Cameron Crowe Admits ‘Vanilla Sky’ Marked His Decline — Defends ‘We Bought a Zoo'

Cameron Crowe has certainly had his fair share of ups and downs as a filmmaker.

The first half of his career was nearly untouchable; he could do no wrong. He started off in the ’80s by writing “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Say Anything” — the latter of which he also directed — both now considered coming-of-age classics. This led to the Gen X rom-com “Singles,” then “Jerry Maguire,” and his best film, “Almost Famous.”

However, over the last 25 years, things have taken a turn. As much as I like “Vanilla Sky,” starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, critics hated it, and it remains divisive to this day. His 2005 romance “Elizabethtown” was a commercial and critical failure. Did anybody care for “Aloha”?

In an interview with The Independent, Crowe says he quickly realized he wasn’t untouchable after the release of “Vanilla Sky,” which, ironically, is easily the best film he’s made during his 25-year stretch of mediocrity.

“Vanilla Sky” was the beginning of knowing that there’s not going to be an endless honeymoon for anyone who wants to have a longish career. It comes in waves.”

Hey, I still stand by “Vanilla Sky,” a loose remake of Alejandro Amenábar’s “Open Your Eyes.” It’s the most daring film of Cameron Crowe’s career — a surreal blend of romance, sci-fi, and existential mystery. Tom Cruise delivers an incredibly vulnerable performance, and the film stands as Crowe’s haunting meditation on love, identity, and regret.

More curiously, Crowe also looked back on another so-called nadir, “We Bought a Zoo,” with real affection. The 2011 film, starring Matt Damon, is exactly what the title promises — and you know what? It’s kind of a sweet movie.

A lot of people, especially during Covid, told me they found it really comforting and fun. Sure, it might have had an awkward title, but it’s honestly one of my favorite projects I’ve ever done. Time has a way of reshaping things — it elevates some work, lets others fade. I’m just grateful I still get to keep doing this

Crowe hasn’t directed a film in ten years, but that will soon change as he’s set his sights on a 2026 shoot for his long-gestating Joni Mitchell biopic, rumored to star Anya Taylor-Joy and Meryl Streep. I only wish him the best — Crowe has given us some strong films over the years, and if any Hollywood filmmaker deserves a comeback, it’s him.