Celebrities are often offered a sizable salary to sign on to a new film. Yes, in some instances, it does depend on the movie budget, but there are also situations when these actors accept little to no payment for the films they perform in, showing their generous side in the process. In a similar case, Tom Cruise worked on a 1996 romantic sports comedy-drama movie without charging a ‘single fee’.
Unquestionably, the Top Gun: Maverick star is one of the biggest stars Hollywood has ever got. He has acted in some of the most recognizable films of all time over the course of his long and illustrious career.
You might not be aware, though, that one of his most enduring performances was a part that was originally intended for Tom Hanks. And this was the same film for which he agreed to work for free.
Yes, we are referring to the romantic comedy-drama Jerry Maguire, which was helmed by Cameron Crowe.
Has Tom Cruise Worked For Free In Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire is among Tom Cruise‘s most well-liked motion pictures. Despite performing in the movie for free, it turned out that he was paid for other tasks he completed during its production and marketing.
Cameron Crowe, who co-wrote and directed Jerry Maguire, once discussed the 60-year-old actor’s involvement. During his candid chat with Alec Baldwin on his Here’s the Thing podcast, Crowe stated:
“Your friends take you aside and say, ‘When Tom Cruise says yes, you lose your power. You can’t do a thing. It just becomes a freight train that’s out of control, and it’s a Hollywood freight train and you’ll be lucky if you see the back of the caboose.’ And you get terrified. And then Tom Cruise calls from England and says, ‘I read your script. I hope I’m the right guy. Let me come out and read it for you.’”
When he heard the Jack Reacher actor’s response, Crowe exclaimed:
“Wait. You’re gonna come out here and read it? ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Why not know it’s right for both of us?’ And he was ‘that guy’ from the moment he got off the plane.”
It seems that after reading the film’s script, which was initially offered to Tom Hanks, Cruise was drawn to the character. He was so intrigued by the character that despite being one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he agreed to act in it for free.
Tom Cruise Made Money By Prompting The Film
Tom Cruise’s contribution to this film without getting paid a cent is really commendable. However, he assumed much more responsibility than he would on many other productions.
Yes, according to a statement made by the actor himself, he did not receive payment for his role in Jerry Maguire. However, the money he did receive was used for another task that would increase the film’s popularity and audience.
Meanwhile, according to Cameron Crowe in the Here’s the Thing podcast, Cruise significantly contributed to the team and wished for the film’s ultimate success. Moreover, the Top Gun actor was adamant that Jerry Maguire would be the biggest success, as the 65-year-old director recalled:
“Tom … came from London to New York and said, ‘Boys, I’m gonna do some promotion’. And he started on a Monday, did Rosie, did Larry King, did everything … by the end of the week, our numbers were way high. It was the brawn of him coming to say, ‘OK, guys, I act for free. This is what you pay me for. I’m going to give them everything I’ve got for this movie.’”
Well, it is safe to say that the success of Jerry Maguire proved that Cruise gave the role his unique charm and vigor. The film became a box office success, earning $273 million worldwide.
The film is still regarded as a timeless classic and is dearly loved by fans all over the world because of Tom Cruise’s willingness to work for free and (of course) his undeniable acting talent.
Jerry Maguire is available to stream on Netflix.
Source- Here’s the Thing
