Why Cruise, Pitt Can’t Defy Hollywood Economics

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If Tom Cruise is the Last Movie Star, Brad Pitt is a close runner-up.

In my perspective, these seasoned acting veterans continue to rake in substantial earnings, working alongside top-tier filmmakers and selecting coveted leading roles. Despite being well into their sixties, they’ve managed to maintain an undiminished allure that captivates audiences worldwide.

Indication: A massive turnout is observed at the release of their summer collections. However, given the harsh financial situation in the industry, their endeavors might not bear fruit.

The summer launches are seeing a large number of attendees. But considering the grim economic climate within the industry, their attempts could prove futile.

Lastly: It’s evident that their summer releases are attracting a lot of people. However, due to the difficult financial situation in the sector, their efforts may go unrewarded.

At least for studio bean counters.

In the past three years, Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” has become the highest-grossing movie of the Mission: Impossible series at global cinemas, raking in approximately $576 million. This figure surpasses the earnings of the 2018 installment, “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” which brought in an impressive $786 million as the sixth film in the franchise.

Let’s take a look at “Final Reckoning’s” estimated budget of around $400 million. For a film to cover its costs, it typically needs to earn double that amount at the box office.

And sometimes more. The math isn’t working for Ethan Hunt and friends.

Just like other cases, “F1®” also experienced significant success. The initial domestic release of the Pitt Formula 1 movie garnered a staggering $57 million on June 25, marking the highest gross for an original film this year. To date, it has accumulated an impressive total of $293 million, but as more Summer blockbusters premiere, that amount is expected to decrease.

Kicking off things on July 11, the Man of Steel graces our movie screens once more. Subsequently, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” arrives on July 25. This month also offers a mix of family-friendly movies such as “The Smurfs”, and reboots in the horror genre like “I Know What You Did Last Summer”.

At present, “Jurassic World Rebirth” is dominating the movie scene – it’s possible that the seventh installment in the series could earn over $140 million at U.S. cinemas by as early as Monday.

According to various reports, the budget for director Joseph Kosinski’s racing drama ranges from approximately $200 million to $300 million. Regardless of the exact figure, it seems that the film may struggle to turn a profit.

The only hope? The film has “Top Gun: Maverick”-sized legs.

Currently, Apple is associated with “F1®,” and it’s commonly believed that the company views investing in high-profile films as a strategy to expand its brand. This implies that Apple executives might be willing to accept financial losses, understanding that they are positioning themselves for a larger share of the movie market.

In essence, the reality remains stark and unyielding: the costs of contemporary films are often excessive, with even financially successful ones finding it challenging to turn a profit. Recall the 2016 film “Ghostbusters” that was met with widespread ridicule? Despite this, it managed to gross $229 million worldwide; however, its high production cost sealed its fate as a financial failure.

This problem isn’t new, but it is getting worse.

If even established actors like Cruise and Pitt struggle to make high-grossing movies profitable, how likely is it for the newer talents to succeed in this challenging field?

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2025-07-07 19:03