From one icon to another, it seems like Steven Spielberg respects Tom Cruise’s commitment to the theatrical experience.
In a recent video, we saw Spielberg thank Tom Cruise for his work on Top Gun: Maverick, going as far as saying the theatrical release and positive reception of that film could’ve saved Hollywood.
“You saved Hollywood’s ass, and you might have saved theatrical distribution,” Spielberg told Cruise in a new video. The clip was originally from this year’s Oscar nominees luncheon and shared by director Kartiki Gonsalves, whose film Who Can Say No to Baby Elephants! is nominated for Best Documentary Short Film.
Spielberg adds, “Seriously, Top Gun: Maverick might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” The 2022 film made $1.48 billion worldwide, the 11th highest-grossing movie worldwide. Even more impressive, Top Gun: Maverick is the fifth-highest grosser at the domestic box office with $718 million.
Check out the video below…
steven spielberg telling tom cruise to his face, “you saved hollywood’s ass. and, you might have saved theatrical distribution. seriously. MAVERICK might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” i have to lie down. pic.twitter.com/nYbWbgadM7
— amanda (@marisatomay) February 14, 2023
Since the pandemic began in 2020, the Top Gun sequel was only the second movie to make over a billion dollars, which was almost standard practice for blockbusters before the significant shift in theatrical experiences. Since then, only one other film has made over a billion, and that’s Avatar: The Way of Water, which is currently sitting at over $2 billion. For Top Gun: Maverick to sit alongside these Disney-backed heavyweights impressed Spielberg, who has been very vocal at the cinema lately.
SEE ALSO: Steven Spielberg says The Dark Knight should have received a Best Picture nomination
Spielberg and Cruise have a history with each other, dating back to their work on Minority Report and War of the Worlds. This year, both filmmakers will appear at the 95th Academy Awards, where Top: Gun Maverick is nominated for six Oscars, and The Fabelmans is up for seven.
The Oscars air this year on March 12th. Check out our reaction to the nominations below…
