Tom Cruise Says This Role Took a Serious Emotional Toll on Him

Tom Cruise has played many demanding roles, but one film pushed him to an emotional place he did not expect. That film was Born on the Fourth of July, a Vietnam War drama released in 1989 and directed by Oliver Stone.

The movie is based on the real-life story of Ron Kovic, a U.S. Marine who was paralyzed during the Vietnam War and later became an outspoken anti-war activist. Cruise played Kovic and followed his life journey over many years, from his early patriotism to deep personal and political change. The film was adapted from Kovic’s autobiography and became the second entry in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War trilogy.

Cruise’s performance required intense physical and emotional commitment. In a 1990 interview with Rolling Stone, the actor shared that one scene affected him more than he expected. While filming an intimate moment involving his character, Cruise said he suddenly broke down in tears during the take. He explained that the reaction was not planned and was not part of the script.

“I remember doing the scene and just letting go, and that’s when I started crying,” Cruise said at the time. “That wasn’t written in the script. That’s when we got the whole thing.” He described the moment as an “emotional orgasm” and added, “Paraplegics talk about almost an emotional orgasm that they feel.”

The comments stood out because Cruise is known for being controlled and private in public. Still, the statement showed how deeply he connected with the role and the story. While Cruise has appeared in other war films, Born on the Fourth of July is often seen as one of his strongest and most serious performances.

The film had a long and difficult path to the screen. Producer Martin Bregman secured the rights to Kovic’s book in the 1970s, but the project stalled for years. After Oliver Stone’s success with Platoon, the film was revived at Universal Pictures, with Stone directing and Cruise cast in the lead role. Filming took place in late 1988 in the Philippines, Texas, and California and went over budget due to reshoots.

When the movie was released, it was met with strong reviews. Critics praised Cruise’s performance and Stone’s direction. The film earned more than $162 million worldwide and became one of the top-grossing movies of 1989. At the Academy Awards, it received eight nominations, including Best Actor for Cruise, marking the first Oscar nomination of his career. The film won Best Director and Best Film Editing. It also performed well at the Golden Globes, winning four major awards.

Over the years, Born on the Fourth of July has continued to be praised. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese has even named it as a movie everyone should see at least once. For Cruise, the project clearly carried personal weight and left a lasting mark on his career.

This role showed a different side of Tom Cruise that audiences did not often see at the time. It proved he was willing to take emotional risks, not just physical ones. That honesty helped make the film powerful and memorable. What do you think about Cruise’s performance in Born on the Fourth of July, and do you believe it is his best dramatic role? Share your thoughts in the comments.