Will Tom Cruise FINALLY win his first Oscar for crowd pleasing hit Top Gun: ... trends now
Few actors have borne the brunt of Oscars snobbery like Tom Cruise.
He may be a Hollywood icon and among the highest-grossing stars of all time, but his remarkable success still isn't recognized by the industry's most prestigious gongs.
That could all change at this year's Oscars, after Cruise earned a Best Picture nomination as a producer of Top Gun: Maverick.
The 60-year-old has been in the running for the awards only three times previously. His last nomination came in 2000 for Best Supporting Actor in Magnolia. He was also shortlisted for Best Actor in 1990, for Born on the Fourth of July, and in 1997, for Jerry Maguire.
Cruise pictured in London after receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Picture for Top Gun: Maverick. The actor's last Oscar nomination was more than two decades ago for Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia
The Oscars are notoriously high-brow and winners for the top awards, including Best Picture, are rarely plucked from the top-grossing charts.
But after Covid slammed the door on cinemas for nearly three years, it was Top Gun that helped bring back audiences in their droves - and proved blockbusters are the backbone of Hollywood.
While stuffy Best Picture nominees such as Tar and The Fabelmans have impressed critics, they've flopped at the box office, bringing in little more than $5m each.
Top Gun: Maverick bagged nearly $1.5billion - at a time when the industry desperately needed a boost.
Top Gun: Maverick lured audiences back to cinemas in their droves after Covid closures brought the industry to its knees. But will the Oscars recognize the film, which is nominated in the Best Picture category, or reward one of the high-brow contenders?
Cruise appeared upbeat as he waved at photographers following Top Gun: Maverick's nomination in the Best Picture category
Cruise, seen in London following the announcement of the 2023 Oscars nominees, has been nominated three times previously but never won. Top Gun: Maverick is a contender for Best Picture after it brought audiences back to cinemas in their droves following Covid lockdowns
Tom Cruise (left at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere) returned as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell for the 2022 movie, which raked in nearly $1.5 billion at the box office
Tom Cruise could finally scoop an Oscar after Top Gun: Maverick (right) was nominated for Best Picture. Pictured right: Cruise in the original 1986 film
Cruise's last nomination was for Best Supporting Actor at the 2000 awards for his role in Magnolia
He received a Best Actor nomination for his role in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire
Cruise picked up his first nomination at the 1990 awards, when he was shortlisted for Best Actor for his role in Born on the Fourth of July
Cruise has shone in a huge range of roles throughout his career, but failed to earn an Oscar. He'd be forgiven for giving up on attempts to impress the judges.
Movie buffs have
