Colin Farrell calls Tom Cruise an unstoppable animal, reveals what it’s really like to work with him

I suppose if you worked alongside Tom Cruise, you could dine out on those stories for years. This week, Colin Farrell did precisely that – sitting down on Jimmy Kimmel Live to recount his time collaborating with the perennial man-on-a-mission himself, back when they shot Spielberg’s Minority Report back in 2002.

Popcorn (and Spielberg’s Head) at the Premiere

Let’s set the scene: Kimmel’s showing a rather entertaining old premiere photo, with Cruise, Farrell and Dakota Fanning looking pleased as punch. Cruise, for reasons best known to himself, is gripping a popcorn bucket actually shaped like Steven Spielberg’s head. Yes, you read that correctly – Spielberg’s head, hollowed out for snacking purposes. Apparently this wasn’t just a stunt; according to Farrell, Cruise was tucking right in: 'He did,' Farrell confirmed, adding that Cruise has a genuine penchant for popcorn. If you ever wondered what it was like on those sets, turns out it involved munching out of anatomically questionable containers.

Sharing the Screen with Cruise

Kimmel then asks a fairly basic question: How exactly does Farrell know Tom Cruise? Not missing a beat, Farrell draws a massive reaction from the crowd by dropping the obvious – they co-starred together in Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller. What’s really interesting is what Farrell says next, when Kimmel presses if Cruise actually left a mark on him:

'Oh yeah, he’s an animal. What an engine that man has… he’s such an impressive human being. I mean, he’s an extraordinary actor.'

There’s admiration here but also a bit of awe, to be honest. According to Farrell, Cruise is straight-up relentless, and not just in a gym-bro way. Farrell clearly rates Cruise’s acting chops, and not just the blockbuster stuff. He actually mentions that he once had a mate who’d only ever seen Cruise do Mission: Impossible-style roles, so Farrell made a point of highlighting the range that Cruise actually has (presumably showing him anything from Magnolia to Born On The Fourth of July to prove the point).

How Tom Cruise Works on Set

Here’s where it gets a bit “behind-the-scenes”. Farrell describes Cruise as a 'healthily competitive' co-star. Not in a nightmare diva way, but in a way that pulls everyone’s game up. So, while you might expect chaos from two lead actors on a massive Spielberg set, by Farrell’s account, Cruise brings the sort of drive that makes everyone sharper just by being in the same room. 'What an engine' is how he puts it — can’t say fairer than that.

A Quick Look Back (and Forward)

• 2002 – Minority Report hits cinemas, starring Cruise, Farrell and Dakota Fanning, directed by Steven Spielberg. The film, for what it’s worth, is still one of the smartest ‘blockbusters with a brain’ from the last couple of decades.
• 2024 – Spielberg’s new outing, Disclosure Day, is now showing in cinemas (hence the blast-from-the-past premiere photo surfacing).

If you’re keeping track, Farrell’s clearly one of the many actors who came away from a Cruise set slightly gobsmacked by the man’s stamina. Animal, engine, whatever you want to call it – turns out, it’s not just for the camera.