Tom Cruise admits he’s ‘intense’ on set and says he ‘has nothing against Netflix’
Tom Cruise told GQ that rumours about his intensity on set are true, that he warns co‑stars beforehand, and that while he backs streaming, he values cinema as a communal experience.
Variety reports that in a GQ cover story, Tom Cruise acknowledged that rumours about his intensity on set are accurate and said he tells colleagues up front what to expect before filming. Cruise framed his approach as driven by a desire to connect with what he called the humanity of performance, and added he “has nothing against cable or TV or Netflix,” while defending cinema as a shared, in‑room experience. The interview accompanies Cruise’s starring role in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger and includes comments on his working habits and mentorship of younger actors.
Cruise: ‘The rumours are true’ — and I warn people beforehand
‘I have nothing against Netflix or TV’ — but cinema remains central
Cruise told GQ he supports television and streaming as industries and job creators but defended cinema’s distinct communal quality. “So movies are — this is about humanity. I have nothing against cable, TV, or Netflix. I think it’s great,” he said, stressing that what he values about theatrical filmmaking is the act of people coming together in a room to share an experience. The comments frame his intensity as a means to achieve that collective connection.
Less email, more face‑to‑face — and a phone kept ‘as far away as possible’
Cruise described a hands‑on working style that limits device use and prioritises direct conversation. He said he keeps his phone “as far away from me as possible”, whether on or off set, and prefers in‑person exchanges over detailed emails — “Don’t send me a detailed email. Come talk to me,” he told GQ. Cruise characterised his approach as rooted in curiosity and a desire to learn, explaining that when he’s interested in something, he wants to understand it and move past confusion quickly.
Mentoring younger actors and optimism for his new drama
Variety notes the interview coincides with Cruise’s starring role in Iñárritu’s Digger, which the piece describes as his first non‑action star vehicle in years. Cruise spoke about his commitment to teaching younger performers, referencing a six‑hour video he reportedly gave Glen Powell — a topic Powell had discussed with GQ U.K. in 2024 — that breaks down film history, lenses and framing. He also expressed optimism about the state of cinema and audiences, saying he’s “very excited about where movies are” amid a 2026 box office turnaround.