Digital Phablet – Tom Cruise took his fans by surprise at AMC with a special screening of The Odyssey.
Some moviegoers at New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square were disappointed when the Hollywood icon didn’t show up for the Wednesday night IMAX screening of The Odyssey as he had promised, according to Page Six and confirmed by Cruise’s representatives to Entertainment Weekly. However, that wasn’t the whole story.
The actor was delayed due to a thunderstorm, finally arriving in Manhattan around 10:45 p.m., well after the film had concluded. Instead of missing the event altogether, Cruise surprised the staff at AMC, offering them a rare and memorable moment, as reported by the publication.
A tweet from an attendee shared, “Baby’s first tweet! Tom Cruise actually came into Lincoln Square to watch ‘The Odyssey’ at a private screening, and after a lovely chat, he invited all of us working there to come and watch the movie with him. It was magical. The President of Movies himself! https://t.co/A30AKJLGBf” — Gio (@ThatMovieGuy8) July 17, 2026.
Cruise, renowned as one of the few contemporary stars who has never appeared on a television series (check the credentials), has been a vocal advocate for the theatrical experience.
“Watching a film on the big screen can genuinely change lives,” Cruise said in a video shown at CinemaCon in 2025. “The cultural power of movie theaters is unmatched… the story of cinema is iconic, but it’s only just beginning.”
He also shared a post on Instagram, highlighting the moment, which can be viewed here.
In 2023, he went viral during the promotion of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One after expressing his love for popcorn in a social media video, bluntly stating, “I love my popcorn. Movies. Popcorn.”
Additionally, in 2025, a social media user named @mikeryan posted a photo of Cruise chatting with employees at the same AMC theater, noting, “Tom Cruise has been talking to the staff at AMC Lincoln Square for 15 minutes now.”
A Twitter user, @RachelLeishman, recounted, “I’ll use this moment to mention the absolutely hilarious details Tom Cruise shared during his pre-screening speech. First, he asked us twice if we had popcorn (I showed him my bucket to confirm), then he said, ‘I usually eat two large buckets during a movie.’” — May 19, 2025.
At the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in 2025, Cruise vowed to continue making movies until he reaches 100 years old.
“I’ll never stop. Whether it’s action, drama, or comedy films — I’m excited,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
He also reflected on his journey in filmmaking, especially with the Mission: Impossible team: “Collaborating with talented filmmakers, crews, and cultures has been incredibly rewarding. Every lesson about storytelling, life, leadership, and character has enriched me. It’s been exceptional, and I feel so fortunate to keep making movies I love.”
