Cruise traces his admiration for Iñárritu back 25 years to the director's debut feature, ahead of their first collaboration.
Tom Cruise spoke publicly about his long-standing admiration for director Alejandro G. Iñárritu during a promotional event for their new film Digger, held in Los Angeles in July 2026, according to multiple outlets including The Guardian, IndieWire, IGN, Empire and HOLA. Cruise said his respect for Iñárritu began when he saw the director's 2000 feature debut Amores Perros, which he described as the film that convinced him he wanted to work with the filmmaker.
Cruise's Early Encounter With Amores Perros
According to the Motion Picture Association's account of the event, Cruise said he was "one of the first audiences" to see Amores Perros, adding, "It was amazing. I was one of the first audiences, and I heard about it early on, so when I saw that film, I was like, 'What the f**k? This guy!'" The Guardian reported Cruise made similar remarks at the Los Angeles event, calling the film "brilliant" and saying he did not know how others felt but was struck by Iñárritu's talent immediately. IndieWire reported Cruise saw the film before its 2000 Cannes premiere, while Empire quoted him saying he felt "the powerful human voice of someone who was incredibly skilled at what they were doing."
From Admiration to Collaboration on Digger
Cruise's admiration reportedly translated into action years later. According to Wikipedia's entry on the 2026 film, Iñárritu began discussing the project with Cruise in 2019 while Cruise was filming Top Gun: Maverick, indicating the partnership developed gradually rather than suddenly. Coverage describes Digger as a black comedy featuring sharp satire and dark humor, marking the first collaboration between Cruise and the Oscar-winning director. Mashable India's September 16, 2026 report, drawing on the same July event remarks, reiterated that Cruise's admiration stemmed from Amores Perros' storytelling, performances and visual design.
Digger is scheduled to release in theaters on October 2, 2026. The film represents the culmination of an admiration Cruise has described as dating back roughly 25 years, from his early viewing of Iñárritu's directorial debut to their eventual work together on the upcoming feature.
