The Tom Cruise Sci-Fi Dystopia That Critics Hate and Fans Love

Now, we are all aware that Tom Cruise is known for his dedication to performing his own stunts (we still don't know where he gets all this courage from, tbh).

Another, equally interesting reason why we all love Tom Cruise so much is his ability to choose his projects. And he always chooses something that later becomes a cinema classic. And Oblivion (the movie we're going to talk about today) is no exception.

When Morgan Freeman, another legend, got the opportunity to work with Cruise, he jumped at the chance.

Freeman revealed his enthusiasm:

"When the right project comes along, there's sort of a domino effect. Everything falls into place. I think this was the perfect genre for me to be involved with Tom in."

Oblivion (2013): A Post-Apocalyptic Story That Deserves a Second Chance

Oblivion takes place in the year 2077. It follows Jack Harper (Cruise), one of the last humans. With just two weeks left before joining other survivors on a distant colony, Jack's world turns upside down when he rescues a mysterious woman from a crashed spacecraft.

The story unfolds and it questions reality, identity and what it means to be human. Stunning visuals of an abandoned Earth create an experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Critics vs. Fans: The Mixed Reception of Tom Cruise's Oblivion

Yet, despite its beautiful visuals and ambitious storytelling, Oblivion received some negative reception from critics.

The Independent’s Anthony Quinn dismissed it as "portentous, sluggish and fatally ungripping," while Slant Magazine’s critic Calum Marsh wrote:

"Absent of any sense of self-awareness, Oblivion seems only self-serious, a ponderous mess both misguided and unaware."

These reviews, however, seem to miss the larger picture of what the film accomplishes in terms of world-building and emotional storytelling. And that's where fans come to the rescue.

On Reddit, user Alarming_Lettuce_358 shared:

"I always really liked Oblivion, though. Apparently, William Monahan wrote a more complex, mythology influenced draft, and that was dumbed down a bit (I can see that), but I still think this is great fun. Not super deep (and it's possible the movie thinks it is), but a well told story with fantastical technical and craft attributes."

Another fan, deboo117, highlighted the film's groundbreaking approach to technology.

"It's sad how underrated this movie is! This is one of the few work of science fiction adaptations that got the drones so right! The drones in this movie are some of the most formidable pieces of tech shown in film; exactly what I would expect from an advanced alien AI capable of decimating the human race. One drone could take on a literal army in this movie, and it did!"

For us, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes, Oblivion had its problems, but we can't deny that this epic movie didn't impress us at all. It has great visuals and an interesting storyline that easily makes the movie have the potential to become one of your favorites.

We think everyone should give Oblivion a chance, both those who have already seen it and those who have never even heard of it. You can watch it now on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.