Film credit
Tom Cruise
Also referred to as Cruise, Cruz, Digger Cruz
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 20
- Movies in this archive
- 18
Rewatchables episodes featuring Tom Cruise’s films
Eyes Wide Shut
1999 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Mallory Rubin
Aired August 15, 2023
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
2018 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Craig Horlbeck
Aired December 27, 2022
Mentioned in discussions
Casting What-Ifs
Unnamed driving-test rivals; deleted Simone Ashley role; unrealized Go Like Hell
In the discussion (3)
- Reported production facts include the season model, bidding package, star salary, driving training and additional script contributors; named alternative casting is unavailable. — Bill Simmons
- The younger lead reportedly passed a driving test; unknown rival actors are not invented, and Simone Ashley’s deleted romance is discussed.
- The director and star reportedly had an earlier unrealized racing project with Tom Cruise, called Go Like Hell. — Bill Simmons
Cruise or Hanks?
Hanks and Spielberg
In the discussion (1)
- The choice is Hanks and Spielberg, while Tom Cruise is imagined in Anthony Edwards's role. — Bill Simmons
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
A Creed-centered version; swapped spouses; Apollo’s wife among 1970s beauties; Stallone over Cruise as a movie runner
In the discussion (4)
- The movie would be more interesting as Creed, centered on Apollo’s shame and rematch obsession. — Chris Ryan
- Rocky and Apollo would both fare better if they swapped wives. — Van Lathan
- Apollo’s wife is placed among the best-looking Black women of the 1970s. — Bill Simmons
- Stallone is judged a better and more natural movie runner than Tom Cruise.
Cruise or Hanks?
Tom Cruise as Rick Santoro and Tom Hanks as Kevin Dunne.
In the discussion (4)
- Tom Cruise as Rick and Tom Hanks as Kevin is proposed. — Sean Fennessey
- The villain reveal and their combined star power are argued to make the pairing especially effective. — Sean Fennessey
- A Cruise-and-Will-Smith alternative is raised, but their age difference is offered as an objection.
- The panel invents a hallway sprint for Cruise.
Cruise or Hanks?
Tom Hanks as Marty; an older Tom Cruise as Cosmo
In the discussion (2)
- Hanks is the clear lead-role choice; Cruise’s association with running makes the slow walk an amusing counterexample. — Kyle Brandt
- An older Cruise with Magnolia and Vanilla Sky energy is proposed as Cosmo, while Hanks remains the final answer. — Bill Simmons
Cruise or Hanks?
Young Tom Cruise could play Binks or a sympathetic gang member.
In the discussion (2)
- An All the Right Moves-era Tom Cruise is proposed as Binks. — Bill Simmons
- His Collateral hair is recalled, and a nice member of Hubie’s gang is another possible role. — Bill Simmons
Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake
A satirical all-white remake
In the discussion (5)
- The usual all-Black-remake prompt is inverted into an all-white American Gangster — Chris Ryan
- Mark Ruffalo and Adam Scott are proposed, with Scott as Nicky Barnes
- Rob McElhenney is proposed as Tango and Tom Cruise as Frank
- Sally Field is proposed as Frank’s mother
- JJ Redick is proposed as Stevie, changing baseball to basketball — Van Lathan
Cruise or Hanks?
Tom Hanks as Richie Roberts
In the discussion (7)
- Tom Cruise is proposed as Richie because he would commit to night-school preparation — Chris Ryan
- The objection is that Cruise would feel implausible as a 1971 New York detective
- A joke alternative casts Cruise as Frank Lucas
- Tom Hanks is selected for Richie Roberts — Bill Simmons
- Martin Scorsese is selected over Steven Spielberg — Bill Simmons
- Philip Seymour Hoffman is selected for Trupo, with Richie as an intriguing alternative
- Marisa Tomei is added as another casting possibility — Bill Simmons
Cruise or Hanks?
Tom Cruise as Jonathan
In the discussion (2)
- Tom Cruise wins the lead role decisively. — Brian Koppelman
- Tom Hanks is instead proposed for Bartholomew or, as a younger actor, Moonpie. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (1)
- Cruise is preferred for the helmet, bald-cap, and cop-role contrast.
Cruise or Hanks?
Tom Cruise as Babe
In the discussion (2)
- Tom Cruise is selected for Babe without hesitation. — Bill Simmons
- Tom Hanks is tentatively proposed for Doc, though considered less ideal. — Bill Simmons
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Harrison Ford as Babe in 1976; Tom Cruise in a hypothetical 1984 version
In the discussion (2)
- A young Harrison Ford is proposed as a better 1976 Babe because he matches the novel’s size, running, danger, and romance. — Bill Simmons
- Tom Cruise is proposed as the ideal Babe in a hypothetical 1984 version because the role centers on running, expertise, romance, and panic. — Bill Simmons
Films in the archive
A Few Good Men
1992
Cocktail
1988
Collateral
2004
Days of Thunder
1990
Edge of Tomorrow
2014
Eyes Wide Shut
1999
Jerry Maguire
1996
Magnolia
1999
Minority Report
2002
Mission: Impossible
1996
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
2018
Rain Man
1988


