Tom Cruise has long been a passionate supporter of the theatrical experience, striving to maintain cinema’s prominence amid changing viewing habits. His dedication to Tom Cruise theater endorsements continues in 2025, as he publicly champions several films he believes are essential to watch on the big screen.
From backing original genre films to promoting collaborations with longtime colleagues and rising stars, Cruise’s enthusiasm reflects his commitment to keep theaters thriving. His recent endorsements highlight five major films that he considers outstanding for a theater visit this year.
Original Genre Masterpiece: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners
A standout among the year’s releases, Sinners is a unique mix of horror, music, and vampire lore, directed by Ryan Coogler and featuring Michael B. Jordan alongside Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, and others. Its strong performance at the box office, with a $366 million gross, surprised many, demonstrating high audience engagement.
Despite no direct connection to the cast or crew, Cruise praised the film on social media after seeing it during its second weekend. He congratulated the team, saying,
“Ryan [Coogler], Michael [B. Jordan], and to the entire cast and crew”
before labeling it a must see in a cinema.
While Cruise’s recent Warner Bros. exclusive deal might explain some studio loyalty, his support for Sinners primarily appears driven by admiration for the filmmakers’ artistic vision and success. His interactions with Coogler and Jordan at the Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning premiere hinted at possible future collaborations, showing promising creative connections to watch.
Major Franchise Finale: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
As expected, Cruise invested considerable effort promoting the latest installment in his signature franchise. Released over Memorial Day weekend, The Final Reckoning was supported through extensive campaigns, including press appearances, late-night interviews, and worldwide premieres.
His engaging media push helped the film achieve $598 million globally, surpassing the previous sequel. After the success, Cruise gratefully acknowledged the filmmakers, cast, crew members, theater employees, and venues that contributed to the movie’s record-opening weekend performance.
Supporting a Fellow Action Star: The Ballerina Spin-Off
Soon after his own franchise’s finale, Cruise backed a competitor in the action genre: Ballerina, the first spin-off from the John Wick series. The film stars Ana de Armas in the lead, with Keanu Reeves reprising his character for a cameo.
Cruise’s encouragement came partly from his personal connection to de Armas, who recently co-starred with him in the upcoming supernatural thriller Deeper. Their previously reported romantic involvement brought more attention to the film, although both projects have faced challenges.
Describing the film as just kick a**, Cruise urged fans to watch both Ballerina and his own movie in close succession, signaling support for a colleague as well as the genre. Despite his backing, the movie earned a moderate $137 million worldwide, falling short of blockbuster status.
Celebrating Racing and Collaborations: F1: The Movie
Cruise also endorsed the racing drama F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, with whom Cruise has a longstanding creative relationship. The film’s decision to receive a theatrical IMAX release instead of going straight to streaming paid off hugely, grossing $629 million.
His attendance at the European premiere underscored the importance of the project to him, as he posed with Pitt on the red carpet—reconnecting with a co-star from Interview with the Vampire. This rare public appearance for a non-Cruise film reflected deep professional ties and mutual respect.
The movie’s production involved Jerry Bruckheimer, another longtime Cruise collaborator from the Top Gun and Days of Thunder days. The latter film had its 35th anniversary coincide with F1’s release, highlighting Cruise’s enthusiasm for celebrating motorsports and his own cinematic history. Ongoing rumors of an F1 and Days of Thunder crossover suggest Cruise’s support could have long-term implications for racing-themed films.
Reviving a Classic: Glen Powell’s The Running Man
The newest 2025 film to earn Cruise’s public endorsement is The Running Man, a fresh take on Stephen King’s novel and a re-imagining of the 1987 action classic. Cruise’s connection to the movie stems from star Glen Powell, who earned his trust and mentorship during their work on Top Gun: Maverick.
Powell impressed Cruise during auditions, leading to an expanded role and a mentorship dynamic that helped Powell establish himself as a box office draw under 40. Cruise’s previous support for Powell’s films, including Twisters and Anyone But You, makes this endorsement particularly meaningful.
Cruise described The Running Man as both thrilling and funny ahead of its November 14 release, encouraging audiences to see it in theaters. Unless he chooses to advocate for additional blockbusters later this year, this may be the final high-profile endorsement of 2025.
Looking ahead, speculation surrounds whether Cruise will continue promoting other major projects, such as Avatar: Fire and Ash or support emerging talent like Timothée Chalamet in future films. For now, his ongoing Tom Cruise theater endorsements show an urgent and restless dedication to preserving the magic of movies on the big screen.
