
When Legend first came out, critics generally didn’t like it, particularly the story and the way it was cut for U.S. theaters. The movie didn’t make back its production costs, and that was before even considering marketing expenses. The interesting mix of Tom Cruise’s own disappointment with the film, the negative reviews, and its enduring popularity with fans is why people still discuss Legend today. In 2002, a director’s cut was released, closer to Ridley Scott’s original idea for the film, which led to a fresh look at the movie. Tom Cruise then starred in 1986’s Top Gun, a film that launched his career and made him a major star. While Top Gun was a huge success and the right move for his career, Legend has surprisingly become a beloved film for many fans, despite Cruise’s own feelings about it.