It’s no surprise that Tom Cruise’s blockbuster hit “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning,” in theaters May 22, had a fantastic holiday opening weekend. Combined with Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” Sunday estimates show the duo produced “the biggest start-of-summer holiday weekend of all time,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Final Reckoning” made $77 million domestically and $190 million globally. 

I saw “Final Reckoning,” and as I watched Cruise, one of the last real movie stars, perform some of the most incredible stunts I’ve ever seen, I thought Hollywood could learn a lot from him about the business of film, the art of entertainment and most of all, what sells and what doesn’t. (I’ll give you a hint: It’s not the woke stuff Hollywood keeps pushing.)

Tom Cruise is old-school Hollywood. “Final Reckoning” is reminiscent of classic blockbuster Hollywood entertainment. At 62, Cruise is in fantastic shape and does most, if not all, of his stunts. A brief disclaimer: I left the theater thinking that of the last two “Mission” films, 2023’s “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning” was slightly more heart-pounding. The first hour of “Final Reckoning” is a bit of a slog—overwrought and heavy—but it picks up in the last two hours. 

Two of the film’s final stunt sequences in “Final Reckoning” are extraordinary. In one, Cruise is swimming underwater in an old Russian submarine as it tumbles along the seafloor. I found myself barely breathing alongside him. In the other, Cruise is clinging to a biplane for what seems like an eternity as his nemesis, Gabriel, played by Esai Morales, flies through the sky. It’s hard to believe it was Cruise; the stunts and sets seem incredible.

The only thing missing from “Final Reckoning” was the trademark light-heartedness that came with the first few “Mission” films in the franchise. If the world is truly ending imminently, thanks to the AI-generated “Entity,” it’s no laughing matter. But it did feel unusually thematically heavy for a blockbuster smash that reportedly cost $400 million.

Cruise seems like a strange guy in real life. The actor is committed to the Church of Scientology and has been married and divorced three times. I’m not condoning his choice to be the poster child of an infamous cult. Cruise looms so large on the big screen that it’s easy to compartmentalize the star from the private person. He seems like an old-school Hollywood star.

Cruise’s perfectionist commitment to film-making, particularly stunts—demonstrated best in the Mission: Impossible franchise—shows a business decision that seems to keep paying off. Few actors match Cruise’s dedication to excellence. 

During the Covid pandemic, Cruise notoriously kept the film industry alive, filming with safety protocols and encouraging Hollywood and moviegoers alike to keep coming to the movies. His work ethic and desire to master the art and business of making movies seem unparalleled. If more in Hollywood approached films with excellence in mind, maybe we’d finally see more quality films coming out of the industry.

Cruise shuns woke films. Though most of Hollywood has embraced liberalism and tries to sneak liberal ideology and “wokeness” into films, Cruise seems to shun it. Whether this is purposeful or not, I don’t know, but it sure seems like a wise business move. “Woke” films often seem to tank at the box office regarding revenue. 

Films like “The Matrix Resurrections,” “Eternals,” “Wonder Woman 1984,” and 2016’s “Ghostbusters” flopped because they pushed woke themes too hard. Even The New York Times started questioning Hollywood’s commitment to making films that push a message rather than films that purely entertain. 

“Is the Awkward ‘Diversity Era’ of Hollywood Behind Us?” a 2024 headline muses. “The past decade’s clumsiest attempts to cram new faces into old stories now feel like a moment, and a genre, of their own.” They have a point. 

Cruise’s films, especially the biggest box office hits, have no political message. They are pure entertainment, like they should be. He doesn’t seem to hide or be ashamed of it; instead, he embraces it as a strength. And it’s paid off. The Mission Impossible franchise has earned over $4 billion worldwide, not counting “Final Reckoning.” Cruise’s films, including hits like “War of the Worlds,” “The Last Samurai,” and “Top Gun” films, have earned over $12 billion in revenue. 

Decades ago, Cruise came to Hollywood with a work ethic and a desire for movie-making excellence. He’s dedicated his life to making incredible entertainment and telling wild tales. Few have done it better, especially regarding the physicality and emotional commitment his films have required. Cruise has tapped into something obvious: Most audiences go to the movies for fun, entertainment, and adventure. His films are a win for us and Cruise. His work ethic and commitment to the art and business of film have paid off. Hollywood would do well to recognize this.