Hayley Atwell enjoyed her time filming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” but she wouldn’t call it her favorite Tom Cruise movie.
Prior to the release of “The Final Reckoning,” Letterboxd asked Atwell and the supporting cast to name their favorite Tom Cruise movies. Pom Klementieff mentioned the legendary actor’s role in “Tropic Thunder.” Angela Bassett, meanwhile, went with “Magnolia.” He received a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars for his performance in the 1999 Paul Thomas Anderson film.
As for Atwell, she went with “Jerry Maguire.” The sports drama film from 1996 was nominated for five Academy Awards.
Atwell, who has developed a strong working relationship with Cruise, applauded his ability to perfectly portray a man who just went through a moral epiphany.
“I watched Jerry Maguire the other day, and I loved the moments of awkwardness and vulnerability in him in that movie,” Atwell said. “For someone who is so emotionally articulate in real life, how, sort of, emotionally constipated his character becomes at times in that movie, it’s such a beautiful study.”
Atwell continued, “His range, I think, is underrated because he is so loved and known now for these action films.”
Atwell wasn’t the only “Mission: Impossible” cast member who gave “Jerry Maguire” some recognition. Simon Pegg believes the Academy snubbed Cruise’s performance.
“He should have won an Oscar for Jerry Maguire,” Pegg declared. “Tom plays vulnerability so well. He’s a beautiful loser in Jerry Maguire, you know? And I think it’s a superb performance.”
Cruise won a Golden Globe Award in 1997 for his work in “Jerry Maguire.” However, he fell short to Geoffrey Rush at the Academy Awards.
‘Mission: Impossible’ Star Hayley Atwell Names Favorite Tom Cruise Movie first appeared on Men’s Journal on May 28, 2025
