"Big American studio films are really a pure piece of cinema" — Thierry Frémaux on why Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission: Impossible' would play in Cannes

Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux shared his thoughts on why Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible will be shown at the festival. In an exclusive interview with Deadline on April 10, 2025, he said that Christopher McQuarrie, especially working with Tom Cruise, was a talented filmmaker.

He expressed interest in discussing McQuarrie’s approach to filmmaking. Frémaux also praised Mission: Impossible as an impressive film series that represented great cinema. He explained that he appreciated both serious, independent films and big, popular blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible. He said:

“Of course, the film is Out of Competition. Remember with Top Gun, people told me three years ago, ‘Why is the film not in Competition?’ In a way they are right, but the studio didn’t want [that]. For the studio, it just needs to be a pleasure to be there. Big American films are a pure piece of cinema.”

Frémaux said he couldn’t have predicted the success of films like Anora and The Substance. He pointed out that Cannes and other major festivals were about showcasing art and how it connects with people.

He specifically mentioned The Substance, saying placing it in the main Competition instead of a late-night slot made a big impact and showed how the festival supported filmmakers. When asked about pressure regarding the 2025 lineup, he said each year felt like a fresh start, but he felt good about the festival’s recent success. Concerning the announcement, he said:

“For the films I have just announced this morning, I really don’t know, but what I’m really happy about is the link between Cannes in May and the Academy Awards in March.”

Thierry Frémaux reflected on the Cannes selections for 2025

Frémaux explained that Cannes was also a place for promoting films, so they had to think about the best way to introduce each. While many producers preferred having their movies in the main Competition, sometimes other sections like Un Certain Regard, Cannes Premieres, or Midnight Screenings were a better fit.

He said it was important to think about all 60 films in the lineup, not just the 20 chosen for Competition. However, his message to the studios was:

“It is something we want the studios to understand. For them, there is still a risk in coming to Cannes, whether it’s showing a film three months before its release or it getting a bad reception. This is happening less now, and if I may say so, it’s because the selections are much better.”

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Speaking to Variety on April 4, 2025, Frémaux was asked whether this year’s festival would be bigger or not. He said it would be similar, explaining that Cannes had always managed its growth carefully, considering the limitations of theater space.

Reflecting on past concerns about the 2023 strikes affecting the festival, he admitted that while there was uncertainty every year, 2024 turned out to be unexpectedly successful. As for 2025, he said they would have to wait and see, but he emphasized that he and the festival team worked hard each year to make it a success.

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