Tom Cruise Flips Out

"I was a kid who jumped off the roof and into the snowbanks because I wanted to see how many flips I could do before I hit the snow" - Tom Cruise in 2010, as told to Cal Fussman

What I've Learned: a series produced by Esquire and Quoted Studios

Executive Producer DAVID GERLACH
Interviewer CAL FUSSMAN
Illustrator JOE McKENDRY
Director PATRICK SMITH
Animator JENNIFER YOO

Help us caption & translate this video!

[BlankonblankOrg]

We know the style of this "What I've Learned" series is much different than Blank on Blank. But we approached this project with Esquire differently, taking illustrations created by Joe McKendry and turning them into an animation. This is a different route than the more classically animated work like we did with Blank on Blank.

[imalright]

And from that very moment and on Tom Cruise knew that there was an alien overlord keeping one of his many eyes on him and his neighbors fancy cars.

[diablomozzarella]

And this would be the first of many times Tom Cruise "flips out"

[VillemarMxO]

"Tom, what's the point of this story?"
"I like stories."

[cqtaylor]

1:48 Even before Tom Cruise became Tom Cruise, he was already acting like Tom Cruise.

[GuppyPal]

Tom Cruise may be a little crazy, but you have to appreciate that the guy was raised basically without a father or male role model of any kind yet still developed into Leading Man Hollywood Superstar Tom Cruise. That's pretty incredible and indicative of a lot of thought, perseverance, and determination.

[humblemarty]

I liked this video. It's fun to listen to. The animation style is kinda different but different in a good way. That and it's a miracle Tom Cruise walked away from that motorcycle accident and being launched tens of feet off said motorcycle in that same order. These blank on blank videos are awesome.

[TwoTardTop]

I WANT TO HEAR A STORY FROM DONALD DUCK AS JOHN WAYNE GOD DAMN IT

[blackorchid]

This is so well done and truly inspiring. Great work.

[AdzoHeatzo]

Lil homosexuality icon on one of the signs there at 0:27. Beautifully subtle

[seaotter]

Just a guy talking about growing up. Fairly mundane

[anthonymalik]

Watching this video after re-watching Top Gun: Maverick for the 20th time. Thanks for these incredible videos and I hope that this channel will be revived.

[johnnyfelcher]

This animation reminds me so much of his South Park episode.

[dax_thunder]

I always enjoy watching these, very interesting.

[personanongratano]

I seriously thought this was going to be audio to a funny cartoon about tom flipping out over katie Holmes on Oprah's couch.

[Dexterbaxters]

A lot of negativity on this post. Tom Cruise has said so much about life and taking chances with hardly saying anything at all. This is one of those talks that comes back to you in a couple years and you finally might get what he was saying. The negativity clearly stems from people writing people off because of a public image, but this story is really really smartly constructed and beautifully told.

[saintnicole]

Tom Cruise is my great grandmother’s third cousin

[BrendanMacWade]

He's intense and a little loopy. PT Anderson got a little of the real Tom in that Magnolia performance.

[Easy_Urban_Rider]

Tom Cruise has that all American voice

[zachg]

Say what you want about tom cruise but hes in at least one of your favorite movies of all time, lead or not.