Tom Cruise’s unexpected lip sync battle may have been a secret weapon for The Weeknd’s breakout hit success.
Back in 2015, the Mission: Impossible superstar surprised audiences on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon by lip syncing The Weeknd’s smash “Can’t Feel My Face.”
The performance wasn’t just a memorable TV moment. It actually helped push the track to become the Canadian singer-songwriter’s first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. In his recent interview with Fallon, he recalled:
“I definitely saw that. It actually helped the song. It helped it peak to the record-breaking top, thanks to him obviously. To the biggest movie star in the world.”
However, despite the massive boost and The Weeknd’s love for Cruise’s classics, the two celebs have never met in person.
“I’m a huge Tom Cruise guy. I love The Color Of Money, love Vanilla Sky, Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, and Mission Impossible.”
When asked if Cruise knows he’s a fan, The Weeknd laughed and answered:
“I don’t think he does but he did that for me. That like it wasn’t a favour, I didn’t know [him].”
The Weeknd returns the favor: Tom Cruise gets a Mission: Impossible promo live on Fallon
In a cheeky move, the “After Hours” hitmaker threw on a cap branded with the logo of Cruise’s latest Mission: Impossible flick, and gave a quick, playful promo for the movie. From a piece of paper that he fished out from his coat pocket, he read:
“Get ready for the ultimate showdown in ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning,’ where super spy Ethan Hunt faces his most dangerous mission yet.”
With Fallon cracking up in the background, The Weeknd powered through:
"With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Tom Cruise’s legendary super spy Ethan Hunt has now by now made both their names synonymous with achieving the unimaginable.”
The comedian-host joked about the long intro, but the singer was undeterred, eager to finish the Mission: Impossible promo.
“But in ‘The Final Reckoning,’ an eighth entry to the franchise, that is a jaw-dropping, satisfying arc to a now 30-year story. The pair of them are facing their most dangerous and narratively complex challenge.”
The crowd’s cheers and applause went full volume, with cymbals clashing for dramatic flair as The Weeknd wrapped up his unexpected promotional bit.
Premiering on May 23, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s cast includes Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Henry Czerny, and more.