REVEALED: Stephen Spielberg’s 20-year feud with Tom Cruise that ended at recent Oscars lunch: Star infuriated director by couch-jumping on Oprah and belittling Brooke Shields for using antidepressants
- The Indiana Jones director believed that Cruise’s antics in the run up to War of the Worlds being released cost the film $30million
- Cruise would gush about his then-girlfriend Katie Holmes, with a now infamous clip of him jumping on a sofa with Oprah going viral
- Both men appear to have put their differences behind them after embracing during the Oscars lunch last week
Stephen Spielberg’s glowing praise of Top Gun: Maverick, has shone a spotlight on the bitter 20 year feud between the Hollywood icons.
Spielberg, 76, praised Cruise at a recent Oscars luncheon, gushing ‘You saved Hollywood’s a***, and you might have saved theatrical distribution.’
He was referring to Cruise’s monster 2022 hit Top Gun: Maverick, which earned almost $1.5 billion at the box office, and which was credited for single-handedly reviving interest in movie theaters after devastating COVID shutdowns.
But the pair did not always had such a happy relationship, and fell out after working together on War of the Worlds in 2005.
Spielberg was reportedly unhappy about Cruise’s infamous couch-jumping on an episode of Oprah while he bragged about his doomed romance with Katie Holmes.
He reportedly believed Cruise’s antics cost War of the Worlds $30m in box office takings, although the movie was still a huge success that made over $600m.
Scientologist Cruise further angered Spielberg after he blasted Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants.
This is the moment Spielberg and Cruise hugged one another earlier this month, ending a bitter 20 year feud over what Spielberg saw as Cruise’s erratic behavior
Spielberg and Cruise are pictured promoting War of the Worlds in 2005. They fell out around the same time, and remained estranged until recently
It led to Spielberg and Cruise having a 20-year-old estrangement.
But the relationship appearing to warm up after their gushing interaction was caught on camera last week.
The breakdown of their relationship started after Cruise’s ‘enthusiasm’ for Holmes and Scientology took over his War of the Worlds promotional duties.
During an appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s’ talk show in May 2005 he was supposed to be promoting the apocalyptic movie about aliens ravaging the Earth.
But instead, the Mission Impossible star leaped onto her couch to proclaim his love for Holmes shortly after their relationship started.
The crowd at Chicago’s Harpo studios had hyped itself up into an ecstatic frenzy, whooping before Cruise came out.
He hugged Winfrey as he got on the stage and appeared to be full of energy as he kept jumping up from his seat.
The host asked him about how he felt about attending an event with Holmes, to which he declared ‘I’m in Love’.
She asks on a few occasions about the film, but Cruise kept jumping about and laughing with Winfrey going ‘you’re gone’.
Modest Cruise is seen smiling and shaking his head as he took the compliments from his fellow movie icon on board at the Oscars luncheon
Spielberg praised Cruise’ performance in Top Gun: Maverick and gushed about the actor in their veyr public meeting
During an appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s’ talk show in May 2005 he was supposed to be promoting War of the Worlds but in now iconic scenes he jumped on her sofa to declare his love for Katie Holmes
The host asked him about how he felt about attending an event with Holmes, to which he declared ‘I’m in Love’.
He then goes, ‘Yes, we’re talking about War of the Worlds’ as he stood up to shake Winfrey who looked startled by his behavior.
Little conversation was had about the film, which still did well when it hit theatres – and is still one of the most highly thought of sci-fi movies of all time and earned $603million in worldwide box office.
That incident put their relationship under strain, with Cruise then stepping his gaffes up a level when he slammed his friend Brooke Shields.
He said that she was ‘irresponsible’ for using antidepressants to treat her postpartum depression.
Cruise, who is one of Scientology’s leading members, is opposed to psychiatric therapy and the use of psychiatric medicines because of the church.
The actor became visibly combative after the then-Today host Matt Lauer asked him about the criticism – calling psychiatry a pseudoscience.
Cruise launched into a rant against the drug, telling Today host Matt Lauer ‘You don’t even know what Ritalin is’
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tFgF1JPNR5E%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26start%3D3%26hl%3Den-US
Cruise said his friend Brooke Shields was ‘irresponsible’ for using antidepressants to treat her postpartum depression
Spielberg was also reportedly ‘furious’ about the Ritalin rant because he knew children who were helped by the drug. PIctured: Holmes and Cruise in 2005 at the WOTW premiere
Cruise, who is one of Scientology’s leading members, is opposed to psychiatric therapy and the use of psychiatric medicines because of the church
He also accused Lauer of being ‘glib’ when the host mentioned knowing people that Ritalin worked.
Cruise then launched into a rant against the drug, telling Lauer ‘You don’t even know what Ritalin is.’
This then caused Spielberg to believe that Cruise’s antics had overshadowed the release, and cost the film $30million in the box office according to Kim Masters on her radio show, ‘The Business.’
She said: ‘There was a lot of negative publicity. I’m not sure how he calculates that.’
Spielberg was also reportedly ‘furious’ about the Ritalin rant because he knew children who were helped by the drug.
He then ‘naively’ tried to talk to the star about a doctor who prescribed Ritalin, with masters describing it as the moment which ‘really snapped the bond’ between the pair.
The doctor was Spielberg’s friend, and shortly after the conversation his office was picketed by Scientologists.
Spielberg ‘naively’ tried to talk to the star about a doctor who prescribed Ritalin, with masters describing it as the moment which ‘really snapped the bond’ between the pair
Cruise and Spielberg have not always had such a happy relationship – with their terms souring after working together on War of the Worlds in 2005 and Minority Report in 2002
Cruise denied having anything to do with the incident, but it caused more tension between the director and actor.
He also upset Kate Capshaw, Spielberg’s wife, with Masters adding: ‘ For a time, it seems, the Spielberg’s waited in vain for the star to explain how, exactly, those protesters happened to appear at the doctor’s office.’
The Mission Impossible actor became known for his devotion to Scientology, and divorced from Holmes in 2012 – after six years of marriage and welcoming their daughter Suri.
Many put the breakdown of the relationship down to Cruise’s obsession with Scientology, with Katie winning the custody battle for their daughter.
She filed for divorce due to fear of Cruse abducting Suri into Scientology, which is something that she did not want.
Despite the hits of both films earning them boat millions, the pair never worked together again – but seem to have made up at the Oscars with the public affection.
Masters believes Spielberg would have genuine reasons to appreciate Cruise and his push for Top Gun: Maverick to be released in movie theaters’
Many put the breakdown of the relationship down to Cruise’s obsession with Scientology, with Katie winning the custody battle for their daughter
The Mission Impossible actor became known for his devotion to Scientology, and divorced from Holmes in 2012 – after six years of marriage and welcoming their daughter Suri
The Business show said that the pair acted like ;best friends for ever’ after Cruise regained public respect following the Top Gun sequel being a huge hit.
Spielberg is nominated for best director for his autobiographical film, ‘The Fabelmans,’ which also is nominated for best picture.
Masters believes Spielberg would have genuine reasons to appreciate Cruise and his push for Top Gun: Maverick to be released in movie theaters. ‘
She said: ‘If there’s anything Tom Cruise could do to endear himself to Steven Spielberg, it is saving theaters. Spielberg, as we know, feels like many auteur directors, that theaters are essential to appreciating films properly.’
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