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Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romance film Comedy drama sports film directed and written by Cameron Crowe. It was produced by Crowe and James L. Brooks, respectively for Vinyl Films and Gracie Films and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing under the TriStar Pictures label. It stars Tom Cruise as the titular sports agent character, alongside Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt and Regina King. It was released in North American theaters on December 13, 1996.
Jerry Maguire was inspired by an experience the sports agent Leigh Steinberg, a technical consultant for the film, had with the client Tim McDonald (who makes a cameo appearance in this film) during the 1993 NFL season when free agent was introduced. The film was also partly inspired by a 28-page memo written at Disney in 1991 by Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Jerry Maguire received positive reviews for its performances and screenplay. It grossed more than $273 million worldwide against its $50 million budget. It was the ninth-highest-grossing film of 1996. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cruise, with Cuba Gooding Jr. winning Best Supporting Actor. It received nominations for three Golden Globes, with Cruise winning for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, with Gooding winning Best Supporting Actor.
Jerry Maguire gained a cult following and has spawned several catchphrases into popular culture, such as "you had me at 'hello'", "you complete me" and "show me the money".
In response, SMI management sends Bob Sugar, Jerry's protégé, to fire him. This spurs both men to race to call every one of Jerry's clients to retain them. Jerry speaks to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell, one of his smallest clients who is disgruntled with his pay. Rod tests Jerry's resolve through a long tirade on his lack of contract extension. By the conclusion of the conversation, Jerry has retained Rod but lost his other clients to Sugar.
Leaving the office, Jerry loudly announces that he will start his own agency and asks if anyone will join him, to which only 26-year-old single mother Dorothy Boyd agrees. Frank "Cush" Cushman, a superstar quarterback prospect who is expected to be the number one pick in the NFL draft, initially says he will also stay with Jerry after he makes a personal visit to the Cushman home. Frank's father insists on a handshake deal based on his word instead of a signed contract, but Jerry eventually realizes that Cush and his father have secretly signed with Sugar the night before the NFL draft after seeing Jerry spend time to introduce Rod to other football executives.
After an argument, Jerry breaks up with his disgruntled fiancée Avery who was emotionally unsupportive. He then turns to Dorothy, becoming closer to her young son, Ray, and eventually starts a romantic relationship with her.
Jerry concentrates all his efforts on Rod, now his only remaining client, who turns out to be difficult to satisfy. In need of money, Jerry calls in a favor to get a contract extension from Rod's current team, the Arizona Cardinals, but receives a lowball offer and Rod needs that 10 million dollar deal for his family to live on. Rod and his wife decide to pass on the offer despite Jerry's warning that if he gets injured, he will receive nothing.
Without any money coming in, Dorothy knows that Jerry is unable to afford payroll, so she decides to move to San Diego for a more secure job offer with health benefits. Afraid of losing her, Jerry proposes marriage to share health benefits, and as she is smitten, she agrees.
Over the next several months, Rod and Jerry grow closer through a series of open and difficult conversations as they struggle to secure him a contract; Rod tells Jerry that he wants him to be honest, while Jerry tells Rod, "help me help you," convincing him to stop complaining and start playing with his heart. Rod takes Jerry's advice, playing well and advancing the Cardinals. Jerry's marriage with Dorothy struggles however, so she suggests they amicably separate before losing too much of their lives to each other.
During a Christmas Day Monday Night Football game between the Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, Rod catches a winning touchdown that secures the playoffs for the Cardinals, but appears to receive a serious injury. After a few scary minutes, he regains consciousness and celebrates with a dance for the wildly cheering crowd. After the scare and the widely televised recovery, Jerry and Rod embrace in front of the media and show how their relationship has progressed from strictly business to a close personal one, which was one of the points Jerry made in his mission statement.
Triggering a realization, Jerry immediately flies home, finding Dorothy in a meeting of her sister's divorcee support group. The group watches as Jerry gives an impassioned speech telling Dorothy he needs her and "you complete me," to which she responds, "shut up… you had me at hello."
Rod appears on ESPN's Up Close with Roy Firestone. On air, he learns Jerry has secured him a massive $11.2 million contract with the Cardinals, allowing him to finish his pro football career in Arizona. Rod breaks down and thanks everyone, extending warm gratitude to Jerry. Jerry and Dorothy celebrate as Jerry is introduced to other pro athletes who have seen his work with Rod.
Jerry and Dorothy are then seen walking with Ray, discussing Ray's future as a baseball player after noticing his strong throw.
Cameron Crowe originally wrote the screenplay for Tom Hanks. Crowe took so long to write the screenplay that by the time the film was ready to be made, Hanks turned down the role as he was more interested in directing That Thing You Do!. page 134 Woody Harrelson was offered the role but turned it down. Rod Tidwell was partially modeled after Charley Taylor.
Janet Jackson auditioned and was initially accepted for the role of Marcee Tidwell, though it later went to Regina King, who previously co-starred in Jackson's debut film Poetic Justice. Jackson is referenced twice in the film, with a Janet poster seen hanging in Teepee's room and Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character Rod Tidwell asking "What Have You Done for Me Lately?", paying homage to Jackson's hit of the same name.
Artie Lange filmed a scene for the movie but it was edited out of the final cut.
Patricia Arquette, Kate Beckinsale, Bridget Fonda, Winona Ryder, Marisa Tomei, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman and Jennifer Lopez were all considered for the part of Dorothy. Mira Sorvino was also considered for Dorothy but the producers would not meet her quote. The producers also considered Janeane Garofalo for the role of Dorothy but she was deemed too old for the part. Connie Britton auditioned for the role of Dorothy, and the choice was narrowed down to Zellweger and Britton, with Zellweger winning the part. Damon Wayans and Mykelti Williamson were considered for the role of Rod Tidwell. Jamie Foxx unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Rod Tidwell. Diane Lane was considered for the role of Avery Bishop; however, the role was eventually given to Kelly Preston. Billy Wilder was considered for the part of Jerry's mentor Dicky Fox.
"Secret Garden", originally a Bruce Springsteen track from 1995, was re-released in 1997 after its exposure in the film and on the soundtrack, and reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Rod Tidwell, the Arizona Cardinals football player who sticks with Maguire. Cruise was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the movie marked Renée Zellweger's breakout role. The film was nominated for Best Picture, and crew members on the film were nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing awards.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, writing that there "are so many subplots that Jerry Maguire seems too full" and also commented that the film "starts out looking cynical and quickly becomes a heartwarmer." Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote "An exceptionally tasty contempo comedic romance, Jerry Maguire runs an unusual pattern on its way to scoring an unexpected number of emotional, social and entertaining points. Smartly written and boasting a sensational cast, Cameron Crowe's shrewdly observed third feature also gives Tom Cruise one of his very best roles..."
Former Green Bay Packers vice president Andrew Brandt said that the film "accurately portrayed the cutthroat nature of the agent business, especially the lengths to which agents will go to retain or pilfer clients. It also captured the financial, emotional and psychological investment that goes far beyond negotiating contracts."
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | James L. Brooks, Cameron Crowe, Laurence Mark and Richard Sakai | |
| Best Actor | Tom Cruise | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen | Cameron Crowe | ||
| Best Film Editing | Joe Hutshing | ||
| American Comedy Awards | Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Cuba Gooding Jr. | |
| ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Top Box Office Films | Nancy Wilson | |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Motion Picture | James L. Brooks, Cameron Crowe, Laurence Mark and Richard Sakai | |
| Best Director | Cameron Crowe | ||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Tom Cruise | ||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Renée Zellweger | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Cameron Crowe | ||
| Best Film Editing | Joe Hutshing | ||
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Actor – Comedy/Romance | Tom Cruise | |
| Favorite Supporting Actor – Comedy/Romance | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy/Romance | Renée Zellweger | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Cuba Gooding Jr. | |
| Most Promising Actress | Renée Zellweger | ||
| Critics Choice Awards | Best Picture | ||
| Best Actor | Tom Cruise | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Best Child Performance | Jonathan Lipnicki | ||
| Breakthrough Artist | Renée Zellweger | ||
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Picture | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Cameron Crowe | |
| Empire Awards | Best Director | ||
| European Film Awards | Screen International Award | ||
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actor | Tom Cruise | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Tom Cruise | (returned) | |
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Hochi Film Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Cameron Crowe | |
| Humanitas Prize | Feature Film | ||
| Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards | Best Sound Editing – ADR | ||
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Movie | ||
| Best Male Performance | Tom Cruise | ||
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Renée Zellweger | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | Best Video from a Film | "Secret Garden" – Bruce Springsteen | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Cuba Gooding Jr. | |
| National Board of Review Awards | |||
| Best Actor | Tom Cruise | ||
| Breakthrough Performance | Renée Zellweger | ||
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | ||
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actor | Tom Cruise | |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Comedy/Musical Picture | James L. Brooks, Cameron Crowe, Laurence Mark and Richard Sakai | |
| Best Actor | Tom Cruise | ||
| Best Comedy/Musical Actor | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Cameron Crowe | ||
| Best Adapted Song | "Secret Garden" – Bruce Springsteen | ||
| PEN Center USA West Literary Awards | Screenplay | Cameron Crowe | |
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Tom Cruise | |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Renée Zellweger | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role | Tom Cruise | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Cuba Gooding Jr. | ||
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Renée Zellweger | ||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen | Cameron Crowe | |
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Actor Age Ten or Under | Jonathan Lipnicki | |
| YoungStar Awards | Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film | ||
The film's screenplay was later voted the 66th greatest ever written in a poll by the Writers Guild of America.
Over 3 million copies were sold during its first week of release. It was re-released on VHS in the late 1990s. In its first week of release on VHS to stores and video stores in 1997, it made $80 million in sales and $7.6 million in rentals. The $80 million was split between video dealers and Columbia TriStar Home Video.
The film was first released onto DVD on June 24, 1997, and around 2002 respectively in both a standard edition and a two-disc "Special Edition". While the standard edition contains no special features, the two-disc edition primarily includes deleted scenes, commentary tracks, featurettes, and a music video for Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden". The film was later released on Blu-ray on September 9, 2008, with the same special features found on the second disc of the "Special Edition" DVD. In 2008, the film was triple-packed with A Few Good Men and Born on the Fourth of July by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment/Universal Pictures Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom only. The film was double-featured with Cliffhanger via DVD in 2008 and also double-featured with A Few Good Men via DVD on December 29, 2009. The film was also chosen to be released in 4K as part of the Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 1 4K Ultra HD box set alongside Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Dr. Strangelove, Lawrence of Arabia, Gandhi, and A League of Their Own on June 16, 2020.
In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten Top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Jerry Maguire was acknowledged as the tenth best film in the sports genre. It was also voted by AFI as #100 on its list of 100 Passions. The quotes "Show me the money!" and "You had me at 'hello'" were also ranked by AFI on its list of 100 Movie Quotes, ranked #25 and #52 respectively.
American Film Institute Lists
In June 2010, Entertainment Weekly named Jerry Maguire one of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years.
In 2017, the NFL produced two "A Football Life" mockumentary to commemorate the film's 20th anniversary edition; they portray the careers of Rod Tidwell and Frank Cushman after the events of the film. Beau Bridges, Jay Mohr, Jerry O'Connell, and Aries Spears reprised their roles from the film, along with Roy Firestone and several real-life sports figures, including Shaquille O'Neal. According to the fictional history, Cushman retired after only four years due to a severe case of athlete's foot, and devoted himself to charity work with children with the same affliction; Tidwell was offered an even more lucrative contract, but declined, declaring that the "quan" was not there, and he preferred to devote more time to his family. The Tidwell mockumentary also features an adult Ray Boyd, inspired by Jerry and Rod to own his own boxing gym.
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