This film is, superficially, a word-for-word remake of a Spanish film titled Abre los Ojos, or Open Your Eyes. As a cinematic experience, though, Vanilla Sky is a great improvement, as the original film just as a made-for-TV feel to it. Plus, Cameron Crowe's use of music and sound effects to progress the story is top-notch. Penelope Cruz starred in the original film, as well as this film. The premise of the story is this: a man (Tom Cruise) is in the car with a jealous lover (Cameron Diaz) when she commits suicide by driving off a bridge. This was done out of jealousy, for the night before, she noticed David (Cruise) getting close and friendly with another girl (Penelope Cruz). The accident leaves Julie (Diaz) dead and David with a disfigured face. The story that unfolds after the accident is a real bizarre story that engrosses the viewer. The ending is a bit too explanatory and overly dramatic, but it still works, on the most part. This is a remake that actually surpasses the original.
Rated R for sexuality and strong language.

• Original theatrical aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Premiered on December 10, 2001

• AFI AWARDS NOMINATION: Featured Actor of the Year - Female - Movies (Cameron Diaz)
• ALMA AWARDS NOMINATIONS: Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Penelope Cruz) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Cameron Diaz)
• ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATION: Best Music, Original Song (Paul McCartney for the song "Vanilla Sky")
• ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY & HORROR FILMS AWARD: Best Actor (Tom Cruise)
• ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY & HORROR FILMS AWARDS NOMINATIONS: Best Make-Up (Michele Burke and Camille Calvet), Best Music (Nancy Wilson), Best Science Fiction Film, and Best Supporting Actress (Cameron Diaz)
• BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS AWARD: Best Supporting Actress (Cameron Diaz)
• BROADCAST FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARD: Best Song (Paul McCartney for the song "Vanilla Sky")
• BROADCAST FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS NOMINATION: Best Supporting Actress (Cameron Diaz)
• CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARD: Best Supporting Actress (Cameron Diaz)
• DVD EXCLUSIVE AWARDS NOMINATION: Best Overall New Extra Features, New Release (Cameron Crowe and Scott M. Martin)
• GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS: Best Original Song - Motion Picture (Paul McCartney for the song "Vanilla Sky") and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Cameron Diaz)
• GRAMMY AWARDS NOMINATION: Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (Paul McCartney for the song "Vanilla Sky")
• MOTION PICTURE SOUND EDITORS AWARDS NOMINAIONS: Best Sound Editing - Dialogue & ADR, Domestic Feature Film (Michael D. Wilhoit, Laura R. Harris, Kerry Dean Williams, Mark Gordon, Vic Radulich, Clare C. Freeman, Susan Kurtz, Tammy Fearing, and Eliza Pollack Zebert) and Best Sound Editing - Music - Feature Film, Domestic and Foreign (Carlton Kaller)
• RAZZIE AWARDS NOMINATION: Worst Actress (Penelope Cruz also for Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Blow)
• SATELLITE AWARDS NOMINATIONS: Best Original Song (Paul McCartney for the song "Vanilla Sky") and Best Original Song (Nancy Wilson and Cameron Crowe for the song "I Fall Apart")
• SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINATION: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Cameron Diaz)

• Commentary by Director Cameron Crowe and Composer Nancy Wilson, featuring a conversation with Tom Cruise
• Two Featurettes: "Prelude to a Dream" and "Hitting it Hard"
• An Interview with Paul McCartney
• Music Video "Afrika Shox" by Leftfield/Afrika Bambaataa
• Unreleased Teaser Trailer
• International Theatrical Trailer
• Photo Gallery with audio Introduction by Photographer Neal Preston
• Widescreen Version (1.85:1) Enhanced for 16:9 TVs
• English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
• English Dolby Surround
• French Dolby Surround
• English Subtitles
• Closed Captioned for the hearing impaired