Vanilla Sky

Play trailer

Vanilla Sky

R

Released Dec 14, 2001

2h 14m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

42%

Tomatometer

173 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Tom Cruise and Cameron Crowe reunite after "Jerry Maguire" for "Vanilla Sky," the story of a young New York City publishing magnate who finds himself on an unexpected roller-coaster ride of romance, comedy, suspicion, love, sex and dreams in a mind-bending search for his soul.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

An ambitious mix of genres, Vanilla Sky collapses into an incoherent jumble. Cruise's performance lacks depth, and it's hard to feel sympathy for his narcissistic character.

Read Critics Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

I now find Cruise tolerable only when he's in a movie that undercuts or ridicules his narcissism--as Eyes Wide Shut did and as this movie does even more noticeably.

Feb 26, 2019

Full Review

Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Vanilla Sky is nearly identical to the 1997 Spanish film it's based on, except it's set in Manhattan instead of Madrid and has a much better soundtrack.

Oct 25, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Some surface appeal, but ultimately vacant.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Psychological shocks and an unreliable narrator keep things engaging, even with brief lulls and a purposely frustrating timeline, presenting continual unease and uncertainty.

Rated: 5/10

Sep 16, 2024

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

If the star and director are (kind of) worrying about the same middle-age falloff, Crowe’s specific fears are more compelling to me and responsible for what, intellectually, is the movie’s most fascinating idea.

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

Doesn't make any more sense now than it did in 2001 (29th anniversary)

Rated: 2/5

Dec 31, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Loved hologram of Louis Armstrong and Monet Vanilla Sky painting. Penelope Cruz is a beautiful and sexy woman. For some reason she reminds me of a sock puppet. I think it's her huge smile on small face.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

Johannes S

It follows a valuable trope in enjoying each day as you never know what happens next, yet, the story is a bit weird and David Aames is unlikeable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

Full Review

Alex A

this is the second time i am writing a review. mainly because of the harsh 42% score. This film is about depression that people get before their frontal lobe fully develops at 25. where a heartbreak can cause unimaginable pain and mental breakdown. in a post covid time this film is therapeutic and thrilling. I just finished watching this for the first time because i ran out of movies to watch on Paramount plus.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Tyler G

I maintain this is one of the worst movies ever made. Every moment is insufferable. How is this in the Crowe timeline?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

Full Review

Paul S

42% is a ridiculous score for Tom's masterpiece remake of an original Spanish sf movie. This is a magnificent remake exploring many different Ethereal propositions. Cruise has never been better.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Shawn A

i like it.. i don’t understand it. but i like it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Cameron Crowe

Director

Tom Cruise

David Aames

Penélope Cruz

Sofia Serrano

Cameron Diaz

Julie Gianni

Kurt Russell

McCabe

Jason Lee

Brian Shelby

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Hiding

1:46

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Where is Sofia?

2:10

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Bros

1:46

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - The Car Crash

2:13

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - A Real Life

2:13

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Citizen Dildo

0:46

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Almost Worthy Dying For

0:43

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Sofia's Ability

0:41

Vanilla Sky: Official Clip - Every Passing Minute

1:26

View more videos

Twilight

61%

32%

Twilight

Watchlist

Open Your Eyes

87%

88%

Open Your Eyes

Watchlist

Unfaithful

50%

68%

Unfaithful

Watchlist

The Manchurian Candidate

79%

63%

The Manchurian Candidate

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Manchurian Candidate

Changing Lanes

77%

53%

Changing Lanes

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New 4K UHD Movies in June 2023: Upcoming 4K Releases on Blu-ray

Tom Cruise Handed Reins to Reborn United Artists

Paramount & Tom Cruise Decide to See Other People

View more photos

Synopsis

Tom Cruise and Cameron Crowe reunite after "Jerry Maguire" for "Vanilla Sky," the story of a young New York City publishing magnate who finds himself on an unexpected roller-coaster ride of romance, comedy, suspicion, love, sex and dreams in a mind-bending search for his soul.

Director: Cameron Crowe
Producer: Cameron Crowe, Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner
Screenwriter: Alejandro Amenábar, Cameron Crowe, Mateo Gil
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Cruise-Wagner Productions, Paramount Pictures, Vinyl Films, Sogecine
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexuality)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.6M
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now