How Tom Cruise Saved Jerry Maguire: A Look at Cameron Crowe’s Initial Doubts

When Cameron Crowe didn’t believe in Tom Cruise

Despite starring in successful films like Outsiders (1983), Legend (1985), Rain Man (1988), and Top Gun (1986), some directors still doubted Tom Cruise’s abilities. One such director was Cameron Crowe, who didn’t initially want Cruise in his film Jerry Maguire.

Tom Cruise saved the movie… for free

Crowe had envisioned Tom Hanks for the role of Jerry Maguire, but Hanks declined. Reluctantly, Crowe considered Cruise, although he had concerns about Cruise’s dominant nature. However, to prove Crowe wrong, Cruise agreed to shoot the film for free.

When Jerry Maguire was released in 1996, it became a massive hit, grossing $273 million at the box office. Crowe credits Cruise for part of the film’s success, as Cruise took charge of the promotion when the movie started losing momentum. Impressed by the success, Crowe offered Cruise another role in Vanilla Sky, where he delivered another outstanding performance.

Bushra Morse
Storytelling is a big part of Bushra Morse's life, so she became a journalist. She graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Journalism and from the University of California, Los Angeles, with an MA in Visual Storytelling. Bushra has a diverse media background, having previously held positions at top media platforms before joining WS News Publishers. She writes for WS News Publishers and discusses everything from politics and social issues to pop culture and celebrity.

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