Spielberg: Tom Cruise saved Hollywood with "Top Gun: Maverick"

From one legend to another.

Famed director Steven Spielberg wasted no time in praising Tom Cruise during Monday's traditional Oscar luncheon attended by Oscar nominees.

Before hugging him, Spielberg showed how excited he was about the new blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick – which received a nomination in the Best Picture category.

"He saved Hollywood and maybe theatrical distribution," Spielberg tells Cruise in a clip shared on Twitter. "Seriously, 'Maverick' may have saved the entire movie industry."

Steven Spielberg tells Tom Cruise that "you saved Hollywood's ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously, 'Top Gun: Maverick' might have saved the entire theatrical industry." https://t.co/nPWR5BqiUV

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 14, 2023

The film, a sequel to the 1986 classic, has grossed a whopping $1.48 billion worldwide since opening last May. It also scored an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, a well-known movie review aggregator.

Spielberg and Cruise, who previously worked together on Minority Report and War of the Worlds, shared a video of their brief encounter at the event where Cruise debuted a striking new look.

From one legend to another.

Famed director Steven Spielberg wasted no time in praising Tom Cruise during Monday's traditional Oscar luncheon attended by Oscar nominees.

Before hugging him, Spielberg showed how excited he was about the new blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick – which received a nomination in the Best Picture category.

"He saved Hollywood and maybe theatrical distribution," Spielberg tells Cruise in a clip shared on Twitter. "Seriously, 'Maverick' may have saved the entire movie industry."

Steven Spielberg tells Tom Cruise that "you saved Hollywood's ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously, 'Top Gun: Maverick' might have saved the entire theatrical industry." https://t.co/nPWR5BqiUV

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 14, 2023

The film, a sequel to the 1986 classic, has grossed a whopping $1.48 billion worldwide since opening last May. It also scored an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, a well-known movie review aggregator.

Spielberg and Cruise, who previously worked together on Minority Report and War of the Worlds, shared a video of their brief encounter at the event where Cruise debuted a striking new look.