According to Page Six, the actor arrived long after Christopher Nolan‘s latest epic had finished playing because a thunderstorm delayed his trip into Manhattan. Instead of ending the evening there, Cruise reportedly turned the unexpected setback into a memorable experience for theater employees.
Tom Cruise Turned a Delayed Arrival Into a Special Screening for AMC Employees
IMAX hosted the screening on Wednesday night at AMC Lincoln Square, where Cruise had been expected to attend. However, severe weather disrupted his travel plans, and he did not reach the Upper West Side until approximately 10:45 p.m., after the audience had already left the theater.
According to Page Six, IMAX arranged for “The Odyssey” to be shown again so Cruise could watch it. Before the screening began, the actor reportedly invited AMC employees who were finishing their shifts, including staff members cleaning theaters and restocking concession stands, to join him for the private replay instead of watching the film alone.
The story quickly gained attention because it reinforced Cruise’s long-standing reputation as one of Hollywood’s strongest advocates for the theatrical moviegoing experience. Following the screening, he also praised “The Odyssey” on Instagram, calling Christopher Nolan’s latest hit brilliant and encouraging audiences to experience it in theaters. The picture stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and follows the Greek king’s perilous journey home after the Trojan War in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s classic epic poem.
Cruise is now preparing for the release of his next project, “Digger,” directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Scheduled to open in theaters and IMAX on October 2, 2026, the satirical black comedy stars Cruise as wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell alongside Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Emma D’Arcy, and Sophie Wilde. It follows a powerful businessman racing to convince the world he can save humanity after triggering a catastrophic crisis.