Tom Cruise received an honorary Oscar on November 16. On this occasion, he also gave a speech which felt like a mission statement for his entire life. Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is directing Cruise in an untitled film set for October 2026, presented him with the award.
According to Variety, he thanked the thousands of people who make films possible, the crews, artists, writers and teams who work in the shadows but keep the industry moving forward. Then he went into this business as he has been in this business for forty years.
tom cruise got emotional
“Cinema takes me around the world,” he said. “It helps me appreciate and respect differences. It also shows me our shared humanity, we are alike in so many ways. And no matter where we come from, in that theater, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together and that’s the power of this art. And that’s why it matters, that’s why it matters to me. So making movies is not what I do, it’s who I am “I am,” he explained.
Tom Cruise reveals how his childhood sparkle never dimmed
Cruz also recalled the moment he first fell in love with films. “My love for cinema started at a very young age, as far back as I can remember,” he said. Then came the memory he always returns to – being a child in a dark theater, watching a beam of light fly through the air and explode into a world even bigger than the one he knew.
He further described how that light “opened my imagination to the possibility that life could extend far beyond the limits that I then saw in my life.” And, as he said, he’s been chasing that ray ever since.
Also read: Even after 20 years of War of the Worlds, Tom Cruise sends shoes to Dakota Fanning every year. Who were present during the ceremony?
Cruise entered the night with four previous Oscar nominations — as a producer for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia and Top Gun: Maverick — but the honorary Oscar ultimately placed him among the legends he grew up watching.
The evening extended beyond the cruise. Cynthia Erivo honored Debbie Allen with her statuette. Wynn Thomas received lifetime recognition for production design. The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award went to Dolly Parton, who sent a pre-recorded message due to health concerns.
Other special guests included Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sidney Sweeney, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Stone and dozens of others, turning the event into a warm-up lap for awards season.
questions to ask
Who presented the honorary Oscar award to Tom Cruise?
Alejandro G. Iñárritu gave him the award.
In which year did Cruz receive this honour?
She accepted it at the 2025 Governors Awards on November 16.
How many Oscar nominations does Cruise have?
He has four previous nominations.