Tom Cruise Reflects on the Film He’ll Forever Be ‘Incredibly Proud’ Of

Tom Cruise recently opened up about his experience working on Eyes Wide Shut, calling it the one film he will always feel “incredibly proud” of.

The 1999 drama marked the final project of legendary director Stanley Kubrick and has become a defining moment in Cruise’s career.

Set in New York City, the story follows Cruise as a doctor who embarks on a mysterious and unsettling night-long journey after learning his wife, played by Nicole Kidman, had thought about cheating.

Along the way, he encounters a secret society and uncovers hidden truths about himself. Speaking to CNN, Cruise reflected on working with Kubrick: “The script was effective, and moving, and provoking, and working with him in every scene he just – you know, he would just caress and work on it. It was an extraordinary experience because Kubrick gives you the landscape with the least amount of color, so the audience can participate.”

Cruise also noted how Kubrick aimed to involve viewers directly in the story. “He wants them to imbue almost their own life and poses these questions to them so that the audience, in a way, they are experts,” Cruise said. The actor added, “I saw it in New York, and I wanted to see it in London with him, but the time constraints – because Nic was in London doing a play, and I had to get on a plane and go to Australia… I was amazed by the movie, and stunned, and felt incredibly proud to have been a part of his picture.”

Eyes Wide Shut was adapted from the 1926 novella Dream Story by Arthur Schnitzler. Kubrick had pursued the adaptation since the 1960s, ultimately working with writer Frederic Raphael to modernize the story and set it in 1990s New York.

Most of the filming occurred in England, with detailed recreations of New York streets at Pinewood Studios. The shoot lasted 400 days, earning a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous film shoot.

Tragically, Kubrick passed away six days after showing the final cut to Warner Bros., making this his final directorial work. The film’s U.S. theatrical release in July 1999 required some digital edits to secure an R rating.

Despite mixed reactions at the time, critical reception has improved over the years. Rotten Tomatoes currently gives it a 76% approval rating, while Metacritic lists a score of 69 out of 100. Box office earnings reached about $162 million worldwide, making it Kubrick’s highest-grossing film in unadjusted dollars.

Critics praised the film’s visual style and psychological depth. Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune called it “provocatively conceived, gorgeously shot and masterfully executed.” Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club highlighted its intensity, noting, “Disobeying the dictates of society and your conscience can be both terrifying and exhilarating.” Roger Ebert also gave a positive review, appreciating Kubrick’s creation of a “strange, unsettling, sometimes erotic tone” and his careful orchestration of dreamlike scenes.

Over time, Eyes Wide Shut has become regarded as one of Kubrick’s most compelling works, balancing tension with philosophical exploration of desire and morality. Cruise’s reflections underscore the personal pride he holds for being part of such an influential cinematic achievement.

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