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Jerry Maguire

‘Jerry Maguire’ Then & Now: See How Tom Cruise & More Have Changed 24 Years Later

Show us the stars! 'Jerry Maguire' hit theaters on Dec. 13, 1996, and became an instant classic. It's been 24 years since Tom Cruise, Jonathan Lipnicki, and more stole our hearts. See the cast then and now.

Jerry Maguire is just one of those great movies you can watch over and over. Everyone always swoons when Tom Cruise’s Jerry Maguire says to Renée Zellweger’s Dorothy Boyd, “You complete me.” And then Dorothy later replies, “You had me at hello.” Simply legendary! Plus, no one can forget Jonathan Lipnicki’s scene-stealing performance as the adorable Ray Boyd.

Jerry Maguire featured an all-star cast. The movie became a box-office hit in 1996 and was nominated for 5 Academy Awards. See how the cast has changed in 24 years and what they’re up to today.

Tom Cruise , 58, starred as the titular Jerry Maguire in the 1996 film. He an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role and won a Golden Globe for his performance in Jerry Maguire . Tom has gone on to become one of the most successful action stars of all-time. His most notable action films include the entire Mission: Impossible franchise , Minority Report , The Mummy , and more.

The actor is currently filming Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8. He will reprise his breakout role of Maverick in the Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , which will be released in 2021.

When Jerry Maguire was released, Tom was married to Nicole Kidman at the time. They adopted two children , Isabella , 27, and Connor , 25, during their marriage. The couple divorced in 2001. He married Katie Holmes in 2005. They had a daughter, Suri , now 14, in 2006. Tom and Katie got divorced in 2012.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger’s breakout role was playing Dorothy Boyd in Jerry Maguire . She won her first Golden Globe just a few years later for her performance in the 2000 film Nurse Betty . Renée, 51, became a global star through playing Bridget Jones in the 2001 rom-com Bridget Jones’s Diary , which spawned two sequels.

She was nominated for Oscars three consecutive years before winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2003 drama Cold Mountain. Renée went on to star in other films like White Oleander, Cinderella Man , and more before taking a 6-year hiatus from acting.

Renée returned to acting in 2016 with Bridget Jones’s Baby and had her first major TV role in the Netflix series What/If . She portrayed Judy Garland in the 2019 biopic Judy and won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

When it comes to romance, Renée was briefly engaged to Jim Carrey from 1999 to 2000. She married country singer Kenny Chesney in 2005, but they had their marriage annulled four months later. She dated Bradley Cooper from 2009 to 2011 and Doyle Bramhall II from 2012 to 2019.

Jonathan Lipnicki

Jonathan Lipnicki was just 6 years old when he starred alongside Tom and Renee in Jerry Maguire , his film debut. Jonathan was one of the most in-demand child actors in the late ’90s and early ’00s. Jonathan also starred in both Stuart Little movies, The Little Vampire , and Like Mike .

Jonathan is now 30 years old and recently appeared in an episode of The Resident and the film Broil . He also has an upcoming movie titled Pooling to Paradise .

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr . , 52, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Rodney “Rod” Tidwell in Jerry Maguire . His other major movies include Men of Honor , Pearl Harbor , Radio , American Gangster , and more. He portrayed O.J. Simpson in the FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story . Cuba later starred in American Horror Story season 6.

Cuba has had many legal troubles over the years. In Aug. 2020, the Oscar winner was accused of allegedly raping a woman twice in 2013. His lawyer said in a statement to our sister site Variety that the allegations are “completely false.” In 2019, Cuba pleaded not guilty to charges of groping 3 women at New York City nightclubs.

Kelly Preston

Kelly Preston starred as Jerry’s ex-fiancee Avery Bishop in the film. In the years after Jerry Maguire , Kelly had notable roles in What a Girl Wants , Sky High , Old Dogs , and The Cat in the Hat . She also starred in the Maroon 5 music video for “She Will Be Loved” in 2004.

Kelly was married to John Travolta , and they have three kids: Jett , Ella , and Benjamin . Kelly and John’s son Jett died in 2009 while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas after suffering a fatal seizure. He was 16 years old. Kelly and John later opened up about Jett’s autism and created the Jett Travolta Foundation to provide relief to children with special needs.

The actress sadly died on July 12, 2020, following a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 57 years old. John and Ella revealed the tragic news via Instagram. Kelly had not disclosed her breast cancer battle to the public.

Jay Mohr , 50, played Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire , which was his feature film debut. Jay has starred in a number of films over the years, including The Adventures of Pluto Nash , Street Kings , The Incredible Burt Wonderstone , and more. The actor is also an avid sports fan. He hosted Jay Mohr Sports , a sports radio talk show on Fox Sports Radio, from 2015 to 2016.

He was the initial host of Last Comic Standing in 2003. Jay, who was also an executive producer, earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his hosting.

Bonnie Hunt

Bonnie Hunt , 59, played Laurel Boyd, Dorothy’s sister, in Jerry Maguire . Bonnie has had an amazing career both in television and film. She starred in the sitcom Life with Bonnie from 2002 to 2004, and then hosted her own talk show, The Bonnie Hunt Show , from 2008 to 2010. She earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

One of Bonnie’s most well-known role is Kate Baker in the Cheaper By The Dozen remake and its sequel. She’s also widely recognized for her voice roles in animated films like Cars , Toy Story 3 , Toy Story 4 , Zootopia , and Onward .

Jerry O’Connell

Jerry O’Connell , 46, starred as superstar quarterback Frank “Cush” Cushman in Jerry Maguire . A year after the film was released, Jerry starred in the highly-anticipated Scream 2 . He’s been a prominent actor in both TV and film over the years.

The actor played Detective Woody Hoyt for all 6 seasons of Crossing Jordan . He’s currently voicing the role of Commander Jack Ransom on Star Trek: Lower Decks . In 201, he served as a guest host on The Wendy Williams Show for a number of episodes. He married actress Rebecca Romjin in 2007. Their twin girls were born in 2008.

Jerry Maguire: 9 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Tom Cruise Movie

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Every moviegoer remembers the first time they heard the words "Show me the money" or "You had me at 'Hello.'" This was 25 years ago when Jerry Maguire, the Academy Award-winning third feature by writer and director Cameron Crowe , was released to universal praise from critics and audiences alike, impressive box office returns, and a succeeding legacy as one of the most iconic, quotable, and inspirational comedy-dramas that technically qualifies as a sports movie. Equally as interesting as plot of the Tom Cruise movie , about a hot shot agent to pro athletes whose moral epiphany sends him on a drastic journey of self-rediscovery, is the behind-the-scenes facts that craft the story of how it was made, starting with the some of people whose own lives contributed to the story.

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire Is Loosely Based On Real Sports Agents, Including Leigh Steinberg

In a making-of documentary included on the 20th Anniversary edition Blu-ray of Jerry Maguire , Cameron Crowe recalls how the inspiration for the film came from multiple avenues - some personal and some from the modern world of business. To put a face to a name, Leigh Steinberg was one of the more notable sports agents who largely served as the inspiration for the title character played by Tom Cruise . Steinberg told Sky Sports that Crowe spent a a year and a half shadowing the agent, whose most famous clients at the time included Dallas Cowboys’ Troy Aikman (who makes a cameo) and one who also sparked a few ideas in Crowe’s mind.

Aries Spears and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire

Leigh Steinberg’s Client Tim McDonald Inspired Cuba Gooding Jr.’s “Show Me The Money” Line

The aforementioned doc sees Cameron Crowe go on to mention an athlete whom Leigh Steinberg represented when he was researching for Jerry Maguire named Tim McDonald. He recalls conducting an interview with the former football player that led to one of the film’s more memorable moments:

He was there with his buddy and his buddy was watching CNN Moneyline and [McDonald] had one eye on Moneyline, too, and he just said, ‘I have gotten my butt kicked for five years. My contract is finally up and I have told my agent one thing: “Show me the money.”’ And a little chill went through me because I just knew that was such a defining thing for him and I couldn’t get the line out of my head and I spent more time with this guy and found out he’s not greedy at all. He’s just got a few more years left where he can get paid for what he does and he had a family that was supported. And I just thought, That’s a hero, you know? That’s a hero - a guy who is, on the surface, perhaps, in the desperate pursuit of cash but, in fact, what is greed if greed is paying for the people you love and allowing them to survive?

Cameron Crowe then explains how that one sentence, which he adapted into one of the most recognizable movie quotes of all time, was the spark that led to the creation of Rod Tidwell - an Arizona Cardinals wide receiver who becomes Jerry Maguire’s sole client after he gets fired. The character is also remembered as the role that earned Cuba Gooding Jr. his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1997.

Tom Cruise writes his Mission Statement in Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire’s Mission Statement Was Inspired By A Real Disney Memo By Jeffrey Katzenberg

Say, speaking of Jerry Maguire getting fired, the inciting incident of this is what the hot shot agent calls a "mission statement" for his company about emphasizing personal relationships over monetary gain that he pens after suffering a moral crisis. As it turns out, Cameron Crowe also borrowed this creative and inspiring plot device from reality as well - specifically a 28-page memo that Jeffrey Katzenberg wrote when he was head of Disney after becoming dissatisfied with the company’s box office-driven mentality. The producer sent this manifesto to his employees in 1991 - three years before leaving to develop DreamWorks with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen.

Jerry Maguire’s Post-Firing Fall Was A Secret Between Tom Cruise And Cameron Crowe

Of course, Jerry Maguire’s exit came much quicker after releasing his statement, courtesy of Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr), who chooses to announce the termination at a public restaurant to avoid causing a scene. Jerry still manages to create a rousing moment at the agency when he returns in such a rush to contact his clients that he falls flat on his face on the way to his office - an unforgettable instance of physical comedy that, apparently, was not in the script. According to Cameron Crowe on the 2016 Blu-ray featurette, he suggested the stable to Tom Cruise last-minute without telling anybody else on set, resulting in the completely natural reaction we see in the final cut.

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Cameron Crowe Wrote The Jerry Maguire Role With Tom Hanks In Mind

It is off-the-cuff decisions that end in great results like that which are why it is impossible to imagine anyone else but Tom Cruise playing the title character of Jerry Maguire . However, the Mission: Impossible movies star was not the first choice in mind Cameron Crowe, who actually wrote the part the intention of casting Tom Hanks originally. However, while on The Dan Patrick Show in 2017, the filmmaker revealed that, by the time he finished, the two-time Oscar winner was committed to his directorial debut, That Thing You Do! , which would prove to be a blessing in disguise when Cruise stepped in.

Jonathan Lipnicki Introduced His Famous Line To Cameron Crowe, According To The Director

Bonus fun fact: apparently Cameron Crowe was warned by some about Tom Cruise using his star power to try taking control of production if hired on Jerry Maguire , which he said could not have been further from the truth. In fact, it even worked in the film’s favor to cast relatively unknown actors (at the time) around the A-lister, such as then five-year-old Jonathan Lipnicki who won the hearts of many with his debut role as Ray Boyd. The now 30-year-old actor has said that people still come up to him to ask if he knows that “the human brain weighs eight pounds,” which, according to Yahoo! , Cameron Crowe claims the young actor would tell people on set, inspiring him to put it in the movie and, unwittingly, make history.

Renée Zellweger Thought Her Iconic Jerry Maguire Line Was A Typo

A more historical quote from Jerry Maguire , however, is said by Jonathan Lipnicki’s on-screen mother Dorothy Boyd, played by Renée Zellweger. After Tom Cruise’s character finally professes his genuine love for his estranged wife by saying she “completes” him, she shuts him up by replying, “You had me at ‘Hello.’” It is one of the most romantic, oft-quoted movie lines ever, but, as the future two-time Oscar-winner revealed to Newsday , she was not sure what to make of it at first:

Cameron had me say it a few different ways. It's so funny, because when I read it, I didn't get it — I thought it was a typo somehow. I kept looking at it. It was the one thing in the script that I was looking at going, 'Is that right? Can that be right? How is that right?' I thought, 'Is there a better way to say that? Am I not getting it? I just don't know how to do it.

In defense of Renée Zellweger , if the line had turned out to be a typo, it would not be the only time that Jerry Maguire benefitted from a happy accident as we have already established.

Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire

Paula Abdul Choreographed Rod Tidwell’s Post-Concussion Dance In Jerry Maguire

Another memorable moment from Jerry Maguire that was also not by accident was the elaborate dance that Rod Tidwell performs after miraculously waking up from a concussion (which is something that doctors would strongly advise against these days). However, it is still an exciting moment that was achieved with the choreography of Paula Abdul - the pop star and future American Idol judge also known for lending her dance talents to films like Coming to America in 1988. When commenting on the dance in Jerry Maguire for Entertainment Tonight in 1996, Abdul mentions she had previously met Cuba Gooding Jr. after casting him in an ad for Bugle Boy.

Cameron Crowe’s Mom Makes A Cameo In Jerry Maguire

Someone who is frequently cast in Cameron Crowe’s movies is his own mother, Alice Marie Crowe, who notably appears in the Almost Famous cast as a guidance counselor who convinces Elaine ( Frances McDormand ) to let William (Patrick Fugit) follow Stillwater on tour. Her claim to fame from Jerry Maguire , according to Slate, is playing a member of the divorced women support group hosted by Dorothy’s sister, Laurel (Bonnie Hunt), who excitedly reveals to the other that she “finally got in touch with [her] anger.”

Believe it or not, that line might have gotten a harder laugh out of me than any other line in the film. Of course, Jerry Maguire is the kind of movie where the script tends to become a part of your vocabulary even before you see it - especially for those of younger generations like myself who caught the full experience a bit later. Luckily, the romantic sports dramedy is also the kind of film that never fails to entertain and inspire no matter if you are seeing the first time of the one-hundredth time, which is why it remains a classic a quarter of a century later.

Jason Wiese writes feature stories for CinemaBlend. His occupation results from years dreaming of a filmmaking career, settling on a "professional film fan" career, studying journalism at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (where he served as Culture Editor for its student-run print and online publications), and a brief stint of reviewing movies for fun. He would later continue that side-hustle of film criticism on TikTok (@wiesewisdom), where he posts videos on a semi-weekly basis. Look for his name in almost any article about Batman.

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How old was Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry Maguire?

Tom Cruise was 33 in Jerry Maguire when he played the character 'Jerry Maguire'.

That was over 27 years ago in 1996.

Today he is 61 , and has starred in 86 movies in total, 60 of those since Jerry Maguire was released.

How old do you think he looks in the movie?

In Jerry Maguire, I think Tom Cruise looks:

Did you know?

Director Cameron Crowe has worked with Tom Cruise a total of 2 times in his career.
Tom Cruise's first movie was as 'Billy' in Endless Love, released in 1981 when he was 18
Jerry Maguire scores 6.9 out of 10 on TMDB .

The cast of Jerry Maguire

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Jerry Maguire at 20: has Tom Cruise's star appeal ever shone brighter?

Cameron Crowe’s hypermasculine yet enjoyably introspective Oscar-winning drama gave the star a chance to reveal scratches underneath a glossy surface

L ast week, a trailer for The Mummy hit the internet – a strange, disjointed, shabby-looking affair, promising little in the way of reason for re-exhuming this fusty franchise of Egypto-crypto-mysticism, and made stranger still by the presence of Tom Cruise. There he is, still lean and limber at 54, clinging for dear life to a plummeting aircraft, tumbling sideways through the windshield of a London double-decker, acing a gruelling triathlon of running, swimming and grimacing. For all his physical capability and credibility, he seems out of place: why is a supernova like Cruise consenting to something this secondhand, something in which he seems so replaceable? Cruise is the kind of star around whom films are shaped, even ones as anonymous as Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. The Mummy, on the other hand, looks like one in which he was inserted.

Twenty years ago this week, Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire arrived in US cinemas – and at that moment in time, the prospect of Cruise lending his name to something as low-rent as The Mummy might have seemed a little outlandish. Given an extra veneer of prestige by its awards-season release date and its imposing 140-minute length, Crowe’s high-class romantic comedy wasn’t exactly a comeback vehicle for its 34-year-old leading man, who was still fresh from a profitable summer bout of ass-kicking in Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible. But it nonetheless seemed to announce a second, more self-aware phase of his career – one that admitted some cracks beneath the spotless, flashily grinning facade.

He may have made his grand declaration of Serious Actor intentions seven years previously in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July, and befuddled some fans with his chilly, affected Lestat in Interview With the Vampire, but those were active, effortful, only debatably successful steps outside his star persona. Jerry Maguire , on the other hand, cannily sanded down the sharp corners of that persona, exposing more boyish weakness than boyish bravado in that all-American image. Crowe’s film told the story of a glib, margarine-slick sports agent brought around to the more important things in life by sudden failure and the love of a good woman; it was a redemption tale that sought to humanize its star in the eyes of viewers who still saw him as the unsinkable Maverick Mitchell.

Previous attempts to cast Cruise as a principally romantic lead – notably the drippy Blarney of Ron Howard’s Far and Away – had fit him like a three-fingered glove. That was partly because they didn’t admit to his impenetrability, the fact that beneath that million-dollar smile (or perhaps because of it), he comes off onscreen as, well, a little bit of a dick. His Jerry, however, presents a suitable case for treatment, an outwardly pristine man in need of some internal repair.

“I love him for the man that he almost is,” simpers Dorothy, the kindly bookkeeper and single mother who improbably snags Jerry Maguire’s semifreddo heart after he’s let go from his high-powered sports agency. She is played, of course, by the then unfamiliar but immediately lovable Renee Zellweger, whose genial, jeans-and-sweater beauty was hailed at the time as an antidote to the glassier sex symbols one might have expected to see opposite Cruise. (Like, say, Kelly Preston, none too flatteringly cast as Maguire’s venal fiancee at the outset.) Hers was the perfect image to set Cruise’s in relief: “You complete me,” he tells her later, concluding a long, macho-florid monologue in which he nobly cops to a litany of emotional weaknesses.

Crowe’s endlessly sympathetic screenplay doesn’t punish Maguire any further as it rushes to its warm hug of a denouement: confession is essentially cure in this Hollywood therapy session. (Is he now the man he once almost was?) Still, it was startling to see Cruise unfold and admit this much: striking enough to make Jerry Maguire a smash well beyond his existing fanbase, and earn him a second Oscar nomination for best actor. The film itself earned four more, including one for best picture alongside The English Patient, Fargo, Secrets and Lies and Shine – making it the big studios’ prize pony in an awards season otherwise branded “the year of the indies”.

Brash and shiny and fleet even at its needless length, accessorized in scene after scene with chunky cellphones and wraparound sunglasses – it’s as tidy a 1996 time capsule as Trainspotting is a disorderly one – Jerry Maguire was a studio film through and through. Yet Crowe clearly conceived it as one with an independent heart. Just as Maguire’s stream-of-consciousness professional manifesto, conceived near the beginning of the film as his first symptom of nascent maturity, advocates prioritizing people over big business, so Crowe’s film pointedly uses the luxuries of Hollywood artifice – the aura of Tom Cruise among them – to celebrate the virtues of the real. “Show me the money,” as instructed by Maguire’s most loyal client, mouthy middle-of-the-pack footballer Rod (an Oscar-winning Cuba Gooding Jr), may be the most indelibly quotable line in a film of many, but Maguire predictably saves himself by setting such priorities aside.

Well, sort of. Jerry Maguire may retain a considerable measure of its easy-breezy Coors Light charm, but 20 years on, its more cautious compromises stand out. Just what exactly does its hero lose to win? Maguire begins and ends the film a sleek, successful wheeler-dealer; money and celebrity remain the tenets of his professional life, even if he’s gained a doting wife and stepson on the path from riches to riches. (Even his moments of self-criticism pale beside Dorothy’s, who peculiarly blames herself for snaring him in the obligatory second-act crisis of their relationship; Jerry Maguire may seem to progressively serve a female audience under the cloak of a brawny sports movie, but its understanding of women is entirely masculine.) Crowe’s well-meaning script nods to gender equality and even racial prejudice in its glossy world – “I’m Mr Black People!” Maguire gauchely brags to Rod, though the film’s portrait of the latter, however jubilantly performed by Gooding, itself skirts crass African American caricature.

Jerry Maguire’s brilliant-white male hero thus learns a lesson in humility without ever having the focus pulled from him. Or, indeed, from Cruise, who has since probed the scratched underside of his stainless-steel star image in such projects as Magnolia and Rock of Ages – while somehow remaining every inch the alpha throughout. Even that playful curiosity seems to have waned in latter-day vehicles such as The Mummy, Jack Reacher and the umpteenth Mission: Impossible retread: the latest phase of Cruise’s career seems to have recast him as an invulnerable, unknowable action figurine of himself. Perhaps the time has come for Crowe – himself adrift in the wake of multiple touchy-feely misfires like Aloha – to snuggle up to him once more.

Jerry Maguire
Cameron Crowe
Renée Zellweger

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Jerry Maguire

When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.
Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a successful sports agent. The biggest clients, the respect, a beautiful fiancée, he has it all. Until one night he questions his purpose. His place in the world, and finally comes to terms with what's wrong with his career and life. Recording all of his thoughts in a mission statement, Jerry feels he has a new lease on life. Unfortunately his opinions aren't met with enthusiasm from his superiors and after dishonorably being stripped of his high earning clients and elite status within the agency, Jerry steps out into the sports business armed with only one volatile client, Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), and the only person with belief in his abilities, Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger), with the impossible task of rebuilding what he once had. Along the way, he faces the harsh truth which he'd ignored in the past and a host of hardships that he'd never faced before. — Hax_9
Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When he voices these doubts, he ends up losing his job and all of his clients, except for Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), an egomaniacal football player. Can Jerry resurrect his career while still staying true to himself? — Jean-Marc Rocher <[email protected]>
Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a glossy 35-year-old sports agent working for Sports Management International (SMI). After suffering a nervous breakdown as a result of stress and a guilty conscience, he writes a mission statement about perceived dishonesty in the sports management business and how he believes that it should be operated. He distributes copies of it, entitled "The Things We Think and Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business". His co-workers are touched by his honesty and greet him with applause, but the management sends Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr), Maguire's protege, to fire him. Jerry and Sugar call all of Jerry's clients to try to convince them not to hire the services of the other. Jerry speaks to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), one of his clients who is disgruntled with his contract. Rod tests Jerry's resolve through a very long telephone conversation, which culminates in the famed "Show Me the Money!" scene. Meanwhile, Sugar secures most of Jerry's previous clients. Frank "Cush" Cushman (Jerry O'Connell), a superstar quarterback prospect from Southern Methodist University expected to be #1 in the NFL Draft, also stays with Jerry after he makes a visit to the Cushman home. Leaving the office, Jerry announces he will start his own agency and asks if anyone is willing to join him, to which only 26-year-old single mother Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger) agrees. The two had previously bumped into each other in the airport and Boyd had told Maguire personally how inspiring she found his "memo." Jerry travels to the NFL Draft with Cush and convinces Rod to come too, to meet representatives of other NFL teams. Though Rod at first feels neglected compared to the superstar Cush, Sugar contacts Matt Cushman (Beau Bridges), Cush's dad, while Jerry is in the lobby with Rod and re-signs Cush to SMI. Jerry is devastated and turns to his fiance Avery (Kelly Preston) for support, but she rebukes him and he breaks up with her. He then turns to Dorothy, becoming closer to her young son, Ray, and eventually starts a relationship with her. However, Dorothy contemplates moving to San Diego as she has a secure job offer there. Jerry concentrates all his efforts on Rod, now his only client, who turns out to be very difficult to satisfy. Over the next several months, the two direct harsh criticism towards each other with Rod claiming that Jerry is not trying hard enough to get him a contract while Jerry claims that Rod is not proving himself worthy of the money for which he asks. Jerry marries Dorothy to help them both stay afloat financially and to keep her from moving away. He is emotionally and physically distant during the marriage, but is clearly invested in becoming a father to Ray. Although Dorothy is in love, she breaks up with him because she believes he does not love her. Before the start of a Monday Night Football game between the Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, Sugar attempts to steal Rod, but is rebuked by Rod and Jerry. The two reconcile soon after. Rod plays well but appears to receive a serious injury when catching a touchdown. He recovers, however, and dances for the crowd, which cheers wildly. Afterwards, Jerry and Rod embrace in front of other athletes and sports agents and show how their relationship has progressed from a strictly business one to a close personal one, which was one of the points Jerry made in his mission statement. Jerry then flies back home to meet Dorothy. He walks in and, in front of her friends, says "Hello." He then speaks for several minutes, telling her that he loves her and wants her in his life, ending with the statement, "You complete me." Dorothy's reply to Jerry is, "You had me at hello". Rod later appears on Roy Firestone's sports show. Unbeknownst to him, Jerry has secured him an $11.2 million contract with the Cardinals that will allow him to finish his pro football career in Arizona. The visibly emotional Rod proceeds to thank everyone and extends warm gratitude to Jerry. Jerry speaks with several other pro athletes, some of whom have read his earlier mission statement and respect his work with Tidwell. The film ends with Jerry, Dorothy and Ray walking in the park and stumbling across a Little League baseball game. When the ball lands near them, Ray throws it back; a surprised Jerry then comments on his natural throwing ability (and possible future in sports), much to Dorothy's dismay.

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Anchored by dazzling performances from Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger, as well as Cameron Crowe's tender direction, Jerry Maguire meshes romance and sports with panache. Read critic reviews

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Jerry maguire videos, jerry maguire photos.

When slick sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, he pens a heartfelt company-wide memo that promptly gets him fired. Desperate to hang on to the athletes that he represents, Jerry starts his own management firm, with only single mother Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger) joining him in his new venture. Banking on their sole client, football player Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), Jerry and Dorothy begin to fall in love as they struggle to make their business work.

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Original Language: English

Director: Cameron Crowe

Producer: Richard Sakai , Laurence Mark , Cameron Crowe , James L. Brooks

Writer: Cameron Crowe

Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 1996 wide

Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2012

Box Office (Gross USA): $153.6M

Runtime: 2h 18m

Distributor: TriStar Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Columbia TriStar Home Video

Production Co: TriStar Pictures

Sound Mix: Surround

Cast & Crew

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Rod Tidwell

Renée Zellweger

Dorothy Boyd

Kelly Preston

Avery Bishop

Jerry O'Connell

Frank Cushman

Regina King

Marcee Tidwell

Bonnie Hunt

Laurel Boyd

Jonathan Lipnicki

Todd Louiso

Chad the Nanny

Mark Pellington

Bill Dooler

Dennis Wilburn

Cameron Crowe

Bridget Johnson

Executive Producer

Richard Sakai

Laurence Mark

James L. Brooks

Original Music

Nancy Wilson

Kurt Cobain

Janusz Kaminski

Cinematographer

Joe Hutshing

Film Editing

David Moritz

Stephen J. Lineweaver

Production Design

Clayton Hartley

Art Director

Virginia L. Randolph

Clay A. Griffith

Set Decoration

Betsy Heimann

Costume Design

News & Interviews for Jerry Maguire

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Critic Reviews for Jerry Maguire

Audience reviews for jerry maguire.

Centering a dramedy around a character's paradigm shift is nothing new (nor was it new in 1996), but "Jerry Maguire" succeeds in being somewhat more original in how it presents the near impossibility of that kind of change. The ending may be a little too optimistic, but just about everything else that precedes it has a maturity and thoughtfulness you don't often get in films of this kind.

It was so heart warming that it burnt out a fourth star on the rating. A good premise and early start but this film ultimately get mired in faux sentimentality. You can see why the Oscar voters loved it.

"Show me the money!" From writer/director Cameron Crowe comes the touching romantic comedy Jerry Maguire. When a crisis of conscience costs a sports agent his job, he's forced to start over again with a single client and a plucky assistant who believes in his cause. Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, and Cuba Gooding Jr. lead the cast and give solid performances. The writing is also pretty good, and stays away from the usual tropes of sports films and romantic comedies. Still, there are some extraneous elements and weaknesses in the plot. A sincere and entertaining film, Jerry Maguire is heartwarming and fun.

Cameron Crowe's films always seemed to have a certain, personal atmosphere that emphasizes on human emotion, and its characters. I find his work to be quite underrated, and manage to always make some great, entertaining movies that have great meaning. With Jerry Maguire is a great film that boasts a well crafted story, and has some great performances from its lead actors, Tom Cruise and Renee Zellwegger. The film has some effective comedy elements mixed in with its dramatic elements, and add to that some great performances and engaging story, and you have a film that memorable from start to finish, and is one of Cameron Crowe's best films. I was skeptical about seeing this film, and I never wanted to really give it a chance, but I'm glad I did. Tom Cruise does some great work, and makes the film what it is. This film surprised me, and definitely exceeded my expectations. If you enjoy Cameron Crowes work, then you're going to enjoy this film. The story is well crafted and highly engaging from start to finish. Every actor here delivers top notch performances that make the film what it is. Jerry Maguire successfully blends two genres into film, effective comic relief and great dramatic moments rounds out the film to make something very enjoyable and is a movie well worth your time if you' want something humorous , yet serious at the same time. This is a near perfect film, one that is directed by a director who knows how to make terrific drama films because he makes them in a way that is quite personal, and it succeeds on many levels.

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13 Complete Facts About Jerry Maguire

By garin pirnia | dec 13, 2016.

Twenty years ago today, on December 13, 1996, Jerry Maguire debuted at the box office. Tom Cruise played the titular sports agent (based on Leigh Steinberg ), a loveable loser who has an epiphany and writes a long mission statement, sending himself into a career and personal crisis. The film won Cuba Gooding Jr. an Oscar, and blessed the world with such everlasting catchphrases as “You had me at hello,” “You complete me,” and “Show me the money.” Here are some “Kwan”-tastic facts about the Cameron Crowe dramedy.

1. THE LACKLUSTER SUCCESS OF SINGLES PROMPTED CROWE TO WRITE THE SCRIPT.

Crowe felt his film Singles (1992) hadn’t done as well as he would’ve liked and wanted to write a more personal and emotional movie. “And all of a sudden I just looked around and—it was a good thing—many false friends disappeared,” he told Paste Magazine in 2005. “And the people that sort of stayed behind, who you realize were your true friends and would be your friends for life, were not the people I expected. And that became one of the first ideas that drove Jerry Maguire : what if you lost everything, or lost a lot, and you looked around and all those people that you thought would be there for life are gone. Who’s left?”

2. THE JERRY MAGUIRE ROLE WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR TOM HANKS.

Crowe spent almost four years writing the script. “I took so long doing the script that Hanks was no longer a 35-year-old man. By the time he got [the script] he was almost 40 and had two Academy Awards and wanted to direct,” Crowe told Empire Magazine in 1997. Apparently Hanks rejected an earlier version of the script, because he “didn’t buy the marriage part. But without that, it became just a story about a guy sleeping with a girl from his office.”

3. SEVERAL CLASSIC MOVIES—AND MY-SO-CALLED LIFE —INSPIRED JERRY MAGUIRE .

“I wanted to write a movie with a real story, the kind that shows up on TV late at night, usually in black and white,” Crowe told The New York Times . Crowe loved filmmaker Billy Wilder so much, he tried to get him to play the Dicky Fox mentor role to no avail. But Crowe ended up basing the film around Wilder’s classic film The Apartment .

“I had never been that big of a Jack Lemmon fan, but there was something about the biting and yet touchingly hilarious portrait of then-contemporary workingman and his bittersweet love affair with an elevator operator,” Crowe wrote in a Rolling Stone journal . “It is my favorite film, and it was the one that inspired me to begin writing my own portrait of the contemporary man, that faceless guy who puts on a suit and tie every day, Jerry Maguire.” Crowe also said Jean Arthur in The More the Merrier and Shirley MacLaine’s Fran Kubelik in The Apartment influenced the Dorothy Boyd character. “We even watched scenes from My So-Called Life , just because I really liked Claire Danes—her interior passion in that show.”

4. CUBA GOODING JR. GOT NAKED FOR HIS AUDITION WITH CRUISE.

In a 1996 journal for Rolling Stone , Crowe recounted Gooding’s audition. Cruise and Gooding had worked together before in A Few Good Men , so Cruise was excited to reunite with him. Gooding and Cruise read the locker room scene: “Am I naked in this scene?” Gooding asked. “Yes,” Crowe responded. “Gooding snapped down his pants and stood naked,” Crowe writes. “‘Come on, let’s go,’ he said. Stunned and laughing, we watched as Gooding beckoned with his hands, as in, ‘Bring it on.’ ‘Come on, let’s read the scene,’ he shouted joyously. ‘I’m gonna get this part. I ain’t afraid of nothing.’” Gooding won the role, and because Gooding was slightly shorter than an average football player, Crowe rewrote the character description as a football player “who some felt was too short for the NFL."

5. THE ROLLING STONES’ RONNIE WOOD HAD A HAND IN NAMING BOB SUGAR.

A fan wrote into Cameron Crowe’s website The Uncool and asked who was the inspiration behind Jay Mohr’s villainous sports agent, Bob Sugar. Crowe told a story about how he was in Dublin in 1993, with Pearl Jam. He and the band were hanging out in a bar when Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood walked in. Wood yelled to Crowe, “There’s a guy who is stalking me, and he finds me wherever I go. I don’t trust him, and he seems nice, but he scares me. He says his name is … Bob Sugar! Bob Sugar! Can you believe it?” Later on, Crowe realized Wood was probably saying “Brown Sugar,” as in the Stones’ famous song, not Bob Sugar. But the name stuck. “When it came time to name the characters for Jerry Maguire , Sugar was the first one on the page,” Crowe said. “The perfect name for a nemesis—it rolled off your tongue with ease.”

6. RENÉE ZELLWEGER DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO SAY THE “HELLO” LINE.

Newsday asked the actress, who played single mother and Maguire love interest Dorothy Boyd, if it took her several tries to say the now-famous line correctly. “Cameron had me say it a few different ways,” she said. “It’s so funny, because when I read it, I didn’t get it—I thought it was a typo somehow. I kept looking at it. It was the one thing in the script that I was looking at going, ‘Is that right? Can that be right? How is that right?’ I thought, ‘Is there a better way to say that? Am I not getting it?’ I just don't know how to do it.”

7. THE CUTE LITTLE KID IS NOW GROWN UP AND IS A MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER.

Jonathan Lipnicki stole the movie as Dorothy’s precocious five-year-old son, Ray. Last year, “JLip” recorded a Father’s Day video thanking Jerry: “You kind of lost me at Kwan, but you had me at hello.” JLip goes on to poke fun at his role—“women would ovulate just looking at me”—and then rants how casting agents still think of him as the cute kid from the movie, even though he’s 26 years old. He also reveals he has a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and that his body is, well, very ripped. So, he has that going for him.

8. CONNIE BRITTON WAS ALMOST CAST AS DOROTHY BOYD.

Britton told The New York Times Magazine that she auditioned for Jerry Maguire and “nailed the audition. Crowe told her she had shown him just what the character should be.” She met with Cruise in New York and did a table read with him and the cast, and it seemed like she had won the coveted role. After doing a screen test with Cruise, she overheard someone say, “They just want to screen-test one other actress.” That actress was Renée Zellweger. Britton was heartbroken, and joked she didn’t get the part because “maybe I was too tall.”

9. CROWE HOPED “THE KWAN” WOULD BECOME A MORE POPULAR CATCHPHRASE THAN “SHOW ME THE MONEY.”

When Rod Tidwell (Gooding Jr.) coerces Jerry to scream “ Show me the money ” into a phone, a world-famous slogan was born. But, Crowe thought Tidwell’s speech about “ the Kwan ”—an adage embodying the combination of community, love, respect, and money—would resonate more with audiences. “I like to think that Tidwell had been jealous of Dennis Rodman’s blend of pseudo-French trash-talk ‘inspirato.’ He wanted his own language, too,” Crowe told Premiere magazine in 2000. “So the Kwan was born. But once we began to show the movie, audiences were pleasant, at best, during Rod’s Kwan speeches.” Eventually Kwan found some respect, at the Olympics. “I’ve always held a soft spot for the unnoticed concept of Kwan,” Crowe said. “Some time later, during an Olympic performance by ice-skater Michelle Kwan, a friend called and told me to turn on the television. In the middle of a huge crowd, a lonely fan held up a sign reading, ‘Show me the Kwan.’ Thank you for that.”

10. CUBA GOODING’S DAD WAS BANNED FROM THE MOVIE SET.

During an appearance on Graham Norton ’s BBC talk show in 2012, Gooding Jr. talked about how his dad, Cuba Gooding Sr., didn’t hold back on the set. Cuba introduced his dad to Tom Cruise, and his dad gave the actor a hug, then asked Cruise, “But seriously, are you gay or not?” Cuba later scolded his dad: “You can’t keep your lips loose and they move too fast.”

11. JERRY MAGUIRE IS THE FIFTH HIGHEST-GROSSING ROMANTIC DRAMA OF ALL TIME.

The film had a budget of $50 million and grossed $273 million worldwide. Twenty years later, it ranks as number five on the list of blockbuster romantic dramas, just behind Fifty Shades of Grey ( Titanic tops the list). Even though Jerry Maguire opened at number one, it ranks as the lowest-grossing number one film , on weekends where the top movie made less than $10 million. This occurred during its fourth weekend, when it grossed only $5 million. After 1997, because of increasing ticket prices, the sub-$10 million trend stopped being tracked.

12. CUBA GOODING DID ALL HIS OWN STUNTS IN THE MOVIE, AND HAS A BACKGROUND IN BREAKDANCING.

On The Graham Norton Show , Gooding Jr. said he was one of the young dancers who performed with Lionel Richie at the 1984 Olympics Closing Ceremonies , in Los Angeles. Gooding proved he still has the talent, when he showed off his windmills and other breakdance moves on the talk show.

13. THE HUMAN HEAD MAY OR MAY NOT WEIGH MORE THAN EIGHT POUNDS.

Ray Boyd tells Jerry while in the backseat of a car, “Did you know the human head weighs eight pounds ?” But is he right? According to a textbook and Brain Stuff , the human head actually weighs about 10 to 11 pounds, and the brain weighs about three pounds.

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25 years later, ‘Jerry Maguire’ may just be the most quotable movie of all time

A quarter of a century after we first met, he still completes us.

Yes, “Jerry Maguire,” the romantic comedy about a sports agent, played by Tom Cruise, whose conscience leads him to focus on providing more attention to fewer clients, is 25 years old.

Inspired by sports agent Leigh Steinberg, the film was a massive hit, earning four Academy Award nominations, including best picture, best actor for Cruise, best screenplay for writer-director Cameron Crowe and best supporting actor for Cuba Gooding Jr., who won the award for his portrayal of disgruntled wide receiver Rod Tidwell.

“When you make a movie or a TV show, even when it does well, when it comes out, you think, ‘That’s it.’ But here we are talking about ‘Jerry Maguire’ 25 years later,” Jerry O’Connell, who played Cush, told TODAY. “It’s crazy to me. It’s crazy.”

And that’s a big part of the mystique of “Jerry Maguire.” We are not only talking about the movie. We are talking the movie itself: The film features some of the most memorable lines in cinema history, lines that are just as fresh today as they were when we first heard them.

“Show me the money.”

“Help me help you.”

“You had me at ‘Hello.’”

“You complete me.”

“Did you know the human head weighs eight pounds?”

There are more great quotes, too, uttered by so many actors in the cast. “Show me the money” was named by the American Film Institute as the 25th greatest movie quote of all time, while “You had me at ‘Hello'" was No. 52.

JERRY MAGUIRE, Jerry O'Connell, 1996, (c)TriStar Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

“For me, I think it’s a real quotable movie,” O’Connell said. “It’s funny. I’m going to sound really old now, but movies today, they’re not that quotable. You know what I’m saying?

“I mean, like, how many quotes came out of ‘Jerry Maguire’? ‘You had me at hello.’ I can’t tell you how many people yell ‘Show me the money’ at me. People yell ‘My word is stronger than oak.’ ‘I just want to play football’ will be yelled at me all the time. And that’s all Cameron Crowe, man. He wrote those words. Tell me a more quotable movie.”

O’Connell can’t single out one line that is his favorite, either, while noting not many films can compete with "Jerry Maguire."

Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger in Jerry Maguire, 1996.

“‘Help me help you’ I guess is one that I use a lot,” he said. “I dare you to show me a more quotable film than ‘Jerry Maguire.’ And, by the way, (it's) not just one character making these quotes. I mean, maybe ‘Caddyshack.’ OK, ‘Caddyshack, a lot of people quote that. But no, I don’t have one favorite line. It’s like asking, 'Do I have a favorite child?'"

The stellar writing and impressive performances fueled the movie, which grossed more than $150 million at the box office and instantly placed itself in the pantheon of pop culture reference points. At its core, though, “Jerry Maguire” is about the constitution of a man, the perfect vehicle for Cruise to show off a vulnerability and just why he has remained such a big movie star for decades.

Actor Cuba Gooding, Jr holds up his Oscar after wi

As the downtrodden agent who has to pivot to his one client — the disgruntled Tidwell after he’s spurned by O’Connell’s Cush — Jerry is determined to ride Tidwell to greatness. Tidwell, however, is hardly cooperative and Jerry's efforts are complicated by his lone employee, Dorothy Boyd, a single mother who longs to be inspired and sees greatness in Jerry.

The movie made a household name out of a young actor named Renee Zellweger, who played Dorothy. She would go on to collect two Oscars of her own, as well as earn two other nominations. The scene at the end of the movie where Jerry races home after Rod has his breakthrough game and pledges his love for Dorothy in her divorce support group is the stuff of cinematic legend and represented the pinnacle of this romantic comedy. Watching that scene again, it's hard not to get goosebumps.

Tom Cruise And Jonathan Lipnicki In 'Jerry Maguire'

“Jerry Maguire” works for so many reasons. The characters are truly memorable. Sure, we all remember Cruise, Gooding and Zellweger, but Jonathan Lipnicki’s portrayal of Ray is one of the great child performances we've witnessed on screen. Bonnie Hunt was on her game as Zellweger’s protective sister. Regina King — who herself would go on to win an Oscar — electrified the screen with her feisty performance as Tidwell's wife. Jay Mohr's slimy portrayal of Bob Sugar — a role O’Connell said he auditioned for — is memorable, while Kelly Preston shined as Jerry's ex-fiancée. Heck, even the minor roles, like the Kinko’s copy guy, Chet the nanny and Dicky Fox stood out. Everything clicked.

The movie provided the happy ending, too. The guy (Jerry) got the girl (Dorothy), while his business model took off. Times have changed, though, so would Jerry’s approach to his clients work today? O’Connell thinks he would find a way to adapt.

“Well, we all know he was a great agent, but he may not have conformed, if a lot of these agencies were sort of merging together and becoming sort of these über-corporations,” he said.

“I don’t really see Jerry Maguire as being a big corporate person. So, he’s probably got a small boutique agency that not only handles sports figures, also handles online personalities. Jerry Maguire probably reps a lot of TikTok stars right now. And he knows how to handle them personally, and really make sure that they get all the attention that they need.”

“Jerry Maguire” also retained an element of authenticity that is key in a movie about sports . In this case, it featured actual NFL teams, with the center on Tidwell's Arizona Cardinals. That, coupled with the winning love story between Jerry and Dorothy, made it a must-see film.

Kelly Preston And Tom Cruise In 'Jerry Maguire'

“It’s one of those magic films because it involves the NFL, which a lot of movies don’t get to do because the NFL doesn’t very readily give up the rights to their trademark," O'Connell said. "But it’s also maybe one of the best romantic comedies ever of all-time. So everybody’s happy going to see this film on date night. And I mean, I’m still amazed that 25 years later, we’re still talking about it.”

In a time of reboots and sequels, there has been radio silence on revisiting this movie. O’Connell says there’s been no talk of another film.

“No, I’m so sorry. It just hasn’t. I just don’t think it’s come up,” he said. “And if it did come up, I don’t think I would be their first call. They’d probably want to call Tommy and Renee, you know?”

Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.

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‘jerry maguire’: thr’s 1996 review.

On Dec. 13, 1996, Cameron Crowe unveiled the 135-minute Tom Cruise-starrer.

By Duane Byrge

Duane Byrge

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On Dec. 13, 1996, Cameron Crowe rolled out the 135-minute Tom Cruise-starrer Jerry Maguire, a commercial hit and enduring pop culture staple that grossed more than $270 million in its theatrical run. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:

Tom Cruise gets religion in Jerry Maguire , starring as a slick, big-time sports agent who decides that his high-powered, cutthroat profession needs a more caring and sensitive approach. With Cruise perfectly cast in this penultimate role of wheeler-dealer, Sony should ink a strong opening weekend bonus, but the film’s long-term contract at the box office looks less promising. While it will surely score some big numbers based on Cruise’s star appeal, this smart but decidedly squishy sports-world saga, replete with an old-movie-style love subplot, is likely to have its steadiest fans among women who read Cosmopolitan rather than men who watch ESPN.

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Jerry Maguire

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Film Details

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Brief Synopsis

Cast & crew, cameron crowe, cuba gooding, renée zellweger, kelly preston, regina king, photos & videos, technical specs.

Jerry Maguire is a man who knows the score. As a top agent at Sports Management International, Jerry is unquestionably master of his universe. Trouble is, Jerry's mind, mouth and soul are usually on automatic pilot. He's good at friendship, but (as his numerous ex-girlfriends testify) bad at intimacy. Still, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Jerry that a sudden dose of failure can't cure. A week after spontaneously writing a stirring, visionary mission statement for SMI entitled "The Things We Think And Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business," he's unceremoniously fired. Stripped of his job and a good measure of his identity, the tenacious but hanging-by-a-thread Jerry is forced to start from scratch. He's joined on his journey to redemption by two unlikely allies: Rod Tidwell, a second-tier wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals; and Dorothy Boyd, a wistful 26-year-old single mother who departs her accountancy position with SMI for a very uncertain future with her new boss.

Bonnie Hunt

Jerry o'connell, klair bybee, rebecca rigg, stanley sessoms, lauren parker, shannon thornton, kelly coffield park, lisa amsterdam, beaumont bacon, hynden walch, ingrid beer, jonathan lipnicki, lisa ann hadley, amaryllis borrego, heather cheney, susan norfleet, kymberly kalil, alice marie crowe, drew rosenhaus, thomas j reilly, al michaels, katarina witt, samantha smith, michael james johnson, donal logue, luis damian, russel lunday, charlie cronin, jim moffatt, evelyn fontes, jerry ziesmer, christine cavanaugh, benjamin kimball smith, aries spears, ivana marina.

Frank Gifford

Kerry collins, alison armitage, troy aikman, lightfield lewis, kirsten krueger, johnnie morton, emily procter, jann wenner, dean biasucci, tim mcdonald, stacey williams, leslie upson, greg wilkinson, golde starger, susan pingleton, winnie holzman, andrea ferrell, cha-cha sandoval, angela goethals, roy firestone, dallas malloy, alberto alfavo, jared jussim, drew bledsoe, dennis fitzgerald, nada despotovich, wayne fontes, todd louiso, justina vail, alexandra wentworth, rick johnson, mark pellington, diana jordan, dan dierdorf, mike tirico, stephanie furst, reagan gomez-preston, juan arnoldo morales, jerry cantrell, brent barry, erica sorgi, david ursin, jordan ross, gale hilman, danny rimmer, warren moon, theo greenly, richie kotite, larina adamson, herman moore, eric stoltz, jeremy suarez, jesus alberto guzman, brandon christianson, anthony natale, lisa rotondi, ki-jana carter, jeffrey lurie, paula abdal, petra alexandria, herb alpert, steve andrich, carrie angland, linda arnold, robert batha, frawley becker, walter becker, richard a benoit, renaldo benson, bill bidwell, cynthia black, steve blalock, joanie blum, charles fred bobbit, barbara boguski, danny bramson, stacye branche, beau bridges, james l. brooks, james brown, harold budd, michele burke, keith campbell, casey cannon, paul carden, richard chung, alfred cleveland, kurt cobain, chuck cohen, richard h conkling, andrew cooper, george davis, warren defever, bryan denegal, david devlin, dino dimuro, michael doven, mitch dubin, susan dukow, eva eastman, gloria estefan, chris ethrige, denise fischer, harold fowler, marvin gaye, christopher t gerrity, hector gika, dennis gilbert, charley h gilleran, gilbert gonzales, mark s gordon, peter green, clay a. griffith, paul haines, edward t. hanley, clayton r. hartley, jennifer hatton, betsy heimann, d. m. hemphill, mildred hill, chris hogan, james michael hold, robyn b holmes, bart hubenthal, joe hutshing, john jackson, zac jackson, craig jaeger, mick jagger, chris jargo, brian johnson, john johnson, jerry jones, rickie lee jones, carlton kaller, katherine kallis, janusz kaminski, maria kavanaugh, michael kehoe, randy kelley, horace knight, joyce kogut, james r kwiatkowski, tony lamberti, james lapidus, dwight lavers, peter j lehman, stephen j lineweaver, ariana lingenfelser, stephanie lowry, brian r lukas, laurence mark, donald marks, scott m. martin, john maskovich, paul massey, linda matthews, meg matthews, john h. maxwell, paul mccartney, stan mckenny, cedric meeks, steven meizler, mike mendel, wendy mickell, charles mingus, jeff moorad, david moritz, philip d. morrill, gary mundheim, brendan murphy, jill musser, felicia nalivansky, chris palzis, hope m. parrish, william d parrish, gram parsons, andy partridge, michael penn, linda peterson warren, joseph k phillips, patrick pitts, jennifer l pray, elvis presley, bruce s pustin, virginia randolph-weaver, garet reilly, vincent reilly, mike revell, keith richard, larry j richardson.

Best Supporting Actor

Award nominations, best film editing, best picture, best writing, screenplay.

Miscellaneous Notes

Winner of the 1996 award for Best Actor (Tom Cruise) from the National Board of Review.

Winner of the 1996 award for Best Supporting Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.) from the Broadcast Film Critics Association. In addition, Renee Zellweger and Jonathan Lipnicki were cited, respectively, for Breakout Artist and Child Performance.

Winner of the 1996 award for Best Supporting Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.) from the Chicago Film Critics Assocation.

Winner of two 1996 Golden Satellite Awards, including Best Actor (Tom Cruise), and Best Supporting Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.) in a comedy or musical by the International Press Academy.

Released in United States Winter December 13, 1996

Released in United States on Video May 29, 1997

Tom Cruise reportedly received $20 million for this film.

Actress Renee Zellweger received the 1996 award for Best Breakthrough Performer from the National Board of Review for her performances in "Jerry Maguire" (USA/1996) and "The Whole Wide World" (USA/1996).

Completed shooting July 5, 1996.

Began shooting March 11, 1996.

Released in United States on Video May 29, 1997 (sell-through)

Cuba Gooding, Jr. will receive ShowWest's first Supporting Actor Award at the 1997 ShowWest Awards. Gooding was the ShowWest newcomer of the year in 1992.

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See the Cast of ‘Jerry Maguire’ Then and Now

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Released in 1996, Cameron Crowe's 'Jerry Maguire' starred Tom Cruise as the titular character -- a sports agent who, fed up with the lack of heart in his work, sends out an incendiary "mission statement" and heads out to start his own venture with the help of his new assistant (and love interest) Dorothy Boyd. It was the fifth consecutive film to gross more than $100 million for Tom Cruise, making him guaranteed box-office gold. We take a look back at Cruise and the rest of the cast from the film -- 17 years later -- to see what they're up to now.

Tom Cruise, Jerry Maguire

Then: Cameron Crowe actually wrote the part of Jerry Maguire for Tom Hanks , but the role went to the other Tom, Tom Cruise. Cruise played the disgruntled sports agent, who leaves his firm to start a more personal business. Other actors considered for the role were Alec Baldwin, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis and John Travolta.

Now: Cruise recently appeared in the sci-fi thriller 'Oblivion' and can be seen next in 'Edge of Tomorrow.' He's also set to reprise the role of Ethan Hunt in a fifth 'Mission: Impossible' film. Cruise is a leading member of the Church of Scientology.

Cuba Gooding Jr., Rod Tidwell

Then: Jamie Foxx auditioned for the role of Rod Tidwell, Arizona Cardinals football player and the first -- and only -- client to follow Jerry to his new business. The part went to Cuba Gooding Jr.

Now: Gooding Jr. recently appeared in 'Red Tails' and ' Lee Daniels' The Butler ,' and can be seen next in ' Machete Kills .' He also has a cameo as himself in Joseph Gordon-Levitt 's directorial debut, ' Don Jon .'

Renee Zellweger, Dorothy Boyd

Then: Cameron Diaz, Parker Posey, Mira Sorvino and Courtney Love were considered for the role of Jerry's love interest, single mother Dorothy Boyd. The part was originally written for Winona Ryder to star opposite Tom Hanks. Jennifer Lopez was offered the part but turned it down, feeling it wasn't right for her, while Connie Britton of 'Friday Night Lights' fame was the second choice for the part and was famously -- and narrowly -- beaten by Zellweger. The role made her career.

Now: Zellweger hasn't acted in a few years -- her last films were 'Case 39' and 'My Own Love Song,' but she's reportedly returning for a third 'Bridget Jones' film.

Kelly Preston, Avery Bishop

Then: Jennifer Connelly and Meg Ryan were offered the role of Avery, Jerry's tenacious girlfriend who dumped him when he left the firm. Alyssa Milano, Tori Spelling and Diane Lane all auditioned for the role, but it went to Kelly Preston. Her husband, John Travolta, was considered for the role of Jerry.

Now: Preston starred alongside her husband in the film 'Old Dogs' and had a cameo in Travolta's other recent film, 'From Paris with Love.' She appears next in 'Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father.' Like Cruise, Preston and Travolta are also Scientologists.

Jerry O'Connell, Frank "Cush" Cushman

Then: Jerry O'Connell, star of 'Standy by Me' and 'Calendar Girl,' played Frank "Cush" Cushman, an up-and-coming football player whom Jerry is desperate to sign.

Now: O'Connell appeared in 'Scary Movie 5' and will next tackle the 'Veronica Mars' movie. He's made appearances on Adult Swim's 'NTSF: SD: SUV' and starred in Bryan Fuller's 'Mockingbird Lane' pilot, which was not picked up by NBC. He is married to actress and former model Rebecca Romijn.

Jay Mohr, Bob Sugar

Then: Jerry Maguire's story is based on real sports agent Leigh Steinberg (who makes a cameo in the film). Steinberg's ex-partner David Dunn tried to steal away his colleague's clients, just like Bob Sugar does to Jerry in the film. Sugar was played by comedian and sports fan Jay Mohr.

Now: Mohr made an appearance in this year's magician comedy ' The Incredible Burt Wonderstone .' He hosts his own sports radio show on Fox Sports Radio and has a podcast called Mohr Stories.

Regina King, Marcee Tidwell

Then: Janet Jackson read for the role of Marcee Tidwell, but the part went to her 'Poetic Justice' co-star Regina King. Marcee played Rod's determined wife, who clearly wore the pants in the family.

Now: King's last film appearance was in 2010's 'Our Family Reunion.' She is the voice of Riley and Huey Freeman on the animated series 'The Boondocks,' and she had a lead role on the recently canceled drama series 'Southland.'

Bonnie Hunt, Laurel Boyd

Then: Bonnie Hunt played Dorothy's protective sister, Laurel Boyd. Hunt previously starred with Cruise in 'Rain Man,' but Cruise didn't remember Hunt being in that film. When he showed up on set for 'Jerry Maguire' and Hunt told him they worked together before, Cruise thought she was joking. Smooth.

Now: Hunt does a lot of voice work for Pixar and has lent her talents to 'Cars,' 'Cars 2,' the ' Toy Story ' films and ' Monsters University .' She has not made an appearance on film since the 2006 indie 'I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With.'

Jonathan Lipnicki, Ray Boyd

Then: Jonathan Lipnicki made his acting debut in 'Jerry Maguire' at the age of 6, playing Ray, Dorothy's precocious son. Lipnicki showed up on set one day by announcing, "The human head weighs eight pounds." Crowe liked it so much that he wrote it into the script.

Now: Lipnicki took a break from acting for a few years but recently appeared in 'For the Love of Money' and 'Tag.' He can be seen next in the film 'Bad Asses.'

More From ScreenCrush

Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including Risky Business , A Few Good Men , The Firm , Jerry Maguire , and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Who Is Tom Cruise?

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, better known as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to Mary and Thomas Mapother. Cruise's mother was an amateur actress and schoolteacher, and his father was an electrical engineer. His family moved around a great deal when Cruise was a child to accommodate his father's career.

Cruise's parents divorced when he was 11, and the children moved with their mother to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Glen Ridge, New Jersey, after she remarried. Like his mother and three sisters, Cruise suffered from dyslexia, which made academic success difficult for him. He excelled in athletics, however, and considered pursuing a career in professional wrestling until a knee injury sidelined him during high school.

At age 14, Cruise enrolled in a Franciscan seminary with thoughts of becoming a priest, but he left after a year. When he was 16, a teacher encouraged him to participate in the school's production of the musical Guys and Dolls . After Cruise won the lead of Nathan Detroit, he found himself surprisingly at home on the stage, and a career was born.

'Taps,' 'The Outsiders'

Cruise set a 10-year deadline for himself in which to build an acting career. He left school and moved to New York City, struggling through audition after audition before landing an appearance in 1981's Endless Love , starring Brooke Shields. Around this same time, he snagged a small role in the military school drama Taps (1981), co-starring Sean Penn .

His role in Taps was upgraded after director Harold Becker saw Cruise's potential, and his performance caught the attention of a number of critics and filmmakers. In 1983, Cruise appeared in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Outsiders , which also starred Emilio Estevez , Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe —all prominent members of a group of young actors the entertainment press dubbed the "Brat Pack." The film was not well received, but it allowed Cruise to work with an acclaimed director on a high-profile project.

'Risky Business'

His next film, Risky Business (1983), grossed $65 million. It also made Cruise a highly recognizable actor — thanks in no small part to a memorable scene of the young star dancing in his underwear.

In 1986, after a two-year hiatus, the budding actor released the big-budget fantasy film Legend , which did poorly at the box office. That same year, however, Cruise's A-list status was confirmed with the release of Top Gun , which co-starred Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan . The testosterone-fueled action-romance, set against the backdrop of an elite naval flight school, became the highest-grossing film of 1986.

'The Color of Money,' 'Rain Man' and 'Born on the Fourth of July'

Cruise followed the tremendous success of Top Gun with a string of both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. He first starred in The Color of Money (1986) with co-star Paul Newman , and then went on to work with Dustin Hoffman on Rain Man (1988). Cruise's next role, as Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in the biopic Born on the Fourth of July (1989), earned him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

'A Few Good Men,' 'The Firm' and 'Interview with a Vampire'

In 1992, Cruise proved once more that he could hold his own opposite a screen legend when he co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men . The film grossed more than $15 million its first weekend and earned Cruise a Golden Globe nomination. He continued to demonstrate his success as a leading man with The Firm (1993) and Interview with a Vampire (1994), which co-starred Brad Pitt.

'Mission: Impossible,' 'Jerry McGuire'

Next, Cruise hit the big screen with two huge hits—the $64 million blockbuster Mission: Impossible (1996), which the star also produced, and the highly acclaimed Jerry McGuire (1996), directed by Cameron Crowe. For the latter, Cruise earned a second Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe for Best Actor.

'Eyes Wide Shut,' 'Magnolia'

Cruise and then-wife Kidman spent much of 1997 and 1998 in England shooting Eyes Wide Shut , an erotic thriller that would be director Stanley Kubrick 's final film. The movie came out in the summer of 1999 to mixed reviews, but that year Cruise enjoyed greater success with the release of Magnolia . His performance as a self-confident sex guru in the ensemble film earned him another Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

'Vanilla Sky,' 'The Last Samurai'

Cruise then starred in the long-awaited smash hit Mission: Impossible 2 in 2000, alongside Anthony Hopkins , Thandie Newton and Ving Rhames. In 2002, he starred in Vanilla Sky , his second collaboration with Crowe, as well as Steven Spielberg 's Minority Report . The following year, Cruise traveled to Australia to shoot the $100 million war epic The Last Samurai, which earned him another Golden Globe nomination.

'War of the Worlds'

Cruise proved he remained a top draw by starring in the Spielberg-directed remake of the science-fiction classic War of the Worlds (2005), which grossed more than $230 million at the box office.

His next effort, Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), also scored well with audiences. However, Cruise was faced with a professional setback in August when Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year relationship with the actor. The company's chairman cited Cruise's erratic behavior and controversial views as the reason for the split, though industry experts noted that Paramount more likely ended the partnership over Cruise's high earnings from the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Cruise quickly rebounded and on November 2, 2006, he announced his new partnership with film executive Paula Wagner and the United Artists film studio. Their first production as a team, the political drama Lions for Lambs (2007), proved a commercial disappointment despite a strong cast that included Meryl Streep and Robert Redford .

'Tropic Thunder'

Taking a break from weighty material, Cruise delighted audiences with his performance in the comedy Tropic Thunder (2008). Despite his relatively small role in a movie that featured Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller , Cruise stood out by obscuring his trademark good looks to play a balding, obese movie studio executive.

'Valkyrie,' 'Rock of Ages'

In December 2008, Cruise released his second project through United Artists. The film, Valkyrie , was a World War II drama about a plot to assassinate German leader Adolf Hitler . Cruise starred as a German army officer who became involved in the conspiracy.

Cruise returned to one of his most popular franchises in 2011 with Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol . Breaking into new territory, he then starred in the 2012 musical Rock of Ages . Although Cruise received some positive reviews for his performance as a rock star, the movie failed to attract much of an audience.

'Jack Reacher,' 'Edge of Tomorrow'

Returning to his mainstream action roots, Cruise starred in the 2012 crime drama Jack Reacher , based on a book by Lee Child. He then headlined a pair of science-fiction adventures, Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Showing no signs of slowing down, the veteran actor in 2015 delivered his usual high-energy performance for the fifth installment of his blockbuster franchise, Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation .

Latest Movies and Familiar Franchises

In 2016, Cruise reprised the role of Jack Reacher for Never Go Back . He then headlined a reboot of The Mummy (2017), which performed respectably at the box office but was savaged by critics, before earning better reviews later that year for the crime thriller American Made .

2018 brought a return to familiar territory for Cruise, who starred in Mission Impossible —Fallout that summer. Prior to its release, he tweeted a photo to mark day 1 of production on the long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick , scheduled for a June 2020 release.

Scientology and Personal Life

Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers in 1987. It was through Rogers that the actor became a student of Scientology, the religion founded by writer L. Ron Hubbard. Cruise credited the church with curing his dyslexia, and he soon became one of its leading proponents. However, while his spiritual life flourished, his marriage to Rogers ended in 1990. That same year, Cruise made the racecar drama Days of Thunder alongside Kidman. Though the movie was unpopular among critics and fans alike, the two lead actors had real chemistry. On Christmas Eve 1990, after a brief courtship, Cruise and Kidman married in Telluride, Colorado.

Divorce from Kidman

For much of the 1990s, Cruise and Kidman found themselves fiercely defending the happiness and legitimacy of their marriage. They filed two different lawsuits against tabloid publications for stories they considered libelous. In each case, the couple received a published retraction and apology, along with a large monetary settlement which they donated to charity. The couple has two children, Isabella and Connor.

On February 5, 2001, Cruise and Kidman announced their separation after 11 years of marriage. The couple cited the difficulties involved with two acting careers and the amount of time spent apart while working. Following the divorce, Cruise briefly dated his Vanilla Sky co-star Penelope Cruz , followed by a much-publicized relationship with actress Katie Holmes. A month after his ties to Holmes became public, Cruise professed his love for the actress in a now-famous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, during which he jumped on Winfrey's sofa, shouting "Yes!"

Marriage to Katie Holmes

In June 2005, after a two-month courtship, Cruise proposed to Holmes in a restaurant at the top of the Eiffel tower. In October, they announced that they were expecting their first child together. The hasty proposal and surprise pregnancy quickly became tabloid gossip. But Cruise made even bigger headlines that year as an outspoken advocate for Scientology. He openly criticized former co-star Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants during her recovery from postpartum depression. He also denounced psychiatry and modern medicine, claiming Scientology held the key to true healing. Cruise's statements led to a heated argument with news anchor Matt Lauer on The Today Show in June 2005, for which Cruise later apologized.

In 2006, Cruise and Holmes welcomed daughter Suri into the world. That year, they were married in an Italian castle, with celebrities Will Smith , Jada Pinkett Smith , Jennifer Lopez and Victoria and David Beckham among those in attendance. However, the storybook romance wouldn't last, and in June 2012, the couple announced their separation.

QUICK FACTS

Birth Year: 1962
Birth date: July 3, 1962
Birth State: New York
Birth City: Syracuse
Birth Country: United States
Gender: Male
Best Known For: Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including 'Risky Business,' 'A Few Good Men,' 'The Firm,' 'Jerry Maguire' and the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise.
Astrological Sign: Cancer

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

Article Title: Tom Cruise Biography
Author: Biography.com Editors
Website Name: The Biography.com website
Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/tom-cruise
Access Date:
Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
Last Updated: March 26, 2021
Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. We have worked as daily newspaper reporters, major national magazine editors, and as editors-in-chief of regional media publications. Among our ranks are book authors and award-winning journalists. Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. To meet the team, visit our About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us

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'Jerry Maguire' at 25: Renée Zellweger says Tom Cruise really had her at 'hello' when they first met

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If Renée Zellweger was nervous en route to her try out for Jerry Maguire , the 1996 hit that would ultimately help turn the up-and-coming Texas-born actress into one of Hollywood’s most in-demand performers, she had a solid coping mechanism to deal with it.

“I drove to my audition that day, and I was laughing to myself the whole time,” Zellweger said of her experience landing the film — released 25 years ago, on Dec. 10, 1996 — during a 2016 Role Recall interview (watch above). “That was just hilarious to me, you know? Because Tom Cruise was down at Sony waiting for me [laughs]. I mean, that’s funny, you know?”

At the time, Zellweger’s profile was steadily rising after roles in such films as Reality Bites , 8 Seconds, Love and a .45 and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation , opposite fellow up-and-coming Texan Matthew McConaughey. Cruise, however, had already been cemented as one of the world’s most bankable movie stars, and was fresh from a string of acclaimed films, including A Few Good Men , The Firm and Interview With the Vampire .

Zellweger fondly recalls her first meeting with Cruise where, to quote her loyal colleague-turned-love interest Dorothy Boyd, he had her at “hello.”

“You walk in the room, and the whole superstar thing of this person disappears. And the truth of who he is is right there,” she said. “He shakes your hand, looks you in the eye, [says] ‘Happy to meet you,’ and he is. And he’s curious about you and wants to get to know you. And it’s very easy to like him.”

Cruise clearly liked Zellweger back. Among the other actresses reportedly considered for the part were the more well-established Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Uma Thurman, Marisa Tomei and Winona Ryder. The part of the eponymous sports agent whose moral epiphany gets him forced out of a job was actually written by filmmaker Cameron Crowe with Tom Hanks in mind. But Crowe took so long writing the script, he’d ultimately deem Hanks too old for the part, so it instead went to Cruise, six years his junior.

Jerry Maguire was both a major commercial and critical hit, earning $153 million in the U.S. and $273 worldwide. It earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, with Cuba Gooding Jr. winning Best Supporting Actor for his live-wire performance as football player Rod Tidwell.

It was the 18th highest grossing movie of 1996, but probably the No. 1 most quotable thanks to lines like “Show me the money!,” “You complete me” and Zellweger’s own “You had me at ‘hello.’”

Zellweger admits she initially grappled with the line, which reportedly made no sense to her when she first read it.

“I asked Cameron about it a lot,” said Zellweger, who has won two Academy Awards since (for Cold Mountain and Judy ), and has been nominated two other times (for Bridget Jones’s Diary and Chicago ).

“And we did it a couple times. He would throw out suggestions [for alternate lines], and keeps it rolling. And he did that a lot and I loved it. I loved it. Because you didn’t have to stop and reset everything in order to get back to where you were, in order to sort of branch out from there and see where it would go. You could just keep on expanding on what it is that you’re exploring. I loved it.”

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10 Moments That Prove Jerry Maguire Is Tom Cruise’s Best Performance

David ehrlich.

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The idea of “movie stars” has been on life support since the turn of the 21st Century — we live in a world where brands and intellectual property have become more important than people — but Hollywood as we know it will continue to hang on by a thread for as long as one man keeps running for its life. Tom Cruise isn’t just one of the greatest movie stars in the history of the medium, he might just be the last (depending on how Leonardo DiCaprio wants to play middle age). His face is known all over the world. His name is synonymous with big-screen entertainment. His incredible career has spanned more than 35 years, 45 roles, and hundreds upon hundreds of wild tabloid headlines. He’s been a Vietnam vet, a super-spy, a misogynistic self-help guru, a different super-spy, a samurai, a contract killer, another super-spy, a handsy bartender, a horny Chicago teenager, a New York City doctor on a sexual vision quest, whatever the hell he was supposed to be in “Rock of Ages,” and more. He’ll probably be a fourth super-spy before he’s ready to retire and spend the rest of his days sailing with Sea Org .

READ MORE: Watch Tom Cruise Spin Through The Air While Shooting A Zero Gravity Stunt In “The Mummy”

But of all those roles, none lingers in the mind (or in the recesses of cable television) quite like Jerry Maguire. It’s not Cruise’s most dangerous part, or his most athletic. There are no special effects, and no death-defying stunts. For all of the vulnerability and candor of his work, it’s not even the rawest thing he would do that decade. But, however unassuming it may be, his 1996 performance as an emotionally disoriented sports agent doubles as a comprehensive one-stop shop for everything that makes Cruise a unique force of nature. This week, as the man formerly known as Mapother unwraps “ The Mummy ” and accepts the most impossible mission of his career by trying to compete with the legendary charisma of Brendan Fraser, IndieWire looks back at 10 moments from the one movie that always reminds us why he’s the best in the business.

10. Cush-lash

At the height of his career, just months after the first “Mission: Impossible” film had cemented his status as the world’s leading action star (and netted him a cool $70 million paycheck after profit participation), Tom Cruise decided to downshift by playing the title role in a plucky Cameron Crowe drama about a sports agent who experiences a sudden crisis of conscience. Of course, for a sports agent in a cynical world of tough competitors, having a conscience is just about the greatest crisis there is. And so it goes for fast-talking, floppy-haired Jerry Maguire, who finds his career in ruins after he loses his “ability to bullshit” (and his job along with it). It’s a hard world out there for people who care about people, especially when they care about people more than they do endorsement deals; when they care about the love of the game more than they do about the length of a contract. Capitalism isn’t really the most accommodating environment for compassion.

Watching the highest-paid actor on the planet try to sell us on the human angle should have been a noxious exercise in hypocrisy, but Cruise’s performance is anything but. Bending his usual intensity towards saving himself rather than saving the world, Cruise’s turn as Jerry Maguire is an incredible high-wire act of moral desperation. The first scene where we get to see how hard it’s going to be for Jerry to sustain his awakening is utterly savage stuff, as he learns that his number one client — top NFL draft pick Matt Cushman (Jerry O’Connell) — has betrayed him and signed with Jerry’s devious former protégé, Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr). The frozen smile on Cruise’s face as he privately learns the news, the way he slips on that “Team Cushman” hat like he still has a chance, the unblinking stare he wears when he realizes how he’s the only person in that hotel suite with any scruples whatsoever… it’s heartbreaking. “This is business, not friendship” Sugar says. But, in that moment, you can tell that Jerry Maguire is never going to choose between the two again.

9. Dorothy Boyd Wants a Divorce

When Jerry leaves his job, there’s only one person who’s willing to come with him: a 26-year-old single mom named Dorothy Boyd ( Renée Zellweger ). They eventually get married, both of them trying to will their best lives into existence. He wants to be a people person, she wants to meet the man of her dreams, someone who will be as good a partner to her as he will be a father to her young son, Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). But change isn’t easy, and sometimes wanting something doesn’t mean a thing if you’re not willing to work for it; for most of the movie, this is the only kind of work that Jerry isn’t willing to do.

The scene where he and Dorothy realize that their unattended marriage is falling apart — or, rather, the scene where Dorothy realizes that for the both of them — is one of those moments that earned Cruise his second Oscar nomination (and earned Zellweger her first Oscar snub). “What do you want, my soul or something?” he asks. “Why not?” she replies. “I deserve that.” Cruise plays the beat super casual, but that’s part of its power. This is such a powerful break-up scene because it’s so gentle, because it wouldn’t be happening if Jerry had earned the happiness that’s sitting right in front of him.

8. Jerry Tells Ray That The Zoo Is Closed

“The fucking zoo’s closed, Ray.”

Weaponizing the sheer adorableness of Tom Cruise drunkenly spilling his guts to a giant-headed kid, Jerry Maguire’s first heart-to-heart with his future step-son is such a memorable touchpoint because of how much pain (and blunt character detail) it manages to disguise in a whirlwind of cuteness. Jerry Maguire, always vulnerable but finally transparent, opens up about the fact that his predatory existence has made him kind of a non-entity. He’s a facilitator, not a person. “My whole life I’ve been trying to talk — I mean, really talk — but no one wants to listen to me.” Meanwhile, Ray just wants to go the fucking zoo.

The genius of the scene (and the point beyond its central curse word) is in Cruise’s unwillingness to adjust for his audience. Jerry Maguire is a guy who’s success depends on being able to read a room, and here he’s tipsy, flushed, and talking to some kid like he’s the therapist he would never admit he needs. Ray’s purity makes him the perfect foil for Jerry, he’s completely void of the bullshit that has come to define Jerry’s existence, and the fun that Cruise has with letting his character get pleasantly lost in that exchange makes for some great cinema. Cruise has done that half-crazed smile in just about every movie he’s ever made, but seldom has it felt so real.

7. Bottom-feeders

Tom Cruise doesn’t get enough credit for being one of cinema’s great non-verbal actors. Sure, no one questions the physicality of his screen presence — all that running and climbing and clenching — but the man is an artist even when he’s standing still. For proof, look no further than the scene in which Cruise’s eponymous sports agent wakes up the morning after a romantic encounter with his only employee and eavesdrops on her telling her sister that she loves him. That she loves him for the man he wants to be and she loves him for the man he almost is. All the while, Cruise is posing silently in a hallway just on the other side of the wall, and you can see the wheels turning behind his face. A flash of the eyes and a little dip of his head is all he needs to let you inside Jerry’s head, to feel him wrestling with what he wants and trying to make sense of what’s available to him. Then the charm takes over, and Cruise — like only Cruise could do — ends the scene with the best kiss of his career. And it’s not even on the lips.

6. The Bro-Hug Of Dreams

“Jerry Maguire” is probably the most romantic film of Tom Cruise’s career (depending on what you make of “Eyes Wide Shut,” that is), so much so that its sense of romance is woven into every one of its plot threads. Cameron Crowe’s humanistic masterpiece might be remembered for its tear-jerking love scenes between Tom Cruise and Renée Zellwegger, but the heart and soul of the story is the bromance between Jerry Maguire and Rod Tidwell ( Cuba Gooding , Jr, in his Oscar-winning role as the brash football star who Jerry manages to salvage from his rolodex). Jerry is more than Rod’s “ambassador of Quan,” he’s also his double, his measuring stick, his greatest test. Both men are fighting their way through the same thing, they’re both trying to sort out their priorities and see if it’s possible to strike a profitable balance between doing what they love, and loving what they do.

It’s a volatile relationship, but then they’re little company has a very big night. A very big night. And Rod emerges from a euphoric post-game media scrum to see his agent standing there by himself, sporting the greatest “I’m not gonna cry” face of all time. Of ALL TIME. After that — and the stiff finger-point that Cruise does along with it — the massive bro hug is just icing on the cake. This moment is the culmination of two long, wayward paths simultaneously arriving at the same truth about what really matters in this sick sad world. The truth is too sweet for Bob Sugar to enjoy.

The list continues on the next page.

Continue Reading: 10 Moments That Prove Jerry Maguire Is Tom Cruise’s Best Performance Next »

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How Old Is Tom Cruise In Each Of His Mission Impossible Films

Mission: Impossible is a popular action film franchise known for its thrilling espionage, action-packed sequences, and Tom Cruise . From the baby-faced young Tom Cruise to the chiseled and handsome older age Tom Cruise, he never disappoints. The same-named television series from the 1960s served as the franchise's primary source of inspiration, and it has since grown to be one of Hollywood's most successful and ongoing film franchises.

Related: How Tom Cruise's Childhood Prepared Him For His Mission Impossible Stunts

The high-stakes plots and jaw-dropping stunts in the Mission: Impossible movies have captivated viewers all over the world. For the most part, Tom Cruise has done those stunts himself, no matter what his age. These movies have pushed the limits of what is possible in action movies. They keep getting riskier with each new installment, making fans eager for the next exciting task.

What Are The Mission: Impossible Movies About?

Mission: Impossible follows the adventures of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), a skilled and resourceful secret agent who works for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), the fictional covert agency within the franchise. The missions typically include Ethan Hunt doing some dare-devil stunts while trying to take down the bad guys and barely escaping with his life.

Many people don't realize that Mission: Impossible has been an on-going part of Tom Cruise's life for over twenty years now and makes up a big part of his box office revenue. All of them made over $100 million in the US alone. Below, we are going in depth on the M.I. movies and taking a closer look at the age of Tom Cruise a.k.a. Ethan Hunt in each of them.

Mission: Impossible (1996): Tom Cruise's Age: 34 Years Old

The 1996 film Mission: Impossible was directed by Brian De Palma. The film begins with a seemingly routine mission to intercept a group of international arms dealers who are in possession of a list containing the identities of covert agents from around the world. Ethan Hunt's team, consisting of Jim Phelps (played by Jon Voight), Claire (played by Emmanuelle Béart), Sarah Davies (played by Kristin Scott Thomas), and others, attempts to retrieve the list.

However, the mission goes horribly wrong when team members are killed. Even Ethan Hunt just barely survives. Tom Cruise's age was just 34 when the first ever Mission: Impossible was made. He did all of his own stunts for this movie. In fact, he has done mostly all of his own stunts for all of his movies since Top Gun in 1986. The paycheck for this movie was an incredible $70 million, and they only went up from there. Another iconic movie that Tom Cruise released this same year was Jerry Maguire.

Mission: Impossible 2 (2000): Tom Cruise's Age: 38 Years Old

The 2000 film Mission: Impossible 2 was directed by John Woo. Ethan Hunt is tasked with recruiting a skilled thief and former lover, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (played by Thandie Newton). The IMF wants Nyah to get close to the bad guy, Ambrose, and infiltrate his organization to gather crucial information about the virus and the antidote.

Related: Tom Cruise Is Jealous ‘Barbie’ Was More Successful Than ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ After Quitting Scientology Amid Religious Crisis

During this time in his life, a 38-year-old Tom Cruise, who had just finished up with Eyes Wide Shut (1999), was in the process of getting divorced from Nikole Kidman. The divorce was finalized in 2001, the same year Vanilla Sky was released.

Mission: Impossible III (2006): Tom Cruise's Age: 44 Years Old

The 2006 film Mission: Impossible III was directed by J.J. Abrams. Ethan Hunt has retired from field work and is now training new IMF recruits. He is engaged to Julia Meade (played by Michelle Monaghan), a nurse who is unaware of his past life as a secret agent.

Tom Cruise's age was 44 when the third movie in the franchise was made. At this point in his life, Cruise was doing back-to-back action films, starting with Minority Report in 2002. He then had The Last Samurai (2003), Collateral (2004), and War of the Worlds (2005). He was on a role, 2006 also brought him a marriage to Katie Holmes and daughter Suri.

Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011): Tom Cruise's Age: 49 Years Old

The 2011 film Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol was directed by Brad Bird. This time around, the IMF has been dismantled. They are blamed for a massive bombing, become fugitives, and are labeled terrorists.

Tom Cruise is 49 years old; he is deeply involved in The Church of Scientology, and while he was getting married when the last film was made, he is now headed towards divorce. The marriage between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes officially came to an end in 2012.

Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (2015): Tom Cruise's Age: 53 Years Old

The 2015 film Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation was directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Obviously, a bunch of super-famous actors show up, and they go on a mission with Tom Cruise . You get it, we know. But Ethan Hunt is still on the run with the rest of his team in this film. In Tom Cruise's personal life, he is now 53, single, and still doing his own stunts. This installment in particular had some incredibly daring ones.

Related: What Really Happened Between Tom Cruise And Hayley Atwell On The Mission Impossible Set?

He had an incredible underwater heist, rode a motorcycle off a cliff, and then did eight separate takes hanging on the outside of a cargo plane as it took off and landed. Did we mention Tom Cruise's age at the time was 53 during all of this? Yea. Tom Cruise proved he did not intend to slow down anytime soon.

Mission: Impossible—Fallout (2018): Tom Cruise's Age: 58 Years Old

The 2018 film Mission: Impossible—Fallout was directed by Christopher McQuarrie again. Fallout is the highest grossing of all of the M.I. movies to date, coming in at roughly $787 million worldwide.

Tom Cruise is 58 years old at this point. A lot of rumors are circulating about him. The Church of Scientology, dating rumors that were never confirmed, how close he is to his kids, sort of like today, but different. Oh, and according to Koimoi, Tom Cruise was paid $28 million up front for this installment of Mission: Impossible, and with the backend deal he cut, he cleared $100 million total for the one movie.

Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Pt. 1 (2023): Tom Cruise's Age: 60 Years Old

Dead Reckoning: Part 1, is the latest in the massive film franchise. TBH, nobody really thought this movie would ever be made. Not only that, but at the age of 60, Tom Cruise is still shocking castmates like Simon Pegg by doing his own stunts.

This movie comes right on the heels of the multi-million-dollar hit, Top Gun: Maverick. Prior to this movie, Cruise had not been in a movie since the 2018 M.I . That was the first time since 1996 that Tom Cruise took a break from putting out a movie (sometimes two) every year.

Being that this movie wasn't really as big of a hit as the rest of them, people wonder, "Is this it? Is Mission: Impossible finally coming to an end?" Nope, maybe next time.

Mission:Impossible—Dead Reckoning Pt. 2 (2024): Tom Cruise Will Be 61

Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part Two is the last known movie in the series. It is the follow-up to Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One . The much-anticipated Mission: Impossible 8 has been set for June 28, 2024, according to Paramount. At first, the company planned for both Dead Reckoning movies to come out in 2021 and 2022. However, the pandemic happened, which caused multiple delays, and ultimately, the movies got moved to 2023 and 2024.

How Old Is Tom Cruise In Each Of His Mission Impossible Films

Proof Modern Family 's Jeremy Maguire Is All Grown Up 4 Years After Playing Joe Pritchett

An "old soul" at 12, modern family 's jeremy maguire spoke to e news about playing 4-year-old joe, bonding with sofía vergara and ed o'neill, and being compared to leonardo dicaprio..

Even though Jeremy Maguire was only 4 when he joined the cast of Modern Family , he just wanted to be one of the guys.

"I've been told I'm a 30-year-old in a kid's body," the now 12-year-old actor told E! News' Francesca Amiker in an exclusive interview . "I've been told I'm an old soul. Which, I do think that of myself, too."

Incidentally, Jeremy has also been compared to a young Leonardo DiCaprio . Though while he obviously takes that as a big compliment ("Maybe I'll play his son one day!"), he wouldn't go so far as to agree: "I can't believe people compare me to that legend. It's crazy."

But all legends have an origin story and, like a certain Oscar winner , Jeremy's big break came stealing scenes on a hit ABC sitcom. In his case, he took over the role of Joe Pritchett, the son of Ed O'Neill and Sofía Vergara 's Jay and Gloria Pritchett, in 2015 from even younger predecessors.

A year later, Jeremy was walking the red carpet at the Emmys —some heroes wear capes with their tuxedos —and then in 2017 he shared in his first SAG Award nomination as a member of Modern Family 's estimable ensemble.

So, let's say Jeremy—not to be confused with Jerry Maguire —had an auspicious introduction to Hollywood.

Still, despite perks like meeting with Ryan Reynolds —"He was so nice," Jeremy marveled of the Deadpool star—spending so many formative years on camera wasn't easy.

"When you're growing up and there's a camera in front of your face, sometimes you don't wrap your head around the fact that these aren't your actual family," he explained. "And that's just really hard, especially for me because, you know, I love everybody. After Modern ended, I was so sad 'cause only life I've ever known."

Luckily he had his real family by his side throughout, crediting his mom (who's also his manager) for getting up at 5 a.m. every day and spending hours on set. Her "hard work and dedication is a model for me," he said, "and how I want to be in the future."

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How Old Was Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire

Tom Cruise was 34 years old when Jerry Maguire was released in 1996. The film, directed by Cameron Crowe, follows the story of a sports agent who has a moral epiphany and decides to put his career on the line by starting his own agency. Cruise’s performance as the titular character earned him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

Here are 9 interesting facts about Tom Cruise and his role in Jerry Maguire:

1. Tom Cruise initially turned down the role of Jerry Maguire, as he felt that the character was too similar to his previous roles. However, after meeting with director Cameron Crowe, Cruise was convinced to take on the role.

2. Cruise spent months preparing for the role of Jerry Maguire, including shadowing real-life sports agents to learn about their day-to-day responsibilities and challenges.

3. Cruise’s performance in Jerry Maguire is often regarded as one of his best, showcasing his ability to portray a complex character with depth and vulnerability.

4. One of the most iconic scenes in Jerry Maguire is the “You had me at hello” moment, where Jerry declares his love for Dorothy (played by Renée Zellweger). The scene has since become a classic romantic moment in film history.

5. Jerry Maguire was a box office success, grossing over $270 million worldwide. The film also received critical acclaim, with many praising Cruise’s performance as well as the film’s screenplay and direction.

6. Cruise’s portrayal of Jerry Maguire earned him his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s leading actors.

7. In addition to his acting skills, Cruise also performed many of his own stunts in Jerry Maguire, including the intense football scenes and the iconic “show me the money” moment.

8. Cruise’s chemistry with his co-stars, including Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr., helped elevate the emotional depth of the film and create memorable moments that have stood the test of time.

9. Jerry Maguire remains a beloved classic in the romantic comedy-drama genre, with its themes of love, redemption, and the pursuit of happiness resonating with audiences around the world.

Now, let’s address some common questions about Tom Cruise and his role in Jerry Maguire:

1. How old was Tom Cruise when he starred in Jerry Maguire?

Tom Cruise was 34 years old when Jerry Maguire was released in 1996.

2. Did Tom Cruise win any awards for his role in Jerry Maguire?

Yes, Cruise won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance as Jerry Maguire.

3. What was the box office success of Jerry Maguire?

Jerry Maguire grossed over $270 million worldwide, making it a commercial success.

4. How did Tom Cruise prepare for his role in Jerry Maguire?

Cruise spent months shadowing real-life sports agents to prepare for his role as Jerry Maguire.

5. What is the most iconic scene in Jerry Maguire?

The “You had me at hello” moment, where Jerry declares his love for Dorothy, is considered one of the most iconic scenes in the film.

6. How many Academy Award nominations did Tom Cruise receive for his role in Jerry Maguire?

Cruise received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jerry Maguire.

7. Did Tom Cruise perform his own stunts in Jerry Maguire?

Yes, Cruise performed many of his own stunts in the film, including the intense football scenes and the iconic “show me the money” moment.

8. Who were Tom Cruise’s co-stars in Jerry Maguire?

Cruise’s co-stars in Jerry Maguire included Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr.

9. Why is Jerry Maguire considered a classic film?

Jerry Maguire is considered a classic film due to its themes of love, redemption, and the pursuit of happiness, as well as Cruise’s standout performance as the titular character.

10. How did Tom Cruise initially feel about the role of Jerry Maguire?

Cruise initially turned down the role of Jerry Maguire, as he felt the character was too similar to his previous roles.

11. What convinced Tom Cruise to take on the role of Jerry Maguire?

After meeting with director Cameron Crowe, Cruise was convinced to take on the role of Jerry Maguire.

12. How did Tom Cruise’s chemistry with his co-stars impact the film?

Cruise’s chemistry with his co-stars, including Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr., helped elevate the emotional depth of the film.

13. What is the significance of the “show me the money” moment in Jerry Maguire?

The “show me the money” moment has become an iconic scene in the film, showcasing Jerry’s determination and passion for his clients.

14. How has Jerry Maguire’s impact on audiences evolved over time?

Jerry Maguire remains a beloved classic due to its timeless themes of love, redemption, and the pursuit of happiness that continue to resonate with audiences.

15. What was Tom Cruise’s reaction to the success of Jerry Maguire?

Cruise’s portrayal of Jerry Maguire solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s leading actors and earned him critical acclaim for his performance.

16. How did Jerry Maguire contribute to Tom Cruise’s career?

Jerry Maguire further solidified Cruise’s reputation as a versatile actor capable of portraying complex characters with depth and vulnerability.

17. What sets Jerry Maguire apart from other romantic comedy-dramas?

Jerry Maguire stands out for its authentic portrayal of relationships, heartfelt performances, and memorable moments that have made it a beloved classic in the genre.

In conclusion, Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Jerry Maguire in the film of the same name remains a standout performance in his illustrious career. With his dedication to the role, undeniable chemistry with his co-stars, and iconic moments that have stood the test of time, Cruise solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s leading actors. Jerry Maguire continues to be a beloved classic in the romantic comedy-drama genre, with its themes of love, redemption, and the pursuit of happiness resonating with audiences around the world.

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Co-starring with Tom Cruise Is a Lifelong Commitment

By Kenzie Bryant

Image may contain Couch Furniture Lamp Human Person Sitting and Table Lamp

Once Tom Cruise is your co-worker, he’s a co-worker for life. The father of Suri and accepter of impossible missions has built a reputation on being generous with his friends, but it’d be easy to underestimate who falls in the “friend” category. It seems that not only do the eminently successful actors benefit from his lifelong devotion; the little guys do, too. One specific little guy— Jonathan Lipnicki , the child actor who played Renée Zellweger’s son in Jerry Maguire — told Access Hollywood that he met with Cruise at the film veteran’s house just four years ago to talk shop.

“I went over to his house because I actually—I cold-called his office at United Artists and asked for advice, and he got back to me and I went over,” Lipnicki said. The movie is 20 years old this year, meaning Lipnicki made his house call a decade and a half after they worked together.

“A big part of [Cruise’s] success he attributes to being on time and being polite to people and knowing people’s names. It was incredible to sit down with one of your favorite actors and have an hour-long conversation about acting,” he added.

Lipnicki wasn’t the only kid on that set to be on the receiving end of Cruise’s giving spirit. When he heard that Cruise continued to talk with the child actor who was cut from Jerry Maguire before Lipnicki was brought on, he said, “Tom is so amazing, I’m really not surprised. I heard that, and I was like, That’s Tom.”

Besides offering personalized advice at will, birthdays provide Cruise with a chance to dote on his former co-workers on a yearly basis. Dakota Fanning recently revealed that Cruise’s special way of keeping in touch after War of the Worlds was through presents. “He has sent me a birthday gift every year since I was 11 years old,” Fanning told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live this summer. “Beautiful gifts,” which are “usually shoes.”

Zellweger, Cruise’s co-star in Maguire , echoed Fanning’s experience in an interview with Vanity Fair ahead of the 20th anniversary of the film.

“He never forgets my birthday,” Zellweger said (she declined to mention if he gives her shoes or something else). She “will say that he’s always so thoughtful and generous, and it’s sweet that he always remembers, because I’m sure he has quite a bit on his plate.”

For all those New Year’s resolutions that stipulate “reach out to old friends” or even just “don’t cancel plans always, ” Cruise as a friendship lifer might serve as inspiration.

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The Lasting Legacy of Jerry Maguire

A well-made sports film from start to finish, Jerry Maguire has influenced popular culture in various fashions since it release in the 1990s.

Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, this was the third feature of the American filmmaker’s career. Just by direction, at least. His debut film Say Anything… (1989) resonated fondly with critics upon release and has since been well-remembered by audiences from a modern standpoint. His sophomore outing — a romantic comedy called Singles (1992) — was less successful overall, but notable, nonetheless. Then, his follow-up in Jerry Maguire (1996) propelled Crowe to a completely different level of popularity.

Starring Tom Cruise, the film at hand chronicles a rough patch in the titular character’s career as a hot, young football agent. Cuba Gooding Jr. costars as his last remaining client Rod Tidwell, a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Those two shared a tremendous and iconic dynamic that stands out as a highlight of the film as a whole.

And to top the main cast off, Renée Zellweger plays Jerry’s loyal coworker and love interest named Dorothy Boyd. She performed exceptionally herein, and together, those three thespians led this famous sports film to some seriously impressive heights.

Related: Best Cameron Crowe Movies, Ranked

A High-Quality Sports Film

A specific scene that showcases the film’s quality to the perfect effect comes toward the beginning, when Jerry is let go from his agency. His leaving the office truly showcased the script’s brilliance, with Crowe utilizing numerous methods of adept storytelling. In that sequence, three vital facets of filmmaking were on display: a well-written script , heartfelt performances, and a keen sense for editing.

The film’s dialogue dazzles audiences from the start, and that facet was truly facilitated by the cast’s impressive performances. Those two things working in tandem made for an entertaining, intelligent, and thoughtful blend of romance and drama — a sports film that runs the gamut of emotion. And while Crowe’s screenplay stands out as well-written from start to finish, the editing by Joe Hutshing rendered Jerry Maguire a masterful work thanks to well-timed and unexpected transitions of continuity.

When award season rolled around, Crowe and his crew picked up nominations across the board of associations for their work herein. Most prominently, they received five nominations at the Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor — the last category of which actually saw a winner in Gooding Jr.

It was well-deserved too, much like Cruise’s win for Best Actor at the Golden Globes despite his ultimately returning the award. And overall, the film’s quality was backed by critics, as it holds an 84% approval rating on critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes . But there’s a solid argument that the cultural influence of Jerry Maguire has outshone its quality from a contemporary point of view — perhaps justifiably so.

Its Influence on Popular Culture

Firstly, it’s worth noting that Jerry Maguire stood out among the best Tom Cruise films of the 1990s with other critical darlings like Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and Magnolia (1999). But it also marks the breakthrough role for American actress Renée Zellweger, and the career-defining project for Cuba Gooding Jr.

In fact, the latter’s character herein has gone down as somewhat of a cultural icon with regard his respective sports team: the Arizona Cardinals. Now a prominent program within the National Football League, the Cardinals sort of found their way onto the national map thanks to Rod Tidwell’s hilarious off-field antics and clear on-field prowess.

It's generally said to have produced a newfound interest for younger audiences toward the agency business, too. Peter Shaffner — a notable sports agent who represents clients within Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the PGA Tour, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League — directly cited the film as an influence on the sports industry.

But the film at hand was also widely influential on popular culture in general thanks to its memorable lines of dialogue. Specifically: “You had me at ‘hello’”, spoken by Dorothy, and “Show me the money!”, said by both Jerry and Rod as they shared a rather animated phone call. Those quotes are among the most famous ever uttered in cinema, but they still don’t spell the end of the film’s influence on pop culture in general.

In terms of overall sports films, it’s commonly considered by critics and audiences alike as one of the greatest projects the genre has ever seen. The American Film Institute even named Jerry Maguire the tenth best sports movie of all time based on 1,5000 votes. And, for what it's worth, that same organization named “You had me at ‘hello’” and “Show me the money!” the fifty-second and twenty-fifth best movie quotes of all time, respectively.

There’s really no overstating the impact that Jerry Maguire has had on the film industry, and popular culture in general. Some of its scenes and featured quotes almost transcend the name value of the film itself. But it’s also a well-made sports film from start to finish that undoubtedly holds up today.

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Top Gun 3 Update: Jerry Bruckheimer Says Tom Cruise Has Been Pitched a 'Story He Liked' (Exclusive)

While Jerry Bruckheimer says Tom Cruise liked a story pitch for 'Top Gun 3,' he notes Cruise is "a very in-demand actor and he's got a lot of movies lined up"

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Plans are in motion for Tom Cruise to take to the skies again in a third Top Gun movie.

Jerry Bruckheimer , the producer behind Cruise's 1986 hit Top Gun and the 2022 box office sensation Top Gun: Maverick , tells PEOPLE "we're working on" Top Gun 3 as he promotes his new movie with filmmaker Guy Ritchie , The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare .

"We pitched Tom a story he liked. But he's a very in-demand actor and he's got a lot of movies lined up, so we have to wait and see," Bruckheimer, 80, adds.

When asked what might surprise fans about Cruise, 61, Bruckheimer immediately points to the actor's work ethic. "How hard he works," he tells PEOPLE. "A lot of actors, they finish the day, they get in their car and they go home. Tom stays around, talks to the other actors, looks at the film that they shot, wants to know what's happening tomorrow. He's really engaged in every part of the process."

Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Top Gun: Maverick grossed nearly $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office following its release in 2022. The sequel was the highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office that calendar year and currently stands out as the fifth-highest-grossing movie of all time in the U.S. and 12th-highest in the world.

When asked what the movie's success more than 25 years after the first Top Gun means to him, Bruckheimer tells PEOPLE, "Oh, it's fantastic."

"Just the fact that we can entertain so many people around the world was something that we worked so hard on. It is just the best there is," he says. "Just to stand back in the theater and watch an audience applaud and cry and laugh. Laughter is the best thing in the world."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

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Bruckheimer's next movie, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is in theaters April 19. The producer teamed up with director Ritchie, 55, for a film that stars Henry Cavill as a British special ops agent during World War II.

"I've been a fan of his since [1998's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels ], way back when he was a young pup," Bruckheimer says of working with Ritchie. "It's been a long time trying to get him. Finally, [we] got him."

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Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American sports comedy-drama film directed, written, by Cameron Crowe.It was produced by Crowe and James L. Brooks for Gracie Films and distributed by TriStar Pictures.It stars Tom Cruise as the sports agent Jerry Maguire, alongside Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt and Regina King.
How old was Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire?
Age information for actors in the movie Jerry Maguire released on Friday, December 13 1996. Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. ... Tom Cruise was . 34 in Jerry Maguire. as 'Jerry Maguire'. Tue, Jul ...
'Jerry Maguire' Cast Then & Now: Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger & More
Show us the stars! 'Jerry Maguire' hit theaters on Dec. 13, 1996, and became an instant classic. It's been 24 years since Tom Cruise, Jonathan Lipnicki, and more stole our hearts.…
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire: Directed by Cameron Crowe. With Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston. When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
MONEY! A-ha-ha! Jerry, doesn't it make you feel good just to say that! Say it with me one time, Jerry. Jerry Maguire : Show you the money. Rod Tidwell : Oh, no, no. You can do better than that, Jerry! I want you to say it with you, with meaning, brother! Hey, I got Bob Sugar on the other line; I better hear you he can say it!
Jerry Maguire: 9 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Tom Cruise Movie
Jerry Maguire's Post-Firing Fall Was A Secret Between Tom Cruise And Cameron Crowe. Of course, Jerry Maguire's exit came much quicker after releasing his statement, courtesy of Bob Sugar (Jay ...
How old was Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry Maguire (1996)?
Director Cameron Crowe has worked with Tom Cruise a total of 2 times in his career. Tom Cruise's first movie was as 'Billy' in Endless Love, released in 1981 when he was 18 Jerry Maguire scores 6.9 out of 10 on TMDB.
Jerry Maguire at 20: has Tom Cruise's star appeal ever shone brighter
Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. Photograph: Andrew Cooper/Colombia Tristar. Jerry Maguire. This article is more than 7 years old. Jerry Maguire at 20: has Tom Cruise's star appeal ever shone brighter?
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a glossy 35-year-old sports agent working for Sports Management International (SMI). After suffering a nervous breakdown as a result of stress and a guilty conscience, he writes a mission statement about perceived dishonesty in the sports management business and how he believes that it should be operated.
Jerry Maguire
When slick sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, he pens a heartfelt company-wide memo that promptly gets him fired. Desperate to hang on to the athletes that he ...
13 Complete Facts About Jerry Maguire
Twenty years ago today, on December 13, 1996, Jerry Maguire debuted at the box office. Tom Cruise played the titular sports agent (based on Leigh Steinberg), a loveable loser who has an epiphany ...
25 years later, 'Jerry Maguire' may just be the most ...
Yes, "Jerry Maguire," the romantic comedy about a sports agent, played by Tom Cruise, whose conscience leads him to focus on providing more attention to fewer clients, is 25 years old.
'Jerry Maguire' Review: 1996 Movie
On Dec. 13, 1996, Cameron Crowe rolled out the 135-minute Tom Cruise-starrer Jerry Maguire, a commercial hit and enduring pop culture staple that grossed more than $270 million in its theatrical ...
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire earned a Best Picture, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay Academy nomination. Tom Cruise also earned a Best Actor nod, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. brought home the Oscar® for Best Supporting Actor. The film also grossed $154 at the box-office, putting it among the top grossing films of 1996.
See the Cast of 'Jerry Maguire' Then and Now
Released in 1996, Cameron Crowe's 'Jerry Maguire' starred Tom Cruise as the titular character -- a sports agent who, fed up with the lack of heart in his work, sends out an incendiary "mission ...
Tom Cruise
Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including "Risky Business," "A Few Good Men," "The Firm," "Jerry Maguire," and the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.
'Jerry Maguire' at 25: Renée Zellweger says Tom Cruise really had her
Jerry Maguire was both a major commercial and critical hit, earning $153 million in the U.S. and $273 worldwide. It earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, with Cuba Gooding Jr ...
10 Moments That Prove Jerry Maguire Is Tom Cruise's Best Performance
6. The Bro-Hug Of Dreams. "Jerry Maguire" is probably the most romantic film of Tom Cruise's career (depending on what you make of "Eyes Wide Shut," that is), so much so that its sense ...
How Old Is Tom Cruise In Each Of His Mission Impossible Films
Another iconic movie that Tom Cruise released this same year was Jerry Maguire. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000): Tom Cruise's Age: 38 Years Old The 2000 film Mission: Impossible 2 was directed by ...
CNN
Tom Cruise finds plenty to like in Jerry Maguire. December 14, 1996 Web posted at: 9:15 a.m. EST From Correspondent Bill Tush (CNN) -- It was 13 years ago when a relatively unknown 19-year-old ...
Modern Family's Jeremy Maguire Is Ready To Take Over Hollywood
An "old soul" at 12, Modern Family's Jeremy Maguire spoke to E! News about playing 4-year-old Joe, bonding with Sofía Vergara and Ed O'Neill, and being compared to Leonardo DiCaprio.
How Old Was Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire
Tom Cruise was 34 years old when Jerry Maguire was released in 1996. The film, directed by Cameron Crowe, follows the story of a sports agent who has a moral epiphany and decides to put his career on the line by starting his own agency. Cruise's performance as the titular character earned him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for Best ...
Co-starring with Tom Cruise Is a Lifelong Commitment
The movie is 20 years old this year, meaning Lipnicki made his house call a decade and a half after they worked together. ... Renée Zellweger: Making Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise Was a Real-Life ...
The Lasting Legacy of Jerry Maguire
Then, his follow-up in Jerry Maguire (1996) propelled Crowe to a completely different level of popularity. Starring Tom Cruise, the film at hand chronicles a rough patch in the titular character ...
Top Gun 3 Update: Jerry Bruckheimer Says Tom Cruise Has Been Pitched a
Nigel Smith. Published on March 28, 2024 11:06AM EDT. Jerry Bruckheimer and Tom Cruise on June 22, 2023. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty. Plans are in motion for Tom Cruise to take to the skies ...

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13 Complete Facts About Jerry Maguire

1. THE LACKLUSTER SUCCESS OF SINGLES PROMPTED CROWE TO WRITE THE SCRIPT.

2. THE JERRY MAGUIRE ROLE WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR TOM HANKS.

3. SEVERAL CLASSIC MOVIES—AND MY-SO-CALLED LIFE —INSPIRED JERRY MAGUIRE .

4. CUBA GOODING JR. GOT NAKED FOR HIS AUDITION WITH CRUISE.

5. THE ROLLING STONES’ RONNIE WOOD HAD A HAND IN NAMING BOB SUGAR.

6. RENÉE ZELLWEGER DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO SAY THE “HELLO” LINE.

7. THE CUTE LITTLE KID IS NOW GROWN UP AND IS A MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER.

8. CONNIE BRITTON WAS ALMOST CAST AS DOROTHY BOYD.

9. CROWE HOPED “THE KWAN” WOULD BECOME A MORE POPULAR CATCHPHRASE THAN “SHOW ME THE MONEY.”

10. CUBA GOODING’S DAD WAS BANNED FROM THE MOVIE SET.

11. JERRY MAGUIRE IS THE FIFTH HIGHEST-GROSSING ROMANTIC DRAMA OF ALL TIME.

12. CUBA GOODING DID ALL HIS OWN STUNTS IN THE MOVIE, AND HAS A BACKGROUND IN BREAKDANCING.

13. THE HUMAN HEAD MAY OR MAY NOT WEIGH MORE THAN EIGHT POUNDS.

25 years later, ‘Jerry Maguire’ may just be the most quotable movie of all time

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See the Cast of ‘Jerry Maguire’ Then and Now