Tom Cruise is about to go on his most impossible mission yet. Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning is now hitting theaters, promising to once again raise the bar for crazy stunts, immaculately choreographed action set-pieces, and a cast with enough charisma to fill the Grand Canyon.

This is intended as the eighth and final Mission: Impossible, concluding the labyrinthine spy saga that commenced back in 1996 with the Brian De Palma-directed original. As of writing, the franchise has grossed over $4 billion worldwide and this entry will surely add on another couple of hundred million bucks to that.

So, with Mission: Impossible wrapping up is Cruise hanging up his gallery of rubber masks and explosive gadgets for good? Well, while Ethan Hunt’s adventures might be over, it sounds like Cruise’s are just beginning. In an interview with THR, he’s made the eyebrow-raising claim that he plans to be cinematically leaping away from explosions forever, or at the very least when he’s over a hundred years old.

When Cruise was asked if he’d keep making M:I movies into his eighties, he clarified the situation: “Actually I’m going to make them into my hundreds. I will never stop. I will never stop doing action. I will never stop doing drama, comedy films. I’m excited”.

At the #MissionImpossible—The Final Reckoning premiere, Tom Cruise reveals he will keep making movies into his 100s pic.twitter.com/dZdzfEKnAf

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 18, 2025

True immortality?

So, how does Cruise plan to battle back against the steady hand of time and the aging process? Well, given that he looks this good at 62, he’s off to a great start, and Final Reckoning underlines that age hasn’t slowed him down one bit when it comes to action. Cruise’s healthcare, training, and medical regime is no doubt absolutely top of the line, but can he actually stop the clock?

One option – and one we’re already sure he’s ed for – is having multiple extremely highly detailed laser scans of his body done. This should theoretically allow Tom Cruises of any age to appear in movies far into the future, aided by AI technology that can recreate his voice at various stages of his life.

Cruise could then motion capture his performances, giving digital performances indistinguishable from reality. We’ve already seen de-aging tech improve by leaps and bounds in blockbusters, and he’d be a prime candidate for it. Even so, continuing to do even that beyond the age of a hundred might be pushing it though by this time, it would be the 2060s, and we imagine AI tech would allow studios to “hire” an autonomous virtual Tom Cruise that could perform to his specifications in any way imaginable.

And heck, while we’re in sci-fi territory, maybe by that point Cruise can simply shed his decaying human form and his brain directly into some kind of immortal Cruise-bot, thus allowing him to walk the Earth as a digital ghost. Who knows, in tens of thousands of years, civilization could have fallen and all that’s left of our world is Tom Cruise, striding between the sun-blasted ruins of skyscrapers and impressing the weird bug-creatures that inherit the planet with his winning smile?

Ben Affleck’s breakup with Ana de Armas will forever be iconized in pop culture thanks to that ridiculous paparazzi photo where a heavily masked man (allegedly Casey Affleck) threw a cardboard cutout of Ana de Armas into the trash. We’ve somehow gotten a long-overdue update.

According to Daily Mail — which is a publication you certainly can believe if you choose to — Ben Affleck is deeply “jealous” of his friend Tom Cruise’s supposed relationship with Ana de Armas. Lately, Tom Cruise has been spotted with Ana de Armas taking strolls in London, flying in helicopters, and perhaps more illuminatingly, spending time together on Valentine’s Day.

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have not yet confirmed that they’re actually together. Tom Cruise is one of the most famous individuals in the world, and it’s understandable that he doesn’t want us in his business… but it’s very unlikely that you’d go out on a date on Valentine’s Day with someone who is just a friend. And going with that assumption, this would probably be the first time he’s been open to being seen publicly with someone he’s dating since Katie Holmes.

Now, according to Daily Mail, Ben Affleck is not necessarily happy for his fellow action star. Despite Affleck moving on rather quickly and getting married and then divorced in the four years since they were together, he reportedly still has feelings for his former beau. The Daily Mail’s famous anonymous sources even claim that Affleck’s friends have been jokingly suggesting that he get with Katie Holmes now. A Hollywood wife-swap, if you will.

But it doesn’t even end there. Reports suggest Ben Affleck is being “weird.” Affleck is apparently also jealous of Tom Cruise’s career, and feels like if he had stayed with Ana de Armas, he would have been “saved” from his chaotic, short-lived re-coupling with Jennifer Lopez. Whether this means Ben Affleck will be jumping out of planes in The ant 3 remains to be seen.

This all comes without a single shred of proof that Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise are even actually dating. CheatSheet reports that while the two have been spotted — even recently — on their way to David Beckham’s 50th birthday party, they were actually not showcasing any PDA, so it was difficult for anyone to tell. When they’re ready — or if they’re ready — they’ll probably just post a picture on Instagram like Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid recently did.

It cannot be stressed enough just how protective Tom Cruise is these days with his personal life. After his fallout during the era when he was outspokenly wearing his religion on his sleeve and telling people what he thought of antidepressants, he was turned into a pariah in Hollywood. It’s understandable that now, having worked his reputation back to the top, he’s not willing to give that up right away. One wrong sentence can take people right back into psychoanalyzing him. He even recently, and politely, declined to give his take on Trump’s Hollywood tariffs.

Tom Cruise seems like he’s in a very peaceful place in his life.

Tom Cruise has never been short on stunts, whether leaping off skyscrapers for the big screen or jumping on Oprah’s couch to profess his love. However, his biggest leap might be convincing someone to stick around longer than his typical romantic shelf life.

The 62-year-old action star, who is notorious for his high-profile divorces and eyebrow-raising ties to Scientology, has been married three times, he remains Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. For the most part, Cruise’s love life has been more dramatic than most of his movies. Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes — all have become Mrs. Cruise at one point before pulling the escape cord.

But now rumors are swirling that Cruise may have found love with the much younger actress Ana de Armas. The two may be an odd pairing at first glance. However, the fact that de Armas seems to be building a name in the action genre could explain why they gravitate toward each other. Of course, we also need to take into consideration the speculations that the Church of Scientology handpicks the potential partners of its high-ranking . Cruise is, after all, one of its most popular and someone who has deep ties to church leader David Miscavige.

For months, the Mission: Impossible star and the Knives Out actress have been spotted cozying up to each other on different occasions. It’s not known when exactly Cruise and de Armas first met, but it appears things are already getting serious between the two. Knowing Cruise’s history, however, de Armas could be looking at her next heartbreak, if she’s unwilling to his religion.

Are things between de Armas and Cruise getting serious?

When de Armas turned 37 on Tuesday, April 30, she chose to celebrate it with Cruise. The two were photographed riding a helicopter, with the actor piloting the aircraft. A video obtained by TMZ of their romantic ride showed the actress looking effortlessly sporty in a pair of short shorts, sneakers, and classic black shades. Meanwhile, Cruise, who was dressed in dark jeans, boots, and a biceps-baring tee, showed off his gentlemanly ways by carrying de Armas’ backpack upon landing.

A few days prior, the pair hit up a U.K. cinema for another date. From the looks of things, they seem to have already established a strong bond even without confirming their relationship status. Compared to their first sighting on Valentine’s Day, which started all the romance rumors involving them, Cruise and de Armas appear more relaxed in their latest outings together.

However, while all signs point to a serious relationship, some insiders are quashing the assumption that Cruise and de Armas are a couple. One source told People they are just “discussing potential collaborations down the line,” and there’s “no romantic connection” between them. The Mirror also received a tip that they are rebooting Cruise’s 1990 flick Days of Thunder together.

Like Cruise, de Armas is no stranger to headline-making romances. Her resume includes a brief marriage to Spanish model Marc Clotet, a pandemic-era fling with Ben Affleck, and a whispery link to the stepson of Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel. If she is indeed dating Tom, this would mark her seventh public romantic entanglement and possibly her riskiest yet.

Sinners is the movie of the moment. Ryan Coogler’s period vampire action horror has been dazzling critics and audiences around the world since its premiere a week ago. The movie combines pointed social commentary with bloody action, awesome music, and wall-to-wall excellent performances, and it’s become a future awards season darling overnight.

Exceptionally strong word-of-mouth has also seen a minuscule 6% second-week box office dropoff, meaning Sinners’ success should continue to snowball over the coming weeks. Along the way, it’s picked up one very notable fan: Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise, who took to X to praise the cast and crew and underline that it’s a “must see in a cinema”:

Congratulations Ryan, Michael, and to the entire cast and crew. Must see in a cinema and stay through the end credits! pic.twitter.com/rQ54y74j2e

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) April 27, 2025

Cruise is absolutely right. Despite naysayers predicting the end of the theatrical experience, Sinners is intended to be watched on a huge screen with a thumping sound system, surrounded by other people. Coogler shot Sinners on IMAX 70mm “with optimized symphonic sound design” for those theaters and – as someone lucky enough to see it on IMAX 70mm – I can confirm the hype is real. This was one of the best moviegoing experiences I’ve had in years.

The critical and box office success means Michael B. Jordan is on cloud nine right now, but the cherry on top is Cruise’s praise. Taking to Instagram stories, he reshared Cruise’s post with a mind-blown emoji and a stunned “Nah this is crazy…” comment.

Cruise’s praise is particularly notable as his Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is just weeks away from release and may end up in direct competition with Sinners. Both movies are intended to be seen on IMAX screens, meaning that theoretically they may end up battling for time and space on the format.

But Cruise has clearly concluded that one IMAX movie doing big numbers is good for everyone. After all, Sinners positioning the format as the “true” way to experience the movie has seen sold-out screenings around the world, and many of those attending will be IMAX newbies. There’s a barnstorming The Final Reckoning trailer running before Sinners, so he’ll be hoping those blown away by Coogler’s movie will return in a few weeks for his.

In the meantime, if you still haven’t seen Sinners, you absolutely should. It’d be a great movie however you watch it, though the full-frame 70mm sequences are jaw-dropping on an IMAX screen, and *that* scene (if you’ve seen it you know the one I’m talking about) is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in a cinema since Mad Max: Fury Road all those years ago.

Many would have found Val Kilmer in Top Gun: Maverick to be a pale imitation of the young, healthy man who had first played Iceman in Top Gun decades ago. Cancer had ravaged his physical strength, stealing his ability to speak properly, and left him really weak. But it couldn’t dampen his strong will that refused to let cancer destroy his dream — a dedication to his work that Tom Cruise will forever ire.

Since Kilmer’s death from pneumonia on April 1, 2025, Cruise had held on to his silence, not commenting on his former co-star’s ing, unlike other stars coming forward to pay their tributes. But when he ascended the stage of CinemaCon in Los Angeles, he couldn’t help getting emotional as he ed the late actor and proceeded to honor his “dear friend,” as reported by Variety.

“I can’t tell you how much I ire his work, how grateful and honored I was when he ed Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick. I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.

I wish you well on the next journey.”

Kilmer battled throat cancer for six years after getting the diagnosis in 2014. The subsequent treatments, which involved chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and two tracheotomies, severely affected his ability to speak, leaving his voice weak, raspy, and rather strained. But when he was offered the role — since Cruise was adamant he would only make Maverick if Kilmer returned as Iceman — he agreed. His healthy journey thus far was incorporated into his character’s storyline.

Throughout the film, Iceman mostly chooses typing to communicate and relay his thoughts. And when he does speak, even for a brief scene, it is his original voice digitally enhanced to make it clear. Maverick’s director Joseph Kosinski rubished reports that claimed the production had collaborated with Sonantic, an AI voice company, to recreate Kilmer’s voice with the aid of his past films and recordings.

Even though he announced in 2021 that he was cancer-free, the actor continued to struggle with the debilitating effects of his cancer treatment, especially the tracheostomy he underwent, since it made him highly susceptible to respiratory diseases. As reported TMZ via sources close to Kilmer, he had been hospitalized and become “frail” in the week leading to his death.

An insider has lifted the lid on Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas’ relationship status, after images of the Hollywood couple getting cozy in London went viral on social media. 

In case you’re not across the supposed new couple (whose power couple name, Cramas, sounds a little… off), Cruise and de Armas were spotted together on at least two occasions over the past few weeks. The first sighting was in London, when the pair were seen grabbing a meal at a restaurant and hopping into a taxi together. That might seem platonic enough, but the pair’s meeting was on Valentine’s Day, so naturally, all the hopeless romantics among us took the images as confirmation that Cruise and de Armas were an item. 

NEW
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas in London yesterday #TomCruise pic.twitter.com/XT6sVPGLa6

— Tom Cruise News (@TCNews62) February 15, 2025

Adding fuel to the speculative fire, the duo were then spotted in mid-March at a London Heliport, where they were snapped exiting a helicopter. The taxi-to-helicopter pipeline was for some a signal that things were getting serious between the pair, but I imagine aircrafts are as accessible as Ubers when you’re as rich as Tom Cruise. These more recent photos led fans to double-down on their romantic assumptions, but unfortunately for them, an inside source/anti-cupid has swooped in with some sad news for all the Cramas-shippers. 

According to the source (per People) Cruise and de Armas’ two meetings were not to form the basis of Hollywood’s latest power couple, but to “[discuss] potential collaborations down the line.” The insider added that the pair “appeared to have no romantic connection” and are “just friends,” so much so that both of their agents were present at their first London outing. I guess it’s all just Strictly Business? Few details around the pair’s collaborative project were revealed, but some outlets reported that Cruise and de Armas’ dinner was attended by Doug Liman, who is rumored to direct the mystery movie and has elsewhere helmed Edge of Tomorrow and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.  

NEW
TC at the Heliport with Ana de Armas. #TomCruise pic.twitter.com/1qoKf6abJ5

— Tom Cruise News (@TCNews62) March 15, 2025

In of projects we actually do know about, de Armas is set to appear in Ballerina — a spinoff of the John Wick franchise — and Cruise will lead the cast of The Final Reckoning, the final installment of the Mission: Impossible series. Try as they might, the source’s confirmation did little to quell those who had already envisioned Cruise and de Armas’ inevitable t red carpet debut. “Just friends?” one wrote on X, “Well, there goes my Hollywood rom-com dream script.” Others said the pair “look[ed] stunning together,” or simply lamented that the source’s claim “is not good news for fans.” 

It’s not the first time this month that romantic speculation has erupted after two celebrities were spotted getting cozy. Just last week, Bones and All star Taylor Russell and Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan sparked relationship rumors when they were seen chatting together as they waited to cross a road in London, which I guess is now the official target of cupid’s arrows. Elsewhere, in perhaps a more bizarre instance, Jenna Ortega and Johnny Depp were romantically linked last year, but Ortega promptly denied the rumors and even revealed she had never met her fellow Tim Burton muse. 

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas, just friends? Well, there goes my Hollywood rom-com dream script guess we’ll have to settle for epic on-screen chemistry instead!

— anaknijihoz.ron (@SonOfJihoz_real) March 17, 2025

Whatever the case, I guess all this speculation means an unlucky-in-love person like myself needs to move to London, since that’s clearly the site where romance rumors flourish. While I’m at it, I should probably lead the cast of a Hollywood blockbuster and co-star opposite a beautiful A-lister. Guess I better get to work?

Tom Cruise is one of the finest showmen in the business. We’ve seen him jump off buildings, cliffs, and planes. But truth be told, he could generate just as many headlines by jumping on Oprah’s couch. That makes him indispensable to studios. Unfortunately for those around him, someone still has to pay for his antics. Such was the case in 2006 when Cruise was so unhinged that Paramount fired the publicist who put him in front of cameras.

Cruise’s career is complicated. There have been ups and even higher ups. But when controversy hit, it was as bad as Will Smith’s Oscar fiasco. For those who don’t — or weren’t old enough — it’s hard to understand why people considered couch-jumping such a big deal. Sure, it looked odd. Some might even say it looked fake because of how over the top it was. But was that really worth firing Tim Menke, a veteran publicist respected across the industry? Well, context, in this case, matters.

On Feb. 28, the ICG Publicist Awards honored Menke for an illustrious 30-year career. When accepting his award, the first thing that came to his mind was still the couch incident. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Menke gave his speech to a very giddy audience. “These awards solidified a special place in my heart in 2006 when, after a dozen years at Paramount, I was kicked to the curb in large part because, well, long story short, a couch on The Oprah Winfrey Show.” He went on to say his “mistake” was the exception to the biggest rule in the entertainment industry.

“It was my booking and it didn’t go very well. It violated the adage that all publicity is good publicity.”

However, Menke wasn’t the only casualty of that era, when a Cruise interview could derail at any moment. Skepticism toward Cruise’s chosen religion, Scientology, had peaked. Whenever he got on camera — be it with Matt Lauer or Oprah — his demeanor wildly varied. His War of the Worlds press run became about his personal life, not Spielberg’s movie. By the end of that tour, Menke lost his job. His agent, Pat Kingsley, also lost hers. Cruise’s relationship with Spielberg was reportedly broken beyond repair.

Fortunately, that changed after Top Gun: Maverick when Spielberg personally thanked Cruise for “saving cinema” at the Oscar night rehearsals. The film shattered box office records at a time when theaters desperately needed a resurgence. One can only hope that means a late-career Cruise-Spielberg collaboration — especially now that Cruise is finally saying goodbye to the Mission: Impossible franchise.

And in a sense, that’s how Cruise recalibrated his career and found his way back into our hearts. He stopped discussing his personal life and focused solely on his work. Albeit through “safe” choices like Mission: Impossible sequels. But knowing what goes into making those movies, “safe” seems like an understatement. Even Will Smith seems to be following this playbook for his comeback.

Menke also bounced back from the fiasco and eventually returned to Paramount Studios — after its bosses finally understood the merit of bringing back an industry veteran — in 2018, and is currently working under Liz West, the studio’s Executive Vice-President of marketing communications

The king of action is back to turn one last impossible mission possible. After 29 years, Tom Cruise is finally saying goodbye to his defining role as Ethan Hunt in the final movie of the series, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. In a franchise already etched among cinema’s greats, Cruise promises to bow out with stunts even he has never attempted before.

We love Mission: Impossible for its iconic recurring lines like “Your mission, should you choose to accept it.” We love it for its unforgettable theme song. But most of all, we love it because we get to see Tom Cruise challenge himself. With each installment, he pushes himself further, showing us what a performer can achieve when they are fully dedicated to their craft. And it’s not just that he pulls it off every single time — it’s how he relishes the opportunity to entertain us.

The last time we saw Ethan and his gang, they had narrowly outwitted a Machiavellian AI system called “The Entity,” which seeks to take over the world. But unlike previous installments, Ethan hasn’t fully defeated the villain. Before the movie ended, he had already accepted his next mission: To finally switch off The Entity, now lodged in a Russian submarine submerged somewhere in the middle of the ocean. Fittingly, the cliffhanger ended with yet another life-altering Tom Cruise stunt — jumping off a motorcycle from an actual cliff and gliding onto a train with a parachute.

This marriage of stunt and story has become a staple of the series. Whether scaling the Burj Khalifa or gripping onto an Airbus during takeoff, there’s always something thematic woven into the spectacle. That’s why when Empire Magazine reported that director Christopher McQuarrie teased more stunts, excitement erupted. In one scene already causing buzz online, Cruise is expected to hang upside-down from a 1930s Boeing Stearman biplane. The scene, shot in real life 10,000 feet above South Africa, pushed even Cruise to his limits. As McQuarrie revealed to the magazine:

“There are stunts in this movie that will melt your brain. There would be a day in Africa — any day in Africa — where Tom would go out and do something that topped anything he had ever done before.”

Cruise himself also gave a firsthand perspective, stating:

“When you stick your face out, going over 120 to 130 miles an hour, you’re not getting oxygen. So I had to train myself how to breathe. There were times I would out physically; I was unable to get back into the cockpit.”

A clip already teased on Tom Cruise’s official X shows McQuarrie flying in a nearby helicopter, watching Cruise hang for dear life — and our entertainment. The clip is laughable because even McQuarrie seems astonished by Cruise’s resolve, but at the same time, the actor’s ission reminds us that at the end of the day, he is bound by his limitations as a human being — it is just his relentless determination that never lets him quit. His next film would most probably see him doing even more dangerous stunts.

If you’re worried they may have ruined the big reveal, don’t fret. It’s understandable, though, since true set-piece spectacles always carry an element of surprise, and modern Hollywood marketing trends sometimes over-familiarize fans with movies they haven’t even seen yet. That said, McQuarrie promises other stunts remain under wraps, including one involving an underwater challenge and another unspecified feat the director guarantees won’t go unnoticed. And, judging by the trailer, it all looks spectacular.

This is Tom Cruise’s last tango. And given the pandemic robbed us of a proper farewell for Daniel Craig as our most beloved spy across the pond, this is our chance to hands and bid a hearty goodbye to Ethan Hunt and his team. If reports are anything to go by, people are apparently having heart attack scares at test screenings, so buckle up.

We’re used to Tom Cruise risking his life for cinema’s sake, but it looks like it’ll be us who are under threat when it comes to the action icon’s next blockbuster.

Cruise is now 62-years-old, and yet the Top Gun star is continuing to push the bet he’s apparently made with God that he’ll survive increasingly ambitious and death-defying stunts. Fresh off his show-stopping parachute entrance to the 2024 Olympics, everyone’s favorite Scientologist is back in theaters this summer for the highly anticipated next (and possibly last) entry in the IMF saga, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The only thing is that, this time, you might want to bring your doctor with you instead of your date.

That’s going by the alarming response one audience member had during an early test screening of the movie. Director Christopher McQuarrie has revealed that one sensitive screening attendee found the film so blood-pumping that it actually almost stopped the blood pumping to their chest.

“We had a small screening, and someone said, ‘I was suffocating throughout the entire sequence. I almost had a heart attack,'” McQuarrie recalled while chatting with Empire Magazine (via GamesRadar). “And I thought, ‘I guess we did something right.’”

What Mission: Impossible stunt almost caused someone to have a heart attack?

There’s no word yet on the exact nature of this Cruise stunt that was so crazy it almost caused a cardiac arrest, but this does tease that Final Reckoning is attempting to one-up the thrilling, fear-inducing train crash sequence from Dead Reckoning. That epic sequence memorably featured super-spy Ethan Crane careening his motorcycle over a cliff — a stunt that Cruise shot himself, on the first day of filming.

The fact that the unfortunate audience member mentions their sympathy “suffocating” while watching Cruise in action hints that the sequence in question may occur underwater — Dead Reckoning‘s final scene teased Crane’s next mission will be to scavenge a Russian nuclear submarine that’s marooned in the Arctic Ocean. No doubt we’ve got a behind-the-scenes featurette coming our way that’ll tell us all about how Cruise chose to submerge himself in the freezing waters for six hours or something.

Nothing makes you want to watch something more than being told you can’t watch it (as any child of parents who wouldn’t let them see certain films knows), so McQuarrie’s revelation only makes us all the more intrigued to see what Final Reckoning has to offer. Honestly, the Mission: Impossible franchise needs something to give it a bolt in the arm after Dead Reckoning underperformed, bringing in $570 million worldwide (yes, that’s underperforming for an M:I movie).

Originally scheduled to be shot back-to-back with its predecessor and release last spring, Final Reckoning — or Dead Reckoning: Part Two, as it was originally called — was ultimately delayed by an additional 12 months by the 2023 strikes. It remains to be seen whether the longer wait has left audiences hungrier for more or if they’ve forgotten there’s another Mission: Impossible on the way altogether. Either way, let’s just hope it’s not the final reckoning for anyone with a weak heart and a weakness for Tom Cruise.

Summer blockbusters aren’t what they used to be, but then, the theatrical market hasn’t well and truly been the same since 1994. Indeed, even without the likes of the Minions, semi-predatory nostalgia, and VFX-heavy nonsense saturating the cinema, you’d be hard-pressed to replicate the energy of a year that saw Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, The Shawshank Redemption, and Forrest Gump all hit the big screen for the first time.

All of these films have endured over thirty years later, but none quite like Forrest Gump, which nabbed six Oscars from thirteen nominations and is still beloved by audiences of all generations and persuasions thanks to its open-hearted sweetness, sincerity, and humor. And appropriately enough, it’s kicking off the new year with some streaming dominance.

Per FlixPatrol, Forrest Gump is running circles around fifth place on the United States’ Paramount Plus film charts at the time of writing. Down in ninth place, meanwhile, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back shuffles about, putting Gump‘s ingenious casting of Tom Hanks into even better perspective; indeed, maybe the five-foot-eight Tom Cruise wasn’t the best choice for the canonically six-foot-five Jack Reacher.

Forrest Gump stars Hanks as Forrest Gump, an Alabamian man and accidental entrepreneur who bumbles through life with matter-of-fact optimism and a simple-but-unwavering moral com. His adventure from boy to man puts him in the middle of some of the most definitive events in American history, but all he cares about is reuniting with the love of his life Jenny (Robin Wright).

Forrest Gump has been adopted by viewers all over the political spectrum, but has more widely been dubbed a conservative film on of Jenny (who epitomizes the countercultural climate of 1960s America) being miserable all the time, while Forrest finds great success and even joy in his more traditional approach to life.

And yet, Hanks’ protagonist is one of the most glaringly apolitical characters that come to mind. One need only cast their mind to Forrest’s cross-country marathon to clue in to the heart and soul of this character and, by extension, the film itself. The fame he garners from this excursion leaves all of his followers wondering why he’s running, what purpose he’s running for, and what all of this running stands for.

Forrest has no answer to any of these questions; he’s running because he decided he wanted to run. It’s not a matter of having figured life out or standing for something; he’s simply following his heart, which is what he does in absolutely every context he finds himself in. None of his actions are done from a place of trying to satisfy his ego, make a point, have an opinion, or anything of that sort; he runs because he wants to run, and he loves because he wants to love. He never pushes his sphere of influence wider than his own body, and, like the film itself, he leaves one hell of a beautiful impact as a result. Indeed, is it any wonder that folks of all political alignments see themselves so clearly in a film that puts emphasis on one’s humanity? Maybe we should trying seeing that in each other.

Tom Cruise may have found the love of his life — again. We hear the Hollywood star is back to dating, and he’s chosen someone who could stay beside him amid his busy schedule. Cruise is reportedly romancing his agent, Maha Dakhil.

The Mission Impossible actor and Dakhil first sparked dating rumors in September. They mostly went radio silent after that. But then the pair resurfaced this week, and their latest sighting could suggest that they have gotten closer amid their rumored relationship.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Cruise, 62, and Dakhil, 49, were spotted on a romantic dinner date at GAIA London. They reportedly took their time enjoying the food and intimate conversation, so they stayed at the restaurant for three and a half hours, according to the Daily Mail.

An eyewitness told the outlet that the actor and the agent were “very touchy-feely with one another and looked extremely cozy” during their stay at the upscale Greek restaurant, famous for serving Mediterranean food.

In some photos obtained by the outlet, Cruise and Dakhil looked very comfortable with each other. The latter was even snapped caressing the former’s arm, making him laugh. They also exchanged several smiles and touches throughout the night.

The duo reportedly arrived at the five-star eatery in a black chauffeur-driven Mercedes just after 7:30 p.m. and stayed until nearly 11 p.m., leaving plenty of time for the restaurant’s lavish ambiance and delectable menu to work its charm. Although it remains unclear what they ordered, GAIA’s menu boasts enticing options such as lobster pasta, lamb cutlets, and rib-eye steaks.

Dressed for the occasion, Cruise exuded timeless charm in a navy blazer paired with a light blue V-neck sweater and tailored pants. Dakhil, on the other hand, opted for a chic white fur coat and flared jeans, turning heads with her glamorous ensemble.

The actor’s gentlemanly side was on full display during their date as he helped Dakhil into her coat before guiding her back to their car, his hand tenderly resting on her elbow. Their chemistry was through the roof as it was the first time the pair publicly showed signs of PDA.

This marks the second time they’ve been seen together in the same week. Cruise was previously spotted dropping Dakhil off at the exclusive Chiltern Firehouse, adding fuel to the speculation surrounding their relationship. While neither party has confirmed nor denied the rumors, their recent interactions seem to suggest a growing bond.

Before his rumored relationship with Dakhil, Cruise had been linked to Spanish singer Victoria Canal, 26. Canal, however, wasted no time shutting down those claims, calling them “completely bonkers” in an Instagram post back in August.

“Guys, this is literally bonkers,” she wrote. “I’m sorry to bum you out, but I am not dating the man, albeit a lovely person & artist.” Canal later added on her Instagram Stories that Cruise had been nothing but “a lovely and encouraging person and mentor.”

Over the years, Cruise has been linked to a string of women, including Hayley Atwell, Yolanda Pecoraro, and Sofia Vergara, and has had three marriages — to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes. Each marital relationship has been well-documented, keeping the actor’s romances under constant scrutiny.

While it remains to be seen whether Cruise and Dakhil will make their rumored romance official, their London dinner date has certainly reignited public interest in the A-list actor’s love life.

On Dec. 17, Hollywood icon Tom Cruise was honored with the U.S. Navy’s highest civilian accolade, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award. The ceremony took place at the Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, Surrey, where the actor accepted his certificate and medal.

Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, presented the award, saying Cruise has been a naval advocate and has “inspired generations to serve in our Navy and Marine Corps.” He praised the 62-year-old actor’s decades-long commitment, not only to the servicemen and women, but also to their families. Cruise, in turn, addressed Del Toro, saying that he’s personally known him for years and expressed his deep respect for the care he has for servicemen and women.

“I accept this on behalf of not just myself, but our entire cast, our crew, our writer, directors, the studios in Hollywood who are so dedicated to helping. I ire all of the servicemen and women. I know in life something that is very true to me is that is to lead is to serve, and I know that to my core.”

One of Cruise’s most iconic roles is his portrayal of U.S. Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, which was a global success, earning more than $357 million on a $15 million budget. The sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, was released in 2022 and achieved extraordinary success, earning a staggering $1.4 billion at the box office.

How Top Gun influenced Navy recruitment

It was widely reported that a 500 percent increase in naval recruitment was seen after the release of Top Gun. The source of that number has never been confirmed, but it’s since been proven to be false. As AAP Factcheck points out, while there was an increase in recruitment, the rate is a more plausible 8.3 percent. Based on official information, there were 87,593 Navy enlistments the year before the movie was released compared to 94,878 after Top Gun hit theaters.

In 2022, the military hoped Top Gun: Maverick would yield the same results. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected military recruitment, as recruiting offices shut down. The Air Force saw an opportunity to entice potential recruits with the help of Top Gun: Maverick.

The Air Force’s Maj. Gen. Edward Thomas at that time said, “Frankly, we hope people get excited all over again about what we do. Whether they want to aim high or fly Navy, we just want them to come us.” Recruiting stations were set up outside movie theaters in hopes of getting s from interested individuals. The “Own the Sky” campaign video was also shown before the movie started. It seemed the effort is paying off as a spokesperson from the Navy Recruiting Command said recruitment for the fiscal year 2024 was a “success.”

A third Top Gun movie is reportedly in the works, but details have been scarce. Recently, Miles Teller, who portrayed the role of Bradley Bradshaw in Top Gun: Maverick, expressed his excitment over the third Top Gun movie but only revealed that Cruise would let him know when he should get back into shape before shooting the third movie.