In 2006, Tom Cruise experienced a significant career downfall, mainly due to his controversial discussions about Scientology and his high-profile relationship with Katie Holmes. This article provides a detailed account of Cruise’s decline and subsequent rise to fame, powered by the success of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. Thank you for signing up! Our app allows you to access personalized content on the go. Download it now! August 2006 marked the apparent end of Tom Cruise’s career. Sumner Redstone, the chairman of Viacom, publicly criticized Cruise, who had been one of Paramount Pictures’ most profitable actors and producers for many years. Redstone stated that someone who caused creative suicide and financial losses shouldn’t be associated with the company. This marked a difficult and surreal period for Cruise. Despite having a lifetime box-office gross of over $1.5 billion, his transition from heartthrob to respected actor to action superstar seemed to crumble as quickly as the messages received in the “Mission: Impossible” movies. Paramount Pictures, his home for 14 years, decided to part ways with him following a series of odd outbursts. However, in 2023, it is hard to imagine this low point in Cruise’s career. He has become the face of one of the most successful action franchises and his latest film, “Top Gun: Maverick,” may be credited with saving the film industry post-pandemic. This month, Cruise is back with another “Mission: Impossible” installment, “Dead Reckoning Part 1,” solidifying his position as one of the few remaining movie stars in the industry. Yet, there was a time when his career was at an all-time low. Cruise’s downfall can be attributed to a series of events, including his infamous couch-jumping incident on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in May 2005. While promoting his film “War of the Worlds,” Cruise’s enthusiasm about his new girlfriend, Katie Holmes, prompted him to jump on Oprah’s couch. Though seemingly harmless at the time, this moment went viral thanks to the emergence of video-sharing site YouTube. One month later, during an interview on the “Today” show, Cruise’s discussion about Scientology and his disagreement with psychiatry turned uncomfortable. His opinions on antidepressants and psychiatry caused friction with interviewer Matt Lauer, resulting in a heated exchange. This uncomfortable exchange quickly spread across the globe. Consequently, Cruise’s private life, coupled with the intense media scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Holmes (dubbed “TomKat” by the tabloids), drove him to retreat from the spotlight. Previously, Cruise had managed to keep his personal life out of the tabloids, thanks to his publicist Pat Kingsley. However, he terminated his partnership with Kingsley and formed a new publicity team that included his sister and fellow Scientologists. Unfortunately, this inexperienced team was unable to shield him from the backlash he faced. Despite the negative attention, “War of the Worlds” still managed to top the box office during its opening weekend, amassing over $500 million worldwide. However, this success would not be replicated in Cruise’s subsequent films for the following six years. Another blow to Cruise’s reputation came from the “South Park” episode titled “Trapped in the Closet.” The episode, which depicted Cruise as an insecure individual and parodied his involvement in Scientology, caused significant controversy. Comedy Central decided to delay the episode’s re-airing due to alleged pressure from Cruise, who reportedly threatened to boycott the promotion of “Mission: Impossible 3” if the episode aired. This incident further tarnished Cruise’s public image. The constant tabloid coverage of TomKat and rumors surrounding their relationship orchestrated by the Church of Scientology started to affect Cruise’s career negatively. The release of “Mission: Impossible 3” in May 2006 saw a significant drop in Cruise’s Q score, indicating a decline in his overall appeal to the public. Despite these challenges, Cruise managed to turn his career around with the success of subsequent “Mission: Impossible” films and other notable roles.
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