Tom Cruise and Michael B. Jordan have recently appeared on major magazine covers, sparking discussion about contemporary portrayals of masculinity amid broader cultural debates. Cruise, 64, graced the cover of GQ for the first time in two decades, featuring an image of the actor in an unbuttoned shirt, his hand running through his hair while holding his belt buckle. The photograph aims to present Cruise as a confident, sexy figure, though it has drawn widespread online criticism, with many viewers finding the image unappealing and out of touch.
In contrast, 39-year-old Jordan made his solo debut on the cover of Vogue, becoming only the third man ever to do so. His cover shows him reclined on a bed of flowers, laughing, with his suit blazer open, revealing his toned physique. Jordan’s image has been noted for its softer, more fashion-forward approach to masculinity, incorporating elements such as jewelry and decorative styling that depart from traditional masculine tropes.
The timing of these covers coincides with heightened public interest in questions surrounding masculinity—from critiques of toxic machismo to evolving gender expressions and the influence of the manosphere. The two actors, representing different generations and backgrounds, have inadvertently amplified these ongoing conversations.
Dr. Ashley Morgan, a masculinities scholar at Cardiff Metropolitan University, highlighted the divergent presentations of masculinity in the two covers. She suggested that Cruise’s image aligns with a narrowly defined, traditional ideal centered on white male patriarchal power. Jordan’s portrayal, by contrast, introduces broader conceptions of masculinity, encompassing aspects of Black masculinity and a softer aesthetic that may resonate across diverse audiences.
Andrew Groves, director of the menswear archive at the University of Westminster, also commented on the fashion distinctions. He described Cruise’s clothing as belonging to a “masculine language of work and labour,” while Jordan’s ensemble offers a richer style vocabulary that includes softness and ornamentation, reflecting a wider range of masculine codes.
This contrast emerges as GQ undergoes editorial change, with new editor Adam Baidawi expressing his goal of repositioning the magazine as a leading voice on masculinity targeted at men. However, some cultural commentators view both covers as reinforcing restrictive norms. Alona Pardo, a curator who explored masculinity in photography, criticized Cruise’s cover as perpetuating the idea that male worth is tied to physical vitality and dominance, describing it as reductive.
Author Jessa Crispin echoed this view, describing Cruise's portrayal as emblematic of a traditional "steward masculine" role in Hollywood, where he mentors younger actors, exemplified by his six-hour coaching session with Glen Powell. She characterized Jordan’s cover as “tame” and reminiscent of classic figures like Cary Grant, combining masculinity with humor but without pushing boundaries.
Both critics see the covers as reiterations of patriarchal ideals at a moment when social movements like #MeToo challenge entrenched power structures. Pardo argued that the visual language used reinforces conventional male authority and may represent a reactionary response aimed at solidifying male solidarity in opposition to ongoing calls for systemic change.