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Rock of Ages

2012, Musical, 1h 58m

What to know

Critics Consensus

Its exuberant silliness is almost enough to make up for its utter inconsequentiality, but Rock of Ages is ultimately too bland and overlong to justify its trip to the big screen. Read critic reviews

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Rock of ages   photos.

The songs of Journey, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and other artists underscore a tale of big dreams in Hollywood. Soon after hopping off a bus from the Midwest, aspiring singer Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) immediately finds herself in trouble. Coming to her rescue is Drew (Diego Boneta), a bar-back at the legendary club the Bourbon Room. With stars in their eyes, the young lovers chase their dreams, but a misunderstanding involving rock god Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) threatens to tear them apart.

Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Some Heavy Drinking|Suggestive Dancing)

Genre: Musical

Original Language: English

Director: Adam Shankman

Producer: Matt Weaver , Scott Prisand , Carl Levin , Tobey Maguire , Garrett Grant , Jennifer Gibgot

Writer: Justin Theroux , Chris D'Arienzo , Allan Loeb

Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 2012  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2015

Box Office (Gross USA): $38.5M

Runtime: 1h 58m

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Co: Corner Store Entertainment

Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, SDDS, DTS

Cast & Crew

Julianne Hough

Sherrie Christian

Diego Boneta

Russell Brand

Paul Giamatti

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Patricia Whitmore

Malin Akerman

Constance Sack

Mary J. Blige

Bryan Cranston

Mike Whitmore

Alec Baldwin

Dennis Dupree

Stacee Jaxx

Mitch Miley

Erica Frene

Angelo Donato Valderrama

Adam Shankman

Justin Theroux

Screenwriter

Chris D'Arienzo

Matt Weaver

Scott Prisand

Tobey Maguire

Garrett Grant

Jennifer Gibgot

Toby Emmerich

Executive Producer

Richard Brener

Michael Disco

Samuel J. Brown

Hillary Butorac Weaver

Janet Billig Rich

Bojan Bazelli

Cinematographer

Production Design

News & Interviews for Rock of Ages

Critics Consensus: Rock of Ages Hits a Sour Note

Critic Reviews for Rock of Ages

Audience reviews for rock of ages.

The two protagonists are a little flat with little more to offer than their decent singing voices, but the rest of the star cast clearly has fun with their stereotype characters that are borderline parodies. The movie does have its heart at the right place, declaring rock music as the only genre that counts. The plot is pretty generic and does little more than lead from one song to the next. The songs are great, but would be preferable in their original versions. Still, as entertaining as a Greatest Hits album.

A lot better than I expected, although I wish they would have cast someone (anyone!) other than Tom Cruise. Not believable in the slightest. Juliane Hough was pretty good. I normally don't like her as an actress, but this role suited her. I loved the 80's themes and even the crappy boy band. I didn't love all the hair metal band songs and I'm not big on musicals in general, but this one worked for the most part.

Adam Shankman's choice of music in <i>Rock of Ages</i> brings the noise, but not much else.</p><p>The story is predictable and the plot details are weak. It is a surprise that there is enough material to push this film to nearly 2 hours; then again, the musical pieces will help with that. A good portion of the story comes across as odd, and while that may have some entertainment value in itself, it isn't a film saver.</p><p>The song selection is solid, and there are a lot of musical numbers. In fact, there may be too many, almost as if there is more time spent singing than anything else. Mary J. Blige takes the crown for singing. Everyone else gets by.</p><p>Tom Cruise is an absolute show stealer, and while Diego Boneta and the stunning Julianne Hough are the heart of the story, they are inferior when compared to the power of Cruise.</p><p><i>Rock of Ages</i> is watchable; however, not watching it is also an option.</p>

If it wasn't for the admittedly solid performance of Tom Cruise as rock star god, I would have argued for the title to be 'Rock Bottom'.

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What Songs Does Tom Cruise Sing in Rock of Ages ?

In the hair-metal musical Rock of Ages , Tom Cruise plays louche rock icon Stacee Jaxx and sings several songs with the help of a monkey and Auto-tune . But which classics of the genre will Cruise put his voice to? According to the just-released track listing for the soundtrack album , Cruise pulls solo duty on “Paradise City” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” sings duets on “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” and contributes additional vocals to “Here I Go Again,” “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Mary J. Blige is also on the soundtrack, but alas, there are no Whitesnake songs about crispy chicken .

• rock of ages
• soundtracks

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Screen Rant

Tom cruise is wanted dead or alive in new 'rock of ages' trailer.

Find out what Tom Cruise's singing voice sounds like (among other things) in the latest trailer for the classic rock Broadway musical adaptation, 'Rock of Ages.'

In a break from tradition, this summer's customary Tom Cruise-starring vehicle will not  be an action blockbuster - that's being saved for this winter, with One Shot - and instead arrives in the shape of Rock of Ages , a big screen treatment of the hit 1980s-flavored jukebox Broadway musical.

Adam Shankman ( Hairspray ) is calling the shots on the Rock of Ages movie, which features a (so to speak) diverse cast composed of A-listers like Cruise and Alec Baldwin, well-known funnymen like Russell Brand and Will Forte, respected character actors like Bryan Cranston and Paul Giamatti - along with on-the-rise stars including Julianne Hough ( Footloose ) and Diego Boneta ( Pretty Little Liars ) and singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige , among others.

Rock of Ages takes place in 1987 and revolves around the efforts of Dennis Dupree (Baldwin) to save his beloved Bourbon Room club on the Hollywood Sunset Strip from a conservative rock-hater ( Catherine Zeta-Jones ) - which includes hiring on the aging (and often wasted) rocker Stacee Jaxx (Cruise) to put on the end-all of performances - along with the budding romance between Drew Boley (Boneta) and Sherrie Christian (Hough): two young and naive musical talents "chasing their dreams in the big city."

Check out the second official trailer for Rock of Ages :

Much like the first Rock of Ages trailer , this new theatrical promo isn't so much focused on effectively outlining the film's storyline; rather, it's more about selling the movie's big personalities, colorful '80s atmosphere, and new thematic spins on cherished tunes that were all the rage during the '70s and '80s - like Journey's "Any Way You Want It" or Arrow's "I Love Rock n' Roll," among numerous others. This new trailer is also about offering an early sample of Cruise's rock music singing abilities - and to be fair, he doesn't sound half-bad.

The various sub-plots featured in Rock of Ages (free spirits battling the uptight establishment, young lovers with dreams of fame, newcomers experiencing the dark side of success, etc.) are all recognizable staples of the musical genre. Assuming screenwriters Justin Theroux ( Tropic Thunder ) and Allan Loeb ( The Dilemma ) haven't strayed too far from Chris D'Arienzo's original musical book, the Rock of Ages movie should be able to juggle those narrative threads as well as the original stage musical does.

Combine that with some inspired direction and dance choreography from Shankman - and songs that'll appeal to folks who normally steer clear of musicals - and Rock of Ages has the makings to be nothin' but a good time (sorry).

Rock of Ages arrives in theaters around the U.S. on June 15th, 2012.

Source: iTunes

Watch CBS News

"Rock of Ages": Tom Cruise sings Bon Jovi in new trailer

By Jessica Derschowitz

April 4, 2012 / 11:25 AM EDT / CBS News

(CBS News) A new trailer for the rock musical "Rock of Ages" has arrived, and it has Tom Cruise showing off his pipes.

The actor, who plays rocker Stacee Jaxx, is shown singing Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" in front of a crowded arena at the end of this latest clip.

There are also glimpses of Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Julianne Hough, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige and a leather jacket-wearing monkey called "Hey, Man."

The Adam Shankman-directed film, filled with classic '80s rock songs, will arrive in theaters on June 15.

Tell us: What do you think of this new "Rock of Ages" trailer?

More from CBS News

All 44 Tom Cruise movies, ranked from worst to best

• Tom Cruise has done every type of movie you can think of over his nearly 40-year career.
• Here we rank every one from worst to best.
• See where his latest, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One," ranks in his career filmography.

43. "Rock of Ages" (2012)

Somehow Cruise got roped into being part of this feature-film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. But leave it to him to lay it all out there.

Though the movie is unwatchable, Cruise provides its only memorable moments when his rock-star character belts out classic songs like "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Wanted Dead or Alive."

42. "Endless Love" (1981)

Cruise's first appearance in a movie is this 1980s teen romance drama starring Brooke Shields that's best known for giving us the Diana Ross/Lionel Richie title song.

Cruise gets a brief bit of screen time as one of the male lead's friends. It's quite forgettable, but it's still better than "Rock of Ages."

41. "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016)

Between "Mission: Impossible" movies, Cruise tried to kick off another action franchise by bringing the main character of the Lee Child novel series to the big screen.

Though the first movie just got over the $200 million mark at the worldwide box office, the performance (or lack thereof) by the sequel indicated no one wanted any more Mr. Reacher. It barely made $162 million worldwide.

40. "The Mummy" (2017)

Cruise was all set to be the Robert Downey Jr. of Universal's Dark Universe with the release of this movie and promises of more creature pictures to come. But playing a soldier of fortune who tries to stop an ancient Egyptian princess from taking over the world didn't grab audiences. It was another franchise not meant to be.

39. "Losin' It" (1983)

Still getting his legs under him in the movie biz, Cruise signed onto this teen comedy in which he's one of four friends who go on a hard-partying road trip to Tijuana in hopes of losing their virginity. Yes, even Cruise couldn't hide from the teen-sex-comedy genre when he started his career.

38. "Mission: Impossible II" (2000)

Man, John Woo deserved better than this. The legendary Hong Kong director took over the "Mission: Impossible" reins after Brian De Palma kicked things off with the first movie, but Woo didn't find the same success.

"Mission: Impossible II" did go on to become one of the highest-grossing movies of 2000, with over $546 million earned worldwide, but with its weak plot and character development, it has not aged anywhere near as well as the first movie (or the other movies in the franchise).

37. "Jack Reacher" (2012)

Though "Jack Reacher" was the first time Cruise worked with his longtime "Mission: Impossible" director, Christopher McQuarrie, and it features the legendary director Werner Herzog as the movie's villain, Cruise as Jack Reacher is a seen-it-before character who isn't exciting.

36. "Oblivion" (2013)

Here, Cruise attempted to go the sci-fi route in hopes of having a breakthrough "Minority Report"-like experience for the audience. But the story was nowhere as sharp, and its postapocalyptic vibe left us all feeling uninterested.

35. "Lions for Lambs" (2007)

Marking the first movie released by United Artists after Cruise and his producing partner Paula Wagner took over (the two left UA after a couple of years) was "Lions for Lambs," a tense drama set around the war in Afghanistan and directed by Robert Redford.

Cruise gave his all playing an agenda-pushing senator and has some strong scenes opposite Meryl Streep. But the movie is just dull.

34. "Far and Away" (1992)

Cruise and his wife at the time, Nicole Kidman, paired together in this 1890s-set epic directed by Ron Howard. The two play Irish immigrants seeking a fortune in America. Outside the lush photography, there isn't much to enjoy about this movie. And don't get me started on Cruise's awful Irish accent.

33. "Vanilla Sky" (2001)

At the tail end of Cruise's heartthrob phase, the director Cameron Crowe teamed with him again after their hugely successful collaboration on "Jerry Maguire" to make a very different love story.

Based on the Spanish movie "Open Your Eyes," Cruise plays a vain New York City media playboy who has a different outlook on life after being in a horrific car crash. Though Cruise, Cameron Diaz, and Penélope Cruz (who also starred in "Open Your Eyes") all give top performances, Crowe goes too weird with the story, leaving viewers out in the void by the time the movie gets into the home stretch.

32. "American Made" (2017)

Mixing action and dark comedy in telling the real-life story of the drug runner Barry Seal seemed like a nice pivot for Cruise, but at the end of the day, the director Doug Liman's movie is just too glossy to be taken seriously. (Accent update: Cruise delivers a tolerable Southern drawl.)

31. "The Last Samurai" (2003)

Cruise stars as an American soldier in 19th-century Japan who embraces the samurai culture. The movie went on to receive four Oscar nominations, but it's the kind of title in which one viewing is enough.

And on a side note: Wow, would this movie get hammered on social media if it came out today.

30. "Valkyrie" (2008)

Another release from the time Cruise was calling the shots at UA, "Valkyrie" sees him playing one of the rogue Nazi officers who attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

(Accent update: Cruise — and basically most of the other Nazi officers — decided to not even bother with a German accent. Good choice; the audience didn't even notice [ holds back giggles ].)

29. "Cocktail" (1988)

It's one of the movies in Cruise's career that ride fully on his good looks. Honestly, this movie should have just been titled "Sex." Cruise plays a hot New York City bartender who has dreams of making it big, and it's his hotness that's going to get him to the top. It's classic Hot Guy Cruise — who cares that the story is garbage.

28. "War of the Worlds" (2005)

Steven Spielberg teamed up with Cruise after "Minority Report" for this blockbuster remake of the classic sci-fi movie. Though it made a lot of money, it was dark in tone — maybe a little too dark. Be honest: Have you wanted to see this movie again?

27. "Knight and Day" (2010)

This is one of those movies that don't get enough credit. The director James Mangold cleverly takes all the common action-hero traits and has Cruise make fun of them. You might want to give this one another viewing.

26. "Taps" (1981)

Unlike in "Endless Love," Cruise really capitalized on this small role. As a military cadet who takes his responsibilities way too seriously, Cruise is a standout in the movie and showed audiences (and Hollywood executives) that he had leading-man potential.

25. "Mission: Impossible III" (2006)

J.J. Abrams takes over the franchise for this one and does an impressive job. It also helps that you have the talents of Philip Seymour Hoffman playing the villain. It's better than "Mission: Impossible II," so we're going in the right direction.

24. "The Outsiders" (1983)

Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of the classic novel brought all the biggest names from young Hollywood together, and Cruise was right there in the mix. With Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez, and Rob Lowe, the movie is pretty heavy-handed with the drama, but it's fun to watch all these amazing talents on the screen together.

23. "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation" (2015)

Rebounding from the so-so performance of "Jack Reacher," McQuarrie jumps on the "Mission: Impossible" franchise and ups the action stakes. Yep, this is the one where Cruise hangs from the side of a giant plane taking off. The movie also got an extra jolt with the inclusion of Rebecca Ferguson in the supporting cast.

22. "Mission: Impossible — Fallout" (2018)

This "Mission: Impossible" could go down as one of the best action movies ever — its stunts and action sequences are that amazing. This time, McQuarrie gives us a deeper look at what makes Ethan Hunt tick and the values he lives by. But it's really the action that stays with you.

21. "Minority Report" (2002)

With its breakthroughs in CGI and tech, the first teaming of Spielberg and Cruise lived up to the hype. This movie was so advanced in its execution and what it showcased that it had a "Jurassic Park"-style ripple effect, in the sense that it has influenced countless action and sci-fi movies since.

20. "Tropic Thunder" (2008)

Though Cruise doesn't have a lot of screen time, his presence in this movie cannot be ignored. Playing a despicable movie executive named Les Grossman, he brings that patented intensity to a role that for most actors would have been a mail-it-in cameo role. In Cruise's hands, it's one of the best comedic performances of the early 2000s.

19. "All the Right Moves" (1983)

Two months after Cruise hit theaters with his first lead movie, "Risky Business," he was back again with this very different movie about a Pennsylvania high-school football player who clashes with his coach.

"Risky Business" showed that Cruise had no problem being the face of a movie, but "All the Right Moves" proved he could be more than the charming lead with good looks. This one showed he could be a serious actor.

18. "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol" (2011)

It's the movie that breathed life back into the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. It came five years after "Mission: Impossible III," and in that time Cruise struggled with an image problem and a string of underperforming movies. He had a lot to prove with this one. And with the casting of Jeremy Renner, Cruise probably sensed he could lose his beloved franchise if the movie didn't work.

However, Brad Bird's direction and Cruise's disregard for common sense — in this one he climbs the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai — put him back on top, as the movie became a global hit.

17. "Top Gun" (1986)

Before "Days of Thunder," Cruise and Tony Scott teamed up for what would become one of the actor's most iconic roles: the fighter pilot Maverick. What Cruise doesn't pull off acting-wise he makes up for with brooding looks and shirtless volleyball skills.

16. "The Firm" (1993)

In "The Firm," based on the best-selling John Grisham novel, Cruise gives a fantastic performance as a hotshot lawyer who signs on with one of the most prestigious US law firms only to find it has quite a dark side. The era of "Tom Cruise runs" really launched with this movie.

15. "Legend" (1985)

Ridley Scott's beautiful fantasy movie is still a marvel of moviemaking. The practical effects and production design put into this movie, made back when CGI was scarce, are a treasure. And at the center is a fresh-faced Cruise who tries to get his girl back from the villain who gave me the most nightmares as a kid, Darkness (played perfectly by Tim Curry).

14. "Collateral" (2004)

We really don't talk enough about this one enough. Michael Mann's slow-burn crime movie stars Cruise as a hitman who forces a cab driver (Jamie Foxx) to drive him around Los Angeles as he goes on his "jobs." The acting by both Cruise and Foxx in this movie is some of their best work.

13. "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" (2023)

There are many things to love about the "Mission: Impossible" franchise: Its James Bond-like gadgets. Cruise's disregard for his life and safety when it comes to pulling off amazing stunts . But the biggest thing to love is that the films just seem to get better and better.

The first "M:I," directed by Brian De Palma, set the bar very high. However, since McQuarrie took the reins in 2015 with "Rogue Nation," the franchise has gotten a jolt in the arm. It seems to always outdo itself, and "Dead Reckoning" makes good on that promise.

The high stakes, the timely villain being AI, and, of course, Tom Cruise in the middle of some amazing thrills makes this film one of the best in the franchise.

13. "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999)

Cruise and Kidman teamed up again, this time under the watch of Stanley Kubrick in what would be his final movie. Both actors are pushed to the limits as the movie explores a marriage at a crossroads. Though "Eyes Wide Shut" is not close to Kubrick's best work, Cruise and Kidman are riveting.

12. "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022)

Thirty-six years after playing Pete "Maverick" Mitchell he returns to the role in the rare legacy sequel that's better than the original movie.

Though Tony Scott's landmark "Top Gun" made Cruise a superstar and became an instant 1980s classic, the director Joseph Kosinski has elevated the story with more death-defying dogfight jet stunts and a more compelling story.

This time Maverick returns to the Top Gun school to be a teacher of the new hot-shot pilots. But he must deal with his own demons as one of the students is the son of his best friend, Goose, who died in his arms in the first movie.

Cruise delivers one of his best performances in years.

11. "Days of Thunder" (1990)

It's pretty much everything you would think would be in a Tony Scott movie: lots of fast cars and big egos. Cruise is in his glory in every scene playing the hot-shot Nascar driver Cole Trickle (and Kidman appears as his love interest).

10. "Risky Business" (1983)

It's the movie that made Cruise a star. The coming-of-age story doesn't shy away from its mature storyline, and Cruise delivers a playful performance but also shows sparks of his dramatic chops that he'll showcase in the decade to come.

9. "Mission: Impossible" (1996)

Boy have things changed since the first "Mission: Impossible." With De Palma at the helm, the movie had its action, but it was encased in a tense whodunit thriller. Since then the action has only gotten bigger (and the story, well, less of a concern), but Cruise has always been fantastic as Hunt.

The first movie is his best acting work of the franchise. (Accent update: Cruise delivers another Southern accent while disguised at the beginning of the movie — one of those classic face-rip-off disguises. It's brief but effective in the scene.)

8. "Interview with the Vampire" (1994)

Cruise gives one of his best performances as Lestat, a vampire from the 1700s who finds a lot of drama in his undead life once he recruits Louis (Brad Pitt). (Accent update: His little hint of a French accent to stay true to the character's portrayal in the classic Anne Rice book is perfectly subtle.)

7. "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014)

Whether you want to call it "Edge of Tomorrow" or "Live. Die. Repeat.," it's just a really great action movie. With Liman directing and McQuarrie as a screenwriter, Cruise is surrounded by people he trusts to make a risky project: a soldier who relives the same day. But the MVP of the movie is Emily Blunt, who delivers a performance that makes Cruise kick it up a few notches.

6. "Rain Man" (1988)

Always at his best when he's playing a character with major conflict, Cruise plays a guy always looking to capitalize on the angles until he's finally in a situation in which he has to be on the level: building a relationship with his autistic savant brother (Dustin Hoffman).

5. "Jerry Maguire" (1996)

Receiving a best-actor nomination for his performance as a slick sports agent whose life turns upside down after having a moment of clarity, Cruise was, thanks to this movie, at his height of stardom and power in Hollywood.

4. "A Few Good Men" (1992)

Rob Reiner's courtroom drama has Cruise going up against Jack Nicholson, and it's pure magic. Yes, there's the "can't handle the truth" scene, but for us, it starts earlier in the movie when the two characters meet for the first time.

Thanks to the incredible dialogue by Aaron Sorkin, both actors subtly trade off with each other, but it's the fire being held back that makes the ending when they are face-to-face again so memorable.

3. "Magnolia" (1999)

No matter what you think of Paul Thomas Anderson's epic look at family, love, and forgiveness, it's hard to dispute that it has the most powerful performance of Cruise's career.

Playing a pickup artist who uses his talents to build a public-speaking career, Cruise appears as we've never seen him before. Anderson and Cruise connected over dealing with the loss of their fathers and use that darkness to create the character of Frank T. J. Mackey.

2. "The Color of Money" (1986)

Paul Newman won only one Oscar in his iconic career, and it was for this movie. But you have to give a big assist to Cruise.

Playing the protégé to the pool player "Fast Eddie" Felson — the role Newman first played in 1961's "The Hustler" — Cruise is a cocky player, and you can never tell whether he's on the level with Felson. Cruise proved once again that he's more than just a pretty face.

1. "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989)

Cruise got an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the veteran and activist Ron Kovic, who was paralyzed fighting in Vietnam. Oliver Stone traces Kovic's journey from being a wide-eyed soldier thinking he's doing what's right for America to coming home from the war to find everything has changed. Including the way he views his own country.

Cruise has never been better as he delivers a tour de force performance that still gives us chills.

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Watch: Tom Cruise Sings Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead Or Alive” In New ‘Rock Of Ages’ Trailer

Kevin jagernauth.

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Love or fame? That’s the big question a mustaciohed Paul Giamatti poses to newcomer Diego Boneta in “ Rock Of Ages ,” Adam Shankman ‘s big hairspray filled ’80s musical. And based on that sentence, you should already know if you’re down with this movie or not, without having to watch the trailer.

But, in case you’re on the fence, this brand new spot lays out the story once again, with small town girl Julianne Hough coming to the city to make it big, with her journey finding her entering the doors of The Bourbon, a strip (?)/rock club. There she will meet the wacky owner and manager played by Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand , while behind the scenes, journalist Malin Akerman will eventually take her top off, while trying to do a piece on the enigmatic rocker played by Tom Cruise . Yes, the actor is going to belt out a few choice numbers and closes the trailer with Bon Jovi ‘s “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” with the help of some pretty obvious auto tune. And oh yeah, Catherine Zeta-Jones made us throw up in our pants too…

Anyway, there is a big audience for this, it’s just not us probably. But to Shankman’s credit, he got the hokey, garish tone that embodies the ’80s down cold. The film opens on June 15th, watch below.

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Tom Cruise Confirmed to Sing in ‘Rock of Ages’

By Us Weekly

Tom Cruise will play fictional heavy metal star Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages , the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, film director Adam Shankman confirmed to E! News’ Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet at Sunday’s Oscars.

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“He’s studying his vocals,” Shankman said.

In the show, Cruise’s character sings Jon Bon Jovi’s classic “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

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But can Cruise carry a tune like his wife Katie Holmes?

“He can sing!” Shankman said. “It’s a miracle!”

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Along with Holmes, Cruise checked out a performance of the show last Sunday in Hollywood, where American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis stars.

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Tom Cruise’s Best Performance Was in His Worst Movie

Tom Cruise's over-the-top rocker was the best part of this musical.

The Big Picture

• Tom Cruise shines in critically-panned Rock of Ages , stealing the show with his Stacee Jaxx role despite the movie's failure.
• His performance of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "I Want to Know What Love Is" is energetic, entertaining, and unmissable.
• Cruise's portrayal of Jaxx, channeling Axl Rose and Steven Tyler, adds a colorful charm that sadly fizzles out in the movie's second half.

Hollywood giant Tom Cruise already has his name down as a legendary actor. His career has spanned four decades, and in that time, he has spoiled us with some stellar performances and iconic characters. From the ass-kicking action hero Ethan Hunt to the outburst-prone studio executive Les Grossman, Cruise has understandably amassed a colossal amount of fans over the years. However, one of his best performances was actually in one of his most critically-panned movies. Not only that, it was also a rare box-office bomb for him.

The 2012 Adam Shankman movie Rock of Ages , adapted from the Broadway musical, boasted an all-star cast that included Catherine Zeta-Jones , Paul Giamatti , Russell Brand , Alec Baldwin , and Bryan Cranston . Despite the impressive names attached, it was met with a negative reception, even from the creators of the original Broadway show themselves. Cruise, however, was widely acclaimed for his small, but memorable role with many agreeing he was the only high point. He plays a boozed-up rock star lavishly named Stacee Jaxx , and he completely steals the movie despite not having a huge amount of screen time. He makes the absolute most of every second though.

Rock of Ages

A small-town girl and a city boy meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.

Tom Cruise Gave an Electric Performance in 'Rock of Ages'

Though the movie may have bombed, Cruise looks like he’s having the time of his life onstage. He perfectly mimics the live performances of a rock band frontman in the 1980s . From the way he pulls out audience members, points at his bandmates, and bellows out the lyrics at the top of his lungs, he's a joy to behold. An undeniable highlight is his rendition of Def Leppard ’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” This is one of the movie’s most energetic sequences, and it is all thanks to the way Cruise carries himself throughout the song. Beginning with a crowd-interactive “Huh! Hey!” before flailing about the stage wildly and belting out some genuinely impressive vocals, Cruise channels Def Leppard’s lead singer Joe Elliot to unleash a beast of a performance. It is a real challenge to get through the scene without head-banging along with Cruise’s infectious vitality .

The movie teases Jaxx’s appearance for a while. His roaring vocals kick the movie off with Guns N’ Roses ’ “Paradise City” and aside from a very brief appearance, he does not properly appear until 43 minutes in. When he finally comes into the picture, one of his first scenes sees him going on a long, senseless monologue about a “fire phoenix,” much to the confusion of Baldwin's Dennis Dupree. None of the other characters really know how to act around Jaxx, aside from Giamatti who plays his long-suffering manager . The near-constant intoxication of Jaxx makes him unpredictable, and there are moments where his personality shifts suddenly into sincerity.

Tom Cruise’s Only Western Is Old Fashioned Romance at Its Best

Although it would be a stretch to call Jaxx a well-developed character, the biggest insight we get into his life comes through Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive,” which Jaxx sings to answer what it is really like to be him. Cruise is effortlessly cool as he walks with a swagger through the backstage area , and the lyrics to the song genuinely provide an interesting perspective on the real Stacee Jaxx. As he swings from the ceiling and gets mauled by groupies, it is interesting to notice the look of disinterest on his face. Notable lines such as “It’s all the same, only the names will change” and “I drive all night just to get back home” imply a more sensitive side to Jaxx, which the movie never fully uncovers. As soon as the song finishes though, Jaxx goes back to his more typical scatterbrained behavior, but it does suggest it may all be a front to protect the image he has built for himself .

'Rock of Ages' Stands Out In Tom Cruise's Filmography

As electrifying as Cruise is onstage , he is just as terrific when he performs Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” as a duet with Malin Akerman . In a risqué rendition of the power ballad, Cruise relaxes his rock vocals in favor of more tender vocals, but impresses equally. Akerman — who is another bright spark in the movie —impresses also, and together they add humor to the song by providing it with just the right amount of raunchiness and ridiculousness. They both have such great chemistry with each other too, it is a shame that the movie brushes them aside too soon. There is really only a portion of the running time dedicated to Stacee Jaxx from around the 40-minute mark to the 75-minute mark. Other than this, he only makes sporadic appearances, and the movie suffers greatly because of this. It is a lengthy movie at 136 minutes, and the absence of Jaxx in the second half really brings it down . No one else is able to come anywhere close to Cruise’s level of enthusiasm and energy.

For the role, Cruise handpicks the more extreme sides of real-life rock stars Axl Rose and Steven Tyler , and it pays off wonderfully. Cruise’s transformation into the rock god is seamless. He is almost unrecognizable with his long, straightened brown hair, leather pants and large tattoos scattered over his muscular physique. True to the 1980s glam rock era , Jaxx is shirtless for practically all of his scenes too. The movie wastes him hugely by having him completely fizzle out of the story. He does make a return for the final performance, where we are treated to him bellowing out a section of the Journey mega-hit “Don’t Stop Believin’”, but his presence is sorely missed, and his absence is also painfully obvious. In Cruise’s long career, Rock of Ages does not hold a candle to a large chunk of his filmography, but he pours his heart and soul into his performance and makes the movie a lot more entertaining for it.

Rock of Ages is now available to rent on Apple TV+ in the U.S.

WATCH ON APPLE TV+

Watch: Tom Cruise sings Bon Jovi in new ‘Rock of Ages’ trailer

Tom Cruise sings!

Finally, after months of still photos and a teasing initial trailer, we get to hear rock legend Stacee Jaxx (Cruise) belt out about 4 seconds of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.” It’s really too short to be able to make any kind of comments on the actor’s singing voice, but he definitely has the rock star look and swagger down pat.

Aimed more at fans of “The Voice” than aging metalheads, “Rock of Ages” is based on the hit stage musical that fearlessly mashes up hard rock songs from the 1980s

Joining Jaxx are Alec Baldwin as a sleazy promoter-type, Malin Akerman as a journalist, Mary J. Blige as a fellow performer, “Chicago” Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones as an evangelist hellbent on destroying rock music, and Paul Giamatti as a bald guy. At the heart of it all is the lovestruck/starstruck duo of Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) and Drew Boley (Diego Boneta). Adam Shankman (“Hairspray”) directed.

As one of the few cast members who can actually sing, Blige — whose controversial new ad for Burger King has been pulled from the airwaves, reportedly due to licensing problems — will hopefully have a showier role in “Rock” than is indicated here.

The trailer, with its garish look, flat one-liners and a baboon named “Hey Man,” likely won’t grab many new fans not already on board, but Cruise-as-rock star is a most intriguing proposition. The scenes where Akerman interviews him are reminiscent of “Magnolia.”

“Rock of Ages,” is of course, a musical — albeit one with no original songs, just Broadway-style re-arrangements of radio hits. Although none of them were very edgy in the first place, there’s still something uninviting about how all of the songs featured in the trailer (from Pat Benatar, Warrant, David Lee Roth, Poison, Joan Jett, et al) sound exactly the same, as if “American Idol” contestants added vocals to muzak tracks. Baldwin and Russell Banks’ duet rendition of Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll” is particularly painful, although, to be fair, it’s played for laughs.

How many songs can you cram into one two and a half minute trailer? Find out below:

What do you think of the trailer? Grade it at the top of the page.

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Wanted Dead or Alive

Julianne hough , tom cruise.

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Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and producer. He started his career at age 19 in the film Endless Love (1981), before making his breakthrough in the comedy Risky Business (1983) and receiving widespread attention for starring in the action drama Top Gun (1986) as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. After starring in The Color of Money (1986) and Cocktail (1988), Cruise starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in the Academy Award for Best Picture-winning drama Rain Man. For his role as anti-war activist Ron Kovic in the drama Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Cruise received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and his first Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. In the 1990s, Cruise starred with Jack Nich… more »

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Written by: Jon Bon Jovi, Richard S. Sambora

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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"Wanted Dead or Alive Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 Apr. 2024. < https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/26504704/Tom+Cruise/Wanted+Dead+or+Alive >.

Missing lyrics by Tom Cruise?

Know any other songs by tom cruise don't keep it to yourself, image credit, the web's largest resource for, music, songs & lyrics, a member of the stands4 network, watch the song video, more tracks from the album, rock of ages [original motion picture soundtrack].

• #1 Paradise City
• #2 Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin’ But a Good Time
• #2 Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time
• #3 Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
• #3 Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll
• #4 Hit Me with Your Best Shot
• #5 Waiting for a Girl Like You
• #6 More Than Words / Heaven
• #6 More Than Words/Heaven
• #7 Wanted Dead or Alive
• #8 I Want to Know What Love is
• #9 I Wanna Rock
• #10 Pour Some Sugar on Me
• #11 Harden My Heart
• #12 Shadows of the Night/Harden My Heart
• #12 Shadows of the Night / Harden My Heart
• #13 Here I Go Again
• #14 Can't Fight This Feeling
• #15 Any Way You Want It
• #16 Undercover Love
• #17 Every Rose Has Its Thorn
• #18 Rock You Like a Hurricane
• #19 We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It
• #20 Don't Stop Believin'
• #20 Don't Stop Believin’

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Louis Gossett Jr., 87, Dies; ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Roots’ Actor

His portrayal of a drill instructor earned him the Oscar for best supporting actor. He was the first Black performer to win in that category.

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By Anita Gates

Louis Gossett Jr., who took home an Academy Award for “An Officer and a Gentleman” and an Emmy for “Roots,” both times playing a mature man who guides a younger one taking on a new role — but in drastically different circumstances — died early Friday in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 87.

Mr. Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett confirmed the death. He did not specify a cause.

Mr. Gossett was 46 when he played Emil Foley, the Marine drill instructor from hell who ultimately shapes the humanity of an emotionally damaged young Naval aviation recruit (Richard Gere) in “ An Officer and a Gentleman ” (1982). Reviewing the movie in The New York Times, Vincent Canby described Sergeant Foley as a cruel taskmaster “recycled as a man of recognizable cunning, dedication and humor” revealed in “the kind of performance that wins awards.”

Mr. Gossett told The Times that he had recognized the role’s worth immediately. “The words just tasted good,” he recalled.

When he accepted the Oscar for best supporting actor in 1983, he was the first Black performer to win in that category — and only the third (after Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier) to win an Academy Award for acting.

Mr. Gossett, a versatile actor, played a range of parts in his long career. But he was best known for playing decent, plain-spoken men, often authority figures.

By the time he won his Oscar, he had already won an Emmy as Fiddler, the mentor of the lead character, Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), in the blockbuster 1977 mini-series “ Roots .”

Fiddler was, as the name suggested, a musician, an enslaved man on an 18th-century Virginia plantation. Mr. Gossett was not thrilled about the role at first. “Why choose me to play the Uncle Tom?” he remembered thinking in a 2018 Television Academy video interview . But he came to admire the survival skills of forebears like Fiddler, he said, and based the character on his grandparents and a great-grandmother.

That portrayal, he said, became “a tribute to all those people who taught me how to behave.”

Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. was born on May 27, 1936, in Brooklyn, the only child of Louis Gossett, a porter, and Helen (Wray) Gossett, a nurse. He made his Broadway debut when he was 17 and still a student at Abraham Lincoln High School on Ocean Parkway.

While healing after a basketball injury, he appeared in a school play, just to occupy his time. Impressed, a teacher suggested that he audition for “ Take a Giant Step ,” a play by Louis Peterson that was opening at the Lyceum Theater in the fall of 1953. He won the lead role, that of Spencer Scott, a troubled adolescent. Brooks Atkinson of The Times praised his “admirable and winning performance,” one that conveyed “the whole range of Spencer’s turbulence.”

Sidney Fields devoted a column in The Sunday Mirror to the young man, who shared his career plans. “I always wanted to study pharmacy,” Mr. Gossett said. “But now after college I’ll try acting. I know it’s a tough business, but if I fail, I’ll have the pharmacy degree to fall back on.”

He ended up majoring in drama (and minoring in pharmacy) while on a basketball scholarship at New York University. In 1955, he returned to Broadway, in William Marchant’s comedy “The Desk Set.” By the time he graduated, acting was paying him more than any basketball team would.

He made his film debut as an annoying college man in “ A Raisin in the Sun ” (1961), an adaptation of the Lorraine Hansberry play that starred Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee. He had appeared onscreen only twice before — in two episodes of “The Big Story,” an NBC drama series, in 1957 and 1958.

Before becoming a film star, Mr. Gossett had a thriving theater career. In less than a decade he landed six Broadway roles, including that of a Harlem hustler in “Tambourines to Glory” (1963), a South African grandfather’s servant in “The Zulu and the Zayda” (1965), a lawyer who had killed a white man in a civil rights demonstration in “My Sweet Charlie” (1966) and the Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba in “Murderous Angels” (1971).

In the mid-1960s, he replaced the actor playing the big-time boxing promoter Eddie Satin in the musical “Golden Boy,” starring Sammy Davis Jr. His most unfortunate role may have been as a Black man with a white slave in “Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights” (1968), a comedy written by Robert Alan Aurthur and directed by Sidney Poitier. The play, which Clive Barnes of The Times called racist, closed after a week.

Mr. Gossett never committed to another Broadway role. But he appeared for four nights as the flashy lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical “Chicago” in 2002.

In the 1960s, he also performed as a folk singer in Greenwich Village coffee houses. He and Richie Havens co-wrote the antiwar song “Handsome Johnny,” which Mr. Havens recorded in 1966 and later sang at Woodstock.

His dozens of feature films included “The Landlord” (1970), in which he played a man on the brink of insanity; “Travels With My Aunt” (1972); and “The Deep” (1977), as a Bahamian drug dealer. His later films included “ Diggstown ” (1992), in which he played a boxer, and the movie version of Sam Shepard’s “Curse of the Starving Class” (1994), in which he played a bar owner.

Mr. Gossett made more than 100 television appearances, ranging from lighthearted comedies like “The Partridge Family” to dramas like “Madam Secretary.” He played the title role, a Columbia anthropology professor who investigates crimes, on the short-lived 1989 series “Gideon Oliver.”

He also appeared in numerous television movies, among them “The Lazarus Syndrome” (1978), about a cardiologist; “ A Gathering of Old Men ” (1987), about a Black man who kills in self-defense; “Strange Justice” (1999), about the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation process (he played the presidential adviser Vernon Jordan); and “Lackawanna Blues” (2005), based on Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s play. His other TV-movie roles included the Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat and the baseball star Satchel Paige.

He continued to act until last year, when he was seen in the film version of the Broadway musical “The Color Purple.”

Mr. Gossett’s marriage to Hattie Glascoe in 1964 lasted only five months. He and Christina Mangosing married in 1973, had one child and divorced after two years. His 1987 marriage to Cyndi James Reese ended in divorce in 1992.

Mr. Gossett is survived by his sons, Satie and Sharron Gossett, and several grandchildren.

In the Television Academy interview, Mr. Gossett urged fellow actors to help effect political and social change in a disturbing world. “The arts can achieve it overnight,” he said. “Millions of people are watching.” He added, “We can get to them quicker than anybody else.”

Michael S. Rosenwald contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this obituary misstated the name of the play in which Mr. Gossett portrayed the Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba on Broadway in 1971. It is “Murderous Angels,” not “Dangerous Angels.”

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