After four nominations and decades of blockbuster hits, Tom Cruise will finally be honored by the Academy this fall, receiving an honorary Oscar for his lifetime contribution to cinema.
At a Glance
- Tom Cruise will receive an honorary Oscar at the 15th Governors Awards in November 2025
- He was previously nominated four times but never won a competitive Oscar
- Cruise is known for performing his own stunts in films like Mission: Impossible
- Other honorees include Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton
- The award celebrates Cruise’s impact on cinema and the moviegoing experience
A Career Deserving Recognition
Despite decades of iconic roles and four competitive Oscar nominations, Tom Cruise had long remained without Hollywood’s top honor. That changes this November, when he will be presented with an honorary Oscar at the 15th Governors Awards in Los Angeles. According to PBS NewsHour, Academy President Janet Yang praised Cruise’s “incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community.”
Watch the full announcement: Tom Cruise honored by Academy
The 15th Governors Awards: A Star-Studded Celebration
Cruise won’t be the only honoree at the gala. Firstpost reports that trailblazing choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas will each receive honorary awards. Country music icon Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in recognition of her charitable work.
“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” Yang said, as quoted by The Daily Jagran.
A Long-Awaited Milestone
For Cruise, this recognition is decades in the making. His first Oscar nomination came in 1989 for Born on the Fourth of July, followed by nods for Jerry Maguire and Magnolia. Now, at 62, the actor is being formally honored for a career that spans everything from Top Gun and Rain Man to Mission: Impossible—where his death-defying stunts helped redefine modern action filmmaking.
The award also recognizes Cruise’s efforts to champion theatrical releases in a shifting movie landscape. As one of Hollywood’s few remaining stars who can still drive audiences to theaters, Cruise’s honorary Oscar is more than overdue—it’s a tribute to an enduring legacy that continues to shape the industry.
