Tom Cruise, the 62-year-old Hollywood icon whose name has become synonymous with high-octane action and cinematic spectacle, has set his sights on an unprecedented goal: to become the first actor to lead an action and/or comedy movie at the age of 100. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on May 18, 2025, Cruise declared, “I will never stop. I will never stop doing action. I will never stop doing drama [and] comedy films.” His ambition to keep making movies into his 100s has sparked both admiration and skepticism, but if anyone can defy the odds of age and Hollywood’s expectations, it’s the man who has spent nearly four decades redefining what it means to be an action star.

Cruise’s career, which spans over 40 years, is a testament to his relentless drive and versatility. Born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in Syracuse, New York, in July 1962, he first burst onto the scene with a small role in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love. His breakthrough came two years later with Risky Business (1983), a coming-of-age comedy that showcased his charisma and earned him a Golden Globe nomination. By 1986, Cruise had solidified his status as a leading man with Top Gun, an action drama that became the highest-grossing film of that year and introduced the world to his penchant for high-stakes roles. Over the decades, he has taken on a wide range of genres, from the intense drama of Born on the Fourth of July (1989), which earned him another Golden Globe, to the biting satire of Tropic Thunder (2008), where his comedic turn as a foul-mouthed studio executive stole the show. His dramatic depth shone in Magnolia (1999), earning him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Oscar nomination, while his action credentials were cemented with the Mission: Impossible franchise, which began in 1996 and concluded with its eighth installment this month.

The Mission: Impossible series, in particular, has been a defining chapter in Cruise’s career. As Ethan Hunt, a secret agent for the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), Cruise has pushed the boundaries of action filmmaking, performing death-defying stunts that have become the stuff of legend. From climbing the Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol (2011) to hanging off a plane in Rogue Nation (2015), he has consistently raised the bar, often at great personal risk. In The Final Reckoning, released on May 23, 2025, Cruise performed a lengthy scuba dive and wing-walked on a biplane, stunts that would challenge actors half his age. The film, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, sees Hunt battling an AI villain called The Entity, and while it marks the end of the franchise—“It’s not called ‘final’ for nothing,” Cruise told THR—it also underscores his unwavering commitment to action.

Cruise’s declaration that he will never stop doing action, drama, and comedy films isn’t just bravado; it’s a reflection of his lifelong passion for storytelling. “I feel very fortunate to be able to make the films that I make, and I love it,” he told THR. “There’s been so many levels of reward with the filmmakers that I’ve collaborated with, the crews, the people, the cultures that we’ve worked in.” His ambition to keep going into his 100s was inspired by another Hollywood legend, Harrison Ford, who at 82 continued to star in action roles like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). Two years ago, Cruise told The Sydney Morning Herald, “I hope to keep making Mission: Impossible movies until I’m his age.” But at the Final Reckoning premiere, he upped the ante, stating, “I actually said I’m going to make movies into my 80s; actually, I’m going to make them into my 100s.” Now, he’s aiming to break new ground by leading an action or comedy film at 100, a feat that would make him the first actor to achieve such a milestone.

To understand Cruise’s confidence, one must look at his approach to longevity, which combines physical discipline, mental curiosity, and a relentless work ethic. In a 2023 interview with Men’s Health, Cruise revealed the secret to staying young: “so many different activities.” His routine includes sea-kayaking, caving, fencing, treadmill workouts, weights, and more—a regimen that keeps him in peak condition for the grueling stunts he insists on performing himself. Before filming the wing-walking scene in The Final Reckoning, Cruise told People magazine that he eats “almost a dozen eggs” with bacon, sausages, toast, and coffee to fuel his energy, noting, “My body is burning a lot.” This dedication to fitness mirrors the habits of centenarians like Joyce Preston, who turned 100 in March 2025 and credited her longevity to yoga and gentle exercise, and John Tinniswood, who lived to 112 and emphasized giving “all you’ve got” in everything you do. A 2022 study also supports Cruise’s approach, finding that a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts can add up to 10 years to a person’s lifespan.

Cruise’s versatility across genres makes his goal more plausible. While he’s best known for action, his comedic roles—like in Risky Business and Tropic Thunder—and dramatic performances in films like Jerry Maguire (1996) and Rain Man (1988) showcase his range. In Jerry Maguire, he won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of a sports agent with a conscience, delivering iconic lines like “Show me the money!” that remain etched in pop culture. In Tropic Thunder, he surprised audiences with a bald cap and fat suit, playing a ruthless studio exec with comedic timing that earned him critical acclaim. If Cruise were to lead a comedy at 100, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine him tapping into that same irreverent energy, perhaps playing a mischievous centenarian pulling off one last heist. An action role, meanwhile, might see him as a seasoned operative mentoring a new generation, much like his role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which grossed over $1.4 billion and became his highest-grossing film.

But Cruise’s path to 100 isn’t without challenges. The physical demands of action films are immense, and even at 62, he’s faced setbacks—like passing out during a stunt for The Final Reckoning. Critics have also questioned whether his focus on blockbusters has limited his dramatic output in recent years. Films like American Made (2017), where he played a sleazy CIA asset with charm and nuance, remind us of his acting chops, but some argue he’s been “chained to the blockbuster IP machine,” as noted in a World of Reel article. Moreover, Hollywood’s ageism could pose a barrier; few actors over 80 lead major films, let alone action or comedy ones. Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones role at 80 is an outlier, not the norm, and Cruise’s goal would require studios to take a significant risk on a centenarian star.

Yet, Cruise’s track record suggests he might just pull it off. His recent success in India, where The Final Reckoning grossed ₹17.5 crore on its opening day—outperforming major Hindi films like Kesari 2 and Jaat—shows his global appeal remains strong. He’s also working on new projects, including an untitled film with Alejandro Iñárritu, a war drama Broadsword, and a SpaceX project that aims to film the first Hollywood movie in outer space. A sequel to Top Gun: Maverick is also in development, and Cruise has teased a potential Days of Thunder follow-up. These endeavors reflect his refusal to slow down, a sentiment echoed by fans on X, who have called him “a legend for a reason” and a “badass actor” who “keeps winning.”

Tom Cruise’s ambition to lead an action or comedy film at 100 is more than a personal goal—it’s a challenge to Hollywood’s norms and a testament to his belief in the power of cinema. Whether he’s jumping off cliffs at 62 or cracking jokes at 100, Cruise remains a force of nature, driven by a passion that knows no bounds. “I’m excited,” he told THR, and if his past is any indication, that excitement will carry him—and his audiences—into uncharted territory for decades to come.