Inarritu, who is directing Cruise in an upcoming film set for release next October, introduced the Top Gun actor by praising not just his high-risk stunts but the precision behind his performances.
“It is not how far he runs or how high he jumps,” Inarritu said. “It’s how precisely he chooses to move — those tiny calibrations.”
Cruise was one of four recipients of honorary statuettes awarded by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
The 63-year-old actor, a four-time Oscar nominee who has never won the prize, was recognised for a body of work that spans Risky Business, the Top Gun films, and the Mission: Impossible franchise. He has also become a vocal advocate for the theatrical movie experience at a time when cinemas face pressure from streaming and social media.
Accepting the award, Cruise recalled how watching films in theatres as a child opened his world. “Suddenly the world was so much larger than the one that I knew,” he told an audience that included Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ariana Grande, adding that he took any job he could to earn money for movie tickets.
“I will always do everything I can to support this art form and champion new voices — and protect what makes cinema powerful, hopefully without too many more broken bones,” he joked, referencing the ankle he broke during a stunt in 2017.
“Making films is not what I do. It’s who I am,” he added.
The gala also honoured Dolly Parton with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her extensive charity work, including a book programme that has donated more than 300 million books to children. She accepted the award via video.
Other recipients included actor-choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas.
