He says a big reason he walked into "Oblivion" was the chance to work opposite Cruise.
"He's such an incredible actor. He's such an incredible person. He's just, you know, everybody likes him. He's sweet, he's hardworking and he's generous. As an actor and as a person, but you just want to do it, you want to be there," said Freeman.
Cruise's latest big budget adventure led the weekend box office in its domestic debut, hauling in $38.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
It has already been a bona fide hit overseas, earning more than $60 million in its opening weekend in 52 foreign markets.
The sci-fi thriller is set 60 years after a catastrophic war with an alien race. That war forced humans to abandon Earth altogether - or so we think.
Cruise plays a maintenance man sent to Earth to scavenge resources. He quickly discovers that all may not be as it appears.
Freeman co-stars as the leader of a secret human underground movement left behind on Earth.
"He's a good guy, and he's successful in turning the other good guy into a good guy," Freeman described.
"Oblivion" is rated PG-13.
