Tom Cruise, a renowned action star, was honored with an Academy Honorary Award at the Governors Awards on November 16, 2025. His Tom Cruise honorary Oscar speech at the event highlighted his deep appreciation for filmmaking and the creative community supporting the art form.
Cruise Shares His Passion for Cinema and Global Storytelling
The prestigious award was presented by acclaimed director Alejandro G Iñárritu, who is currently working with Cruise on an upcoming, untitled film set for release in October 2026. During his emotional address, Cruise expressed gratitude to those behind the scenes, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in the movie industry.
He articulated his personal connection to cinema through his words:
The cinema takes me around the world,
—Tom Cruise, Actor. He continued by describing how film promotes understanding and empathy:
It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It also shows me our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways
—Tom Cruise, Actor.
In perhaps his most heartfelt declaration, Cruise stated his life’s calling:
Making films is not what I do. It is who I am.
—Tom Cruise, Actor. This statement encapsulated the theme of his speech and resonated strongly with the audience.
Reflecting on Childhood Inspiration and the Power of Film
Looking back on his formative years, Cruise recalled the moment he first fell in love with movies inside a dark theatre. He described how the magic of film expanded his horizons and ignited his lifelong curiosity and imagination. Cruise reflected on the shared experiences movies provide:
And no matter where we come from, in that theater, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope 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.
—Tom Cruise, Actor.
Cruise touched on how watching films as a child made the world seem vast and filled with possibilities. He recalled feeling inspired to seek adventure and understand characters across different cultures, hinting at how this desire shaped his relentless pursuit of storytelling throughout his career.
Cinema’s Influence on Imagination and Personal Growth
In his passionate address, Cruise spoke of the impact film had on his imagination and personal development:
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.
—Tom Cruise, Actor.
The audience at the Governors Awards witnessed a powerful tribute to the transformative nature of the theater and filmmaking. Cruise’s words served not only as a thank you to the movie industry, but also as a celebration of humanity’s shared experiences and storytelling traditions.
The event marked a significant milestone in Tom Cruise’s career, spotlighting his contributions to cinema and his enduring commitment to creating films that bring people together. With a new project alongside Alejandro G Iñárritu on the horizon, Cruise’s influence on the art of filmmaking shows no sign of waning, underlining the lasting importance of the stories told on the big screen.
Tom Cruise delivers an emotional speech as he accepts an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards: "Making films is not what I do. It is who I am."
Read more here: https://t.co/KCzEuP2inM pic.twitter.com/X2z05yFdgy
— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2025
