# Springsteen, Scorsese, Cruise Honor Spielberg at MoMA > Springsteen mocks Spielberg's fear of water at MoMA film benefit, with Tom Cruise and Scorsese joining the tribute. - Title: Springsteen, Scorsese, Cruise Honor Spielberg at MoMA - Summary: Springsteen mocks Spielberg's fear of water at MoMA film benefit, with Tom Cruise and Scorsese joining the tribute. - Keywords: moma, steven spielberg, martin scorsese, bruce springsteen, tom cruise, film benefit, dancing in the dark, jaws, jersey shore, night swimming, water fear, museum - Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/moma-film-benefit-spielberg-2026 - Author: Nate Freeman - Published: 2026-11-13T18:26:10.09+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: moma, steven spielberg, martin scorsese, bruce springsteen, tom cruise, film benefit, dancing in the dark, jaws, jersey shore, night swimming, water fear, museum ## Springsteen's water joke Bruce Springsteen mocked Steven Spielberg's fear of water at MoMA's film benefit event. > In June of 1975, I went to a small theater directly across from the Atlantic Ocean and I saw Jaws. I was 25 years old ## Springsteen's water fear claim Springsteen said Spielberg never swims, even on his yacht the Seven Seas. > Steven Spielberg does not go in that water, ever. Steven’s boat is so fucking big it has water on it. There’s a pool on it. Steven Spielberg does not go in that fucking pool, and I mean ever ## Spielberg's MoMA connection Spielberg's first film premiered at MoMA in 1974, making the museum his starting point. > His first theatrical feature, The Sugarland Express, had its New York premiere at MoMA, in 1974, as part of a series called New Directors/New Films ## Spielberg's gratitude Spielberg thanked MoMA for film preservation and Chanel for his fancy outfit. > MoMA’s dedication, since 1935, to curation, preservation, and restoration is what makes this honor so deeply personal for me, for all of us who love film ## Tom Cruise's tribute Tom Cruise praised Spielberg's generosity and shared stories from their early careers. > Since I was a young man, you were very generous with me, always on movie sets, and at your home with Kate, the meals that we had together ## Martin Scorsese's tribute Martin Scorsese called Spielberg's films transformative and honored his legacy. > The films he has made have changed the world. So art does matter. It always will ## Springsteen's performance Springsteen performed 'Dancing in the Dark' at MoMA's event. > Dancing in the Dark ## Spike Lee's farewell Spike Lee left MoMA with a 'Knicks in five' mantra for security guards. > Knicks in five ## Key takeaway Springsteen joked Spielberg fears water, while Tom Cruise and Martin Scorsese honored Spielberg at MoMA's film benefit event.