In 2010, Hollywood filmmakers implemented the project The Expendables with the desire to gather once illustrious action stars, creating conditions for them to regain their glory and conquer the audience.
However, Tom Cruise has never run out of time and lost his strength. Over the past 20 years, the star born in 1962 has been working hard in movies, constantly appearing in many expensive blockbuster projects. Not to mention, he also participated in the production and performed the deadly action scenes himself without the need for a stunt.
Action icons are irreplaceable
With a handsome face and charming acting, Tom Cruise was quickly noticed as soon as he appeared on the silver screen, quickly catching the eyes of many famous producers. Famous for Risky Business (1983) but it was not until Top Gun (1986) that he really made his mark as one of Hollywood’s brightest action stars.
Three decades later, when a sequel to Top Gun: Maverick (2022) is planned, Tom Cruise is still the only choice for the main character. Even the audience may not remember the film’s content, but cannot forget the image of the actor playing the talented pilot Maverick.
Tom Cruise keeps in shape in Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
The appearance of Tom Cruise helped Top Gun: Maverick succeed beyond expectations, becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year with nearly $1.5 billion. The work also helped the global box office to recover after a dismal period because of Covid-19.
His name is also associated with a series of action projects such as Days of Thunder (1990), Minority Report (2002), The Last Samurai (2003), Jack Reacher (2012), Edge of Tomorrow (2014). also attracted attention when debuting, largely thanks to the star’s charisma.
In particular, the role of agent Ethan Hunt in the billion-dollar action franchise Mission: Impossible is a big turning point, helping Tom Cruise’s career to the top. The series began with Mission: Impossible (1996), so far has released 7 parts and is in the process of producing part 8.
In the context of Hollywood having to search for new faces for superhero roles, the James Bond series constantly changing actors, Tom Cruise has almost no fear of being eliminated. He always starred in all 8 parts, no name can replace.
The star is the soul of the brand, helping the latter succeed to surpass the previous one. As a result, Mission: Impossible is always rated as one of the most action-packed action series of all time, with a total revenue of more than $3.5 billion.
The role of Ethan Hunt also turns Tom Cruise into an icon of action and spy movies. Even the character is often compared to James Bond by writer Ian Fleming.
The appearance of the actor is the factor that makes the Mission: Impossible series a great success
The daredevil defies death
When Mission: Impossible 7 was released, it was also when Tom Cruise officially turned 61. But on the screen, the actor was still in good shape with a handsome face and beautiful body, making it difficult for anyone to recognize the signs of time.
In particular, he took on all the action scenes in the movie, including the deadly dangerous scenes, which are not easy to do even for young people.
The most impressive segment is when Tom Cruise drives his motorbike at high speed on the cliff, then parachutes in mid-air. The crew had to build a model of a slope of 135 m long and 10 m high to help the actor run the car to gain momentum for skydiving.
To prepare for the scene, the actor underwent a rigorous training regime for 15 months, with more than 13,000 motorcycle jumps and 536 practice skydiving times. Because the filming location is very dangerous, over 1.5 km high. If negligence occurs, the actor easily faces the possibility of death.
However, Tom Cruise is almost not worried. According to Paramount Pictures, at the set, he performed up to 6 real jumps to get the right shot on the silver screen. The studio said it was the largest action scene ever performed in the history of cinema.
Panorama of the set of Tom Cruise performing skydiving after riding a motorcycle
Not only that, Tom Cruise also performed a series of other breathtaking action scenes in the Mission: Impossible series. For example, the scene of self-sticking to the wall of the A400M when the plane is about to take off, self-closing scenes of chasing, racing or diving in deep water… All to bring the most realistic feeling to viewers.
In the media, Tom Cruise is often praised as “the older the ginger, the spicier it is”. The actor is not only an A-list star, but also advances in his career. In the 1990s, he was among the few highest-paid actors in the world, with at least $15 million per project.
The number has doubled in four decades. According to Insider, Tom Cruise earned $100 million for the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, making him the highest-paid star in 2022, as well as one of the top ranks in Hollywood.
