Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly arrive in style at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in Cannes

Leading man Tom Cruise and his co-star Jennifer Connelly dressed to impress on Wednesday as they arrived at the star-studded premiere of their film Top Gun: Maverick premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival.

The actor, 59, who reprised his famous role as LT Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell for the film, cut a dapper figure in a classic black tuxedo, while Jennifer, 51, who plays Penny Benjamin, looked simply flawless in a striking off-the-shoulder metallic gown. 

The stars were in good company as a host of famous faces stepped out to celebrate their new film including a glamorous Eva Longoria and heavily pregnant Adriana Lima, who showcased her growing baby bump in a cut-out dress. 

Stars of the show: Leading man Tom Cruise and his co-star Jennifer Connelly dressed to impress on Wednesday as they arrived at the star-studded premiere of their film Top Gun: Maverick premiere during the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival 

Tom – who later received an honorary Palme d’Or award – beamed with joy as he greeted crowds at the event, with the Hollywood hunk teaming his smart black attire with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie and lace-up brogues.  

Meanwhile, Jennifer stunned in her edgy silver gown which clung perfectly to her toned frame.

The beauty ensured her dress took centre stage as she opted to forgo fancy accessories, save for two rings, while her raven locks were swept back into a tight bun. 

The duo looked in good spirits as they walked the red carpet and greeted fans and photographers who gathered to celebrate their latest offering. 

Here he is! Tom looked humbled as adoring fans cheered for him as he arrived for the screening of his latest film

The whole gang is here! Tom was joined by a plethora of cast and creatives from the Top Gun: Maverick film 

Dressed to impress: Tom beamed with joy as he greeted crowds at the event, with the Hollywood hunk teaming his smart black attire with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie and lace-up brogues

On eyes on Tom: The stars beamed beneath the glare of dozens of camera bulbs at the star-studded event

Walk this way: The Maverick star led the way on the red carpet as he and his co-stars arrived at the glitzy event

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They were joined by co-stars including Miles Teller, who plays Bradley Bradshaw in the film, with the actor looking sharp in a white tuxedo. 

While the likes of Greg Tarzan Davis, Christopher McQuarrie, Jon Hamm and Jay Ellis were all suited and booted for the evening.

The event turned into an extra special one as guests were treated to an impressive fighter-jet flyby, with the sky lit up with clouds of red, white and blue. 

Meanwhile, later inside the screening, Tom looked touched as he was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or award, presented to him by  the festival’s president Pierre Lescure.

What a woman: Meanwhile, Jennifer stunned in her edgy silver gown which clung perfectly to her toned frame

Wow: The beauty ensured her dress took centre stage as she opted to forgo fancy accessories, save for two rings, while her raven locks were swept back into a tight bun

Leading lady: Jennifer was every inch the Hollywood beauty as she glided across the red carpet in her silver gown

Helping hand: At one point, an assistant helped Jennifer with her dress while she played up to the cameras

Hey there: The duo looked in good spirits as they walked the red carpet and greeted fans and photographers who gathered to celebrate their latest offering

Elsewhere at the event, a host of stars pulled out all the stops as they posed for cameras at the glittering premiere. 

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, 47, put on a glittering display in a sparkling silver off-the-shoulder gown with a daring slit at the back as she graced the red carpet of the swanky event.

Eva pulled out all the stops for the evening as she slipped her figure into the disco ball-esque number which perfectly lung to her frame. 

The actress boosted her height with a pair of towering silver platforms which were visible beneath the daring slit at the back of her dress. 

Looking good; They were joined by co-stars including Miles Teller, who plays Bradley Bradshaw in the film, with the actor looking sharp in a white tuxedo

What a trio: The actors looked great as they walked the red carpet together

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All smiles: Tom and Jennifer were also joined by Jon Hamm on the red carpet

Group shot: Stars of the film were out in force for the premiere [L-R Greg Tarzan Davis, Tom, Christopher McQuarrie, Jennifer , Jon Hamm and Jay Ellis]

Eva allowed her dress to do all the talking as she swept her chocolate locks into a high ponytail, while accentuating her gorgeous features with a glam make-up palette including a dramatic smoky eye.  

After Cannes was entirely cancelled in 2020 and held under strict health protocols in 2021, the red carpet returned in all its glamour on Tuesday night for the Opening Ceremony.

The film chosen to open the festival was Final Cut, a comedy love letter to filmmaking and Z-list zombie movies from the team behind the award-winning The Artist.

There is set to be an array of TikTok stars taking to the red carpet this year after organisers sought to refresh their image by partnering with the video streaming platform, which is sponsoring an award for short films.

In total, some 35,000 film professionals are expected to attend the festival between May 17 and 28, hoping for a return to form for cinema’s most glamorous event after two years when it was hampered by Covid-19 restrictions.

‘We are ready. The town hall has just redone everything – the whole place – so we hope it will go well,’ said Jeremie Tripet, manager of ‘L’Avenue’, a bistro just off the main drag known as La Croisette.

One major exception is the absence of Russians, due to the impact of sanctions over the war in Ukraine and a ruling from the organisers that state-linked delegates are not welcome. China is also expected to have a limited presence due to its continuing Covid restrictions.

Dazzling: Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, 47, put on a glittering display in a sparkling silver off-the-shoulder gown with a daring slit at the back as she graced the red carpet of the swanky event

Flawless: Eva allowed her dress to do all the talking as she swept her chocolate locks into a high ponytail, while accentuating her gorgeous features with a glam make-up palette including a dramatic smoky eye

But otherwise the festival is keen to put the pandemic in the past, with no mandatory masks or health passes this year – and no restrictions to partying.

Film fans can get stuck into the usual feast of new releases and competition entries, braving the festival’s famously opinionated crowds, who are never shy about cheering and booing during screenings.

The two-week annual event will see hotly-anticipated films Top Gun: Maverick and King of Rock ‘N Roll’ biopic Elvis shown. 

There’s a lot of excitement around the Elvis Presley biopic from Australia’s Baz Luhrmann, hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with Moulin Rouge! 20 years ago.

Elvis, playing out of competition, sees newcomer Austin Butler stepping into The King’s blue suede shoes. Tom Hanks plays his infamous manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

There are 21 films in the race for the Palme d’Or, including the latest body-horror fable from David Cronenberg, Crimes of the Future, starring Lea Seydoux and Kristen Stewart.

The Canadian director told IndieWire it is likely to cause walkouts ‘within the first five minutes’.

There are only five women directors in the competition, hoping to follow the success of last year’s winner, Titane, which made Julia Ducournau only the second female to win the Palme.

Alongside all the glitz, festival director Thierry Fremaux said Cannes aimed to keep the war in Ukraine in the spotlight.

‘Together we will have a great festival – we will think a lot about cinema without ever stopping thinking about Ukraine.’

The final film by Lithuanian director Mantas Kvedaravicius, who was killed by Russian forces in Ukraine last month, will get a special screening.

He was shooting a follow-up to his celebrated documentary Mariupolis, about the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region, when he was reportedly captured and killed.

The main competition also includes exiled Russian Kirill Serebrennikov, who was unable to attend for his two previous nominations due to a politically charged conviction for embezzlement back home.

Fremaux said the festival wanted to lend a hand to ‘the Russians who take risks to resist’ while offering ‘absolute and non-negotiable support to the Ukrainian people’.

The jury charged with selecting the winners this year includes Indian superstar Deepika Padukone and Iran’s two-time Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi, and is headed by French actor Vincent Lindon.

The world’s biggest film festival will conclude with the Closing Ceremony on May 28.