Spielberg was momentarily left speechless when his War of the Worlds star walked out on stage to present him with a Golden Hugo Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cruise told the stunned audience, “I had the great pleasure of meeting Steven. And you took me to dinner when I was a young actor.
“I’ve seen every one of his films many, many times. I actually study his films.”
It wasn’t the only surprise for Spielberg at the event–celebrity friends like Harrison Ford, George Lucas and Catherine Zeta-Jones all sent him celebratory video messages, which were beamed onto a big screen behind the director.