Claim: Leigh Steinberg was a sports agent who inspired Jerry Maguire.

Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama sports film written , produced and directed by Cameron Crowe , and stars Tom Cruise , Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renée Zellweger . Produced in part by long time Simpsons producer James L. Brooks , it was inspired by sports agent Leigh Steinberg , who acted as Technical Consultant on the crew . It was released in North American theaters on December 13 , 1996 , produced by Gracie Films and distributed by TriStar Pictures .   The film received critical acclaim , with critics praising its acting and writing . The film was a financial success , bringing in more than $ 273 million worldwide , against its $ 50 million budget . It was the ninth top-grossing film of 1996 .   The film was nominated for five Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Cruise , with Cuba Gooding Jr. winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . The film was also nominated for three Golden Globes , with Tom Cruise winning for Best Actor , and three Screen Actors Guild Awards , with Cuba Gooding Jr. winning Best Supporting Actor .