Tom Cruise has finally won his first Oscar. The legendary actor received an honorary trophy in recognition of his great work over the decades during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 16th Governors Awards held on November 16, 2025. The award was presented to him by director Alejandro González Iñárritu, who praised the actor, saying, “Tom Cruise doesn’t just make movies, he is movies.” Truer words have never been said. Cruise had previously been nominated for Oscars (without winning) for his work in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, and Top Gun: Maverick.
An ever-industrious actor, Tom Cruise has done so much work and had so much success over the years that no one would be mad at him if he slowed down. As of 2025, his movies have made over $13.3 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. But he has no plans to take a break. The Mission Impossible star has a few projects that are either planned or currently in development.
This list leaves out Cruise’s planned collaboration with Ana de Armas, which was put on hold following their breakup, and the rumored SpaceX movie, for which director Doug Liman recently gave an update, revealing there are no concrete plans.
Here’s what to watch out for in terms of upcoming Tom Cruise movies.
5
‘Top Gun 3’
Paramount Pictures
Top Gun: Maverick was a huge success, grossing $1.4 billion worldwide, earning critical acclaim (a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score), and taking the Academy Awards by storm with six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Top Gun 3 is now guaranteed to happen and is reported to be a priority following the merger between Paramount and Skydance.
Given how profitable the last movie was, it would be logical for a sequel to be made sooner rather than later, and we bet that the stunt-addicted Cruise is eager to immerse himself in another high-octane film now that the Mission Impossible saga is over. Unfortunately, director Joseph Kosinski’s schedule might prevent Top Gun 3 from getting made soon.
Early in the year, Kosinski revealed that the script was being written. “It’s a big idea that I spent almost a year developing — working with some friends at the Navy and Lockheed,” he said. However, the filmmaker is currently directing a Miami Vice reboot movie with an August 6, 2027, release date. He is also working on an untitled UFO movie for Apple Studios. This means that production on Top Gun 3 might not begin until 2028. Sad! But there’s no reason to wait. After all, the world waited 35 years for a sequel.
4
‘Broadsword’
20th Century Fox
The Mission Impossible franchise might be over, but Tom Cruise is not done with his long-term collaborator Christopher McQuarrie. The actor will star in McQuarrie’s upcoming World War II film Broadsword. In it, a Marine Sergeant (Cruise) becomes the only survivor of a crash landing in France during the war. He then teams up with a local girl to traverse the region as he finds a way to safety.
It was previously rumored that Henry Cavill, whom McQuarrie and Cruise worked with on Mission Impossible: Fallout, was going to be involved, but the filmmaker debunked that rumor. Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said: “Don’t believe anything you read about any of that stuff.” One thing we can expect is a great focus on action and atmosphere, as McQuarrie revealed that Cruise has “fewer than 500 lines in the whole movie.”
Fans have every reason to be excited because Cruise tends to do well in military-themed movies. Away from the Top Gun franchise, he has donned a uniform a few other times. Born on the Fourth of July earned him an Oscar nomination, and he was equally great in A Few Good Men. Cruise also worked with McQuarrie in the Nazi drama Valkyrie, so the two should have no trouble handling a WWII topic together again.
3
Untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu Movie
DreamWorks
Tom Cruise has a great relationship with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who presented him with his honorary Oscar, so everyone expected them to work together at some point. The film is reportedly about the most powerful man in the world, who ends up causing a global disaster and embarks on a mission to prove himself to humanity.
The new project must mean more for Iñárritu than it does for Cruise. The filmmaker hasn’t had a hit since The Revenant in 2015, so he’ll be looking to put himself back on the map. Speaking to Deadline, Iñárritu revealed that the celebrated actor won’t have any stunts this time.
It appears Cruise is looking to challenge himself once again. The superstar hasn’t done a lot of comedy-themed movies in his career, but whenever he has gone this route, he has been outstanding. Who can ever forget his unrecognizable turn as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder? So good was he that fans have kept demanding a movie centering on his character. Well, it just might happen. Anything is possible in Hollywood.
2
‘Edge of Tomorrow 2’
Warner Bros. Pictures
Regarded as one of the greatest military sci-fi movies, Edge of Tomorrow was a huge success when it premiered, grossing $370.5 million worldwide and scoring 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. For years, fans called for a sequel, and it seems like it is finally happening. According to Production Weekly, a reliable Hollywood trade publication, filming is now slated to begin in late 2026.
The fast-tracking of Edge of Tomorrow 2 seems connected to the pausing of the Cruise-Armas project, which Doug Liman was meant to direct. In 2024, the director had mentioned how Warner Bros constantly brings up” the sequel and that Cruise was determined to make it. Additionally, it was reported that Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav has been advocating for the film as part of Cruise’s new multi-year production deal with the studio.
The sequel’s working title is Live Die Repeat and Repeat, so fans should expect another time loop plot. Hopefully, Emily Blunt returns, too, as she and Cruise were one of the best on-screen duos in the last 20 years. Even better, Blunt is a bigger star now than she was 20 years ago. With the follow-up, Liman also has the chance to fix a major complaint that people had about the original. Many felt that things became dull in the third act after the loop was fixed.
1
‘Days of Thunder 2’
Paramount Pictures
In July 2025, producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Entertainment Tonight that a Days of Thunder sequel is in the works. Former NASCAR driver and chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, who happens to be Cruise’s friend, confirmed plans for a sequel, too. “Tom Cruise has told me it’s gonna happen,” he said.
There had been much talk about a Days of Thunder 2, especially after the massive success of F1. Tom Cruise also fueled speculation when he uploaded a throwback post on X, marking 35 years since his work with the late director Tony Scott on the original film. Like Top Gun: Maverick, this follow-up has taken too long, but now seems like the best time to do it.
Brad Pitt’s F1 proved that there was a massive appetite for racing movies. Despite Americans being more interested in NASCAR than Formula One, they showed up in high numbers to watch it, resulting in a domestic gross of $190 million. Imagine the kind of numbers a NASCAR movie starring Tom Cruise will do. Here, the Hollywood legend will also get the opportunity to do more stunts. However, the script will have to be a little better. Despite developing a cult following, the original was panned by critics. Today, it has a 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
