Tom Cruise is one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood. He has held the position of one of the most acclaimed actors in the film industry for four decades. Throughout his acting career, Cruise has given many incredible performances. But until today, none of them have been represented in the most prestigious film collection in the world—the Criterion Collection.
The Criterion Collection is the home media distributor that collects the greatest or most culturally important films of all time, and immaculately restores them, and curates magnificent special features. To every Cruise fan’s delight, now the Criterion will also include Cruise’s 1983 film Risky Business, which will be the 1,227th movie added to the collection.
The Criterion Collection announced its inclusion today, April 15, and the film is set to release in 4K UHD (and Blu-ray) on July 23. The movie, known for its iconic underwear lip-sync scene, is summarized by them as follows:
“A sly piece of pop subversion, this irresistible satire of Reagan-era materialism features Tom Cruise in his star-is-born breakthrough as a Chicago suburban prepster whose college-bound life spirals out of control when his parents go out of town for the week and an enterprising call girl (Rebecca De Mornay) invites him to walk on the wild side. While Cruise boogying in his briefs yielded one of the most iconic pop-cultural moments of the 1980s, it is the film’s unexpected mix of tender romance (enhanced by a moody synth score by Tangerine Dream) and sharp-witted capitalist critique that remains fresh and daring.”
The selection of Cruise’s 1983 film by Criterion Collection comes as a surprise as his other films like Collateral, Eyes Wide Shut, The Color of Money, and Magnolia are often deemed superior. Nevertheless, there are licensing issues to be considered, but there are certainly good reasons for the inclusion of Risky Business.
Risky Business is an American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Paul Brickman, starring Cruise alongside Rebecca De Mornay. The film follows the sexual exploits of a high school senior during his parents’ vacation trip. The film is considered to be Cruise’s breakout role. It was a commercial and critical success. The film grossed more than $63 million at the box office and received acclaim, with many comparing it to The Graduate (1967).
Cruise’s Risky Business joins several other films for Criterion’s July releases. There’s a 4K UHD restoration of films like Le Samouraï, Farewell, My Concubine, Black God, White Devil, and Perfect Days. Among them is Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, which is perhaps the best inclusion of them all.
