Ludacris recently revealed the surprising story of how his hit single “Get Back” became the soundtrack to one of Tom Cruise’s most unforgettable on-screen moments: his wild dance scene in the comedy classic, “Tropic Thunder.” During an appearance on the popular web series “Hot Ones,” hosted by Sean Evans, Ludacris shared details about how Ben Stiller, the film’s star, director, and co-writer, personally sought his approval for the song’s use.
In a segment of “Hot Ones” known for probing questions amidst fiery chicken wings, Evans asked Ludacris, “Did Ben Stiller personally seek your approval to use ‘Get Back’ at the end of ‘Tropic Thunder’ for that Tom Cruise dance scene?” This question clearly caught Ludacris off guard, eliciting a genuinely surprised reaction from the rapper.
“Yo, I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me that, that’s a great question,” Ludacris responded, momentarily pausing between bites of increasingly spicy wings. He then went on to describe the respectful and personal approach Stiller took. According to Ludacris, Stiller invited him and his management team to a private screening of “Tropic Thunder” well before its official release.
“Not only did he seek approval, respectfully, he invited us to watch the movie before it came out and it was literally just me, him and my management and we watched the whole movie,” Ludacris explained. This exclusive screening was specifically arranged so Stiller could ask for permission to use “Get Back” in the film’s now-legendary end credits sequence featuring Tom Cruise’s character, Les Grossman, cutting loose. Ludacris’s answer was an immediate and enthusiastic yes. “Just to see at the end for him to ask me, ‘Is it OK to clear this?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely.’”
Ludacris, a Grammy-winning artist and established actor known for his role in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, admitted that his admiration for Ben Stiller made the request even more meaningful. He expressed that he was already a fan of Stiller’s previous work and was simply thrilled to be included in the process. “I was more — I was such a Ben Stiller fan that I was more happy that he invited me personally to come watch the movie before it came out.”
“Tropic Thunder,” released in 2008, is a satirical action-comedy starring Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr., portraying actors who find themselves in a real war situation while filming a movie. Tom Cruise, in a memorable supporting role as the studio executive Les Grossman, delivers a scene-stealing performance that culminates in the iconic dance sequence.
The scene in question unfolds during the movie’s end credits. As the fictional war film within “Tropic Thunder” sweeps the Oscars, with Stiller’s character Tugg Speedman winning Best Actor, Les Grossman celebrates in his office in a truly unique way. He dims the lights, cranks up the volume, and unleashes an energetic and hilariously over-the-top dance to Ludacris’s “Get Back.” This unexpected and wildly entertaining moment has since become a defining scene in Cruise’s filmography and a pop culture highlight. Fans can revisit this iconic dance here.
Ludacris in Fast and Furious film series
Ludacris’s story from “Hot Ones” provides a delightful behind-the-scenes glimpse into how this iconic movie moment came together, highlighting the respect and collaboration involved in bringing the unforgettable Tom Cruise “Tropic Thunder” dance to life with the perfect musical accompaniment.
