Tom Cruise was honored with an Academy Honorary Award during the Governors Awards on November 16, 2025, shining a spotlight on his decades-long contributions to cinema. Alejandro G Iñárritu, set to direct Cruise in an upcoming film slated for release in October 2026, took the stage to present the Oscar, a gesture that recognized the action star’s enduring passion for storytelling in film. The Tom Cruise honorary Oscar award moment also celebrated the deep bond Cruise shares with the movie-making world and those who help bring films to life.
Tom Cruise Reflects on Global Impact of Cinema in Emotional Speech
Accepting the award, Tom Cruise used his time at the podium to pay tribute to the collaborative spirit of filmmaking and the power of stories that connect people across the globe. Emphasizing his love for the art form, Cruise described how movies have shaped his worldview.
“The cinema takes me around the world,”
Tom Cruise, actor, said. He continued,
“It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It also shows me our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways”
(via Variety).
The ceremony was also marked by Cruise’s intense personal reflections on what filmmaking means to him.
“Making films is not what I do. It is who I am.”
— Tom Cruise, actor.
Cruise went on to highlight the unifying power of movies, sharing his message with warmth and emotion.
“And no matter where we come from, in that theater, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, and that is the power of this art form. And that is why it matters, that is why it matters to me. So making films is not what I do, it is who I am.”
— Tom Cruise, actor.
Tom Cruise Shares His Early Connection with Cinema
While holding the award, Cruise revisited his childhood memories, recalling how, as a young boy, he became captivated by the allure of the big screen. He described the transformative effect that seeing films in a dark theater had on his sense of possibility and understanding of humanity. Watching stories unfold, he discovered that life was far broader than what he had previously known.
Reflecting on the inspiration taken from those early experiences, Cruise shared how movies sparked his imagination and curiosity about the world.
“It opened my imagination to the possibility that life could expand far beyond the boundaries that I then perceived in my own life. And that beam of light opened a desire to open the world, and I have been following it ever since.”
— Tom Cruise, actor.
Significance of the Honorary Oscar and What Lies Ahead
The presentation of the honorary Oscar to Tom Cruise marked a significant acknowledgment by the film industry of his powerful influence as an actor and producer. The recognition at the Governors Awards underscored both his technical skill and the emotional resonance his films have with audiences worldwide, from the theater to the wider world. Looking ahead, with Alejandro G Iñárritu directing Cruise in an upcoming untitled project, Cruise’s commitment to cinematic storytelling is poised to continue captivating filmgoers for years to come.
Tom Cruise delivers an emotional speech as he accepts an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards: "Making films is not what I do. It is who I am."
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— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2025
