Kidman arrived with director Alejandro Amenabar
The film was produced by Cruise and stars Kidman as a God-fearing mother trying to take care of her two children inside a haunted house.
The couple's much-publicised divorce is expected to be made final on Wednesday, after Los Angeles Superior court judge Lee Edmon has signed papers allowing the fast-track divorce to go through.
Cruise and Kidman, who have two adopted children, Isabella, 8, and Conor, 6, ended their 10-year marriage in February.
Cruise filed for divorce, claiming "irreconcilable differences".
The judge granted Cruise's request to "bifurcate" the case - meaning issues of custody, money, property and other things will be decided in October.
However, Kidman said in a recent interview that she refused to allow the break-up to make her bitter.
"I still completely believe in love and I remain open to anything that will happen to me," she said.
Coming separately
Kidman arrived for Tuesday evening's première with actresses Naomi Watts and Rebecca Rigg, and the director of The Others, Alejandro Amenabar.
She spent several minutes signing autographs before entering the Directors Guild of America's screening auditorium.
Cruise arrived about 20 minutes later.
The two did not see each other on their way into the screening.
Asked how he was dealing with people who probe his personal life, Cruise gave a direct response.
"Tell 'em to mind their own business," he said.
"There are certain things I just don't pay attention to - you just have to go on with your life."
'Bizarre'
He said that he did not find it strange that he and Kidman should both attend the première.
"We're here, we love what we do, we love films... we feel privileged to be doing something that we enjoy doing," he said.
But Kidman had earlier described the timing of the première as "bizarre", adding that they had to approach the sensitivities of their split rationally.
"Yes, it is strange and bizarre and all of those things. But it is what it is. As my dad says: 'Nic, it is what it is, it's not what it should have been, not what it could have been, it is what it is.'"
When asked probing questions about her opinion of Cruise's alleged relationship with his Vanilla Sky co-star Penelope Cruz, Kidman refused to comment.
"I'm a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister, I'm a real person operating in the world. For me to sit here in front of millions of people and discuss the most private thing feels wrong.
"It feels like I am betraying myself and my children," Kidman added.