Hollywood star Tom Cruise will receive the American Film Institute’s (AFI) 52nd Life Achievement Award, recognising his decades-long contribution to cinema as an actor and producer.
The 64-year-old actor will be honoured at a gala ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 24, 2027. The event will celebrate his career with tributes from friends and longtime collaborators, highlights from his filmography and an acceptance speech.
Kathleen Kennedy, chair of AFI’s board of trustees, described Cruise as a global icon, praising his dedication to filmmaking and his commitment to the theatrical cinema experience. She also highlighted his belief in cinema’s ability to bring people together, noting his influence on American filmmaking worldwide.
AFI considers the award one of the film industry’s most prestigious career honours.
Across a career spanning 45 years, Cruise has starred in films that have collectively earned nearly $13 billion at the global box office. He has received three Academy Award nominations for acting and another as a producer of Top Gun: Maverick. In 2025, he also received an honorary Oscar.
His extensive filmography includes Risky Business, Rain Man, A Few Good Men, The Firm, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia and Minority Report. He is also widely recognised for leading the blockbuster franchises Mission: Impossible and Top Gun.
Cruise most recently starred in Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Beyond his Oscar recognition, Cruise has received honours from the Cannes Film Festival and the Producers Guild of America. His other accolades include France’s Knight of the Legion of Honour, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Humanitarian Award and the Pioneer Award from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.
AFI is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the moving image as an art form. Proceeds from the award gala will support its arts and education programmes.