Tom Cruise's Troubles: As Clear as 'Knight and Day'

By Rob Shuter Posted Jun 28th 2010 11:30AM

Tom Cruise's dream of a glorious career comeback turned into a Pixar-driven nightmare this weekend when 'Toy Story 3' and even Adam Sandler's 'Grown Ups' (!) walloped Tom's new film, 'Knight and Day,' at the box office, leaving the once golden superstar to ask himself: what next?

"This was the worst opening for a Cruise action movie in 20 years," one industry insider tells me. "I just don't see how even the eerily eternally optimistic Tom can see this as anything but very bad news, maybe even the end of Tom's long career."

'Knight and Day,' co-starring Cameron Diaz, limped in at $20.5 million for the weekend, far behind 'Toy Story's' $59 million haul and 'Grown Ups' $41 million.

Cruise, who has always been a much bigger star than box office draw, has had a bunch a recent box office flops, including 'Lion For Lambs' and 'Valkyrie,' yet this latest film was meant to be his big comeback, marketed as a sort of 'Mission: Impossible 4.' So what went wrong?

"People have turned on the once beloved actor and don't want to spend two hours with him anymore," one producer tells me. "I have never in my years in the business seen such venom for an actor. Tom has become the poster child of everything creepy. After this weekend he must be worried that his career is over."

It was over five years ago that Tom adopted the role of unofficial spokesman for the Church of Scientology. Then he jumped on Oprah's couch, chided Brooke Shields for taking medicine for postpartum depression and got snappish with 'Today' host Matt Lauer. Let's face it, he has never been able to recover from all this.

Look no further than Cruise's box office numbers over the years to see my point. While the grosses for 'Knight & Day' aren't quite atrocious and certainly not Cruise's worst, they're paltry compared to his high points, and certainly nothing indicative of a major comeback:

2010 -- 'Knight & Day': $20.5 million opening weekend
2008 -- 'Valkyrie': $21 million opening / $83 million total
2007 -- 'Lions for Lambs': $6.7 million opening / $15 million total
2006 -- 'Mission: Impossible III': $47.7 million opening / $134 million total
2005 -- 'War of the Worlds': $64.8 million opening / $234.2 million total
2002 -- 'Minority Report': $35.6 million opening / $132 million total
2000 -- 'Mission: Impossible II': $57.8 million opening / $215.4 million total
1996 -- 'Mission: Impossible': $45.4 million opening / $180.9 million total
1994 -- 'Interview With the Vampire': $36.3 million opening / $105.2 million total

While Tom Cruise's road to redemption was never guaranteed in terms of box office gold, the savaging 'Knight & Day' is receiving from critics comes as a shock -- the film stands at 54 percent on RottenTomatoes. A 20th Century Fox exec told The Daily Beast, "I don't know if I've ever seen anything like this."

"The man who used to be the biggest movie star in the world is reduced to putting on a fat suit, fake chest hair, a bald cap and slapping J.Lo's butt at the MTV Movie Awards," a friend of the actor tells me. "Who would have thought that cute kid that we all fell in love with in 'Top Gun' might see his last role playing the fat, bald, vulgar movie producer Les Grossman?"

See what the public is thinking of Tom Cruise these days:

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Tags: knight and day, tom cruise

Comments

(675)

Monday 28 June

By Sheryl

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By ted

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He's still a good actor. Maybe if you fools didn't follow celebrities personal lives, you still might actually like some movies. Get over it people. We are supposed to like these people for their talents, not how they live their personal life.

By Nijjo

Do you watch 'the Bachelor'? I couldn't believe Jake has broke with Vienna. She's sooo awesome! Have you seen her leaked video here: xrl.us/viennagirardi ? I think it's made before the show and it's the only video where you can watch her ńakęd!!!

By bailoutsos

Scientology has warped his brain. He has a disability, maybe he should apply for Medicare aid?

By Linda

Monday 28 June
By ted

He's still a good actor. Maybe if you fools didn't follow celebrities personal lives, you still might actually like some movies. Get over it people. We are supposed to like these people for their talents, not how they live their personal life.

AMEN AMEN Ted....I saw the flick and loved it....

By Julie

My sentiments EXACTLY ... you are sooooooo right!!!! Both he and Brad have had their time riding the crest of a wave and it's clearly OVER -- nothing lasts forever. Simply as a woman, I absolutely cannot respect any one of these two so-called super-stars. They're done and they are on their way out with not alot of self dignity and waaaay too much self importance.

By dwb

I "was" a HUGE Tom Cruise fan, but, Tom's arrogance,how he has treated his wives and realtionships etc. have shown me who he is,a a person and I dont respect or like him anymore, sooo, I dont waste my money supporting him either..same with Brad Pitt.

1.) I think how Tom Cruise treats his wife is between him and Katie (obviously he doesn't treat them too bad, Katie is still married to him although he and Nicole are divorced, they are still on friendly terms - both families having holidays together). However, that is between them and doesn't involve you, so what is it to you how he may or may not treat his wife???? And although I don't like Scientology and believe they are a cult; if Tom wants to be a member and believe in space aliens as our creators, how does that harm me? It's stupid, but if he wants to believe stupid things...more power to him!

2.) I don't quite get the Brad Pitt hate? I guess it's a matter of perspective, and some people can't help but hate someone who moved to New Orleans to help build homes for the poor and someone who spends the time and money helping desperately poor children in Africa. What a horrible, horrible person is he!!! Doesn't he understand that this is America...he's supposed to pretend to be a Christian, while caring only about his own personal greed! Who ever taught him to care about the least among us?

I think it sounds like someone has had man problems in their life and so they now hold grudges against all men? Can you say misandrist???

By frank

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sorry shery i seen the movie and i thought it was great and he was great you made not like him as a person but he is a good actor

By Soledad

I was never a "huge" fan but I did like his movies. I do agree with everything else you said though.

By robbashworth

Cruise is an ego maniac who writes checks with his mouth his butt can't cash. He hasn't made a real good movie since Top Gun. He continually treats people like pocessions and for a little guy sure makes a lot of noise. There are plently of good actors out there that are under 5'8" that look and act like 6 footers.

By bigtinylittle

What's all this buzz about Tom Cruise and Ryan Seacrest? I guess if things work out they can go by Tom and Ryan Sea-Cruise.

Wednesday 30 June

By Lynette

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I agree with you, Sheryl about how he treats women but I still watch his movies. I even can't stand Angelina Jolie and Brad Pit for their uncool way of hooking up. I guess for all the men, its cool to go looking for women when your still married but its not cool in my book. BUT I'll still watch their stinking movies and if I think its good, I'll say so. If I think it stinks, I'll say so. We all know that its the directors and how they edit the movies that make or break it anyways. Sometimes the acting is great but the movie just reaks. Its cuz the editing and directing. That can also make or break a film. The End!

By Bill

Hey "dwb": Sheryl does not like the guys for whatever her reasons, but most important it's "her money" she does not want to waste. That's fine with me no matter what my feeling are in this matter. Can you accept that? Geez you write a lot nonsense.

By marciek

hey, ted, the problem with your analyses is that he is not a good actor. add the weirdo behavior and there you have it.

By jaguar02

This is for TED, Ted, you are a moron with mashed potatoes inhabiting within your skull.

By onceagain1011

I totally agree! I always enjoyed his movies. But he's over the top and pompous now. I still feel he took advantage of a young Katie Holmes' naieve crush on him and swept her off her feet before she could gain her balance. If she leaves him, she'll lose her daughter just as Nicole Kidman lost her kids with him. I actually believe he's lost his acting edge. If you like predictability of an actor and the parts they play, he may work for you. But personally it is hard for me to look at someone I have no respect for, much less pay good money to look at him.

By journey

Tom Cruise is a good actor, however the general public turned on him after he hooked up with Katie Holmes. Katie Holmes is a good person, however the general public had problems accepting that they hooked up so soon after his divorce. Granted, his personal life is his personal life. When celebrities live in the public eye, like it or not public opinion matters.

The general public turned on Brad Pitt as well. Everyone is turning on Jesse James and Chris Brown.

By gmcne71933

Cruise never had any talent.........

By lilgtogirl

I disagree with Ted. If you think someone is a loser, then you don't go to see their movies. All that will happen is that the studios will pay them even more money next time. The last thing Tom Cruise and his stepford wife are getting is more of my money. He should apologize to the gays, to women suffering from PPD, and just about everyone else. Stop seeing his movies so he can stop living this arrogant life.

By MOPARSKIPPY

this guy does not even deserve to be a garbage man ley alone an actor

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