In some ways yes. After his crazy behavior at Oprah, his stupid unfounded verbal attacks on Brooke Shield, his weird PR-stunt with Kate Homes and all the bad press he is getting (example he forces all reporters to sit and listen to a seminar about Scientology for 2 hours before they are even allowed to do an interview with him) has made most of my friends (who either liked him or was neutral to him before) really dislike his guts. None plan to see his film now. I still think it will be a big box ioffice success though.
War of the World is a brand name in it's own, an event film, and Spielberg is a powerful brand too. I haven't really thought of WOTW as a Tom Cruise film, more like a summer popcorn mindless fun blockbuster film a la Independance day where it doesn't really matter what actors are in it.

I read how Paramount executives now is hesitant about making Mission Impossible 3 because of all the strange recent behavior by Tom. In the long run if he continues to behave like this I think it may hurt his career. I mean, previously he has mostly kept low key about scientology but since Pat Kinsley (his long time publicist) quit working for him last year nobody seems to control his image and behavior. Pat was a master at forcing reporters and media to angle certain things, or plant "Tom is a hero" stories to the tabs.
Now Tom has to do it on his own or let his new publicist which happens to be his sister do it for him. Maybe tom has bene a wack job all the time, only pat manage dto hide it.

I've never really looked at it that way before, but it does make sense. I don't think it will hurt wotw, but maybe in the future, it could hamper some of his future grosses.

Yeah I think he is putting people off big time. I think War of the Worlds will get away relatively unscathed - but If he continues like this expect MI3 to underachieve.
Here in Oz he did his image damage with his appearance on the Oz 60 minutes. He told the reporter off for being rude and the reporter had to undergo a 4 hour seminar in scientology before the interview. What a shame as i generally like his films.

I think there are reasons he fired Pat Kingsley after 14 years and hired Lee Anne DeVette beyond Scientology.

MI3 is starting principal photography on July 18th so it remains to be seen what effect the new less quiet Cruise will have on the franchise.

It's only people on the internet who notices this kinda stuff. The general public doesn't form these kinda opinions very often. I haven't even noticed him. He seemed pretty cool on Oprah.

i really dont think it will hurt it, not at all!

Just becuase he went crazy on Oprah and said something insulting to another celebrity wont keep people from seeing the movie
and the Holmes thing, i doubt thats a stunt

I agree with matatonio. Crazy behavior isn't going to stop people from seeing a movie. People may lose respect for a person or company because of what happens outside, but it doesn't stop us from putting down money for the product. If that were the case, stars who make big, alienating political messages would be hurt. It's not like Jane Fonda's personal life is affecting Monster-in-Law...

Tom Cruise is the biggest actor in Hollywood, PERIOD. There is no way he hurts a movie.

Exactly my impression. I think it's just internet gossip talk. Most regular people I know, like my mother or my female friends, love Tom Cruise and thought his Oprah stunt was sweet. "Aww, he's in love." No "he's crazy" talk except for from the internet atmosphere.

PEACE, Mike

Nah, he isn't. I'd say Will Smith is the biggest actor, actually. I, Robot and Hitch weren't anything special, yet they both went over $140m.

He's not the most glamorous actor, or the most publicized, but he consistently brings in crowds.

The thing with Cruise is that he's one of the most solid choices. His movies rarely break out (and that's why I'm a little skeptical about War of the Worlds being a huge $200m+ hit. Minority Report wasn't huge...), but he's never had a bomb.

Cruise is all over the radio and tv, it's not just an internet thing, every morning radio show talks about it, the dudes whacky, will that hurt the movie? I think some people are tired of him same goes for Pitt & Jolie, I dont know how much it hurts, but it has to hurt a little bit, even the slightest bit.

BTW This has nothing to do with his relationship with Holmes, it has alot more to do with his religion and how weird he is about the whole thing, he comes off very odd, the Holmes situation is just icing on the cake.

Oh, I know that, I guess I meant that I don't think regular people really care or really follow it. The internet folks love to, but from real people I know, it doesn't mean a thing. People here think his behaviour on Oprah was "weird", but like I said, some people I know think he's sweet and in love.

So, I'll rephrase that and say I think it's just internet talk and annoying media hoopla.

PEACE, Mike

I'm not seeing it anyway, and I don't care if an actor is a scientologist, Jew, athiest, or whatever. That just doesn't really bother me in any way. Besides, I don't like Tom Cruise anyway, so I couldn't care less what his religion is.

EDIT: And yes I *am* a girl... :wink:

Joy

But! but! Tom Cruise is dreamy...

Tom Cruise attempted to shake Oprah (aka God) to death on her show. This may stop some ppl from going to see the film

On the other hand, it will attract many of the men who see Oprah as a threat

I find it quite strange that anyone would not see a movie based on who someone is in real life, when they portray a CHARACTER on film. He's not playing himself, so what's the big deal? If it was two hours of him going nuts over Katie Holmes, THEN I would say his movie would bomb. But the movie has nothing to do with Tom Cruise, the person, nor does it have anything to do with his relationship with Katie Holmes, his antics on Oprah, or scientology.

If people are going let the star's personal actions dissuade them from seeing WOTW then that is just stupid. It's not like he did something really against the grain today and said something against the troops. Please, he's just been acting a bit weird for Tom Cruise, but that isn't keeping me from seeing the film. BTW, the main reason people would be seeing this type of film isn't for Tom Cruise ne way. I'll use Signs as my reference.

Here's some cool polls from ew.com, which basically summarizes that the majority of people either don't care about anything Tom/Katie related or don't know/can't form an opinion about them. Most importantly, related to the thread, with the poll that asks whether the attention he's drawn to his latest romance will help or hurt his movie War of the Worlds, 53% said it won't effect the film, and 27% said it would help the film. The least, 20%, think it will hurt the film.

The polls:

1. Do you believe Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are truly in love?

37% No
31% Don't care
20% Who knows?
13% Yes

Total votes: 24,058

2. Will the attention he's drawn to his latest romance help or hurt his career?

37% Hurt
28% Don't care
20% Who knows?
15% Help

Total votes: 24,000

3. Will the attention he's drawn to his latest romance help or hurt his forthcoming movie, War of the Worlds?

53% No effect
27% Help
20% Hurt

Total votes: 23,813

4. Does the attention he's drawn to his latest romance make you take him more or less seriously as an actor?

57% Less
42% Neither
2% More

Total votes: 23,885

PEACE, Mike

Tom Cruise has turned into the new Michael Jackson. His weirdness so far has turned away too many people

I agree, maybe his antics will affect his future films IF they get major press. I don't think his current eccentricities have risen to the level of general consciousness.

Will Smith is a far bigger draw then Cruise, and I'd argue Adam Sandler is as well.

But anyways, I hadn't heard about any of this, I think we're reallllly blowing things out of proportion here.

Well let's hope not.. I'd hate to think Cruise was fondling little boys and sleeping with them along with giving them Jesus Juice like Jackson did..

Anyone see him on Leno last night? I didnt see anything wrong......