Tom Cruise’s Olympic stunt has everybody making the same complaint

Not everyone enjoyed it.

After two weeks of phenomenal athleticism, punctuated by the odd viral moment and controversy, the Paris Games drew to a close last night at a packed Stade de France.

As is tradition, the show focused on passing the Olympic baton to the next host City, which will be Los Angeles in 2028.

Tom Cruise's Olympic stunt has everybody making the same complaint

At the centre of that handover was Tom Cruise. The ‘Top Gun’ actor dramatically abseiled off the roof of the stadium and landed in a crowd of athletes before hoping on a motorbike and riding out of the stadium with the Olympic flag.

A clip then showed the Hollywood star traveling through Paris before jumping on a plane and landing at the famous Hollywood sign.

However, viewers were left deflated by his brief and ‘underwhelming’ appearance.

One person took to social media saying: “Opening & closing ceremony both extremely bland, no passion, no imagination totally without a highlight to mention & Tom Cruise on a bit of string was totally underwhelming.”

Another commented: “Stunning and wonderfully pointless,” while a third said: “Bare minimum stunt, I expected better from Tom Cruise.”

Thank you, Paris! Now off to LA. pic.twitter.com/MxlAb0hZbT

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 11, 2024

However, others were more enthusiastic about the segment as one said: “Cruise did all of his favourite stunts, jumped off of a building, rode a motorcycle, ran a bit, climbed a bit, and of course jumped out of an aeroplane. A Mission Impossible supercut.”

The stunt had another significance, his upcoming movie ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two’ will be released in May 2025.

After the stunt, Paramount Pictures took to X to thank the actor and shared a teaser of the film.

The post read: “Today’s closing ceremonies brought our world another incredible moment from Tom Cruise, one that has us looking back on many before it. No matter the mission, he’s always accepted it.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank Tom for all that he has done for our industry and art forms as both an actor and a producer. He’s consistently strived for the utmost competence across any and all skills that will better the story and experience for the audience.”

Billie Eilish, H.E.R and Yseult all performed at the closing ceremony alongside Cruise’s fleeting appearance.

Read more:

• Gardaí praised for saving woman’s life following medical episode
• Viewers praise David Gillick for ‘immense work’ at Paris Olympics
• Limerick man says it was ‘a privilege’ to give Irish Olympic champs lift home
• Tributes paid for Irish man who died in Australia