Overview
- The Academy awarded Cruise an honorary Oscar at the non‑televised Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, marking his first statuette.
- Accepting the prize, Cruise said, “Making movies is not what I do, it’s who I am,” and pledged to keep championing theatrical cinema, joking about hoping for “not too many more broken bones.”
- Iñárritu, who is directing Cruise in an untitled film, presented the statuette, with industry listings indicating a 2026 release window.
- Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas were honored with honorary Oscars, with Parton accepting remotely.
- The room drew awards‑season heavyweights including Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ariana Grande, as Cruise’s four past nominations without a competitive win were noted.