US actor Tom Cruise turned up for the Argentine premiere of his new film "Oblivion", thrilling a crowd of fans eager for a glimpse of the Hollywood megastar.

Sporting his signature smile and dark sunglasses, Cruise arrived by car at the Village cinema complex in Buenos Aires' Recoleta neighbourhood and strode a red carpet amid tight security.

Hundreds of fans shouted with glee when Cruise showed up though only a handful had the privilege of having their photo taken with the movie star, who also signed a few autographs.

Cruise was joined at the screening by co-stars Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko, who hours before had accompanied the actor on a visit to Teatro Colon, considered one of the world's leading opera houses.

Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri referred to Cruise as "an outstanding figure in the arts" and a "guest of honour" in the Argentine capital.

Cruise plays a drone repairman trying to protect Earth from warring aliens in "Oblivion", which hearkens back to the science fiction films of the 1970s.