Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise revisited one of cinema's most beloved moments on The Jennifer Hudson Show, recreating his iconic underwear dance from the 1983 coming-of-age comedy 'Risky Business' — and making clear he has lost none of his showmanship at 64.

Back in the Spirit Tunnel

The appearance, which aired ahead of the 2 October 2026 release of his new film 'Digger', saw Cruise throw himself into the show's signature Spirit Tunnel with characteristic enthusiasm. When host Jennifer Hudson asked if he had enjoyed the experience, the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise star was effusive. 'I loved it. They had to pull me out of the spirit tunnel. I wanted to dance with more people. But I loved it. If you can't enjoy the spirit tunnel, you're not alive,' he said.

Reliving the 'Risky Business' Moment

Cruise then channelled his character Joel Goodsen, mimicking the choreography from the film's famous sequence in which Goodsen slides across the living room floor in socks and underwear to Bob Seger's classic 'Old Time Rock and Roll'. The scene has remained one of the most recognised images in 1980s pop culture for over four decades.

Reflecting on the original shoot, Cruise recalled the creative process with vivid detail. 'I remember shooting it, I remember every frame of shooting this [scene]. I remember the director, Paul Brickman, giving me the opening frame, and I was like, "I got you, you know. I know where to go,"' he told Hudson. He added with a laugh: 'Of course I did this as a kid; it was natural for me. I used to dance around in my underwear when no one was there. Doesn't everyone do that?'

What 'Digger' Is About

Much of the conversation also centred on 'Digger', Cruise's upcoming release in which he plays Digger Rockwell, an oil baron who endeavours to save the world from natural disaster — and who keeps a one-eyed senior cat named Maggie as a companion. Cruise described the character as unlike anything he has played before. 'This character is outrageous. He says things that people may think about, don't say out loud, things that they've never thought about and didn't expect anything like that to come out loud. It's just an amazing character and [the] twists and turns of it,' he said.

Release and What's Next

'Digger' opens in cinemas worldwide on 2 October 2026. The film marks another major theatrical event for Cruise, who has consistently championed the big-screen experience throughout his career. Early interest in the film is reportedly high, buoyed in part by the promotional momentum generated by appearances such as this one.