Tom Cruise Receives Honorary Oscar

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise has finally received the long-awaited Honorary Oscar, marking a major milestone in his celebrated career. The award was presented on Sunday, 16 November, at the Academy’s Governors Awards in Los Angeles. Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu had the honour of handing him the statuette. During his acceptance speech, Cruise became visibly emotional as he expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to his cinematic journey.

“Cinema has taken me from one end of the world to the other,” he said. “It allows us to understand different cultures and mindsets, while also revealing the things we share. In the darkness of a theatre, we laugh together, we cry together, and we hope together—that is the power of film. Making films is not merely my profession; it is my identity.”

Cruise reminisced about his childhood, recalling how the beam of a projector in a cinema hall first ignited his imagination. That magical light, he said, inspired him to tell stories, create characters and dream without limits.

Throughout his illustrious career, Cruise has been nominated for four Oscars: Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire, Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia, and Best Picture as a producer for Top Gun: Maverick. This Honorary Oscar now places him firmly among the legends of the industry.

The evening also saw additional honours presented to choreographer-actress Debbie Allen, production designer Wynn Thomas and musician-humanitarian Dolly Parton for her outstanding contributions to social causes. The ceremony, one of the most prominent events of the awards season, was attended by an array of stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Michael B. Jordan, Sydney Sweeney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson and Emma Stone.

Cruise is currently working on a new project directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, scheduled for release in October 2026, a collaboration that has already generated significant anticipation among film enthusiasts.