While we’d love to envision their greeting beginning with a teasing “help me, help you,” we know that probably wasn’t the case. Even so, Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr., who starred together in 1996’s “Jerry Maguire,” seemed genuinely happy to see each other at the Cannes Film Festival.
Jerry Maguire Pair Reunites at Cannes Film Festival 30 Years Later
The pair ran into each other at the “Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning” premiere. Gooding Jr. is at the festival to receive the Global Short Film Awards 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. He also is trying to find buyers for his films “Quantum Supremacy” and “Line of Fire.” Despite Cruise’s obvious presence at the debut of the final film in the franchise, Cuba Gooding Jr. seemed surprised to see his old co-star. After hugging it out, they chatted briefly before going their separate ways.
The two famously starred together 30 years ago in “Jerry Maguire.” Cruise played a sports agent who quits his soulless corporation and goes into business alone after having an epiphany. His secretary, Dorothy Boyd (played by Renée Zellweger), and washed-up football star Rod Tidwell (Gooding Jr.) are the only ones who join him in his new venture. Cruise was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, but it was Gooding Jr. who won for Best Supporting Actor.
Both of Tom Cruise’s ‘Jerry Maguire’ Co-Stars Have Sung His Praises
Before appearing in Jerry Maguire together, Cruise and Gooding Jr. also co-starred in 1992’s “A Few Good Men.” Cruise appeared alongside Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, and others as military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee. Kaffee sets out to prove that two Marines murdered another because they were ordered to. Gooding Jr. played Corporal Carl Hammaker, who was in the same platoon as the victim and his accused murderers.
Like many of Cruise’s co-workers, Gooding Jr. has spoken highly of Cruise, telling Us Weekly, “I love him to death. He has been so supportive of my career. I followed his movies before I ever worked with him.”
“He’s a real salt of the earth person that God has blessed and I tell him everyday, ‘God loves you, man!’ He really does,” Gooding Jr. continued. “And you can see it through the blessings that he keeps showering down.”
GettyWhen fellow “Jerry Maguire” co-star Zellweger won a SAG Award for the 2020 film “Judy,” Cruise was also included in her list of thank yous. “Tom Cruise, for your example of professionalism on set and striving for excellence, and generosity, and unconditional kindness,” she told the audience.
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Tom Cruise Has Heartfelt Reunion With ‘Jerry Maguire’ Costar