the great stars of the American firmament starred in one of the most most viral of the year cinematically speaking.
Steven Spielberg came across the actor in full number and their meeting was recorded by several cameras which recorded his words: “You saved Hollywood’s ass and saved theatrical distribution” was what he told her and could be heard at this meeting.
A phrase that has transcended beyond what the speech itself implies. Because it’s not every day King Midas of Hollywood, who has behind him the honor of having made gigantic blockbusters that have changed the history of cinema (ET, Indiana Jones, Shark…), tells you that you are the savior of the industry.
All in thanks for what Tom Cruise achieved when he came out Top Gun Maverick last 2022. For at a time when cinemas and the majors themselves were struggling with no revenue due to the pandemic, this blockbuster managed to send box office numbers soaring again until they return to normal.
Although talking about normality with Top Gun Maverick remains insufficient. Tito Tom’s film managed to collect around 1488 million dollars worldwide. Figures that make it the 12th most profitable film in the history of cinema.
And it’s not just that Cruise produced and starred in it. It was that it was most responsible for finally hitting theaters since Paramount wanted to release it on its online platforms. But Tom Cruise flatly refused, demanding compliance with a signed contract that, as Steven Spielberg says, saved Hollywood’s ass. In a few weeks, we’ll see if the Academy also thinks the same.