Film opinion: Who could succeed Tom Cruise as the next great movie star?
Tom Cruise paid tribute to some of Hollywood's rising stars at the recent New York premiere of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.
After being labelled the “last great movie star,” Cruise instead turned the spotlight on the likes of Michael B. Jordan and Ana de Armas.
Film News Blitz’s Ellie Jackson delves into Cruise's movie star redentials and the next generation of actors that could follow in his hallowed footsteps.
Tom Cruise: Hollywood’s ‘last true movie star
In an era dominated by streaming platforms and ensemble franchises, Cruise stands as a rare beacon of traditional movie stardom.
Cruise’s reprisal as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick was a $1.4 billion box office juggernaut built on the back of his stardom and proved in a post-pandemic world that going to the cinema was still a worthwhile cause.
The Mission: Impossible franchise is another showcase of Cruise’s dedication to cinema and affinity with audiences, and at the New York premiere, he was asked by Entertainment Tonight about some labelling him as the “last great movie star.”
Cruise refused to accept the title, saying, “I don't want to be, there’s so many other talented actors out there and I want to see them crush it.”
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One such actor is B. Jordan, who visited the London premiere of The Final Reckoning not long after Cruise had heaped praise on the film Sinners via Instagram.
Cruise expanded on his love for B. Jordan, applauding his work.
“I’m a huge fan of his, he said.
“That film Sinners’ is amazing.”
Cruise predicts a great summer of films
Not only do fans worldwide get to enjoy what is mooted as the final instalment in the Mission: Impossible franchise, but Cruise also pointed out several films for audiences to enjoy moving forward.
“It’s going to be a great summer of movies,” he added.
“We got the John Wick series with Keanu [Reeves] and Ana [de Armas].
“You got Brad [Pitt] with F1. I’m looking forward to going and everybody having a good summer.”
The future of Hollywood
At 62, Cruise can’t carry the movie star torch forever.
The big question is, who is Hollywood's next movie star?
As Hollywood continues to evolve, a new generation of talent is emerging.
Actors who are not only redefining what it means to be a movie star but also bringing fresh energy, diversity, and authenticity to the screen.
Florence Pugh is surely a name high in the young movie star rankings.
Recognised for her outstanding performances in Lady Macbeth, Midsommar, Little Women and Oppenheimer.
Pugh balances indie credibility with blockbuster appeal, making her one of the most versatile actors of her generation and is now a mainstream sensation in Marvel’s Thunderbolts*.
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One actor who is targeting greatness is Timothée Chalamet, combining old-Hollywood charm with Gen-Z vulnerability.
Not only is he a two-time Oscar nominee thanks to Call Me by Your Name and A Complete Unknown, but he is also the frontman of the blockbuster Dune franchise.
Chalamet’s performances are layered and emotionally rich.
He’s leading major franchises while staying connected to independent film roots, showing both range and relatability.
Are there any young stars as big or as cool as Zendaya?
She is not just a style icon and Emmy winner (Euphoria), but also a powerful presence in film.
Her roles in Dune, Challengers, and the Spider-Man franchise show that she can command both emotionally complex drama and action-heavy blockbusters.
Perhaps one actor seeking to emulate Cruise the most is his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell.
Powell is hard at work making a name for himself in genre-heavy films such as Anyone But You and Twisters, inspired by Cruise’s influence.
His hard work to become a Hollywood star continues in The Running Man remake, directed by Edgar Wright, where Powell takes on the role held by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 original.
But alas, with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning still dominating headlines, Cruise won’t be stepping aside from movie stardom just yet.
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