Hollywood star Tom Cruise gets emotional as he accepts his first Oscar- The Academy Honorary Award

Tom Cruise is one of the most successful, popular and revered Hollywood stars whose stardom transcends boundaries and borders. He has been entertaining the globe with his celluloid persona and performances for over four decades now. It’s only in 2025 that a validation made the superstar emotional.

Tom Cruise and his first Oscar

Tom Cruise was celebrated with one of the Academy’s most prestigious distinctions at the Governors Awards on November 16, a milestone that highlights his remarkable 40-year journey in film. Accepting the Academy Honorary Award, the actor spoke about the profound impact movies have had on his life and on audiences around the world.

He received the honour from filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is directing Cruise in an upcoming untitled film slated for release in October 2026, making the moment even more meaningful for both artists.

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The actor was quoted saying, “It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It shows me also our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways. And no matter where we come from, in that theatre, 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 makes a speech as he accepts his first-ever Oscar.

“Making films is not what I do, it’s who I am… no matter where you’re from, in a theater we laugh, we feel, we hope together, and that’s the power of this art form” pic.twitter.com/CTu65nR2hJ

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 17, 2025

Thirty-five years after Tom Cruise received his first Oscar nomination, he has finally got a trophy. Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and “Do The Right Thing” production designer Wynn Thomas had all been selected to receive honorary Oscar statuettes at the annual Governors Awards, the film academy said. Dolly Parton would also be recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable work in literacy and education.