TOM Cruise is being backed to win an Oscar for his smash hit Top Gun: Maverick.

The action movie legend, 60, should get an Academy Award for bringing audiences back to the cinema after the pandemic, according to his friend and co-star Jay Ellis.

Ellis, who played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch, believes Cruise is the last great movie star and should be rewarded for his commitment to the film industry.

Cruise’s decision to stand firm despite pressure and not sell Top Gun: Maverick to streaming networks paid after the blockbuster banked $1.4 billion during its cinematic release.

Cruise has been nominated three times for an Oscar but has never landed the big prize.

Asked whether he deserves to be honored this time around, Ellis, 41, said: "Absolutely he helped the business.

"As the movie was pushed because of the pandemic, he would reach out to us and say 'This movie has been to be in theaters. The viewing experience of this movie is going to make people love going to theaters and love film again.'

"And he was right.

"It was a gamble considering what was going on in this world.

"It was a gamble that paid off in an absolutely amazing way. It helped the world feel ready to go back to theaters.

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"And we were grateful for every single person who spent every dime to go see this movie.

"It's a testament to him and his commitment to his craft, the  power of film that he brought  people together again."

Ellis says even if Cruise doesn't earn a nomination for Best Actor, the Academy should hand him a special honor for his achievements.

He said: “Tom is unique. He has done it all. I think people sleep on Tom.

"But people should know that he is the last great movie star.

"What people forget is that his body of work is very vast.

"He has done every genre; there is character, plot, action, everything – and he succeeded.

"His ability to not only organically perform and use the camera while organically performing on camera is a masterclass.

"There are not a lot of folks out there, none that can do it in the way he does.

"He is the nicest, most genuine and just giving open guy."

Nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced January 24.

Ellis says Paramount Pictures has asked Cruise for a sequel to the film already.

However, Cruise is staying tightlipped on his plans.

He explained: “I don't know. There is a lot of people in that cast to get back to do another one. But I would be there in a heartbeat if they do it

"It's been an absolutely amazing ride."

Cruise is enjoying more success and adding tens of millions of dollars to his bank balance as Top Gun: Maverick is scoring huge ratings on Paramount+.

The film landed on the streaming platform on December 22 and quickly surpassed Sonic the Hedgehog’s previous premiere weekend viewership record by 60%. 

Cruise earned Best Actor nominations but failed to win with his performances in Born on the Fourth of July in 1990 and Jerry Maguire in 1997.

He missed out on a Best Supporting Actor award in 2000 for Magnolia.

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