Tom Cruise leans into his intense on-set image: he expects a lot and is upfront

In a new GQ cover story tied to Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s drama Digger, Tom Cruise doesn’t dodge the chatter about his on-set reputation — he leans into it. He says the stories about his intensity are real and come from being upfront about the standard he expects when you sign on to work with him.

“I work hard, and people that work with me, they know. I expect a lot and I’m upfront about it. It’s like: ‘The rumors are true. And do you want this?’”

Cruise also talks about what keeps him chasing big-screen moments. He says he has no beef with cable, TV, or streaming — they create jobs and have their place — but what lights him up is the communal jolt of a packed theater. He describes filmmaking as an exploration of shared humanity and says he’s willing to look a little foolish on camera if that’s what it takes to find the right tone.

Old‑school habits

To keep his focus sharp, Cruise says he parks his phone far away and relies on face-to-face conversations instead of long email chains. He keeps a clear plan and tight scripts, and laughs that people have labeled him “intense” since he was a kid — a tag he now wears comfortably. That drive, he says, comes from curiosity and a sense of responsibility to everyone around him.

• Keeps his phone out of reach on and off set
• Prefers in-person talks over detailed emails
• Once gave Glen Powell a six-hour cinema- history video

That last bit was a gift to his Top Gun: Maverick co-star: Cruise compiled a six-hour breakdown of movie history for Glen Powell, a sign of how seriously he takes mentoring the next wave.

Back to the big screen

Looking ahead to Digger — his first non-action vehicle in years — Cruise says he’s optimistic about the current upswing at the box office and views Hollywood as cyclical, with boom-and-bust stretches that always shift again. He adds that he’s energized by what audiences are seeking out in theaters right now.