Tom Cruise experienced one of the most significant moments of his career during the Governors Awards 2025, where the Academy presented him with the first Oscar of his professional life. Although his name has been linked to success for decades and he has accumulated four previous nominations, he had never won a statuette… until now.
The actor received the honorary Oscar at a gala ceremony held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, surrounded by his peers who gave him a standing ovation and celebrated with him a recognition that many consider long-deserved.
Presenting him with the award was Alejandro González Iñárritu, the director with whom Cruise is currently working on his next project. His presence added an emotional component to the moment, as the filmmaker introduced the actor as “an unstoppable force” in the industry.
From the front row, celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Emma Stone, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez and Emily Blunt followed the speech with obvious excitement.
Tom Cruise’s promise that thrilled the entire room
As soon as he received the statuette, Tom Cruise took the microphone and delivered a speech that mixed gratitude, commitment and a direct tribute to the power of cinema. The actor assured that this art is an essential part of his life and that he will continue to work to protect it.
“I will do everything I can for this art, to support and defend new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful,” he said to a sold-out audience.
Cruise also spoke of the personal impact film has had on the way he sees the world. “Cinema takes me around the world. It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It also shows me our shared humanity, how similar we are in so many ways. “he said, visibly moved.
To cap off the moment, he made a joke about his fondness for performing his own action scenes: “Hopefully without many more broken bones,” a comment that drew laughter and applause from the audience.
An award that comes after four nominations without a win
Despite his enormous success and relevance, Tom Cruise had never won a competitive Oscar. His first nomination came for Born on the Fourth of July in 1989, followed by others for Jerry Maguire and Magnolia. The most recent was for Top Gun: Maverick, a film in which, in addition to starring, he acted as producer and was nominated for Best Picture.
However, none of these opportunities brought him victory: the 2025 honorary Oscar thus functions as a belated consecration, a recognition of his impact on the industry and a career marked by extreme dedication.
What is the historic change proposed by the Academy?
The evening also left a piece of news that made history: starting in 2028, in the 100th edition of the awards, the Academy will incorporate a specific award for action stuntmen, under the name Achievement in Stunt Design.
It will be the first time stunt actors, stunt coordinators and stunt designers have received formal recognition, something Cruise has championed for years. His tribute came, symbolically, in the year he himself received his first Oscar.
Other gala honors
In addition to the actor, the ceremony honored influential figures from various fields of the performing arts. Actress and choreographer Debbie Allen was recognized for her long career, as was production designer and producer Wynn Thomas, one of the pioneers of his generation.
Singer and songwriter Dolly Parton was also honored, although she was unable to attend due to health reasons and sent a message of thanks that touched the audience.
