Could Tom Cruise Finally Win An Oscar For 'Top Gun: Maverick'?

Sarah Kester
Tom Cruise in plane
Variety | Paramount

If you haven't seen Top Gun: Maverick yet, what are you waiting for?!

And for those who have seen it twice, maybe even three times, we see what you're doing *remembers shirtless beach volleyball scene*

Filmed more than 30 years after the original, the film managed to exceed all expectations. It broke the sequel movie curse and has even garnered Oscar buzz for Tom Cruise.

In the long-awaited sequel, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell returns to the TOPGUN Naval aviation program after more than 30 years.

Tom Cruise pumping fist
Variety | Paramount

There, he teaches a group of elite fliers how to fly an extremely dangerous mission.

Fans saw the return of old faces, such as Val Kilmer resuming his role as Iceman, and got familiar with the new.

Miles Teller played Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Maverick's late best friend, Goose.

Miles Teller shirtless
Giphy | Top Gun

With the legacy sequel exceeding expectations (most sequels don't do that well) and those jaw-dropping ariel shots, Top Gun: Maverick soon became the summer's biggest blockbuster hit.

It dominated the box office, earning a staggering $623.8 million domestic.

Tom Cruise and Jennifer in Top Gun
EW | Paramount

That's more than Marvel's The Avengers made! In total, the film has made $1.24 billion to date, making it Tom Cruise's highest-grossing film to date. He's even set to earn a whopping $100 million as his salary.

Cruise reacted to the box office success on Twitter.

Tom Cruise thanking fans
Giphy | MTV Movie & TV Awards

"To all the films in release, to all the studios, and to all the exhibitors: congratulations. To the audience: thank you for venturing out and allowing us to entertain you. See you at the movies," he wrote.

All of this success has led fans to wonder: Will Tom finally win an Oscar?

Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire
IMDb | IMDb

Given his impressive career that spans decades, it's hard to understand why the 60-year-old hasn't earned an Academy Award yet.

Although he has been nominated three times. The first was for Best Actor in 1997 for Jerry Maguire.

The second was 'Born On The Fourth Of July' in 1990 and then finally Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Magnolia' in 2000.

Tom Cruise in The Outsiders
Giphy

After that incredible performance as Maverick, fans are feeling as though it's Tom Cruise's time to shine.

"There's only one question in my mind Why this guy don't have any Oscar? Have some shame Hollywood" a Twitter user tweeted.

If not an Oscar, another fan called for a lifetime achievement award: "This man is one of the BIGGEST movie stars the world has ever known, and his body of work is astounding."

If the Academy were to finally award Cruise a golden statue, 'Top Gun' is the reason to do so.

Tom Cruise in plane
Variety | Paramount

It's a lot like when Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his first Oscar at the 2016 Academy Awards. After the internet learned that the talented actor had never won before, they rallied for him.

'Top Gun: Maverick' is already expected to win multiple awards at this year's Oscar awards.

Lady Gaga at Oscars
Giphy | The Academy Awards

The show is set to take place on March 12, 2023. Lady Gaga, for instance, is no stranger to the Oscars. In 2019, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Shallow" in A Star Is Born.

There's a good chance that she will nab the Best Original Song category with “Hold My Hand.”

Twitter agrees. "This is an Oscar worthy song. Tom Cruise said Lady Gaga saved Top Gun Maverick," a fan tweeted. "Music was so important in the first movie. The movie’s music uses this tune throughout the film."

Of course, there are other blockbusters to come, such as 'Black Panther 2' and 'Avatar 2.'

Tom Cruise in Top Gun
Giphy | Top Gun

But Cruise has already done his part by making Top Gun: Maverick a must-see and a must-rewatch.

Now all he has to do is wait and see if 2023 will be the year his career reaches new heights.