Tom Cruise to be honoured at Dolby Theatre with prestigious AFI award

The actor’s films have earned nearly $13bn at the worldwide box office

Tom Cruise will receive the American Film Institute’s 52nd AFI Life Achievement Award, with the Hollywood star set to be honoured at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles on April 24, 2027.

The AFI Board of Trustees announced the decision on October 21, describing the distinction as the highest honour for a career in film. The tribute will take place at the Dolby Theatre, recognising Cruise’s decades of work as an actor and producer.

“Tom Cruise is a global icon,” said Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. She praised his commitment to filmmaking and his belief in cinema’s ability to bring people together, adding that his work has made him an ambassador for American film around the world.

Cruise, a three time Oscar nominee, has built a career spanning several decades, with credits including Risky Business, Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men and the Mission: Impossible franchise. His films have collectively earned nearly $13bn worldwide, according to the announcement reported by Deadline.

The actor currently stars in Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film has attracted considerable attention and divided audience opinion.

Cruise has also received several major honours throughout his career. In 2025, he received an honorary Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards. Other recognitions include honours from the Cannes Film Festival, the Producers Guild of America and France’s Legion of Honour.

The AFI Life Achievement Award has a long history of recognising influential figures in cinema. First presented in 1973 to director John Ford, it has subsequently honoured performers and filmmakers including Bette Davis, Gregory Peck, Meryl Streep and Francis Ford Coppola.

Recent recipients include Eddie Murphy, Nicole Kidman, Julie Andrews, Denzel Washington, George Clooney and Diane Keaton.

Cruise’s upcoming tribute will add his name to that distinguished list, celebrating his lasting contribution to the film industry as both a leading performer and a producer.