Vanilla Sky
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:04:48 PM Wikipedia source
Vanilla Sky is a 2001 American science fiction psychological thriller film starring Tom Cruise as a magazine publisher who begins to question reality after being disfigured in a car crash. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, who also produced with Cruise and Paula Wagner, it is an English-language remake of 1997 Spanish film Open Your Eyes, which was scribed by Alejandro Amenábar and Mateo Gil. The supporting cast includes Penélope Cruz (who reprises her role from the original), Kurt Russell, Jason Lee, Noah Taylor, and Cameron Diaz. Vanilla Sky was released on December 14, 2001, grossed more than $203 million worldwide against a production budget of $68 million, and received mixed critical reception. Diaz's performance was widely praised, earning her a Screen Actors Guild and a Golden Globe Award nomination. The song "Vanilla Sky" by Paul McCartney was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film later gained a cult following.
Infobox
Directed by
Cameron Crowe
Screenplay by
Cameron Crowe
Based on
Abre los ojosby Alejandro AmenábarMateo Gil
Produced by
Tom Cruise Paula Wagner Cameron Crowe
Starring
Tom Cruise Penélope Cruz Kurt Russell Jason Lee Noah Taylor Cameron Diaz
Cinematography
John Toll
Edited by
Joe Hutshing Mark Livolsi
Music by
Nancy Wilson
Productioncompanies
Paramount Pictures Cruise/Wagner Productions Vinyl Films Summit Entertainment Sogecine Artisan Entertainment
Distributed by
Paramount Pictures (United States) United International Pictures (International)
Release date
December 14, 2001 (2001-12-14)
Running time
136 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$68 million
Box office
$203.4 million
Tables
Accolades for Vanilla Sky · Reception › Awards
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Organization
Academy Awards
Year
2002
Category
Best Original Song
Recipient(s)
Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky")
Result
Nominated
AFI Awards
AFI Awards
Organization
AFI Awards
Year
2002
Category
Featured Actress of the Year
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Nominated
ALMA Awards
ALMA Awards
Organization
ALMA Awards
Year
2002
Category
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Recipient(s)
Penélope Cruz
Result
Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Organization
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Year
Cameron Diaz
Category
Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Organization
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Year
2001
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Organization
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Year
2001
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Organization
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Year
2002
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Nominated
Best Song
Best Song
Organization
Best Song
Year
Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky")
Category
Won
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Organization
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Year
2002
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Organization
Golden Globe Awards
Year
2002
Category
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Nominated
Best Original Song
Best Original Song
Organization
Best Original Song
Year
Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky")
Category
Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards
Golden Raspberry Awards
Organization
Golden Raspberry Awards
Year
2002
Category
Worst Actress
Recipient(s)
Penélope Cruz
Result
Nominated
Golden Reel Awards
Golden Reel Awards
Organization
Golden Reel Awards
Year
2002
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Dialogue and ADR for Feature Film
Recipient(s)
List of sound editors
Result
Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore
Organization
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore
Year
Carlton Kaller
Category
Nominated
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards
Organization
Grammy Awards
Year
2003
Category
Best Song Written for Visual Media
Recipient(s)
Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky")
Result
Nominated
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Organization
Satellite Awards
Year
2002
Category
Best Original Song
Recipient(s)
Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky")
Result
Nominated
Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson (for the song "I Fall Apart")
Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson (for the song "I Fall Apart")
Organization
Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson (for the song "I Fall Apart")
Year
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Organization
Saturn Awards
Year
2002
Category
Best Science Fiction Film
Recipient(s)
Vanilla Sky
Result
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Organization
Best Actor
Year
Tom Cruise
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Organization
Best Supporting Actress
Year
Cameron Diaz
Category
Nominated
Best Make-Up
Best Make-Up
Organization
Best Make-Up
Year
Michèle Burke and Camille Calvet
Category
Nominated
Best Music
Best Music
Organization
Best Music
Year
Nancy Wilson
Category
Nominated
2016
2016
Organization
2016
Year
Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release
Category
Vanilla Sky (Alternate Ending)
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Organization
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Year
2002
Category
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Recipient(s)
Cameron Diaz
Result
Nominated
| Organization | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | 2002 | Best Original Song | Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky") | Nominated | |
| AFI Awards | 2002 | Featured Actress of the Year | Cameron Diaz | Nominated | |
| ALMA Awards | 2002 | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Penélope Cruz | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Cameron Diaz | Nominated | |||
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | 2001 | Best Supporting Actress | Cameron Diaz | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | 2001 | Best Supporting Actress | Cameron Diaz | Won | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 2002 | Best Supporting Actress | Cameron Diaz | Nominated | |
| Best Song | Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky") | Won | |||
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | 2002 | Best Supporting Actress | Cameron Diaz | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2002 | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Cameron Diaz | Nominated | |
| Best Original Song | Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky") | Nominated | |||
| Golden Raspberry Awards | 2002 | Worst Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated | |
| Golden Reel Awards | 2002 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Dialogue and ADR for Feature Film | List of sound editors | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore | Carlton Kaller | Nominated | |||
| Grammy Awards | 2003 | Best Song Written for Visual Media | Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky") | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | 2002 | Best Original Song | Paul McCartney (for the song "Vanilla Sky") | Nominated | |
| Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson (for the song "I Fall Apart") | Nominated | ||||
| Saturn Awards | 2002 | Best Science Fiction Film | Vanilla Sky | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Tom Cruise | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Cameron Diaz | Nominated | |||
| Best Make-Up | Michèle Burke and Camille Calvet | Nominated | |||
| Best Music | Nancy Wilson | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release | Vanilla Sky (Alternate Ending) | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2002 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Cameron Diaz | Nominated |
References
- Tied with "May It Be" from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
- also for Blow and Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
- Michael D. Wilhoit (supervising sound editor); Kerry Dean Williams (supervising ADR editor); Laura Harris Atkinson (supe
- Filmaffinityhttps://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film774600.html
- British Film Institutehttps://web.archive.org/web/20180320110806/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8576f417
- Box Office Mojohttps://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=vanillasky.htm
- AllMoviehttps://www.allmovie.com/movie/vanilla-sky-v255994
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/movies/revisiting-cameron-crowes-vanilla-sky/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/vanilla-sky-blu-ray-release-date-details-bonus-content/
- undertheradarmag.comhttps://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/reflecting_on_the_20th_anniversary_of_vanilla_sky_news
- the Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jan/11/artsfeatures2
- The Miami Heraldhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=20011219&id=y1FIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7P0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6364,7352841
- The Techhttps://web.archive.org/web/20140222200402/http://tech.mit.edu/V121/N66/Vanilla_Sky.66a.html
- Mentioned by the director in the commentary track for the DVD release.
- The Uncoolhttp://www.theuncool.com/films/vanilla-sky/vanilla-sky-production-notes/
- Local 600: International Cinematographers Guildhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120719150553/https://www.cameraguild.com/AboutUs/memberspotlightcustom/member-spotlight-john-toll.aspx
- SteadiShots.orghttp://www.steadishots.org/shots_detail.cfm?shotID=189
- International Business Timeshttps://www.ibtimes.com/one-world-trade-film-and-tv-producers-navigate-new-york%E2%80%99s-rapidly-changing-skyline-782553
- American Cinematographer
- The Washington Timeshttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/29/blu-ray-review-vanilla-sky-alternate-ending/
- The Believerhttps://believermag.com/an-interview-with-nancy-wilson/
- Discogshttps://www.discogs.com/release/8923961-Nancy-Wilson-Vanilla-Sky
- "The 74th Academy Awards - 2002"https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002
- AllMusichttps://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000656884
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/2020/05/cameron-crowes-vanilla-sky-easter-eggs.html
- "Weekend Box Office: Sky Soars"https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/18/weekend-box-office-sky-soars
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vanilla_sky/
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/vanilla-sky
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2014/08/b-grade-for-turtles-what-cinemascores-mean-and-why-exit-polling-matters-816538/
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vanilla-sky-2001
- The Inner Mindhttp://www.innermind.com/misc/e_r_top.htm
- The New York Timeshttps://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DEED8133FF937A25751C1A9679C8B63
- Salonhttp://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/12/14/vanilla/index.html
- San Francisco Chroniclehttps://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Vanilla-guy-Smirky-Tom-Cruise-lacks-the-depth-2839702.php
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jan/25/culture.reviews
- Film Threathttps://archive.today/20130123032805/http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/2392/
- The Village Voicehttps://web.archive.org/web/20080403105246/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0150,atkinson,30650,20.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20081006180150/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie000099071dec14,0,1592334.story
- "The 74th Academy Awards – 2022"https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002
- Screen Dailyhttps://www.screendaily.com/afi-announces-first-annual-award-nominations/407823.article
- "ALMA Awards 2002"https://web.archive.org/web/20021005041747/http://www.almaawards.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=129
- "BSFC Winners 2000s"https://bostonfilmcritics.org/past-winners-2000s/
- "1988-2013 Awards Winners Archives"https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives
- "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards 2001"https://web.archive.org/web/20130107093817/http://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2001.php
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20061017180650/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/2001/2001dfw.htm
- Vanilla Skyhttps://www.goldenglobes.com/film/vanilla-sky
- BBC Newshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1814018.stm
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2002/film/awards/sound-editors-tap-noms-for-golden-reel-awards-1117860492/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2003/music/news/45th-annual-grammy-award-nominations-1117878286/
- "2001 Satellite Awards Nominations"https://web.archive.org/web/20020601235604/http://pressacademy.com/movienominations.htm
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20061017175649/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/2001/2001sat.htm
- "The 42nd Annual Saturn Awards nominations are announced for 2016"https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181620/http://www.saturnawards.org/
- "The 8th Screen Actors Guild Awards"https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/8th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards
- Knight Ridderhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-pooh-charms-in-25th/124032416/
- Blu-ray.comhttps://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Vanilla-Sky-4K-Blu-ray/336288/#Review