Question: Why has Tom Cruise done only 42 films despite working for 38 years in Hollywood?
Umm…huh?
Let’s review:
- Cruise has been an A-list actor for more than 30 years. – That means that HE chooses to work when HE feels like it and not when he’s called by a studio. If he chooses not to make films for months or years, he can do that as he has that much clout within the industry.
- Tom Cruise is expensive – Since his rates are well north of $20 million USD per film, it’s doubtful that most budgets could accommodate Cruise’s salary expectations.
- Tom Cruise has a massive ego – Cruise rarely accepts roles where he’s not the star or the focus of attention. Although he’s done well in some of the roles where he’s taken a back seat (Collateral, Tropic Thunder, etc.) it’s not his preferred status and so it limits his usefulness.
- Cruise’s turbulent personal life – Basically Cruise’s personal life is, at best, tumultuous. His multiple marriages, his involvement in his religion, and his ongoing battle over rumors concerning his sexuality have taken as much energy as his acting career probably has. It would likely be very exhausting to have his personal life and his career.
- He’s extremely wealthy – Tom Cruise is worth north of $550 million USD. Even if he never shot another scene or traveled to another film location, he’s earned more than enough to satisfy not only his wants or needs, but those of his children and his grandchildren. He doesn’t have to work to eat and that always seems to lower people’s work output when it occurs.
42 roles in 38 years is not a bad career, especially considering how successful and wealthy he’s become.