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News culture A million spent, 20 blocked house pâtés… This cult scene with Tom Cruise has apocalypse tunes! Nevertheless,
Posted on 07/25/2025 at 13:37
Among the most memorable scenes in the history of cinema. Nevertheless, this sequence remains engraved in the spirits. In addition, This surreal moment. In addition, which seems straight out of a dream or a nightmare, required colossal means and an impressive logistics to become reality. Additionally, In addition, Back on one of the most emblematic sequences of Tom Cruise’s career.
In 2001, Cameron Crowe adapted the Spanish film Open million spent, 20 blocked house your eyes of Alejandro Amebar for the American public. Moreover, Titled Vanilla Skythe feature tells the story of David Aames (Tom Cruise). Similarly, a young New York publisher with perfect life that rocks in a fragmented reality after a accident in which it is disfigured. The film explores in particular the theme of dreams, reality and the quest for immortality.
It is in this somewhat unreal context that a scene in Times Square is inserted. The idea was to show David Aames. In addition, lost and alone, in one of the most crowded and emblematic places in the world, suddenly empty of all human presence. Therefore, A strong image, symbolizing its isolation and confusion.
A Times Square under close surveillance – Million spent, 20 blocked house
To make this extraordinary plan. Cameron Crowe and his team had to obtain exceptional authorization from New York Cityan extremely rare thing for a shooting of this magnitude. The challenge was million spent, 20 blocked house size: filming a completely empty time square, the day, with all its lights and lighted advertising panels.
Production spent a million dollars to reserve 20 houses around Times Square. For several hoursthe heart of Manhattan was emptied of his cars, taxis and passers -by. Dozens of police officers have been deployed to ensure that no vehicle or pedestrian accidentally enters the perimeter. The shooting took place on a Sunday morning very early. to reduce the impact on traffic and the activity of the city.
They shut down 20 blocks of Times Square. spent $1 million, and filmed for 3 hours… all so Tom Cruise could run through an empty NYC in Vanilla Sky. No CGI. No cheats. Just pure cinema. pic.twitter.com/cPEMxBQg7r
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) July 21. 2025
A unique scene
In 2020, during an interview with Vulture, Crowe revealed that‘They spent weeks working on the sequence million spent, 20 blocked house And that they had Times Square for three hours on Sunday morning. The director had also talked about the legendary scene :
Look carefully. It will never happen again. We often heard that. It will only happen once, so you might as well do it well.
The scene, although short, has become a key moment in the film and a subject of fascination for moviegoers. It illustrates not only the artistic ambition of Cameron Crowe. but also the ability of cinema to create powerful and memorable imageseven at the cost of a logistical deployment worthy of a military operation. A real tour de force that has helped make Vanilla Sky A cult film. especially for this apocalyptic and dreamlike sequence.
Further reading: Release of the film “Eddington”: summer under the sign of Pedro Pascal – The first film of which Louis de Funès was the real boss – Kaamelott 2: Part 1 – Tron ares: a trailer overflowed for the new part of the Sf cult saga – Discover the trailer for “Nino”, by Pauline Loquès.
