Tom Cruise Receives Honorary Oscar, Celebrates Cinema

Published: 18 November 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

US film superstar Tom Cruise has received his first-ever Oscar statuette, a long-awaited recognition of his decades-long contribution to cinema.

Cruise, 63, was honoured with an honorary Oscar at the annual Governors Awards in Hollywood, joining other distinguished recipients including singer-philanthropist Dolly Parton, choreographer Debbie Allen, and production designer Wynn Thomas.

“Making films is not what I do, it is who I am,” the four-time Oscar nominee said during his acceptance speech, expressing his enduring passion for cinema. The Top Gun and Mission: Impossible star used the platform to celebrate filmmakers both in front of and behind the camera, acknowledging those he has worked with during his 45-year career and highlighting the transformative power of movies.

Upon taking the stage, Cruise received a minutes-long standing ovation and enthusiastic applause from film luminaries including Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jerry Bruckheimer. The award was presented by filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is directing Cruise’s upcoming film.

“The cinema, it takes me around the world,” Cruise said in his speech. “It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It shows me also our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways. And no matter where we come from, in that theatre, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, we dream 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.”

Cruise began his film career in 1981 and has been nominated for several Academy Awards over the years, including Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire, Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia, and for producing Top Gun: Maverick.

The Academy’s Board of Governors recognised Cruise for his “incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community,” acknowledging both his on-screen achievements and his dedication to preserving and advancing the cinematic art form.

During his speech, Cruise reflected on how cinema expanded his view of the world. “It opened my eyes. 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,” he said.

Known for performing his own stunts, Cruise has also been a vocal advocate for traditional cinema, emphasising the importance of the theatrical experience in an era dominated by streaming platforms and social media. “I want you to know that I will always do everything I can to help this art form, to support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful — hopefully without too many more broken bones,” he added with characteristic humour.

Earlier this year, Cruise was reportedly scheduled to be recognised by US President Donald Trump as part of the Kennedy Center honours, but the actor declined due to scheduling conflicts.

This milestone marks a defining moment in Cruise’s career, celebrating his enduring dedication to film and his lifelong commitment to bringing stories to audiences around the world. The news has been compiled from verified social media sources, international and UK-based news outlets, and cross-checked with detailed online data. It is presented with professionalism, impartiality, and a human-centred narrative that provides readers with a rich and engaging account of this historic occasion in Hollywood.