Washington [US], May 14 – The Cannes Film Festival 2025 received an unexpected dose of Hollywood glamour when Tom Cruise made a surprise appearance at a masterclass to honor his longtime collaborator and friend, filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie.
The session, dedicated to McQuarrie’s cinematic journey, turned emotional and inspiring as the director shared how his partnership with Cruise not only reshaped his career but also gave him a renewed sense of purpose in the film industry.
“When I met him, I was going to quit the business,” McQuarrie revealed. “What I know about working with him for so long is that Tom is always a student. He’s eager to learn from the people around him.”
Cruise, in turn, expressed deep admiration for McQuarrie’s storytelling skills, saying, “I studied his career before we met. I read his scripts… you could hear it. You could see it. And I felt the filmmaker’s mind in the story—the craftsmanship of his work.”
The star went on to praise McQuarrie’s precision and mastery, likening the Mission: Impossible series to “a Swiss watch” for their meticulous construction.
Together, Cruise and McQuarrie have collaborated on more than 11 films, including Jack Reacher, Edge of Tomorrow, and five Mission: Impossible installments.
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival, which began on May 13, will run through May 24.