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Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Tom Cruise ran alone through Times Square and it cost over $1 million: The untold story behind an iconic opening scene
The scene that stopped the city that never sleeps More than just a scene: Why it mattered — ashotmagazine (@ashotmagazine) What Vanilla Sky is really about Where to watch this million-dollar moment Long before Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning had fans sprinting to theaters for another dose of Tom Cruise 's daredevilry, there was Vanilla Sky —a mind-bending psychological thriller that many still call one of his most underrated films. Released in 2001 and directed by Jerry Maguire's Cameron Crowe , the film opens with a single, unforgettable scene: Cruise, utterly alone, running through a deserted Times Square at dawn. No crowd. No traffic. No that eerie, apocalyptic sequence? It cost the filmmakers over $1 million to an era when green screens and post-production wizardry are the norm, Crowe and Cruise opted for a more authentic—and exponentially more expensive—approach. To create the film's haunting opening, they shut down Times Square, the pulsating heart of New York City, for three precious hours on a quiet Sunday wasn't just a production challenge, it was a political one too. In an interview with Vulture, Crowe told that, gaining clearance from then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani's office wasn't guaranteed. According to Crowe, Giuliani's team allowed the ambitious shoot under one strict condition: the scene had to be completed in just three hours. The city had done its homework and knew Crowe's reputation for multiple takes. So, the clock was make those minutes count, Cruise and Crowe rehearsed obsessively in advance. Yet even on the day, they couldn't help but go for multiple takes. As Cruise runs past a glass-walled building, eagle-eyed viewers can spot curious onlookers watching from behind the windows—a production hiccup Crowe considered erasing digitally. Ultimately, he left it in, saying it added to the film's undercurrent of subtle sounds like a logistical nightmare turned into a cinematic triumph. Set to Radiohead's 'Everything In Its Right Place,' the scene became a defining moment not just in Vanilla Sky, but in Cruise's filmography. It exudes a surreal, dreamlike quality that perfectly sets the tone for the twisting narrative that while the film's reception was mixed—scoring a modest 42% on Rotten Tomatoes—it has since gained a cult following . Many have hailed Cruise's performance as one of his most complex, calling the film 'ahead of its time' and 'visually haunting.' The Times Square scene remains one of its most talked-about moments, not least because of the extraordinary price tag attached.A remake of the 1997 Spanish film Open Your Eyes, Vanilla Sky is part science fiction, part psychological thriller, and part philosophical drama. Cruise plays David Aames, a wealthy publishing tycoon whose life spirals into disarray following a traumatic accident that leaves him disfigured. After reconstructive surgery, David's perception of reality begins to blur—his relationships, memories, and even his own identity seem film co-stars Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Jason Lee, and Kurt Russell, and includes an original soundtrack featuring a song by none other than Paul McCartney. While it didn't win over all critics, it left a lasting impression on many fans who appreciated its ambition, atmosphere, and unconventional you're curious to see the scene that made New York stand still—and cost a fortune doing it—Vanilla Sky is currently available to stream on Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and you're a Cruise devotee or a fan of offbeat thrillers, this is one film that proves great cinema sometimes begins with just one man running through an empty city—and a director bold enough to make it real.
Economic Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
When Tom Cruise ran alone through Times Square and it cost over $1 million: The untold story behind an iconic opening scene
Before Mission: Impossible wowed fans, Tom Cruise starred in a mind-bending thriller that shut down the Big Apple for three surreal minutes. Vanilla Sky's haunting opening scene—filmed without CGI—racked up a jaw-dropping bill and left viewers stunned. Long before Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning had fans sprinting to theaters for another dose of Tom Cruise's daredevilry, there was Vanilla Sky —a mind-bending psychological thriller that many still call one of his most underrated films. Released in 2001 and directed by Jerry Maguire 's Cameron Crowe, the film opens with a single, unforgettable scene: Cruise, utterly alone, running through a deserted Times Square at dawn. No crowd. No traffic. No CGI. And that eerie, apocalyptic sequence? It cost the filmmakers over $1 million to shoot. In an era when green screens and post-production wizardry are the norm, Crowe and Cruise opted for a more authentic—and exponentially more expensive—approach. To create the film's haunting opening, they shut down Times Square, the pulsating heart of New York City, for three precious hours on a quiet Sunday morning. It wasn't just a production challenge, it was a political one too. In an interview with Vulture , Crowe told that, gaining clearance from then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani's office wasn't guaranteed. According to Crowe, Giuliani's team allowed the ambitious shoot under one strict condition: the scene had to be completed in just three hours. The city had done its homework and knew Crowe's reputation for multiple takes. So, the clock was ticking. To make those minutes count, Cruise and Crowe rehearsed obsessively in advance. Yet even on the day, they couldn't help but go for multiple takes. As Cruise runs past a glass-walled building, eagle-eyed viewers can spot curious onlookers watching from behind the windows—a production hiccup Crowe considered erasing digitally. Ultimately, he left it in, saying it added to the film's undercurrent of subtle paranoia . What sounds like a logistical nightmare turned into a cinematic triumph. Set to Radiohead's 'Everything In Its Right Place,' the scene became a defining moment not just in Vanilla Sky , but in Cruise's filmography. It exudes a surreal, dreamlike quality that perfectly sets the tone for the twisting narrative that follows. And while the film's reception was mixed—scoring a modest 42% on Rotten Tomatoes—it has since gained a cult following. Many have hailed Cruise's performance as one of his most complex, calling the film 'ahead of its time' and 'visually haunting.' The Times Square scene remains one of its most talked-about moments, not least because of the extraordinary price tag attached. — ashotmagazine (@ashotmagazine) A remake of the 1997 Spanish film Open Your Eyes , Vanilla Sky is part science fiction, part psychological thriller, and part philosophical drama. Cruise plays David Aames, a wealthy publishing tycoon whose life spirals into disarray following a traumatic accident that leaves him disfigured. After reconstructive surgery, David's perception of reality begins to blur—his relationships, memories, and even his own identity seem questionable. The film co-stars Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Jason Lee, and Kurt Russell, and includes an original soundtrack featuring a song by none other than Paul McCartney. While it didn't win over all critics, it left a lasting impression on many fans who appreciated its ambition, atmosphere, and unconventional storytelling. If you're curious to see the scene that made New York stand still—and cost a fortune doing it— Vanilla Sky is currently available to stream on Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and NOW. Whether you're a Cruise devotee or a fan of offbeat thrillers, this is one film that proves great cinema sometimes begins with just one man running through an empty city—and a director bold enough to make it real.
