Tom Cruise encourages double feature ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ to back theaters

Tom Cruise continues to save theaters.

Earlier this year, the “Top Gun: Maverick” star was praised by Steven Spielberg for “saving Hollywood’s ass” at the box office. Now, Cruise has taken to Twitter to encourage audiences to see this year’s summer blockbusters on the big screen.

“This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters,” Cruise tweeted. “Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or pinker) than one with ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie.’”

Cruise also allegedly applauded DC’s tentpole film ‘The Flash’ ahead of its premiere. His summer action film ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ has already received positive reactions from critics ahead of its theatrical debut on July 12th.

The following month sees the summer movie season ramp up. Harrison Ford’s presumed last appearance as Indy in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate” hits theaters June 30. “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” will battle it out at the box office with a shared release date of July 21st.

Related stories

Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins” will have its world premiere at TIFF

Idris Elba says Bond casting rumors led to ‘disgusting’ backlash: ‘It was about race’

The actor’s expansive Hollywood career of “Vanilla Sky” and “Eyes Wide Shut” has seen him become an advocate for the sanctity of theatres. Cruise allegedly convinced Paramount to give “Dead Reckoning” a theatrical release without making a dent in the box office with a 30-day first streaming window on Paramount+.

A recent Puck report he also claimed that Cruise personally called executives and exhibitors from rival studios in hopes of getting them to give up premium large-format (PLF) screens for “Dead Reckoning” screenings. PLF screens come with an additional fee. It’s already been confirmed that ‘Oppenheimer’ will take over all IMAX screens in North America for three weeks, which could kick off screenings of ‘Dead Reckoning.’

An IMAX rep told IndieWire that IMAX will still host a three-week “Oppenheimer” floor for 1,550 of IMAX’s 1,700 total venues worldwide, while Christopher Nolan’s film will premiere later in China and Japan. “Oppenheimer” was filmed entirely in IMAX.