tom cruise self help guru

Meet Pickup Artist Ross Jeffries, The Inspiration For Tom Cruise’s Character In ‘Magnolia’

I called the hotline number that fed to Ross Jeffries’ Speed Seduction system, and the irony of the situation quickly dawned on me. Here I was scrambling to get in contact with the man who inspired Tom Cruise’s pick-up-artist/self-help guru character in Magnolia , and I was attempting to do so in the same exact way Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character did in the film. The only difference was that Hoffman was able to use the tactic to get in touch with Cruise’s Frank Mackie (granted, it was a life or death situation), while I only received an email address that could have been quickly ascertained had I committed to more internet research. (Perhaps I should have mentioned to the lovely telemarketer that Jeffries’ father’s condition was dire, and one of his last wishes was to speak to his son?)

By the tone and inflection of the woman’s voice — “He gets A LOT of emails” — I figured my correspondence would get lost in the shuffle of men scratching at his digital door begging for the secrets of sensuality to be slid underneath. Can I SEDUCE you into an interview with a very popular website?  read the subject line.   Send. (I decided to continue writing this piece with the hopes that Jeffries would get back to me but also with the awareness that he might not.)

One of the best parts of Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic drama, Magnolia , is Tom Cruise’s performance as Frank T.J. Mackie. In fact, it’s one of Cruise’s best performances, period. If you haven’t see the film, then take a gander at the video below (if you’re into drum and bass music,  you’ll appreciate this even more ), which is the most profane Cruise has ever been with exception to Tropic Thunder.

Anderson was on Marc Maron’s latest WTF podcast , and during the discussion of Magnolia , the auteur dropped a little gem acknowledging Ross Jeffries as the inspiration for Cruise’s Oscar-nominated role. Mackie is one of Anderson’s most charismatic and engrossing characters, but who is this Ross Jeffries guy?

Jeffries website, Seduction.com, houses a short bio on him :

Ross Jeffries is the founder, creator and Master Teacher of the worldwide seduction community. Featured as the mentor to Neil Strauss in the best selling book,  “The Game,”  RJ has taught, coached, and mentored thousands of men around the world, since 1991, guiding them to the success with women they truly desire and deserve.

After a brief perusal of his blog headlines, this man’s function in society began to come into focus even more:

“Bring In 2015 With A Bang (Literally)”

“Touching Technique That Drives Her Crazy”

“I’m A Perpetual Mental Masturbator”

At the center of Jeffries’ Seduction website is the Speed Seduction system, which claims to be the “Fastest And Easiest Pathway To Rapid Success, With The Women You  Truly  Desire!” The basis of the program is something called NLP, or Neuro-Linguistic Programming.  If you take a stroll through the vegetation of various definitions of NLP, you’ll come across definitions like this one from NLP University :

(NLP) is a  pragmatic school of thought  – an ‘epistemology’ – that addresses the many levels involved in being human. NLP is a multi-dimensional process that involves the development of behavioral competence and flexibility, but also involves strategic thinking and an understanding of the mental and cognitive processes behind behavior.

A more distilled definition of NLP brings us to a system that is based on cognitive and behavioral processes, one that allows you (I’m trying to not use the word “brainwash”) to inundate yourself with proven abilities of success while also instilling influence into others through the use of “linguistic patterns.” Here’s Jeffries discussing putting his program to use back in the early stages of his career.

(It was at this point in the writing process that my phone rang — a Beverly Hills number. To stay ahead of bill collectors I usually screen my calls. But, this was Beverly Hills,  and I’m a fame whore. So I picked it up.)

“Ross Jeffries doesn’t exist,” the voice said.

I was taken aback.

The man on the phone identified himself as Paul Ross. No, he was not Ross Jeffries, but he knew so much about the man. Were they related? Did they work together?

“Ross Jeffries was a character I created,” Ross explained. “A loudmouth, obnoxious, larger than life, sort of a bit of a showman to get the message out there, to be a loud mouthpiece. That character doesn’t really meld with who I am today.”

I felt like I had unplugged from the matrix. Everything that I had learned in the past hour or two was a lie. I wasn’t even sure if the office I was typing this piece in was made of four walls and a roof or just a sequence of numbers.

“Here’s the interesting thing: Paul Thomas Anderson thought that they were going to portray a real person,” Ross told me. “They didn’t realize they were portraying a character created by an actor. Tom Cruise didn’t realize that he was studying a character. He thought he was studying a person. He created a character based on a character. Very few people know this.”

If Ross Jeffries “doesn’t exist,” then how about his teachings? We’re they, like Jeffries, just a facade?

“That’s still there, that’s still valid. There’s just no Ross Jeffries,” Ross said. “There’s no Santa Claus (laughing). As I’ve grown as a person, that character (who) would bang every girl in sight — it doesn’t really fit who I’ve grown to be as a human.”

Indeed, Jeffries doesn’t exist; even his Twitter account is an extension of his character. His friend  Tania Raymonde  was an actor on LOST for several seasons, and he said he regularly discusses with her the intricacies of playing a role. “The entire craft of acting is a fascinating thing. It fascinates me.”

Paul is a practicing Buddhist now. He’s changed the direction of his NLP programs to focus more on business, wealth, and overcoming traumatic experiences. It’s not just about getting laid anymore.

“I’ve never expressed hatred towards woman,” Ross said. “I no longer hate anyone. That part has been burned out by my Buddhist practice. I don’t deny gender differences, either. You can call me anything. Names don’t bother me anymore.”

Ross didn’t have the time, nor did it seem like he cared to explore in detail with me, the exact machinations behind his change in philosophy, but it was clear he was no longer wholeheartedly in the seduction business. “I don’t want to promote Seduction.com,” he said. “This is not what you expected, is it?”

“No, it’s not,” I replied.

As for Cruise’s portrayal of his character in Magnolia —  did they get it right?

“Mackie is more manic. Mackie is far more misogynistic. He’s basically taking stuff from where I was in 1998,” Ross explained. “He’s also much shorter than I am. Remember when Mackie had the audience take out their calendars? I didn’t actually give them physical calendars, but I did have them say ‘By the 5th of May I’ll be having my way. By the 8th of June I’ll have their poon.’ That kind of rhyming stuff I got from Muhammed Ali.”

Paul Ross is continuing to use the name Ross Jeffries, because it’s “a brand,” but even though the focus of his seminars and programs have shifted more towards the arena of self-improvement, he’s not altogether abandoning his role as seduction guru.

“I’m temporarily stepping back from it so I can find a better way to teach it. I’m not getting out of it completely.”

Emmy Awards Nominations 2024

Predictions, limited series.

• Baby Reindeer 4/1
• Lessons in Chemistry 5/1

Movie/Limited Actress

• Jodie Foster 7/2
• Brie Larson 4/1
• Juno Temple 5/1

Movie/Limited Actor

• Jon Hamm 19/5
• Andrew Scott 9/2
• Richard Gadd 9/2

Drama Series

• The Crown 11/2
• Shogun 11/2
• The Morning Show 7/1

Drama Actress

• Jennifer Aniston 9/2 -
• Imelda Staunton 9/2
• Anna Sawai 5/1

Drama Actor

• Gary Oldman 4/1
• Hiroyuki Sanada 5/1
• Dominic West 11/2

Comedy Series

• The Bear 4/1
• Abbott Elementary 13/2

Comedy Actress

• Ayo Edebiri 71/20
• Jean Smart 37/10
• Quinta Brunson 9/2

Comedy Actor

• Jeremy Allen White 82/25
• Martin Short 4/1
• Larry David 9/2

Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked from worst to best

• Tom O'Brien , Misty Holland , Chris Beachum
• July 1, 2023 7:00AM

With a film career that spans over four decades, Tom Cruise is arguably the biggest movie star of this generation. Cruise is associated with so many iconic film moments — the dance in “Risky Business,” the “need for speed” chant in “Top Gun,” and “Show me the money!” in “Jerry Maguire,” among many others — that it seems like he’s been a movie star forever.

He has been a critical darling through parts of his career but has mainly focused on blockbusters (acclaimed or not). He has received two Oscar nominations for Best Actor in “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989) and “Jerry Maguire” (1996) plus another as Best Supporting Actor in “Magnolia” (1999). Those are the three performances that provided him with Golden Globe wins. His other four nominations with the Hollywood Foreign Press were for “Risky Business” (1983), “A Few Good Men” (1992), “The Last Samurai” (2003) and “Tropic Thunder” (2008). Many of these roles have allowed him to work with some of the best directors in the business, including Oliver Stone , Paul Thomas Anderson , Stanley Kubrick , Steven Spielberg , Rob Reiner and Cameron Crowe .

Take a tour through our photo gallery above which collects 16 of his greatest film performances (or franchises like “Mission: Impossible”) and ranks them from worst to best.

17.  WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) 

Director: Steven Spielberg. Writers: Josh Friedman, David Koepp.  Starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins.  

Loosely based on the H.G. Wells novel, Steven Spielberg’s 2005 remake again depicts an invasions of aliens that have huge mechanisms with which to decimate Earth.  Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, a Regular Joe dock worker who, though not living with his kids, rushes to protect them and their mother as the aliens obliterate everything in sight.  Beyond that, it’s not a character-driven kind of film, but Cruise once again plays a convincing hero concerned with family, and that performance, combined with the Spielberg skill makes for a popcorn movie par excellence.

16.  MISSION IMPOSSIBLE series (1996, 2000, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2018) 

Directors: Various.  Writers:  Various.  Starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg.  

The big-screen adaptation of the 1960s TV espionage series has spawned six film incarnations, with seventh and eighth installments tentatively scheduled for 2021 and 2022. Cruise portrays Ethan Hunt, who, in the first film, is forced to take over as leader of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) as the team is betrayed from within.  Under the direction of Brian DePalma, that first film — “Mission Impossible” (1996) — created the most iconic “MI” image, that of Cruise being lowered by wires in order to avoid laser alarms.  The success of that film prompted the series, that has attracted such respected directors as John Woo, J.J. Abrams, Brad Bird and Christopher McQuarrie.

15.  THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986) 

Director: Martin Scorsese.  Writer: Richard Price.  Starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.  

Cruise’s first (and to date only) collaboration with Scorsese, “The Color of Money” brought an Oscar to co-star Paul Newman, and, as he would do two years later with “Rain Man,” Cruise delivered ample support for his Oscar-winning co-star.  Newman reprises he famed pool-playing character from “The Hustler,” Fast Eddie Felson, who is retired from the game but agrees to mentor young pool player Vincent Lauria, taking him on the road to learn the tricks of the trade, which Vincent learns too well, and eventually teacher and student wind up facing each other in a pool championship.  It’s not the greatest Scorsese film ever, but the character of Vincent fits Cruise very well, and he shines with it.

14.  THE FIRM  (1993)

Director: Sydney Pollack.  Writers: David Rabe, Robert Towne, David Rayfiel.  Starring Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter.

Based on the novel by John Grisham, “The Firm” is a legal thriller in which Cruise portrays Mitch McDeere, a recent graduate of Harvard Law School, who joins a prestigious Memphis law firm and is taken under the wing of one of the firm’s senior partners, Avery Tolar (Gene Hackman).  It would appear that Mitch has it made.  Eventually, though Mitch begins to realize that the firm is involved in some pretty shady dealings of which he is expected to become a part.  Mitch tries to get out but he can’t, and then the FBI starts moving in.  Cruise is completely convincing as Mitch, and with a director as adept as Sydney Pollack, who knows how to turn the suspense screws, you’ve got a thoroughly entertaining summertime thriller.

13.  RISKY BUSINESS (1983) 

Writer/Director: Paul Brickman.  Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca DeMornay, Joe Pantoliano, Nicholas Pryor.  

The one that started it all.  Cruise’s breakthrough role was as high schooler Joel Goodson who hopes to go to Princeton University, but when his parents go away on a trip, Joel’s good-boy self turns very bad, quickly involving him with hooker Lana (Rebecca DeMornay) and her pimp Guido (Joe Pantoliano).  What lingers in the mind about “Risky Business” is the classic moment when Joel glides across his living room entryway, wearing only his pink shirt, underwear and socks, and lip-syncs to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll.”  It lasts less than a minute, but that’s the moment in which Tom Cruise became a movie star.

12.  MINORITY REPORT (2002) 

Director: Steven Spielberg.  Writers: Scott Frank, Jon Cohen.  Starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow. 

In his second collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, Cruise portrays Chief John Anderton, the head of the Pre-Crime police division in 2054.  Its disturbing premise is that, thanks to technology, authorities, with the help of psychics called “recogs,” can determine in advance if you are about to commit a crime and, if so, arrest you.  With Cruise’s solid performance, the film raises fascinating questions of whether free will could overcome someone else’s determination that you will behave one way and only one way.  One of the few blockbusters that might provoke hours of discussion afterward.

11.  TOP GUN (1986)

Director: Tony Scott.  Writer: Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.  Starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tim Robbins. 

In one of his most iconic roles as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Cruise heads up a group of closely-knit naval aviators aboard the USS Enterprise.  When superiors don’t care for their reckless way of flying, Maverick and his partner Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) are sent to remedial training at the Top Gun school.  There they meet their instructor, Kelly McGillis’ Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (everybody’s got a nickname in this thing), and Maverick is smitten, even though she harbors doubts about his recklessness (which only makes him more attractive).  “Top Gun” is one of the quintessential movies of the 1980s.

10.  EYES WIDE SHUT (1999) 

Director: Stanley Kubrick.  Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Frederic Raphael.  Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman.  

It may be one of the most bizarre films in Cruise’s filmography, but no actor would turn down the chance to star in a Stanley Kubrick film, which turned out to be his last.  Cruise plays Bill Harford, a doctor who witnesses an orgy at a country mansion, and the experiences provokes questions about sex to his young wife Alice (Nicole Kidman, Cruise’s real-life wife at the time).  Alice’s admission of a sexual affair prompts Bill to go on a sexual exploration of his own.  The explicitness of the sex depicted in the film far exceeded anything that Cruise or Kidman had ever done, and although “Eyes Wide Shut” received mixed reviews, “Eyes Wide Shut” remains the artiest “art film” that Cruise has ever done.

9.  COLLATERAL (2004) 

Director: Michael Mann.  Writer: Stuart Beattie.  Starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo.  

In a rare casting-against-type, good guy Cruise is cast here as a contract killer who takes a taxi driver (Jamie Foxx) hostage as he makes his deadly rounds.  It takes someone of Michael Mann’s caliber to make the ever-smiling Cruise convincing as a contract killer, but somehow he does.  Frankly, I have always thought that, with the exception of “Tropic Thunder,” Cruise is always better when he underplays, and here he is a stone-faced assassin roaming the streets of an eerily-lit L.A.  Cruise and Foxx (who was nominated for an Oscar for this performance) have a great chemistry, and what could have ice-cold story, under Mann’s direction, draws audiences in slowly but thoroughly.

8.  TROPIC THUNDER (2008) 

Director: Ben Stiller.  Writers: Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller, Etan Cohen.  Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Cruise. 

Cruise has sometimes been accused of not having a sense of humor about himself and his work.  But in “Tropic Thunder,” he is disproved it in a major way in his appearance, in what is essentially a glorified cameo, as an obese, bald and utterly disgusting studio executive, the appropriately-named Les Grossman, who is overseeing production of the “Tropic Thunder” film within the film.  To see Cruise, who is usually so cautious in his few public interviews, let out a string of the most obscene profanities is actually kind of liberating and very funny.  It’s a relatively small part, but it had such an impact that Cruise earned his seventh Golden Globe nomination.

7.  EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014) 

Director: Doug Liman.  Writers: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth.  Starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson. 

Cruise received his best reviews in over a decade with this sci-fi action film directed by Doug Liman, which recalls “Groundhog Day” if it was set in the midst of battle.  Set in the future with Earth having been invaded by aliens, Cruise’s Maj. Bill Cage is basically a PR guy who is sent into battle.  Not surprisingly, he almost immediately is killed.  But it seems that Cage is caught in a time loop, where he is sent back the day before his death and is basically tutored by tough-as-nails Sgt. Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), who will teach him something new.  Then he’ll go back into battle, get killed again, then come back and learn something else.  As the film’s tag line calls it: “Live, Die, Repeat.”  A very clever premise, very well acted by both Cruise and Blunt.

6.  RAIN MAN (1988)

Director: Barry Levinson.  Writers: Barry Morrow, Ronald Bass.  Starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino. 

Oscar winner for Best Picture, “Rain Man” is one of the major movies in Cruise’s filmography, even though it’s co-star Dustin Hoffman’s film.  However, Cruise’s character wheeler dealer Charlie Babbit, who always seems to be in debt, learns that his estanged father has died, and Charlie, hopeful for a large inheritance in order to pay off his debt, winds up getting a relative pittance.  The lion’s share of the estate is going to an older brother he never knew he had — Raymond (Hoffman), a savant who is housed in a mental institution.  Charlie seeks him out with hopes of squeezing more money out of him, but winds up getting a real brother instead.  Hoffman, of course, walked away with the lion’s share of the awards, but Cruise, with the biggest character arc in the film, gives a standout performance as well.

5.  A FEW GOOD MEN (1992) 

Director: Rob Reiner.  Writer: Aaron Sorkin, based on his play.  Starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon.   

Based on the 1989 play by Aaron Sorkin, who adapted the film’s screenplay is a courtroom drama, centering on the court-martial of two Marines who’ve been accused of killing a fellow Marine.  But instead of telling the accuseds’ story, Sorkin focuses instead on the challenges faced by his lawyers, Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Cruise) and Lt. Commander JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore).  When Kaffee feels that all is lost in the trial, he calls to the stand Marine Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson), who implicates himself when Kaffee says that he wants the truth, and Jessup respons with the classic “You can’t handle the truth!”  It never gets old.  For his performance as Kaffee, Cruise earned his third Golden Globe nomination.

4. TOP GUN: MAVERICK (2022)

Director: Joseph Kosinski.  Writers: Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie.  Starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Val Kilmer, Ed Harris.

36 years after the original “Top Gun,” Cruise heads up this sequel, which became one of the best reviewed blockbusters of recent years. He again stars as test pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who, despite a stellar record, has failed to be promoted due to his history of insubordination, yet he is called up to teach a group of hot-shot Mavericks-to-be just how pull off a near-impossible mission. Though Maverick’s dazzling smile is still intact, life has taken its toll, which Cruise acknowledges in a reunion with ex-rival Ice (a moving Val Kilmer), whose vengeful son Rooster (Miles Teller) is one of Maverick’s students. As Maverick, Cruise is both high-spirited and contemplative, a winning combination that results in one of his best performances.

3.  BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989) 

Director: Oliver Stone.  Writers: Oliver Stone, Ron Kovic, based on Kovic’s autobiography.  Starring Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick.

Cruise received some of the best reviews of his career for his performance as disabled Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone’s acclaimed film based on Kovic’s memoir.  Cruise won his first Golden Globe Award and earned his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the activist who, confined to a wheelchair thanks to injuries he sustained in battle.  While Stone’s restrained direction was widely praised, critics took particular note of what they called Cruise’s new-found maturity, with less of a reliance of his grinning all-American boy looks than on his serious digging into the character of Kovic who, though an icon on the left, nonetheless had a lifetime struggle, which all Americans should admire and respect.

2.  MAGNOLIA (1999) 

Writer/Director: Paul Thomas Anderson.  Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, Melinda Dillon, Jason Robards, William H. Macy. 

Though by now Cruise was accustomed to being the leading man in his films, he agreed to accept a supporting role to be a part of the ensemble of Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling “Magnolia,” an Altman-like mosaic of people just trying to find happiness while living in the San Fernando Valley.  Cruise plays Frank Mackey, a self-help guru who might need some help himself as he is hiding a number of closely-held family secrets.  Though the ensemble cast was widely praised, critics were particularly taken by the vulnerability seeping through the bravado of Cruise’s self-help guru, and for his performance, Cruise won his third Golden Globe, third Oscar nomination, and two nominations from the Screen Actors Guild — Best Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor for Cruise.

1.  JERRY MAGUIRE (1996)

Writer/Director: Cameron Crowe.  Starring Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kelly Preston, Jay Mohr. 

Others may argue, but I still think that overall, “Jerry Maguire” is still Cruise’s best film.  Cruise is terrific in it, winning his second Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and earning nominations from both the Academy and the Screen Actors Guild.  Thanks largely to Cameron Crowe, everything in “Jerry Maguire” just clicks — the romance with newcomer Renée Zellweger is funny and satisfying, his “Show me the money!” scenes with an over-exuberant Rod Tidwell (Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.) and the smart take on the business of sports agentry — and the result is one of the most satisfying romantic comedies of the 1990s.

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December 17, 1999 FILM REVIEW `Magnolia': Twists of Fate in L.A. Lives Related Articles Paul Thomas Anderson: A Valley Boy Who Found a Home Not Far From Home (Nov. 14, 1999) The New York Times on the Web: Current Film Video Trailer From 'Magnolia' Forum Join a Discussion on Current Film By JANET MASLIN he great uh-oh moment in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" occurs about two-thirds of the way through this artfully orchestrated symphony of L.A. stories. A song bursts out: it is heard first from one character, then from another, until all the film's assorted lost souls are brought together by a single anxiety-ridden refrain. "It's not ... going to stop," each one sings resignedly, signaling the approach of an impending group meltdown. But the effect is less that of a collective shiver than of directorial desperation. Peter Sorel/New Line Cinema Jason Robards, right, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Magnolia." Until that point, the colossally talented Anderson has seemed bound for glory. He has set up another Altmanesque swirl of intersecting stories, much as he did in "Boogie Nights," with many of the same cast members again assembled to form a charismatic ensemble. He has glided the film gracefully among seemingly unrelated episodes, keeping the viewer eager for all the pieces to fall into place. And he has begun the film with a paean to outrageously wild twists of fate, so that his own film's whopper coincidences won't seem too much of a stretch. And to the same "Nashville" echoes that reverberated through "Boogie Nights," he now adds a potent touch of "Network." In the San Fernando Valley, on the verge of the new millennium, the effects of media poisoning are powerfully felt. From the dying television mogul (Jason Robards) to the schoolboy quiz show star who can't take any more pressure (Jeremy Blackman), virtually everyone in the film is a casualty of pop cultural malaise in some fashion. The present day, seen as if from a great distance, appears to have brought the dire warnings of the "Network" madman Howard Beale to fruition. Stepping into the "Network" role of soothsayer, Anderson leaves himself poised to wonder what's next. But when that group sing-along arrives, "Magnolia" begins to self-destruct spectacularly. It's astonishing to see a film begin this brilliantly only to torpedo itself in its final hour. All along, Anderson has leapt from episode to episode as if working under the spell of some larger vision. But as the desperate reach for some larger meaning begins, the sheer arbitrariness of his approach is laid bare. So bare, in fact, that when "Magnolia" finally does come in for what is quite literally an amphibious landing, it actually invokes a biblical plague to create a sense of resolution. Even in the Bible, that kind of maneuver was a last resort. Named for, among other things, a thoroughfare in Anderson's native San Fernando Valley, and conceived with a many-petaled structure, "Magnolia" is still too good to be missed. What Anderson lacks in substance is offset by his great skill with actors, his gift for shaping resonant little individual vignettes and his extraordinary intuition. Treated in linear fashion, the events and relationships here would not add up to much. But scrambled and rearranged as a haunting collage, they take on greater power. At the very least, "Magnolia" is a showcase for some splendid acting. Its single biggest surprise is Tom Cruise in the role of a strutting, obscenity-spouting cult figure named Frank Mackey. Frank's brand of celebrity as a macho self-help guru is seen as symptomatic of the film's time and place. First seen in performance, on a kind of rock-star high, Frank is later made to unravel during a lengthy interview sequence (with April Grace) that is one of the film's incisive highlights. With a keen sense of the nuances and power plays involved here, Anderson creates a sustained trial by fire for Frank and shows how each of the film's initially secure-seeming characters is actually so vulnerable and needy. Cruise, like the other actors here, is allowed to come on like gangbusters and then reveal hidden uncertainty until, in that lethal last hour, the film's startlingly vapid insights lead him off a cliff. Anderson, who uses Aimee Mann's songs on the soundtrack to excellent effect, has acknowledged drawing inspiration for the film's mood and structure from Beatles music (with pervasive, brewing mood changes that share the unsettling spirit of "A Day in the Life"). Thus he often seems to be conducting the ways in which characters meet and intersect. It is gradually revealed, for instance, that the film includes not only its young quiz show star but a former boy wonder (William H. Macy) who is now a sad has-been. And that two of the story's older men ( Robards and Philip Baker Hall) are powerful figures in the television industry who have serious illnesses and bitterly estranged children. Julianne Moore wafts luminously through the film as the grieving wife of one of them, a figure of showy materialism with no inner resources at all. "Magnolia" is saved from its own worst, most reductive ideas by the intimacy of the performances and the deeply felt distress signals given off by the cast. Also extremely memorable here are two other members of Anderson's evolving stock company, Philip Seymour Hoffman as a dying man's devoted nurse and caretaker and John C. Reilly as an equally compassionate policeman. In each of them there is the mixture of creeping despair and saving grace that are the best "Magnolia" has to offer. Rating: "Magnolia" is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It includes strong profanity and graphic sexual references. PRODUCTION NOTES: 'MAGNOLIA' Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson; director of photography, Robert Elswit; edited by Dylan Tichenor; music by Jon Brion, with songs by Aimee Mann; production designers, William Arnold and Mark Bridges; produced by Joanne Sellar; released by New Line Cinema. Running time: 180 minutes. Cast: Jeremy Blackman (Stanley Spector), Tom Cruise (Frank T.J. Mackey), Melinda Dillon (Rose Gator), April Grace (Gwenovier), Luis Guzman (Luis), Philip Baker Hall (Jimmy Gator), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Phil Parma), Ricky Jay (Burt Ramsey), Orlando Jones (Worm), William H. Macy (Donnie Smith, quiz kid), Alfred Molina (Solomon Solomon), Julianne Moore (Linda Partridge), John C. Reilly (Jim Kurring), Jason Robards (Earl Partridge) and Melora Walters (Claudia Wilson Gator).

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Top 10 Best Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked

At 60 years old, Tom Cruise is a 40-year acting veteran who has appeared in more than 40 movies of a wide variety of genres. While some have been more successful than others, most have been memorable in some way or another. They’ve also grossed a whopping $10 billion worldwide.

Cruise’s path to stardom started in 1983 with Risky Business and, since then, he has received two Oscar nominations for Best Actor in Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Jerry Maguire (1996) and one for Best Supporting Actor in Magnolia (1999). In fact, those same performances made him win three Golden Globes.

Even as Cruise hit the 60-year-old milestone in 2022, he shows no signs of slowing down, with Top Gun: Maverick smashing it out of the park. To celebrate his achievements in acting, we’re going to rank the 10 best Tom Cruise movies.

10. Risky Business (1983)

Although not Cruise’s first feature, it was Risky Business that launched the actor into movie stardom, and deservingly so. Through Joel Goodson’s role, he gets to deliver a playful performance sprinkled with a bit of drama that includes one of his most iconic and unforgettable scenes: when Joell glides across the living room entryway, wearing a shirt, underwear, and socks, and he dances and lip-syncs to Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll. Even though it lasts less than a minute, it’s a movie classic.

Thanks to, writer and director, Paul Brickman, Risky Business captures the teen experience, through its pressures and guilts, with satiric lenses that work extremely well for the coming-of-age teen drama. With Cruise as the protagonist, the great performance by Rebecca De Mornay, and an awesome soundtrack, it would be a mistake to skip this movie.

9. Minority Report (2002)

Tom Cruise is known for his acting skills, but also his stunt abilities. As such, he was the perfect choice for the “on-the-run” sci-fi neo-noir Minority Report. Cruise’s performance goes beyond his physical capabilities, as he portrays a complex and deeply troubled cop, Chief John Anderton, who hunts criminals before they attempt murder until he gets accused of planning a murder himself.

This was the second time Cruise and Steven Spielberg worked together and it proved to be worth it. With Spielberg’s mastery, the noir aspects of the film are brilliant. Moreover, thanks to a futuristic premise where technology can predict if someone is about to commit a crime, it sparks a debate around whether free will actually exists as opposed to determinism. As such, as Tom Cruise dives into more tragic roles in the late 90s and early 2000s, he takes part in a great blockbuster that leaves people thinking.

8. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow shows Cruise in a completely opposite role to the ones we’re used to seeing him play: a coward. As a result, the audience is definitely surprised which allows the actor to show his versatility and go through a satisfying arc from zero to hero. After more than three decades of acting, the actor still has something new to show.

Doug Liman’s sci-fi is basically Groundhog Day with guns and aliens, as Major Bill Cage, Cruise’s character, is forced to relive the same day where he fights and dies time after time. Besides being extraordinarily entertaining, the film is also carried by Emily Blunt which brings a complex female lead to the screen without diving into traditional gender roles. In the end, their performances and their chemistry take the premise to another level and make this feature worth your time.

7. Magnolia (1999)

Magnolia lets Cruise shine as Frank T.J. Mackey, a misogynistic self-help guru in one of the most brilliant performances of his career, leading to a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Even though this character doesn’t resemble any role that the actor has done, it still carries his daddy issues trademark. In fact, the actor and Paul Thomas Anderson , the director, bonded over the loss of their fathers to build the character for Magnolia.

Cruise is just one of many interrelated characters that are in search of meaning and forgiveness, making this movie a long odyssey of emotions and coincidences, carried by a fitting score. While it’s true that Anderson, at times, gets carried away by worrying about making the movie profound, Cruise’s delivery in the final act doesn’t leave anyone indifferent emotionally.

6. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Eyes Wide Shut is one of the most interesting movies in Cruise’s filmography. After spending 400 days shooting what would be his first and only collaboration with Stanley Kubrick, the feature received mixed reviews. However, it was one of the actor’s boldest choices and performances and the artsiest film the actor has starred in. As Dr. Bill, his character falls into a spiral of insecurity and jealousy, Cruise and his co-star Nicole Kidman dive into a sexual explicitness that neither had experienced before.

This was Kubrick’s last movie, and as bizarre as it was, it would be difficult to decline to work with the director. Eyes Wide Shut brings forward a plot that is certainly fascinating and that makes you feel almost like you’re in trance trying to guess which situations are real or not.

5. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Tom Cruise is Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible is Tom Cruise, yet it wouldn’t be fair to include all of the movies from the franchise in this top 10. However, we couldn’t skip Fallout as it topped the other movies through insane action sequences that never disappoint in which Cruise risks his life – and also his limb and foot in the process – to perform the most incredible action scenes of his career. It’s an amazing experience to watch the actor perform his own stunts and realize all you’re watching is real from leaping across the rooftops of London to flying a helicopter through a gorge.

The sixth installment of the franchise counts on the director Christopher McQuarrie’s elegance which allows the audience inside Ethan Hunt’s head for the first time, raising the movie from a physical level to an emotional level. Mission: Impossible remains one of the most successful action franchises, that keeps being groundbreaking and full of jaw-dropping moments, mainly owed to Cruise.

4. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

After 36 years, Cruise slips right back into his role as Maverick and it’s like he never stopped playing the role. With the character’s charm back, the actor does a just right job at combining it with an environment of tension that has accumulated throughout the years caused by his relation with his supervisors and by how he has dealt with grief over Goose. Thus, Cruise takes on a more mature role in the story, while keeping his adventurous side as an actor as he convinces his co-stars to train and actually fly the planes used in the movie.

While some sequels might be unnecessary, Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick works. Not only because of Cruise but because of the return of Jennifer Connelly and Val Kilmer and the addition of a new crew, including Miles Telles who plays Goose’s son. As such, this is definitely a nostalgic and emotional ride that touches in all the right spots that made people love the original one. Even if you haven’t watched the original Top Gun, watching the pilots complete the impossible run will definitely be thrilling.

3. Jerry Maguire (1996)

Jerry Maguire is not your typical rom-com, but, in the end, it’s still a romantic comedy and maybe one of the most human roles Tom Cruise had to play thanks to all the introspection it entails. In this film, the actor got to portray a grown-up and successful man that works as a sports agent. His performance is very intimate and cathartic, standing out from other movies of the actor. Cruise bares his soul into this movie without the need for insane stunts or artsy concepts.

Cameron Crowe’s feature might not be consensual in all its decisions, nonetheless, it’s a drama that portrays real people and feelings. Besides giving us a pretty solid performance from Tom Cruise that got him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination, with Jerry Maguire, we also got to witness Cuba Gooding Jr. in an Oscar-winning role, as Jerry’s only client and friend.

2. Top Gun (1986)

Objectively speaking this movie couldn’t be number one on this list, but for many, it certainly is, hence why it deserves a second spot. While a bit cheesy, Top Gun defined a character archetype of its own, and Tom Cruise got to play the role of every guy’s dream, Maverick, in one of the best bromances ever made. While the actor had shown, in previous films, that he was talented, Top Gun definitely labeled him as a movie star, and for good reason. Cruise’s performance was both sensitive and magnetic.

Directed by Tony Scott, Top Gun was a massive success and became a part of pop culture from the 80s and 90s, living on to this day as proven by the sequel. While time keeps moving forward, after almost 40 years, this movie still holds up and keeps entertaining older and newer audiences with its flying scenes. In the end, the plot is fairly simple and can be summarized by male camaraderie and Scott’s direction led the movie to celebrate masculinity alongside sensitivity without glorifying toxic male relationships.

1. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Born on the Fourth of July is the most overtly political movie that Cruise has starred in, and, as a consequence, controversial. In a time when the actor was diving into dramas, he found himself portraying Kovic, a young man who was excited to go to war and then became a disabled veteran and an anti-war activist. While the plot itself is not the easiest to cover over the runtime of a feature film, Tom pulled it off and was able to provide many moving moments. In fact, he received some of the best reviews of his career, was awarded his first Golden Globe, and got his first Academy Award nomination.

Based on Kovic’s memoir, Born on the Fourth of July was praised for Oliver Stone’s restrained direction, but mainly for Tom Cruise’s delivery and he immersed himself fully into the character which presented an outstanding result. Furthermore, the actor leaves his boyish youthful look behind to discover a more mature version of himself, in a movie that carries an important message but also opens the floor for debate.

Honorable Mentions

In a filmography with more than 40 movies, it’s certainly a hard task to sum up the 10 best ones. Actually, not only hard but also not fair for some of other Cruise’s iconic movies such as Rain Man (1988), A Few Good Men (1992), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996), Collateral (2004), Tropic Thunder (2008).

Tom Cruise's best performance is in 'Magnolia' as an MRA guru with daddy issues

Tom cruise on the screen in magnolia is practically begging you to hate him..

Tom Cruise stars in Magnolia Source: SBS VICELAND

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The 40+ Best Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Fans

Vote up the films starring Tom Cruise that complete you.

When it comes to Hollywood royalty, few can hold a candle to Tom Cruise. Over the years, this megastar has delivered one jaw-dropping performance after another, solidifying his place as a cinematic legend. It's a formidable task to narrow down the best Tom Cruise movies of all time, but hey, someone's got to do it. From high-octane action flicks to soul-stirring dramas, Cruise's filmography is as versatile as it is impressive.

Take, for instance, Top Gun , the adrenaline-pumping story of competitive fighter pilots that catapulted Cruise to international stardom. Or A Few Good Men , where he delivered one of his most powerful performances, proving that he could handle weighty dialogues with the same ease as he does action-packed sequences. These films are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to top Tom Cruise films that have left an indelible mark on cinema.

But how did we curate such a coveted list? Well, it started with movie experts who have an eye for performances that define careers, creating a shortlist of films that truly showcase Tom Cruise at his best. Then, we turned it over to the fans, whose votes have shaped this definitive ranking. Whether you're a die-hard Cruise fan or just a movie buff looking to revisit some cinematic gold, this list has got you covered.

As an adrenaline-pumping display of aerial combat and rivalry, this movie takes viewers into the world of elite fighter pilots, with the lead actor embodying the brash, fearless pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. The audience follows Maverick's journey through the prestigious Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School as he battles his own ego, engages in astonishing dogfights, and learns the true meaning of teamwork. The sizzling on-screen chemistry with Kelly McGillis, the thrilling action sequences, and the beloved rendition of " Take My Breath Away " make it an unforgettable 80s classic.

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• # 106 of 262 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
• # 17 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

Top Gun: Maverick

Returning to the iconic role of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell after decades, the anticipation for this sequel has been immense, and it promises to deliver the same captivating thrills and aerial combat sequences of the original. As a mentor to the next generation of fighter pilots, including the son of his late best friend Goose, the protagonist guides these young talents while still facing his own personal demons and unresolved past. The combination of a compelling storyline, breathtaking stunts, and a nostalgic return to the character that made him a household name ensures this will be another hit.

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• # 19 of 164 on The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made
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A Few Good Men

In this tense courtroom drama, audiences are captivated by the exceptional performance as a young military lawyer assigned to defend two Marines accused of killing a fellow comrade. Alongside powerful performances from Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, the film flawlessly showcases the protagonist's gradual transformation from a cocky, fresh-faced attorney into a fierce, skilled advocate determined to uncover the truth. The iconic line "You can't handle the truth!" immortalizes the film's memorable climax and solidifies the protagonist's status as one of Hollywood's most dynamic actors.

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The lead character delivers a heart-wrenching performance as Charlie Babbitt, a hustler who discovers he has an autistic savant brother named Raymond after their father's death. Through their cross-country road trip, Charlie learns to appreciate the gentle genius of his older brother while he evolves from a selfish, money-driven man to a compassionate and loving brother. This emotional journey resulted in a Best Actor nomination, and the film itself won numerous awards, including Best Picture, highlighting the powerful and touching bond between the two main characters.

• Dig Deeper... Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
• # 56 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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Mission: Impossible

In the role of super-spy Ethan Hunt, the leading man had audiences on the edge of their seats with the thrilling action and elaborate plots of this espionage thriller series. As Hunt, he displays an unrivaled level of physicality and commitment to his craft, performing most of his own stunts, resulting in a rollercoaster ride of adventure and suspense for moviegoers. The franchise has become synonymous with jaw-dropping stunts, twisty plots, and an evolving ensemble cast that perfectly complements the main character's charisma and determination.

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• # 30 of 50 on The Biggest Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
• # 8 of 117 on The Best Movies Of 1996

Jerry Maguire

In this romantic dramedy, the audience witnesses a sports agent's fall from grace and subsequent redemption through his relationship with his sole client and love interest. Audiences are charmed by the stunning performances, emotional vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry between the characters, as well as the classic line, "You complete me." The film earned the lead actor an Academy Award nomination and remains an enduring favorite for its heartwarming relationships, brilliant dialogue, and bittersweet exploration of ambition and love.

• # 40 of 50 on The Biggest Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
• # 555 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 10 of 117 on The Best Movies Of 1996

Edge of Tomorrow

Featuring a mix of action-packed sequences, science fiction elements, and dark humor, this film showcases the protagonist as a reluctant hero, forced to live the same day repeatedly while fighting alien invaders. The compelling story of survival and personal growth, alongside the intriguing concept of time loops, make this an unforgettable cinematic experience. Supported by a strong performance from Emily Blunt, this thrilling, fast-paced adventure cements its status as a modern sci-fi classic.

• # 133 of 262 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
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• # 24 of 167 on The 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies

Minority Report

Set in a dystopian future where crime is predicted and prevented by a specialized police force, this Steven Spielberg-directed sci-fi thriller sees the lead actor as a detective accused of a crime he has yet to commit. With its unique premise, thought-provoking themes, and stunning visuals, the film became an instant classic and served as a showcase for the protagonist's range and versatility as an actor. The combination of gripping storytelling, groundbreaking special effects, and a strong ensemble cast cement its status as one of the best sci-fi films of the 21st century.

• # 29 of 167 on The 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
• # 22 of 93 on The 95+ Greatest Dystopian Action Movies
• # 146 of 675 on The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars

The Last Samurai

Set in 19th-century Japan, this epic historical drama follows the journey of Capt. Nathan Algren, an American military officer who becomes deeply immersed in the samurai culture. The protagonist brilliantly portrays a tortured soul seeking redemption and finding it through his connection with the titular warriors, resulting in a soulful and emotional performance. Aesthetically stunning and emotionally engaging, this film is impressively crafted and features outstanding performances from Ken Watanabe and the rest of the cast.

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• # 93 of 262 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
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Risky Business

As the high school senior who turns his family's home into a brothel after getting involved with a call girl, the lead actor delivers a charming and iconic performance that launched his career as a Hollywood heartthrob. The famous scene of the character dancing in his underwear to " Old Time Rock and Roll " has become a pop-culture staple, and the film itself remains a beloved 80s classic. With its unique blend of teen angst, dark comedy, and romance, this coming-of-age story showcases the beginnings of a truly remarkable talent.

• # 104 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 630 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 378 of 705 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

The fourth installment in the adrenaline-fueled franchise sees the protagonist perform even more heart-stopping stunts, including scaling the world's tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, further solidifying his reputation as a fearless action star. With a fresh team of dynamic actors, including Simon Pegg and Paula Patton, this film raises the stakes and balances its thrilling action with lighter moments of humor. Picking up where its predecessors left off, the film delivers an exhilarating, globetrotting adventure that leaves audiences eager for more.

• # 34 of 98 on The Best Movies Based On TV Shows
• # 19 of 82 on The Most Rewatchable Action Movies
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In this gripping adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel, the protagonist plays an ambitious young lawyer who becomes entangled in a dangerous web of deceit and corruption at his prestigious law firm. The intense plot and stellar performances from the ensemble cast, including Gene Hackman, Holly Hunter, and David Strathairn, keep the audience absorbed and guessing until the very end. The smart script, thrilling twists, and central performance make it a must-watch for legal thriller enthusiasts and fans of the leading man alike.

• # 39 of 50 on The Biggest Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
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• # 45 of 81 on The 75+ Best Whodunit Murder Mystery Movies

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

The fifth installment of the popular action franchise sees the protagonist reprise his role as Ethan Hunt, this time facing a powerful, clandestine organization known as the Syndicate. With incredible stunts, including a breathtaking underwater sequence and a thrilling motorcycle chase, the lead actor continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in action cinema. Alongside new additions to the cast such as Rebecca Ferguson and Sean Harris, this thrilling adventure offers non-stop excitement and intrigue that maintains the high standards of the series.

• # 15 of 99 on The Best Movies Of 2015
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Mission: Impossible - Fallout

In his sixth turn as super-spy Ethan Hunt, the main character's commitment to performing his own stunts reaches new heights with a harrowing high-altitude-low-opening (HALO) jump. Additionally, the film's electric helicopter chase and intense fight sequences showcase the actor's relentless dedication to delivering pulse-pounding action. With a gripping storyline that delves deeper into the personal life of Hunt and an exhilarating finale, this entry is widely regarded as one of the best in the long-running series.

• # 43 of 73 on The Greatest Movies About CIA Agents & Operatives
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Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Portraying the tormented vampire Lestat in this adaptation of Anne Rice's novel, the protagonist delivers a mesmerizing and seductive performance that captivated audiences worldwide. Sharing the screen with Brad Pitt and a young Kirsten Dunst, the actor's portrayal of an immortal craving companionship and grappling with the morality of his actions is both chilling and heartbreaking. Though controversial at the time for its dark themes and explicit content, the film has since become a cult classic, showcasing a different side of the leading man's abilities.

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• # 205 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies

In a rare turn as the villain, the lead actor plays a cold and calculating contract killer in this crime thriller directed by Michael Mann. Sharing the screen with Jamie Foxx's unsuspecting taxi driver, the actor's menacing performance offers a fascinating look into the psyche of his character and contrasts sharply with the vulnerable, heroic roles that have defined his career. With its gritty atmosphere, taut pacing, and unforgettable performances, the film stands as a testament to the versatility and range of the protagonist.

• # 28 of 99 on The Best Movies Of 2004, Ranked
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• # 44 of 51 on The Best Movies to Watch on a Home Theater

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

The upcoming seventh installment in the blockbuster franchise promises to deliver even more breathtaking stunts, explosive action, and intriguing espionage as the lead character reprises his iconic role of Ethan Hunt. As the first part of a two-part cinematic event, the film will undoubtedly raise the stakes and further solidify the protagonist's status as an unstoppable action hero. With returning and new cast members, fans are eagerly anticipating the next thrilling chapter in the ever-evolving series.

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• # 3 of 7 on Every 'Mission: Impossible' Movie, Ranked

Days of Thunder

Reuniting with the Top Gun director, the protagonist stars as hotshot NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in this high-octane racing drama. With thrilling race sequences and an exploration of the competitive world of stock car racing, the movie allows the lead character to demonstrate his undeniable screen presence and physical prowess. The electrifying on-screen chemistry between the actor and his future wife, Nicole Kidman, adds to the allure of this compelling sports drama.

• # 29 of 90 on The Best Movies of 1990
• # 45 of 70 on The Greatest Sports Drama Movies of All Time
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Jack Reacher

Adapted from Lee Child's bestselling novels, the movie features the leading man as the tough-as-nails former Army investigator and drifter who finds himself entangled in a complex conspiracy. Showcasing his impressive range as an actor, the protagonist delivers a gritty and physical performance that captivates audiences and brings the beloved literary character to life. The film's thrilling action sequences, unexpected twists, and solid supporting cast make it a standout in the action-thriller genre.

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• # 676 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
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The Outsiders

Based on the classic novel by S.E. Hinton, this coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s features the lead actor as part of an ensemble cast that includes Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, and Rob Lowe, among others. As the youngest member of the "Greasers" gang and the brother of Ralph Macchio's Johnny, the actor delivers a tender performance that showcases his talent at an early age. The film has since become a cult classic, with its heartfelt portrayal of friendship, loyalty, and the trials of growing up.

• # 50 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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The Color of Money

In this sequel to the 1961 classic The Hustler, the lead character plays pool protegé Vincent Lauria, who is mentored by Paul Newman's "Fast" Eddie Felson. A dynamic on-screen duo, they brilliantly convey the tension and rivalry between their characters, making for a compelling examination of ambition, redemption, and the cost of success. The film stands as a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, with a superb performance that further cemented the protagonist's status as a versatile leading man.

• # 218 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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• # 23 of 87 on The Best Movies of 1986

In this 80s drama, the leading man portrays an ambitious bartender who dreams of success and navigates the trials and tribulations of love and friendship. The role allows the protagonist to showcase his charm, charisma, and signature smile, resulting in a captivating performance that further establishes him as a Hollywood heartthrob. With memorable scenes and quotable dialogue, the film has earned a special place in pop culture nostalgia.

• # 179 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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• # 48 of 122 on The Best Movies Of 1988

Born on the Fourth of July

In a powerful and transformative performance, the lead actor takes on the real-life story of Ron Kovic, a disillusioned Vietnam War veteran who becomes an anti-war activist. Earning his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, the protagonist impeccably portrays the emotional turmoil, physical pain, and ultimate redemption of his character. The film's unflinching depiction of the war's aftermath and its impact on soldiers makes it a poignant and unforgettable viewing experience.

• # 206 of 262 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
• # 276 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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Mission: Impossible III

With J.J. Abrams at the helm, the third installment of the blockbuster franchise brings a personal and emotional depth to the series, as protagonist Ethan Hunt faces a ruthless villain with ties to his personal life. The leading man's captivating performance, along with an incredible supporting cast and intense action sequences, make this entry a standout in the spy thriller genre. Fans of the series appreciate the balance of character development, emotional stakes, and adrenaline-pumping action that this installment delivers.

• # 25 of 101 on The Best Movies Of 2006
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• # 31 of 73 on The Greatest Movies About CIA Agents & Operatives

Tropic Thunder

In a surprising and hilarious turn, the protagonist takes on the role of an over-the-top Hollywood producer in this satirical war comedy. Sporting a bald cap and thick prosthetic makeup, he is nearly unrecognizable as he lampoons the movie industry with biting humor and infectious dance moves. His comedic prowess and willingness to poke fun at himself contribute to the film's status as a modern classic in the comedy genre.

• # 230 of 262 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
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In this gripping historical thriller, the lead actor portrays German army officer Claus von Stauffenberg, who leads a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II. With a strong supporting cast and a suspenseful narrative, the protagonist delivers a compelling performance that highlights his versatility as an actor. The film is a riveting exploration of moral courage and determination in the face of insurmountable odds.

• # 65 of 262 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
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• # 269 of 307 on The 300+ Best Epic Movies Of All Time

In this visually stunning sci-fi thriller, the protagonist plays a drone repairman tasked with maintaining Earth's defense system after an alien invasion. Unraveling a twisted web of secrets and lies surrounding his mission, the lead actor delivers a gripping and emotional performance that keeps audiences engaged from start to finish. With its breathtaking cinematography, thought-provoking themes, and memorable score, the film solidifies its place as a captivating entry in the science fiction genre.

• # 62 of 167 on The 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
• # 60 of 178 on The Best Alien Movies Of All Time, Ranked
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War of the Worlds

In this modern adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, the protagonist portrays a divorced father who must protect his children during a sudden alien invasion. Under the direction of Steven Spielberg, the lead actor excels in conveying the terror, desperation, and determination of his character while navigating a world on the brink of destruction. The film's riveting storyline, impressive special effects, and powerful performances create a thrilling and suspenseful ride for viewers.

• # 32 of 178 on The Best Alien Movies Of All Time, Ranked
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Far and Away

Starring alongside Nicole Kidman, the protagonist takes on the role of an Irish immigrant seeking his fortune in America in this sweeping romantic epic. The film's lush landscapes and stirring score provide an exquisite backdrop for the passionate love story between the main characters. Despite some mixed critical reception, the undeniable chemistry between the lead actors and the film's grand scope make it a memorable viewing experience.

• # 218 of 228 on The Best Movie Scores Of All Time, Ranked
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American Made

Based on a true story, the protagonist plays a commercial airline pilot turned drug smuggler and CIA informant in this fast-paced crime drama. The lead actor's charismatic performance, combined with a fascinating real-life plot and a vibrant 80s aesthetic, makes for an entertaining and thrilling ride. The film showcases the protagonist's ability to tackle complex characters and deliver engaging performances in diverse roles.

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All the Right Moves

In this high school football drama, the lead actor stars as a promising young athlete from a struggling Pennsylvania steel town, determined to earn a college scholarship and escape his bleak surroundings. The film allows the protagonist to showcase his talent for embodying relatable and ambitious characters, earning him praise for his performance as a driven, passionate teenager. Capturing the spirit of blue-collar America, this coming-of-age story resonates with its themes of perseverance, loyalty, and the pursuit of a better life.

• # 307 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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• # 8 of 69 on The Best High School Sports Movies

Mission: Impossible II

The second installment in the blockbuster franchise features the protagonist returning as super-spy Ethan Hunt, this time facing off against a rogue former agent with a deadly virus at his disposal. Directed by action maestro John Woo, the film amps up the thrills and jaw-dropping stunts, including a gravity-defying rock climbing sequence performed by the lead actor himself. Although met with mixed reviews, the film remains a notable entry in the series for its memorable action sequences and its continued exploration of the character's personal life.

• # 95 of 164 on The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made
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Knight and Day

In this action-comedy, the protagonist partners with Cameron Diaz as a mysterious secret agent and an unwitting civilian who become entangled in a perilous mission. The lead actor's charm and charisma shine through in this lighthearted adventure, making it a fun and enjoyable romp for audiences. The film's blend of humor, romance, and thrilling action showcases the main character's ability to balance different genres with ease.

• # 61 of 73 on The Greatest Movies About CIA Agents & Operatives
• # 13 of 46 on The 40+ Best Spy Comedies Of All Time
• # 9 of 11 on The Best Spy Movies Streaming on Hulu

In one of his earliest roles, the protagonist plays a military cadet who takes part in a student-led revolt against the closing of their school in this gripping drama. The film features a strong ensemble cast, including Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn, and allows the young actor to display his burgeoning talent and screen presence. The movie's exploration of loyalty, authority, and camaraderie remains a powerful and thought-provoking examination of human nature.

• # 246 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 96 of 133 on The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
• # 27 of 75 on The Best Movies Of 1981

In this ambitious and sprawling ensemble drama from director Paul Thomas Anderson, the protagonist delivers a memorable performance as a morally conflicted self-help guru. With a complex narrative structure and an immense ensemble cast, the film delves into the interconnected lives of characters who are all experiencing their own personal crises. The movie's bold storytelling and the lead actor's nuanced performance contribute to its status as a modern classic in American cinema.

• # 237 of 379 on The Best Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
• # 225 of 675 on The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
• # 67 of 80 on 80 Good Long Movies To Watch, Ranked

Eyes Wide Shut

In this final film from legendary director Stanley Kubrick, the protagonist stars alongside then-wife Nicole Kidman as a couple experiencing a crisis of sexual desire and jealousy. With its atmospheric cinematography, haunting score, and daring erotic scenes, the movie pushes the boundaries of traditional Hollywood storytelling. The lead actor's immersive performance and the film's controversial exploration of human sexuality make it a provocative and unforgettable entry in his filmography.

• Dig Deeper... What Happened When Stanley Kubrick Took Over Tom Cruise And Nicole Kidman's Careers For Two Years
• # 170 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 754 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies

Vanilla Sky

Reuniting with Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe, the protagonist stars in this mind-bending psychological thriller that explores themes of love, loss, and the blurred boundaries of reality. The film's enigmatic plot, paired with the lead actor's intense and emotional performance, makes for an immersive and captivating viewing experience. Despite its polarizing reception, the movie remains an intriguing example of the protagonist's willingness to take on challenging and unconventional roles.

• # 108 of 133 on The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
• # 125 of 136 on The 100+ Best Movies For Date Night
• # 58 of 113 on The Best Movies Of 2001

In this visually stunning fantasy-adventure, the main character takes on the role of Jack, a pure-hearted hero who must save a magical land from eternal darkness. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film features lush landscapes, elaborate costumes, and a memorable performance from Tim Curry as the sinister Lord of Darkness. Though considered a commercial failure at the time of its release, the movie has since developed a cult following thanks to its fantastical world-building and the protagonist's earnest performance.

• # 204 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 32 of 96 on The 90+ Best Movies Of 1985, Ranked
• # 58 of 82 on The 75+ Best Fairytale Movies

Rock of Ages

In this star-studded musical adaptation, the lead actor portrays an aging rock star amidst the backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles. Embracing the era's iconic style, music, and larger-than-life personalities, the protagonist delivers an entertaining and energetic performance that showcases his singing abilities. The film may not have been a commercial success, but it offered audiences a chance to see the actor in a new light, embracing a fun and campy departure from his action hero roles.

• # 172 of 204 on Musical Movies With The Best Songs
• # 109 of 175 on The Best Movies About Music
• # 36 of 39 on The Best Movies to Have Playing During a Party

Austin Powers: Goldmember

In a brief but memorable cameo, the protagonist hilariously lampoons his own action-star persona by portraying the titular character in a film within the film. The self-referential and irreverent nature of the cameo makes it a delightful surprise for fans and demonstrates the actor's willingness to engage in self-deprecating humor. The scene remains a standout moment in the popular comedy franchise.

• Dig Deeper... The Best Characters in the Austin Power Movies, Ranked
• # 379 of 705 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 212 of 635 on The 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time

In this reboot of the classic horror-adventure series, the protagonist takes on the role of a soldier-turned-treasure hunter who accidentally unleashes an ancient evil upon the world. Though the film received mixed reviews, the lead actor's charisma and commitment to performing his own stunts add an undeniable appeal for fans of action-packed adventure films. The movie offers an entertaining and thrilling ride that showcases the main character's enduring appeal as an action hero.

• # 1 of 17 on 17 Gritty Reboots Of Popular Franchises That No One Asked For (Or Wanted)
• # 14 of 15 on 15 Thrillers And Chillers That Tried To Launch A Franchise But Failed Miserably
• # 3 of 20 on Movies That Tried And Failed To Spawn Franchises

In this early 80s teen comedy, the protagonist plays one of a group of high school friends heading to Mexico for a weekend of debauchery. The film, while not critically acclaimed, offers a glimpse into the early days of the lead actor's career and his natural talent for comedy. With its raucous humor and nostalgic setting, the movie remains an interesting snapshot of the protagonist's beginnings in Hollywood.

• # 215 of 220 on '80s Movies We Wish Would Finally Get Sequels
• # 10 of 19 on 19 Forgotten Comedies Of ’80s Movie Stars
• # 13 of 16 on Underrated 1980s Movies That Got Overshadowed By Their More Successful 'Twin Film'

Lions for Lambs

This thought-provoking political drama features an ensemble cast, including the lead actor as a Republican senator advocating for a new military strategy in Afghanistan. The film delves into complex themes of ethics, politics, and the human cost of war, showcasing the protagonist's versatility as an actor. While it may not have drawn major box-office success, the movie's timely subject matter and strong performances make it a compelling watch.

Endless Love

In this romantic drama loosely based on Scott Spencer's novel, the protagonist makes his feature film debut in a supporting role as the brother of the female lead. Though the film received mixed reviews, it offers a unique opportunity to witness the early days of the lead actor's career. With its passionate love story and memorable soundtrack, the movie has become a cult classic over time.

• # 395 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 59 of 75 on The Best Movies Of 1981
• # 211 of 220 on '80s Movies We Wish Would Finally Get Sequels
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All about the life and career of the ageless actor Tom Cruise.

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10 Moments That Prove Jerry Maguire Is Tom Cruise’s Best Performance

David ehrlich.

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The idea of “movie stars” has been on life support since the turn of the 21st Century — we live in a world where brands and intellectual property have become more important than people — but Hollywood as we know it will continue to hang on by a thread for as long as one man keeps running for its life. Tom Cruise isn’t just one of the greatest movie stars in the history of the medium, he might just be the last (depending on how Leonardo DiCaprio wants to play middle age). His face is known all over the world. His name is synonymous with big-screen entertainment. His incredible career has spanned more than 35 years, 45 roles, and hundreds upon hundreds of wild tabloid headlines. He’s been a Vietnam vet, a super-spy, a misogynistic self-help guru, a different super-spy, a samurai, a contract killer, another super-spy, a handsy bartender, a horny Chicago teenager, a New York City doctor on a sexual vision quest, whatever the hell he was supposed to be in “Rock of Ages,” and more. He’ll probably be a fourth super-spy before he’s ready to retire and spend the rest of his days sailing with Sea Org .

READ MORE: Watch Tom Cruise Spin Through The Air While Shooting A Zero Gravity Stunt In “The Mummy”

But of all those roles, none lingers in the mind (or in the recesses of cable television) quite like Jerry Maguire. It’s not Cruise’s most dangerous part, or his most athletic. There are no special effects, and no death-defying stunts. For all of the vulnerability and candor of his work, it’s not even the rawest thing he would do that decade. But, however unassuming it may be, his 1996 performance as an emotionally disoriented sports agent doubles as a comprehensive one-stop shop for everything that makes Cruise a unique force of nature. This week, as the man formerly known as Mapother unwraps “ The Mummy ” and accepts the most impossible mission of his career by trying to compete with the legendary charisma of Brendan Fraser, IndieWire looks back at 10 moments from the one movie that always reminds us why he’s the best in the business.

10. Cush-lash

At the height of his career, just months after the first “Mission: Impossible” film had cemented his status as the world’s leading action star (and netted him a cool $70 million paycheck after profit participation), Tom Cruise decided to downshift by playing the title role in a plucky Cameron Crowe drama about a sports agent who experiences a sudden crisis of conscience. Of course, for a sports agent in a cynical world of tough competitors, having a conscience is just about the greatest crisis there is. And so it goes for fast-talking, floppy-haired Jerry Maguire, who finds his career in ruins after he loses his “ability to bullshit” (and his job along with it). It’s a hard world out there for people who care about people, especially when they care about people more than they do endorsement deals; when they care about the love of the game more than they do about the length of a contract. Capitalism isn’t really the most accommodating environment for compassion.

Watching the highest-paid actor on the planet try to sell us on the human angle should have been a noxious exercise in hypocrisy, but Cruise’s performance is anything but. Bending his usual intensity towards saving himself rather than saving the world, Cruise’s turn as Jerry Maguire is an incredible high-wire act of moral desperation. The first scene where we get to see how hard it’s going to be for Jerry to sustain his awakening is utterly savage stuff, as he learns that his number one client — top NFL draft pick Matt Cushman (Jerry O’Connell) — has betrayed him and signed with Jerry’s devious former protégé, Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr). The frozen smile on Cruise’s face as he privately learns the news, the way he slips on that “Team Cushman” hat like he still has a chance, the unblinking stare he wears when he realizes how he’s the only person in that hotel suite with any scruples whatsoever… it’s heartbreaking. “This is business, not friendship” Sugar says. But, in that moment, you can tell that Jerry Maguire is never going to choose between the two again.

9. Dorothy Boyd Wants a Divorce 

When Jerry leaves his job, there’s only one person who’s willing to come with him: a 26-year-old single mom named Dorothy Boyd ( Renée Zellweger ). They eventually get married, both of them trying to will their best lives into existence. He wants to be a people person, she wants to meet the man of her dreams, someone who will be as good a partner to her as he will be a father to her young son, Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). But change isn’t easy, and sometimes wanting something doesn’t mean a thing if you’re not willing to work for it; for most of the movie, this is the only kind of work that Jerry isn’t willing to do.

The scene where he and Dorothy realize that their unattended marriage is falling apart — or, rather, the scene where Dorothy realizes that for the both of them — is one of those moments that earned Cruise his second Oscar nomination (and earned Zellweger her first Oscar snub). “What do you want, my soul or something?” he asks. “Why not?” she replies. “I deserve that.” Cruise plays the beat super casual, but that’s part of its power. This is such a powerful break-up scene because it’s so gentle, because it wouldn’t be happening if Jerry had earned the happiness that’s sitting right in front of him.

8. Jerry Tells Ray That The Zoo Is Closed 

“The fucking zoo’s closed, Ray.”

Weaponizing the sheer adorableness of Tom Cruise drunkenly spilling his guts to a giant-headed kid, Jerry Maguire’s first heart-to-heart with his future step-son is such a memorable touchpoint because of how much pain (and blunt character detail) it manages to disguise in a whirlwind of cuteness. Jerry Maguire, always vulnerable but finally transparent, opens up about the fact that his predatory existence has made him kind of a non-entity. He’s a facilitator, not a person. “My whole life I’ve been trying to talk — I mean, really talk — but no one wants to listen to me.” Meanwhile, Ray just wants to go the fucking zoo.

The genius of the scene (and the point beyond its central curse word) is in Cruise’s unwillingness to adjust for his audience. Jerry Maguire is a guy who’s success depends on being able to read a room, and here he’s tipsy, flushed, and talking to some kid like he’s the therapist he would never admit he needs. Ray’s purity makes him the perfect foil for Jerry, he’s completely void of the bullshit that has come to define Jerry’s existence, and the fun that Cruise has with letting his character get pleasantly lost in that exchange makes for some great cinema. Cruise has done that half-crazed smile in just about every movie he’s ever made, but seldom has it felt so real.

7. Bottom-feeders

Tom Cruise doesn’t get enough credit for being one of cinema’s great non-verbal actors. Sure, no one questions the physicality of his screen presence — all that running and climbing and clenching — but the man is an artist even when he’s standing still. For proof, look no further than the scene in which Cruise’s eponymous sports agent wakes up the morning after a romantic encounter with his only employee and eavesdrops on her telling her sister that she loves him. That she loves him for the man he wants to be and she loves him for the man he almost is. All the while, Cruise is posing silently in a hallway just on the other side of the wall, and you can see the wheels turning behind his face. A flash of the eyes and a little dip of his head is all he needs to let you inside Jerry’s head, to feel him wrestling with what he wants and trying to make sense of what’s available to him. Then the charm takes over, and Cruise — like only Cruise could do — ends the scene with the best kiss of his career. And it’s not even on the lips.

6. The Bro-Hug Of Dreams 

“Jerry Maguire” is probably the most romantic film of Tom Cruise’s career (depending on what you make of “Eyes Wide Shut,” that is), so much so that its sense of romance is woven into every one of its plot threads. Cameron Crowe’s humanistic masterpiece might be remembered for its tear-jerking love scenes between Tom Cruise and Renée Zellwegger, but the heart and soul of the story is the bromance between Jerry Maguire and Rod Tidwell ( Cuba Gooding , Jr, in his Oscar-winning role as the brash football star who Jerry manages to salvage from his rolodex). Jerry is more than Rod’s “ambassador of Quan,” he’s also his double, his measuring stick, his greatest test. Both men are fighting their way through the same thing, they’re both trying to sort out their priorities and see if it’s possible to strike a profitable balance between  doing what they love, and loving what they do.

It’s a volatile relationship, but then they’re little company has a very big night. A very big night. And Rod emerges from a euphoric post-game media scrum to see his agent standing there by himself, sporting the greatest “I’m not gonna cry” face of all time. Of ALL TIME. After that — and the stiff finger-point that Cruise does along with it — the massive bro hug is just icing on the cake. This moment is the culmination of two long, wayward paths simultaneously arriving at the same truth about what really matters in this sick sad world. The truth is too sweet for Bob Sugar to enjoy.

The list continues on the next page.

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That’s how critic Steven Hyden opened his 2015 Grantland essay “The Comedic Stylings — Intentional and Otherwise — of Tom Cruise,” and it’s a question that still gets debated a lot. A year ago, Collider argued that Cruise was a modern-day Buster Keaton in terms of his ability to meld action and comedy, making us gasp and laugh simultaneously when he pulls off his latest ridiculous stunt. Recently, Comic Book Resources made the case that his new blockbuster, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One , is actually really funny. 

As for Hyden, he answered his own query by suggesting this: “For most movie stars, comedy typically derives from inserting the actor into a strange or outrageous situation, allowing him or her to react. … But in Tom Cruise movies, the setup is inverted: He is the strangeness that the rest of the world must contend with.” Clearly, Cruise is a talented, charismatic actor, but we’re not quite sure about his funnyness because he doesn’t do funny the same way other performers do.

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The 61-year-old star has been making movies since the early 1980s. Other big names come and go — they have their moment and then recede into the background — but Cruise has stayed in the spotlight for almost the entirety of those 40-plus years. He started off doing sex comedies both forgettable ( Losin’ It ) and iconic ( Risky Business ), but since then he’s largely focused on action and drama. There’s humor in those films, too, of course, and fans will point to his bizarro turns in movies like Magnolia and Tropic Thunder as proof that he can be very funny on screen. (I’d also cite a personal favorite: He’s a lot of fun as hair-metal god Stacee Jaxx in the cheesy rock musical Rock of Ages .) But you’d be hard-pressed to name your favorite Tom Cruise comedy because, basically, he’s never done one. Sure, he’s done action-comedies and other hybrids. But when did he just play a purely comedic character in one of his star vehicles? 

There was a moment where maybe that would have changed. In hindsight, it perhaps seems inevitable Cruise would continue to pursue action flicks — especially when it became part of his brand, anointing himself The Savior Who Would Preserve the Majesty of the Big-Screen Experience. But in 1996, he presented us with two different Cruises: one, the action hero; the other, a sensitive, flawed guy in a grownup rom-com. One was the first Mission: Impossible , the other Jerry Maguire . Personally, I think Jerry Maguire is the slightly better film — and easily his best comedy. But it’s not the direction he decided to pursue. I’m not saying we lost out on a comic genius. But more than 25 years later, Jerry Maguire hints at what could have been.

Starting with 1986’s Top Gun , Cruise made it his mission to get asses into seats. But he had other ambitions as well: Starring in Oscar-winning dramas like The Color of Money , Rain Man and Born on the Fourth of July , Cruise got good reviews, demonstrating that he could hold his own against acting titans (like Paul Newman and Dustin Hoffman ) and intense directors (Oliver Stone). He did blockbusters, but they weren’t necessarily action blockbusters: For every Days of Thunder , there were movies like A Few Good Men , The Firm and Interview With the Vampire . But Mission: Impossible , based on the 1960s and 1970s series (which came back in the late 1980s), was different. This was going to be a big action-spy film at a time when Pierce Brosnan was trying to rescue the James Bond franchise from irrelevance. Mission: Impossible had the potential to be Cruise’s next Top Gun .

“Basically, it was a film I wanted to see,” Cruise explained in an L.A. Times profile shortly before the release of Mission: Impossible , his first as a producer. “I make my decisions about pictures by: Would I want to see it? It’s fun working on this kind of movie, because you are the audience. It’s, ‘Okay, what do you want to see? What would be really cool?’ It’s as basic as that sometimes — what do you think is really cool?”

It wasn’t easy-going, though. There were reports of tension behind the scenes. Director Brian De Palma had issues with the script, which was being rewritten frantically throughout filming. And Cruise was feeling the pressure to prove he could hack it as a producer overseeing a huge bet on the part of Paramount, which would be releasing the film. “Even though I’ve been successful as an actor,” he told the L.A. Times , “this is a different game.” 

But the gambles paid off: Opening in May 1996, Mission: Impossible was one of the year’s top moneymakers, setting the stage for a franchise that continues to this day — although Cruise’s director never understood the appeal of sequels. (“After I made Mission: Impossible , Tom asked me to start working on the next one,” De Palma later recalled . “I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ One of these is enough. Why would anybody want to make another one? Of course, the reason they make another one is to make money.”) In the U.S., it was his biggest hit to that point, but he was already deeply invested in his next project, something much more small-scale, a story about a sports agent who becomes disillusioned with the business, blowing up his career and starting over again.

Initially, Cameron Crowe , whose second feature had been the Seattle-set 1993 love story Singles , had Tom Hanks in mind when we wrote Jerry Maguire . But although the Oscar-winner liked the script, he passed, largely because he wanted to direct his first feature, That Thing You Do! Hanks suggested that Crowe consider John Travolta for the role, but Crowe was already thinking about Tom Cruise.

“After Say Anything , (Cruise) called and said, ‘I love this movie and I would love to do something with you,’” Crowe recalled . “(It) was just one of the great calls. I wanted to take him up on his offer.” So he sent Jerry Maguire to Cruise. “(H)e reacted immediately,” said Crowe. “He was excited about the sports angle, the idea of playing an agent. I had never worked with anybody in that stratosphere, and friends of mine would say, ‘Watch out, they change your stuff. They’re really demanding.’ But my first conversation with Tom after he read the script, he said, ‘I’ll fly out there. I’ll sit down. I’ll read for you. You tell me if you think I’m right for the part.’” 

Cruise has always been known as a super-intense, highly-focused guy, and that was just as apparent once he started working with Crowe. Mission: Impossible came out during the filming of Jerry Maguire , but the actor downplayed its massive commercial success when his castmates were giving him congratulations. “He says, ‘Thank you, you guys. Now let’s get down to Jerry. Let’s make our movie,’” Crowe said. “The guy could pivot, right and left, to this intimate, romantic comedy side of him that I couldn’t wait for people to see.”

In later films, like Edge of Tomorrow , Cruise has gotten laughs sending up his action-star persona: Part of the considerable fun of that 2014 movie is watching his character screw up again and again, dying every time and having to go back to square one. Mission: Impossible ’s Ethan Hunt is indefatigable, but he makes myriad mistakes — which proves he’s human but also demonstrates that, for all of Cruise’s enthusiasm for delivering death-defying stunts, he has a sense of humor about his seemingly unstoppable character, and by extension himself. 

Likewise, one of the most endearing things about Jerry Maguire is that it’s really a whole movie of Tom Cruise messing up. Early on, Jerry writes his passionate, self-righteous, extremely ill-advised manifesto, which gets him fired from the high-powered agency. He foolishly thinks he’ll be able to lure his big-name clients away, resulting in repeated humiliation. He’s so naive he assumes he can get other employees to join him in his new solo venture. His last remaining client, Rod (Cuba Gooding Jr.), is a loose cannon whom Jerry basically has to beg to hold onto — hence, the now-famous “Show me the money!” scene. The one assistant who goes with him, Dorothy (Renée Zellweger), he ends up impulsively marrying, which creates further romantic and professional complications. Even Dorothy’s young son Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki) spends a good portion of Jerry Maguire dunking on Jerry Maguire. 

These are all the reasons why the film, which is more accurately described as a comedy-drama — the sort that Jerry Maguire producer James L. Brooks used to make, like Broadcast News — is so unexpectedly funny. Granted, Jerry Maguire eventually gets his shit together, grows as a person, etc., but there’s little doubt that he’s an imperfect, perhaps permanently shallow person in some regards. Everybody remembers Dorothy’s “You had me at hello” line, but part of what makes that moment work is that she wants Jerry to stop trying to unload the sort of big-speech-to-win-you-back moment that usually wraps up rom-coms. Basically, she wants him to shut up and just kiss her. Yes, Tom Cruise gets to be the hero, but Jerry Maguire has no illusions about what a putz he can be. And Cruise seemed to be having a blast, disassembling the strutting, impervious onscreen persona he’d so carefully constructed over many years. 

While Mission: Impossible had been a summer smash, Jerry Maguire was an awards-season darling: Opening in mid-December, the film got nominated for five Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture. (Gooding won for Best Supporting Actor.) It was a sizable hit, too: Mission: Impossible was the third-highest-grossing 1996 film, with Jerry Maguire landing in fourth. If Ethan Hunt was a cocky, high-flying action figure, Jerry Maguire was a lovable fool — the two roles creating a cinematic equivalent of those “How I view myself/How I really am” social-media memes. Cruise demonstrated he had both modes inside him — the superhuman and the very, very human — and the juxtaposition of the two films released right next to each other made each of them more compelling as a result.

In some ways, the next phase of Cruise’s career was the most interesting. He and then-wife Nicole Kidman went off to England for a few years to film Eyes Wide Shut with the exacting Stanley Kubrick . (“Someone said, ‘Well, you know he does a lot of takes,’” Cruise mentioned in the L.A. Times piece. “I said, ‘I don’t care if he does a thousand takes, I’m working with Stanley Kubrick!’”) He was mostly out of the spotlight during that period, but when the film was over, he got back to being a movie star. He moved between a supporting role in Magnolia as the shockingly, satirically misogynistic self-help guru Frank T.J. Mackey — he got an Oscar nomination, his latest to date for acting — and star vehicles such as Mission: Impossible 2 , Vanilla Sky (reunited with Crowe), Minority Report , The Last Samurai , Collateral and War of the Worlds , all of which did big business. 

At the same time, though, he and Kidman split, he got involved with Katie Holmes — they married in 2006 — and he had his infamous “couch jumping” interview with Oprah Winfrey . There was that embarrassing face-off with Matt Lauer, in which Cruise criticized the Today host and spouted anti-therapy, anti-medication nonsense . (Oh, and don’t forget the story about how Cruise set up a Scientology tent on the set of War of the Worlds to convert crewmembers.) At the box office, he still seemed bulletproof, but the offscreen behavior started to cut into his popularity. By the release of 2006’s Mission: Impossible III , the tarnishing of his image was significant enough that the film failed to gross as much as either of the first two installments, inspiring talk that Cruise might be “over.”

For a while, it seemed like that might be true. Outside of his amusingly gonzo turn as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder , he was popping up in unmemorable period thrillers ( Valkyrie ) and unmemorable action-comedies ( Knight and Day ). Modest hits like Oblivion and those Jack Reacher films — where everybody made fun of him because he wasn’t nearly as tall as the character in the books — suggested a star on the decline. Maybe that’s why his Rock of Ages performance in 2012 was so satisfying: Not only was it funny, his fully committed, full-throated rendition of “I Want to Know What Love Is” seemed to make fun of both the aging rocker and the aging actor who played him.

Some stars might have pivoted to dramatic roles, reinventing themselves as a respected character actor, content in the knowledge that they didn’t need to top the box office anymore or prove anything to anyone. But that was never going to be Tom Cruise, who doubled-down, starting with 2011’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol , where he performed the nerve-wracking Burj Khalifa stunt himself. 

Ghost Protocol ’s stunt coordinator, Gregg Smrz, said of Cruise , “If he wasn’t an actor, Tom could have been a stuntman … (P)utting Tom into the harness was no different than a stunt guy.” Smrz was unconsciously echoing what David Kronke, who wrote that 1996 L.A. Times profile, had said back then: “If this movie star thing ever peters out on him, Tom Cruise just might have a promising career as a stuntman. Cruise, who dabbled in race (car) driving for a while and enjoys the odd act of aerial derring-do in his own plane, is the kind of thrill junkie who finds putting life and/or limb on the line for a ‘cool’ (his word) shot ‘fun.’” 

Fifteen years after those prophetic words were written, Ghost Protocol was a sensation, reestablishing Cruise’s star power and cementing his reputation as a guy who will do anything — anything — to wow his audience. Subsequent sequels featured their own incredible stunt sequences, each time the thrill being the audience’s realization that, holy shit, that’s actually Tom Cruise doing that crazy thing . Not since Jackie Chan had an action star put himself in harm’s way so strenuously, repeatedly and joyously for our entertainment. By risking his own life, Cruise was reborn.

He would occasionally flash his comedic side in his later blockbusters — he’s been especially loose-limbed with director Doug Liman, who directed him in Edge of Tomorrow and the underrated true-life action-comedy American Made — but as he rebuilt his stardom, the emphasis has been on tentpoles, even if they’re total duds like The Mummy , which was meant to launch Universal’s Dark Universe. (Spoiler: It did not. ) As a result, there wasn’t much room for a Jerry Maguire anymore — there wasn’t space for something in which he played a human-scaled character. Only action heroes need apply.

It’s not fair to be too harsh to Cruise about this shift away from funny, thoughtful romantic comedies. Truth is, Hollywood in general has stopped making Jerry Maguire s — at least at the studio level. Try to think of a movie like that from the last 20 years. Maybe Richard Linklater ’s Before films? Perhaps Love Actually ? Maybe La La Land ? (And that’s more of an old-school musical anyway.) There’s just not a lot of those films around anymore. If anything, Cruise read the tea leaves, realizing that, if you’re going to remain an A-list star — and you’re not going to play in the Marvel sandbox — then you’d better find a big-budget franchise or two. In this century, bankable stars have been replaced by familiar brands, properties and characters. The Mission: Impossible films might be that rare, happy exception: You go for the franchise, but you also go for Cruise.

It’s not a spoiler to reveal that Dead Reckoning ends with something of a cliffhanger. ( Part One is right there in the title.) I imagine, like me, most people will be excited to return to theaters next year to see Part Two , which may very well be the final Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise. If so, it’s been a hell of a run in a remarkable career. He has thrived where other stars have not — all these years later, he’s still thinking about what would be cool to show an audience, and his instincts have been pretty unerring. 

Back in 1996, Mission: Impossible and Jerry Maguire presented two paths for where he could go next. We know which one he chose, which proved to be the smart decision, but I’ll always wonder about the path not taken. Trust me, I’m not complaining: We got so many great Mission: Impossible movies out of the deal.

In Jerry Maguire , his character is at a crossroads, and so was Cruise, who refashioned himself as the last great action hero. Mission: Impossible held the key for his future. But it’s funny to think back to De Palma’s grousing about sequels, because his complaints suggest what’s so terrific about Jerry Maguire . You didn’t need to make another one of those. It’s more than good enough on its own.

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11 Signs You're Watching a Tom Cruise Movie

It's a ''Mission: Impossible'' not to spot these trademarks of the ''Edge of Tomorrow'' actor's work

The Cocky Protagonist Who Has to Learn Not to Be So Cocky, Even as the Universe Justifies His Cockiness

Tom Cruise gets things done. Tom Cruise knows that he gets things done. Maverick in Top Gun is an ace pilot. His only problem is that he has no problems, except for his father or whatever. In order to become an even better best pilot, he needs to learn not to be so full of himself; thus chastened, he becomes the best best pilot of them all. Replace ''pilot'' with ''bartender'' or ''agent'' or 'spy' and that's Cocktail or Jerry Maguire or the first Mission: Impossible . Many of Cruise's best movies play this cocky persona off of a foil, with the Cruise character forced to take responsibility for his family (see: Rain Man , War of the Worlds ).

The Cocky Protagonist Who Might Also Be a Fascist

But some of Cruise's best movies add darker layers to his persona, suggesting that all that cockiness is a demonstration of narcissism bordering on sociopathy. Magnolia imagines Cruise as a self-help guru preaching a gospel of über-manhood. Collateral positions Cruise as a heartless monster, assured in his Darwinian perspective on humanity. In The Last Samurai and Lions for Lambs , Cruise is a vanguard for literal imperialism and figurative Bush-era imperialism.

Not the Face!

For an actor famous for his golden-god handsomeness, it's interesting how many of Cruise's movies after the mid-'90s focus on masking or mutilating his features. It started with the first Mission: Impossible and the eternal face-reveals. In Eyes Wide Shut and Vanilla Sky he's masked; in the latter, his mask hides a scarred face, echoed years later with his wounded soldier in Valkyrie . And in Minority Report , a futuristic mask is really a form of mutilation. Bizarrely, Cruise's post-couch comeback began with him buried under makeup: His extended cameo in Tropic Thunder .

The Veteran

''Boyishness'' is a word people associate with Cruise, but it's interesting to see how many army veterans dot his filmography. Not long after Top Gun , Cruise played paralyzed Vietnam vet Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July , which is Patient Zero for the argument that there's more to Cruise than his pearly whites. In The Last Samurai he's a broken-down old soldier, while in Jack Reacher and Knight and Day he's a soldier-turned-all-purpose-superman. Edge of Tomorrow sees Cruise in the process of becoming a veteran, tracing his character's evolution from rookie to seasoned soldier as he replays the same battle over and over. Heck, you could even throw in Rock of Ages , where Cruise is a ''veteran'' rock star who's only a few degrees away from the human wreckage Cruise played in Last Samurai .

The Mentored Years

Films from Cruise's first decade in the spotlight typically paired him with an older, gruff mentor figure. Think Paul Newman in The Color of Money or Tom Skerritt in Top Gun or Robert Duvall playing Tom Skerritt in Days of Thunder . This period arguably ended with Mission: Impossible , when Cruise's mentor-figure Jon Voight is Not What He Seems.

The Mentor Years

At a certain point, the equation flipped, and Cruise became the mentor: First to Keri Russell in Mission: Impossible III , and then to his whole banter-y squad in Ghost Protocol . You could also include Cruise's harried father in War of the Worlds , trying to guide his children through the horrors of the alien invasion, or Cruise's expert agent in Knight and Day , who teaches Cameron Diaz the ropes of action hero-dom on the fly. In an intriguing time-tossed twist, Emily Blunt plays both a mentor and a mentee in Edge of Tomorrow , teaching Cruise how to be a future soldier until he's able to guide her through their futuristic battlefield.

Arranged Romances

Cruise rose to prominence as a heartthrob, but there's a fascinating recurring motif in his filmography of ''romances'' that blossom out of arranged relationships. In Risky Business , Rebecca De Mornay is a prostitute hired by Cruise's randy high schooler. In Jerry Maguire , Cruise initially marries Renée Zellweger for financial reasons. Vanilla Sky and Oblivion both explore very sci-fi-ish ideas of a woman being ''made'' for a man.

Cruise's cousin William Mapother popped up in minor roles in Born on the Fourth of July , Magnolia , Vanilla Sky , Mission: Impossible II , and Minority Report . Then he became Ethan on Lost . Pause to imagine a side-universe where Tom Cruise was Ethan on Lost .

The Immortal Cruise

Because Cruise was one of the first major star-producers of the modern age, you could argue that there's a genuine low-level persona auteurism running throughout his filmography. Which makes his outlying work all the more fascinating. As Lestat in Interview with the Vampire , Cruise played a character who would be young and beautiful forever. It's unlike almost anything else in the Cruise-ography. But Cruise's turn towards science fiction has echoes of that idea. In Vanilla Sky and more recently Oblivion and Edge of Tomorrow , the Cruise protagonist finds himself living through a kind of metaphorical infinity.

Mission: Impossible is the Cruise-ography in Microcosm

Cruise is a lead producer on the Mission: Impossible franchise, and the four films so far constitute a fascinating time-lapse portrait of the Tom Cruise Archetype over the last two decades. In the first film, Cruise is still the cocky young agent — and the film's playful, twisty structure actually winds up destroying the world around that version of Cruise, sending him on the run and ultimately pitting him against his mentor figure. In Mission: Impossible II Cruise once again finds himself on both sides of an ''arranged'' romance — he falls in love with a woman who is also his mission and then sends her to seduce another man.

By Mission: Impossible III , Cruise is a more seasoned figure, avenging his murdered protégé. ( M:I3 is also very much a work of Cruise's post-2000s era, when his action heroes frequently have to defy their superiors and go on the run from corrupt organizations (see also: Minority Report , The Last Samurai , Valkyrie ). By Ghost Protocol , there's a hint of bruised weariness in Cruise's face — we find him in a prison, his dream of settling down with his wife appears to be a thing of the past — and the cockiness has been replaced by a no-nonsense professionalism that recalls Collateral and Jack Reacher . Like his time-tossed soldier in Edge of Tomorrow , many later Cruise characters seem to have been through their battles many, may times.

Tough to say no.

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Tom Cruise is about to enter another, weirder golden era

By Jack King

Though he's been stuck in blockbuster territory over the last decade, it won't be lost on anyone that Tom Cruise is one of the best. Would Top Gun: Maverick have been the rollicking success it was in 2022 if not for his emotional earnestness, and preternatural ability to make a movie about jet planes put grit in the tearducts of Guys everywhere? Unlikely. Yet, even as Maverick went on to take a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars , he wasn't justly rewarded with an abundance of acting nods. He was the movie. His acting chops are criminally underrated, and it's about time he gets his dues: this is the guy who did Magnolia , Eyes Wide Shut , and Rain Man . Fundamentally, you don't become the world's biggest movie star without being very good at what you do.

Talks have been in the works for who could star in the film produced under Lewis Hamilton's film company

By Lucy Ford

The naysayers, if there are any, will soon be proven wrong. The ‘90s indie Cruise renaissance is just over the horizon.

Recent reports have placed the 61-year-old at the top of the bill for the next project from Alejandro González Iñárritu, a director with a reputation for squeezing the best out of his A-list leads: he's the guy who made Michael Keaton fly in Birdman , and pit Leo against a bear in The Revenant for his first Oscar win. If you're hankering for a megawatt Tom Cruise acting masterclass harkening back to the Colour of Money days, this seems like a sure bet.

It has been a shift in Cruise's career trajectory that fans might've seen coming for a while. In recent years, the actor has diligently smuggled emotionally poignant, deeply human narratives into his big-budget studio action movies. Look at the aforementioned Top Gun: Maverick , which is as much about our inevitable confrontation with mortality as it was a high-throttle rollercoaster ride with lots of jet fighters. The film was replete with bittersweet moments that studio productions often scoff at: think the emotional reunion with Iceman (Val Kilmer), or Maverick seemingly sacrificing himself to save Rooster (Miles Teller). The newest Mission: Impossible movies, which explore similar thematic territory, have also been undergirded by a sense of vulnerability for Ethan Hunt. These are appropriate concerns of a movie star entering his sexagenarian years. Legacy is clearly on the mind.

Expect plenty of feet shots in the Pulp Fiction director's '70s swan-song

By Patrick Sproull

The Ińárritu film, if recent reports are to be believed, comes as part of a broader pattern for Cruise. Last week, movie insider Jeff Sneider reported that the actor hopes to land a role in Quentin Tarantino 's allegedly final film, The Movie Critic . While the casting is yet to be confirmed, and the role is reported to be minor, it only adds to the sense that Cruise is re-entering his second Very Serious Actor era. In fact, according to Variety , Cruise has explicitly name checked his Magnolia boss Paul Thomas Anderson as an auteur he wants to relive the glory days with. The 1999 drama, in which he portrayed an obnoxious self-help guru not unlike a VHS-era Andrew Tate, was the last to see him nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars.

Right now, PTA is hard at work on a new film with Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall and Sean Penn, which is untitled, and allegedly boasts a budget north of $100 million for Warner Bros. If the studio can cough up Leo money for PTA, it stands to reason that they can do the same with Cruise — not least with their recent non-exclusive production deal in mind.

None of this is to say that Cruise is going to start walking around with a MUBI bag over his shoulder, nor stop risking his life for the good of the movies; a third Top Gun is still in the works, and he's still set to go to outer space for a new, original title . If anything, we're getting a double helping of Cruise-y goodness. The death-courting stunts and a late-stage callback to the indie gems that made him not only a movie star, but a damn good actor. One thing's for sure: Cruise's world domination will continue with explosive aplomb, and we're all along for the thrill ride.

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Tom Cruise’s 10 Greatest Roles

Tom Cruise has certainly, of late, been treated with disdain. His off-screen troubles have been considerably noticeable and strange. However, to those who don’t care, he is still seen as one of modern cinema’s most prolific actors. His magnetism and charisma leap off the screen and allow you to accept him in any role. whether he’s a special agent, or a self-help guru, or even an egotistical movie producer, he falls into every role similarly to the way he dropped into the vault in the first Mission Impossible flick some years ago. The success of this year’s Jack Reacher and Oblivion is largely due to Cruise’s prowess. Here are some performances that prove he is much more than just his controversial off-screen persona.

10. Jerry Maguire in Jerry Maguire

9.  Les Grossman in  Tropic Thunder

8. Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men

7. Lestat de Lioncourt in Interview with the Vampire

6. Charlie Babbitt in Rain Man

5. Joel Goodsen in Risky Business

4. Nathan Algren in The Last Samurai

3. Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July

2. Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia

1. Vincent in Collateral

Regardless of his emotional and mental spasms in real life, he is still one of the most eclectic and magnetic performers working in Hollywood today. In our current commercially-driven culture, it’s rare to see movies that attract people due to the actors involved. Cruise, with Jack Reacher and Oblivion in particular, has proven he can sell a movie on the basis of simply having his name draped across the poster.

Honourable mentions: Senator Jasper Irving in Lions for Lambs , Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages (despite how atrocious the rest of the movie is!), Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible series, Maverick in Top Gun , Jack Reacher in Jack Reacher.

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15 Comments

Where the heck is Maverick from Top Gun?????

Collateral was the film that made me a fan, I enjoyed watching jack reacher too.

Michael Mann is the MAN! (that was lame)

Tom Cruise rendition of a hit man is definitely his top acting performance. We agree on this.

Hard to argue with most of that, I might of had his Magnolia character at number 1 and maybe bumped Jerry Maguire a couple of spots up the list, but all and all I’d say you nailed it.

I like this list. I’m not a massive fan of Tom Cruise, but the movies I do like him in you have mentioned except for Top Gun and Mission Impossible. I think that they should have been mentioned at least in the list, but it is a personal choice. Good job with the article.

Les Grossman is a champion! I love how popular the character got, despite how insignificant this role seems in comparison to the others. Totally agree that it came at the perfect time for him.

I have a few thoughts. 1.) I cannot believe Maverick from Top Gun is not on here! 2.) I think Jerry Mcguire should be a little higher then 10. And 3.) Tropic Thunder Tom Cruise is my favorite kind of Tom Cruise. 4.) Has anyone heard the Dave Chapelle joke about Tom Cruise and The Last Samurai? If not, look it up, it’s hilarious. All of that being said, nice article! And a great idea to rank his roles.

I can’t believe so many people liked my first article! Thank you all so much! 🙂

Jerry Maguire should be higher. Tom Cruise was born to play that role. And would have been nice to see Minority Report or Eyes Wide Shut, which are better movies than several of these. But otherwise, thanks for the reminder that Cruise can act!

Tom Cruise is the man and I’m so glad others agree. Even Jack Reacher is awesome. I will say, however, that I agree with Melina in wishing that Eyes Wide Shut and Minority Report were up here. I’d even make a case for Vanilla Sky.

Yeah I missed Top Gun!! I loved him in that. And I am NOT a fan. Have you seen “Rock of Ages”? He is HILARIOUS in that. I think it has nothing to do with his comedic acting but because it’s Tom Cruise.

I’m surprised Eyes Wide Shut wasn’t mentioned. I still enjoyed reading this article. 🙂

Great article dude, I’m glad to hear other people agree that Tom Cruise has turned in some seriously good acting over the years. I actually can’t think of many movies where he hasn’t been good. He’s picked some challenging roles at his best. I would have included Eyes Wide Shut, Minority Report and Vanilla Sky (which was surprisingly moving).

Tom cruise as Vincent was captivating and that perhaps is his best character ever.Though I personally feel Nathan algren is a close second .

I’m surprised that you didn’t mention Top Gun (the film that made Tom Cruise’s career), along with snide allusions to Tom Cruise being propped up on an apple crate.

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Every Tom Cruise Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

2. magnolia (1999).

Paul Thomas Anderson's epic drama Magnolia is an ensemble piece with an impossibly packed cast (Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Jeremy Blackman), but you can't come away from the film without agreeing that Tom Cruise steals the show.

As self-help guru Frank Mackey, Cruise is magnetic, disturbing, haunted, energetic and strangely fragile. He plays Frank as a man unsure of himself despite his confidence and damaged by a past he'd rather forget.

Watching him go from aggravatingly arrogant to weeping by his dying father's bedside is a perfect encapsulation of how great a performer Cruise can be at his best, and the fact he didn't win the Oscar for his performance is certainly one of the Academy's biggest snubs.

I get to write about what I love, so that's pretty cool. Every great film should seem new every time you see it. Be excellent to each other.

Tom Cruise’s 10 Best Movies Ranked

The ‘ Tom Cruise movie’ might as well be its own genre. When you sit down to watch a Tom Cruise film, there are things you know you’ll see: Running, really fast? Check. A performance of magnetic intensity? Check. Feats of physical endurance and stunt-based spectacle? Mostly, check. Through the years, Cruise has proved that there are few vehicles or buildings he won’t cling to or jump from; no skill he can’t master to showcase on screen; no story he can’t hone into its most crowd-pleasing shape. There’s a reason he’s still one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and made Empire 's list of the 50 Greatest Actors of all time: the man makes amazing movies.

He’s also had a fascinating career – one that began with a series of roles that dialled into his charisma and confidence as an upstart, before moving into more nuanced character dramas, and then into blockbuster spectacle. And through all those career modes, there’s a sense of sincerity in the stories being told and the characters being brought to life – one that, today, finds him pushing the limits of on-screen action further than most thought possible. Empire ’s ranking of the 10 best Tom Cruise movies spans his entire career – early works, curiosities, all-time American classics, and pulse-pounding adventures – going (spoiler alert!) right up to the thrilling, nostalgic, and emotional Top Gun: Maverick . The highway to the danger zone begins here…

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Movies Ranked

10) Mission: Impossible

When Brian De Palma first brought '60s spy series Mission: Impossible to the big screen in the mid-'90s (with Cruise producing as well as starring), it wasn't yet an action juggernaut – the height of spectacle here is an exploding fish tank, or the helicopter-in-a-train-tunnel chase (which perhaps began Cruise's fondness for clinging to speeding vehicles). But the DNA of the ultimate Tom Cruise franchise all comes from this first entry. There's the twisty, double-triple-crossing plot which turned memories of the original show upside down. There are rubber mask rug-pulls. There's that iconic lit-fuse title sequence and theme tune. And at the centre of it all is Cruise's Ethan Hunt, perpetually on the backfoot, barely surviving near-impossible predicaments by the skin of his teeth. Even back in '96, the Mission movies were all about breathless setpieces – though at that point, they were more about beads of sweat pooling on Hunt's forehead while he dangles in a temperature-controlled computer vault, than strapping himself to an aeroplane while it takes off.

9) Minority Report

If you know someone's about to commit a crime, can you punish them before they do it? That's the knotty question at the heart of Minority Report , which saw Cruise team up with the one and only Steven Spielberg for a gritty, noirish thriller with a lot on its mind. Cruise is John Anderton, an officer in the Pre-Crime unit of 2054, which uses the visions of three psychic siblings (the 'precogs') to proudly reduce the murder rate in Washington DC to zero. But when his own face comes up as the unit's next criminal to catch, it throws the entire system – and Anderton's beliefs around it – into question. This meeting of legendary cinematic minds produced something darker and more dystopian than you might expect, but Cruise is on impeccable screen-swiping form as an action hero, a care-taker for precog Agatha ( Samantha Morton ), and a man whose entire world-view is shattering around him, desperate to clear his name. Plus, we get to see him have eyeball surgery. Feast your illegally transplanted retinas on that.

8) The Color Of Money

Released in the same year as the original Top Gun , this lesser-known Martin Scorsese banger is absolutely the former's equal in displaying the young Cruise's prodigious talent, captivating charisma, and cocksure confidence. His pool-hall wizard Vince (so self-adoring that he literally walks around in a t-shirt with his own name on it) simply cannot help showing off, broadcasting his considerable skills with a cue for all to see – even if it means imploding the hustling scheme he's cooked up with Paul Newman 's veteran Fast Eddie. (This is a legacy sequel before they were a thing, with Newman reprising his role from 1961's The Hustler .) The pool sequences are electrifying and all-out Scorsese cinematic – and an early example of Cruise dedicating himself to learning new skills for his art, clearly potting all the balls himself in extended takes – but the character drama is just as captivating, with Vince stepping into his power, Eddie facing his own decline, and the hustler becoming the hustled.

7) Collateral

Silver-haired, super-focused, and stalking through the shadows of an LA night, Cruise's Vincent (we never learn his last name) is one of the actor's great assholes – a tunnel-visioned assassin who drags Jamie Foxx 's reluctant and goodnatured cabbie, Max, into a night of murderous mayhem, Michael Mann -style. Sleek and cool but also sociopathic and callous, Cruise has rarely been more controlled as he rides around in the back of Max's taxi, dispensing hot takes and hotter lead to victims; but it's in the way he slowly, painstakingly depicts the way Vincent loses control as the night begins to run away from him that's so impressive. He really should play more grade-A shits.

6) Top Gun: Maverick

A sequel 36 years in the making, besieged by pandemic-induced release date delays, with a brand new writer and director on board, and the follow-up to one of the most beloved action movies of a generation? Top Gun: Maverick had a lot to prove. Incredibly, it soars higher, faster and even more full-throttle than anyone could have predicted. Returning to the cockpit with decades of experience in pushing the boundaries of action filmmaking, Cruise, Mission collaborator Christopher McQuarrie (on writing duties here) and director Joseph Kosinski deliver aerial acrobatics (yes, the actors are actually in those planes) that will leave you awe-struck, heart in your mouth, fist punching the air with glee. As with Tony Scott 's original, the character work is just as rich as the stunts – Cruise slips back into Maverick's roguish charm with the ease of putting on a familiar patch-covered aviator jacket, but also perfectly evokes the effect that years of tension with his superiors and grief over Goose have had on him – his ever-present over-confidence cracking, just a little. All these years later, it's clear Cruise really did feel the need to return to Top Gun – and on this evidence, it's easy to see why.

5) Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Frankly, multiple spots in a list of Tom Cruise's greatest movies could be filled by Mission: Impossible films. To do so (as we've chosen not to) would perhaps overwhelm the sheer variety of the rest of his career – but in a way, Mission is Cruise's career. With each passing entry, the saga became a stunt-filled action masterclass in which its leading man goes to greater and greater lengths to bring visceral thrills to the masses – and no Mission film exemplifies that better than Fallout . It's stacked with jaw-dropping setpieces that go out of their way to foreground the fact that its leading man really is doing a HALO jump in a single take, or flying a helicopter through a gorge, or leaping across the rooftops of London (and, yes, breaking his foot in the process). It makes for breathlessly exciting cinema, a kind of spectacle that subsequently feels lacking in almost every other show in town. The Cruise-Christopher McQuarrie partnership continues to be a perfect marriage – the writer-director helping marry action and story beats to the stunts with style and propulsive pace. This is peak Mission , and the peak of Cruise's own cinematic mission – one that you sense will never truly be over.

4) A Few Good Men

Among all the Tom Cruise legal thrillers of the '90s, A Few Good Men stands tallest. His Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a Naval lawyer more interested in baseball than his own cases, begins the film as a smarmy pencil-pusher – but that all changes when he's handed the case of a Marine killed in Guantanamo Bay, and discovers corruption in the armed forces that will all-too-easily be covered up. It's up to him and fellow lawyers JoAnne Galloway ( Demi Moore ) and Sam Weinberg ( Kevin Pollak ) to prove what really happened in a court of law, facing up to Jack Nicholson 's fearsome Colonel Jessop in the process. It's one hell of an ensemble cast, but Cruise drives it all, capturing Kaffee's increasing desperation and dedication to win the case – and prove that, yes, he can handle the truth – becoming a better person in the pursuit of justice. His intensity is a perfect match for Aaron Sorkin 's dense dialogue, all classily captured by Rob Reiner 's crisp direction.

3) Magnolia

As legend has it, Paul Thomas Anderson wrote the part of Frank TJ Mackie for Cruise after visiting him on Stanley Kubrick 's demanding Eyes Wide Shut set, and deciding that the actor needed to let loose. What fun Cruise would have as Mackie! This cocksure, cock-respecting self-help sex guru struts and shouts and thrusts – yes, there's all of that. But Magnolia is a heavy film, and Cruise, as Mackie comes undone and reunites with his estranged father Earl (Jason Robards), really falls apart, the slick showbiz veneer crumbling as years of emotion burst out. Sitting by his dying dad's bedside, Mackie – away from Cruise's signature grin, away from the big stunts – is unbridled humanity, shaking, weeping, quivering, his anger making way for love. It's a devastating physical catharsis for him, and for us.

2) Edge Of Tomorrow

One of the biggest blockbuster surprises of 2014, Edge Of Tomorrow (or, Live Die Repeat , as it was later marketed), gave us a different shade of Cruise as action star – his Lieutenant William Cage is a smarmy, cowardly PR guy when we meet him, only growing into an elite soldier through the repetitive, Groundhog Day -inspired, video game-esque nature of Doug Liman 's explosive sci-fi thriller. Teaming up with steely warrior Rita (an excellent Emily Blunt ), Cage must live through his final two days over and over, picking up skills and learning from his multiple deaths in order to stop the invasion of some big bad aliens. Cruise's chemistry with Blunt is endlessly compelling, the strength of her character and his star-power making them feel like equals on-screen. But it's the progression of his character that's most intensely satisfying, going from a man who's desperate to weasel his way out of doing anything selfless to the kind of all-out hero that Cruise was born to play. It makes for the kind of movie you'd happily be stuck watching in a time-loop over and over and over and ov- You get the picture.

1) Jerry Maguire

Like many Cruise films, Jerry Maguire has got so many memorable moments and one-liners that they've almost become more famous than the film itself. But the brouhaha over, "You complete me", or, "Show me the money!" masks one of Cruise's best – and most emotional – films. Meshing perfectly with writer-director Cameron Crowe (at his most Billy Wilderian), Jerry Maguire is an often heartwarming, often inspirational, often deeply romantic tale of a cynical sports agent (Cruise at his most winning) who has an epiphany, and begins to hunt around for something akin to a soul. It's cute and charming as hell, especially when Jerry is falling in love with his former secretary Dorothy (a star-making turn from Renée Zellweger ), but there's a bite here that's often overlooked, with a seemingly happy ending that may be nothing more than a sticking plaster over a fairly gaping wound. Still, Cruise and Cameron will have you at, "You had me at hello".

20 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Tom Cruise Movies

Say what you want about Tom Cruise, but you keep seeing his movies. We all do. Mostly because he has a knack for picking starring roles in fun, if not always good, popcorn movies -- like 'Edge of Tomorrow,' which opens today. He may have jumped Oprah's couch, but he's yet to jump the shark at the box office. Even if you've seen most of his movies, there's a good chance we'll surprise you with some little-known facts we dug up about the legendary leading man. Can you handle the truth ?!

'Eyes Wide Shut' holds the world record (according to Guinness) for longest principal photography shoot (400 days!) in the history of cinema. It's also the likely catalyst for Cruise's split from wife and co-star Nicole Kidman.

After publicly voicing her disapproval of cruise being cast as lestat in 'interview with the vampire,' author anne rice did a 180 after seeing the flick, heralding it a 'masterpiece.', cruise has been nominated three times for an oscar but has never won one. but his costars -- including paul newman, dustin hoffman and cuba gooding jr., all oscar winners in cruise movies -- have fared much better., tom cruise's most financially successful movie in the u.k. is 'austin powers in goldmember.', since 2006, october 10th has been set aside as tom cruise appreciation day in japan., in 'magnolia,' the f-bomb is dropped no less than 190 times -- the majority of them by cruise as a misogynistic self-help guru..

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Cruise proposed making 'Valkyrie' after seeing a picture of the the true story's historic hero, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and noted his own physical resemblance.

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Emily Blunt, Cruise's co-star in ' Edge of Tomorrow ,' once told an interviewer: "I'd rather do badly paid theater for the rest of my life than be a spear carrier in a Tom Cruise movie." She's since retracted the sentiment.

Cruise has been arguing with brooke shields since his first movie, 'endless love' in 1981, in which the two starred. they continue to butt heads on topics ranging from scientology to psychiatry., the timeless popularity of the basic black model of ray ban sunglasses owes a lot to cruise, who wore them in 'risky business.' after the movie's release, ray ban sales increased by 2,000 percent., you'll never see a 'mission: impossible' ethan hunt action figure or a jack reacher halloween mask. cruise takes his image seriously and does not allow his likeness to be used for toys, video games or anything else., cruise has flexed his dancing prowess in everything from 'risky business' to 'tropic thunder.' where'd he get those moves a youth spent memorizing dance routines on 'soul train.', jerry maguire was originally developed as a movie for tom hanks and winona ryder., cruise improvised his impersonation of jack nicholson in a scene for 'a few good men.' director rob reiner found it so entertaining, he insisted it make the final cut., cruise filmed many of his scenes with cameron diaz in 'knight and day' standing on a platform to fudge his height. the 5'7" actor has spent much of his career utilizing everything from selective editing to platform shoes to hide his short stature., already well known for doing many of his own stunts (particularly in the 'mission: impossible' series) cruise did all of his own stunt driving in 'jack reacher.', kenny loggins was third choice to perform 'danger zone' on the 'top gun' soundtrack behind reo speedwagon and toto. the ripple effect would rob fx's 'archer' of its best running gag., 'rock of ages,' cruise's first musical, required voice lessons for four months and intense study of the stage behaviors of axl rose and jim morrison., most of the racecars in 'days of thunder' were actually simple chevrolets retro-fitted with phony fiberglass race car bodies., in 1996, 'mission: impossible' was the first u.s. feature film to open in more than 3,000 theaters. it was also the last movie by a major studio to be released in the already antiquated betamax format., more from diffuser.fm.

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Every Tom Cruise Movie Performance, Ranked

No one better than Tom Cruise exemplifies the breed of megastars who dawned during the 1980s, felt like gods during the 1990s, and are now a curious class of their own in the twilight of the traditional stardom they represent. Since the early ’80s, Cruise steadily and successfully carved out a career fueled by his boyish megawatt smile, a practiced brand of charisma, and an interest in physically throwing himself into his roles with dangerous gusto. His work has run the gamut. He’s swaggered through dramas, romantic comedies, heaps of science fiction, and most often, action films — including his latest, Mission: Impossible — Fallout . In honor of the actor’s latest big-screen spectacle, we revisited and ranked all of Cruise’s performances in order to interrogate why he’s remained such a fixture in the public imagination all these years.

42. Rock of Ages (2012)

The worst thing a star can do is refuse to grow. Cruise has had performances that reached high yet fell short, but in his turn as rock star Stacee Jaxx, he’s never been more unengaging or laughable. Jaxx illustrates the reasons for many of Cruise’s recent duds: a lack of self-awareness, a refusal to adapt as he’s grown older, an element of humorlessness. Watching Cruise shirtless-singing to ’80s metal hits like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” tips into self-parody. It’s a train wreck of a performance that lacks any of the charm necessary to not come across as an unintentional joke, making this Cruise role hard to forget for all the wrong reasons.

41. The Mummy (2017)

No matter how miscalculated his moves, Tom Cruise isn’t usually the kind of actor you’d ever call listless. He’s known for that manic energy and sheer force of will that marks so much of his work. But in The Mummy, playing Sergeant Nick Morton — a military man who unintentionally unearths the tomb of Princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), who haunts him after choosing him to be the vessel for the god Set for some damn reason — Cruise is drained of any energy. He leaves no distinct impression; the part feels like it could be played by anyone and no one in particular. It doesn’t help that the film is more or less terrible, but sometimes Cruise can rise above that. Not this time: His performance comes up empty.

40. Endless Love (1981)

Cruise’s first big-screen appearance is a brief role in this 1981 romantic drama about a bunch of teenagers in the Chicago suburbs. It has none of the vitality to hint at the star Cruise would become later in the decade. (Also, 19-year old Cruise has a surprisingly high-pitched, annoying voice.)

39. Losin ’ It (1983)

Losin’ It is one of a string of films that pockmarked the decade that brought Cruise to prominence. They are failures to be sure, but forgettable enough to not rank lower. This charmless teen comedy, hinging on a group of friends trying to lose their virginities, marks Cruise’s first starring role, one that’s unfortunately saddled by dullness. There’s not enough appeal here to make this more than a masochistic exercise for Tom Cruise completists.

38. Cocktail (1988)

For some, Cocktail is a beloved albeit thoroughly ridiculous testament to the cinematic excesses of the 1980s. To others (including myself), it’s a testament to how easily Cruise can read as loathsome and smarmy rather than buoyantly alluring. The film focuses on Brian Flanagan (Cruise), a student who turns to bartending to make ends meet. Cruise is energetic to a manic degree (which doesn’t always work in his favor), producing a vibe that repels rather than seduces.

37. Legend (1985)

I have a bit of a soft spot for this Ridley Scott–helmed dark fable, one of Cruise’s only forays into fantasy territory. But it’s hard to ignore how miscast he is as the adventurous, dashing young man saving his beloved from the Lord of Darkness (an unrecognizable and amazing Tim Curry). He’s a bit lost and even seems perpetually confused in this muddled story, unable to create the gravitational pull he’d go on to prove capable of elsewhere.

36. Knight and Day (2010)

Knight and Day reteams Cameron Diaz with Cruise in a markedly different film than their first collaboration, Vanilla Sky. This spy/romantic romp should play to Cruise’s strengths, but there’s something severely miscalculated about his performance as Roy Miller, an oddball superspy on the run who ropes Cameron Diaz’s everywoman into his mission against her will. What’s supposed to be played as eccentric ends up falling into an uncomfortable territory that kills any sense of romance or intrigue. This role, more than any other he’s played, shows how easy it is for the hypercapable, badass superspy character to tip into asshole/know-it-all territory, more eye-roll-worthy than charming.

35. Lions for Lambs (2007)

Tom Cruise seems tailor-made for the role of a Republican senator pointedly trying to cajole and enchant a liberal-minded journalist (Meryl Streep) in order to get positive coverage for a new initiative in this muddled Iraq War drama. But he lacks the slipperiness and conviction necessary to elevate the dialogue, and the movie suffers for it, coming across as a well-intentioned morality play with little heft.

34. Far and Away (1992)

It is often said about actors of Cruise’s stature that they are merely stars that play themselves again and again. It’s an argument I disagree with for a number of reasons. In Far and Away, the tepid 1992 romantic drama directed by Ron Howard, it’s clear Cruise purposefully working against that notion — but in all the wrong ways. He adopts a shaky Irish accent in order to play a boxer/immigrant who joins Shannon Christie (Nicole Kidman) in America looking for a better life. Cruise gives it his all.

But he’s an actor best suited for our times, coming across as uncomfortable in period dressing. His energy and style is far too modern to pull this off completely, although his chemistry with Kidman remains a bright spot in an otherwise drab entry.

33. Days of Thunder (1990)

I can see how Days of Thunder seemed like a good idea, as it reteams Cruise with Top Gun director Tony Scott. And Cruise, as a race-car driver trying to make a name for himself, does have nice rapports with co-stars Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman. But it isn’t enough to craft a strong emotional center to what is an ultimately bland performance.

32. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

This misguided, tonally confused sequel is an example of a decent Tom Cruise performance dragged down by the lackluster film that surrounds him. Cruise is highly dedicated as the titular character, going at it with a scrappiness and sense of focus that’s fun to watch. Unfortunately, he’s burdened by a makeshift family story line (which includes Cobie Smulder as a wrongfully framed colleague and a teenager who may be Reacher’s daughter?) as he goes on the run. Cruise admirably nails the action-oriented scenes, but when he’s called to sell the emotional reality of his predicament (particularly with his maybe-daughter character) he fails to deliver.

31. The Last Samurai (2003)

Cruise is widely considered one of the last stars in today’s Hollywood ecosystem whose sheer force of personality and high-wattage smile is a brand unto itself. But not even he has enough confidence to distract from how ill-formed this bloated epic is, or how ill-suited he is to lead it. Cruise himself doesn’t seem convinced in his portrayal of the bitter, alcoholic war veteran who travels to Japan and finds himself fighting alongside the rebellion he was originally tasked to help quell. This is just more fuel for my belief that something about Cruise’s energy is all wrong for period pieces (except for one example that comes later) — especially a 19th-century period piece set in Japan. Co-star Ken Watanabe provides the authenticity and complexity that Cruise lacks, leading him to steal the film entirely.

30. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)

After the success of the first outing, the franchise moves into vastly different territory, thanks to Hong Kong action legend John Woo and screenwriter Robert Towne doing a  very obvious riff on Hitchcock’s Notorious and, more broadly, operatic action films that rely on a lot of slow-motion. These qualities are important to understanding what doesn’t work about Cruise’s performance as he’s asked to handle clashing tones and earnest romance, leaving him out of his depth. A part of me actually enjoys his chemistry with leading lady Thandie Newton, who plays an amoral thief. Unfortunately, Cruise sometimes tips into skeezy territory, and his best action work relies on a sort of simpleness that Mission: Impossible 2 seems allergic to. Despite his considerable efforts, Cruise often gets lost in the movie’s bombast.

29. The Firm (1993)

I’ve seen The Firm several times, but not much of it, including Tom Cruise’s starring performance, sticks with me. It’s a capably structured legal thriller but not much else. Cruise seems disconnected from the story, lacking the right mix of raw-nerved paranoia and intensity to rise above the admittedly lacking narrative. Mark this as another solid but otherwise uneventful performance.

28. The Outsiders (1983)

With a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s beloved classic, Cruise turns in a solid if not altogether memorable turn, dimmed a bit by the presence of his more fascinating co-stars, including a magnetic Patrick Swayze.

27. All the Right Moves (1983)

As a football player hell-bent on leaving his dead-end small town with a scholarship, Cruise provides the kind of tender and heartfelt performance the film calls far. He convincingly communicates the intensity and grandeur that comes with high-school sports, in which every win or loss feels like a harbinger for rest of your life.

26. Valkyrie (2008)

Cruise was far from the best choice to play doomed German army officer Claus von Stauffenberg, who aims to assassinate Adolf Hitler and undermine the Nazi Party with his dedicated crew of peers. But he actually finds a nice rhythm as the stakes for his character escalate, even if he doesn’t bring the kind of electricity needed to stand out from the film’s ensemble.

25. Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation (2015)

After the critical failure of Mission: Impossible 2, the franchise course-corrected; any sort of emotional arc would play a distant second to Cruise’s interest in difficult stuntwork. Good: The franchise is pure thrill-ride cotton candy. Still, not all thrill rides are created equal. Cruise’s return as superspy Ethan Hunt has its pleasures, yes; a particular highlight is watching Cruise work with Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust, an undercover MI6 agent with steely intensity. The primary joy of Rogue Nation , however, is in watching Cruise pivot from one action scene to another, running with a peerless frenzy. It’s fun one, if a bit weightless.

24. Vanilla Sky (2001)

Cruise’s work in Cameron Crowe’s trippy, messy psychological thriller is best described as an admirable failure. He plays David Aames, a rich and powerful publisher whose romantic cruelty has disastrous results when a former paramour (an unhinged Cameron Diaz) drives their car off a bridge. Post-accident Ames is disfigured and plagued by visions that question the nature of his reality. Unsurprisingly, Cruise is able to play up Aames’s narcissistic and exacting qualities, but as the film ventures into more confusing, less emotionally well-thought out territory, he loses hold of the character.

23. Taps (1981)

Taps was only Tom Cruise’s second performance on the big screen , but it already shows the nascent version of a character type he’d later perfect: a man who’s determined to the point of psychosis. Cruise plays Cadet Captain David Shawn, a rigid young man whose youthful aggression becomes sinister when his fellow military students decide to take over their school in hopes of saving it from closing. He proves to be the perfect foil for the conflicted Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer (Sean Penn) and more thoughtful lead Cadet Major Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton). Cruise’s performance lacks the fine-tuning he’d demonstrate down the line, but it is an impressive early turn that nearly dominates the entire film and proves his star presence.

22. Jack Reacher (2012)

What makes a truly good action film? I’m talking about the bare-bones qualities of an action film that forgoes the fantasy or horror gleam that many modern examples have these days. I’ve thought about this question a lot, especially while watching Tom Cruise in his first appearance as the titular Jack Reacher, a bruising U.S. Army military police corps officer with no fixed address. Cruise is notably completely wrong if you’re looking for a direct adaptation of the Lee Childs hero. His fights are more brutal and occur in closer range. His humor veers from dry to downright caustic. He’s a bit darker-edged than the typical lead Cruise tends to adopt. And while there are moments when Cruise doesn’t quite nail the tone — or the blunt, vaguely offensive jokes (like the clip above demonstrates) — this performance still holds many delights.

21. American Made (2017)

American Made is a confused film, unsure whether it wants to be a glossy Hollywood anti-hero romp or a grimy 1970s crime flick. Tom Cruise’s leading performance as Barry Seal — a perpetually sweat-drenched hot-shot TWA pilot turned gun/drug runner for the American government and narcotics smuggler for the Medellín cartel — reflects that confusion. It isn’t a wholly terrible performance. Cruise is engaging, carrying a blend of cocksure bravado and befuddlement at the sheer ridiculousness of the situations he finds himself in. American Made feels like an throwback to Cruise’s well-worn playbook; it’s particularly in line with his work in Top Gun. It’s mostly fun, though Cruise does lose points for trying (and failing) to pull off a Baton Rouge accent that can be best described as Generic Southern Accent That Doesn’t Really Exist™.

20. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)

Ghost Protocol sees the MI franchise eschew even the semblance of reality. It’s full-on cartoonish, bombastic action, and it’s clear Cruise is having a ball with the increasingly inventive dilemmas his superspy is forced into. Ethan Hunt is a bit more world-weary here than he’s been before (can you blame him?), but the film never gets dour thanks to Cruise’s great chemistry with castmates Simon Pegg and Paula Patton.

19. Tropic Thunder (2008)

To survive at Cruise’s level of stardom, you have to understand how the business works. That veteran insider knowledge goes to great use in his small but uproarious turn in Tropic Thunder. He’s nearly unrecognizable as studio exec Les Grossman, who makes venomous, expletive-laden insults an art form. But Cruise’s approach to the character is the chilling undercurrent he lends Grossman. Just look at the dead-eyed glare he gives Matthew McConaughey when he calmly explains how to use an actor’s death to his own advantage. It’s rare but refreshing to see Cruise cut loose and be a little less concerned about endearing himself to the audience.

18. Oblivion (2013)

At first blush, Oblivion looks to embody some of the more noxious issues that mark a lot of recent Cruise work: a sterile action film with a science-fiction sheen; thin emotional through lines; Cruise paired with actresses notably younger than he is . Thankfully, Oblivion proves to be a fascinating, if uneven, study on the nature of loss, much of which is thanks to Cruise’s turn as a futuristic repairman in Earth’s devastated future — a role that gives him the opportunity to stretch a bit more than he’s had to lately.

17. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow adds new wrinkles to the typically hypercompetent military figure he’s played elsewhere. This time he’s an official with no combat training thrust into a messy war with an alien species — and he dies nearly immediately when he hits the battlefield. He ends up reliving his final day again and again, dying in creative ways each time. In truth, the movie’s true badass is a curt Emily Blunt as Sergeant Rita Vrataski, who whips him into shape, creating a fun tension between the two. But it’s exhilarating to watch Cruise lean into the physical humor and meld together the various personae that have come to define his career as a leading man.

16. A Few Good Men (1992)

Legal dramas — particularly those written by the likes of Aaron Sorkin — can be tricky pursuits for actors, requiring a verbal dexterity that can easily overpower them. But Cruise is excellent here, conveying an ease and gravitas as Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, who must work a thorny case when a Marine is murdered and a cover-up ensues. Cruise more than holds his own against the bluster of Jack Nicholson, an actor who can easily dominate whatever scene he’s in. But by the end of the film Cruise has a confidence and steadfast demeanor that proves to be a fascinating, subtle transformation.

15. The Color of Money (1986)

In an interview on Inside the Actors Studio , when discussing this Martin Scorsese–helmed sequel to The Hustler, Cruise described co-star Paul Newman as an idol. It’s clear here that Cruise is learning from Newman’s trademark ease and depth as an actor, rising to the challenge the movie asks of him. Cruise has played plenty of young, talented hot shots early in his career, but his work as Vincent Lauria is particularly noteworthy for the exuberance he carries, and how wonderfully he plays off the weary Newman.

14. Risky Business (1983)

In her excellent essay collection This Is Running for Your Life, Michelle Orange wrote, “True movie stars are born twice.” She’s right. There is, of course, the first story of how their stardom happened. The second birth is when they do something fans can’t forget, moments that became singed into the cultural consciousness. Cruise has produced a handful of them, but one of the most important happens here , when he dances to “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Bob Seger. Risky Business helped launch Cruise’s stardom, and it’s no wonder why.

13. Jerry Maguire (1996)

Tom Cruise has not appeared in many romantic comedies, and for good reason. Not many modern rom-coms could play toward his strengths — that practiced allure, the charming opportunism behind his easy-but-calculated smile, and the distinct impression that he’s holding something back. All of these qualities are used to great effect in this Cameron Crowe rom-com/sports drama, which gives Cruise some of his most iconic lines. But most importantly, it gives him a venue to chart a fascinating progression from a self-obsessed sports manager with shadings of a classic fuckboy to a man who reckons sincerely with his more loathsome instincts.

12. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

The third installment of what’s now Cruise’s signature franchise sees Ethan Hunt retired from fieldwork, training new recruits, and eventually squaring off with Philip Seymour Hoffman, who relishes and dominates every scene he’s in. The story line involving Michelle Monaghan as Hunt’s kept-in-the-dark fiancée has some well-worn beats, but Cruise is still an absolute pleasure to watch. The film’s otherwise excellent team dynamics allow him to expand his repertoire within the franchise, showing off some wry humor and even a surprising tenderness opposite Keri Russell.

11. Mission: Impossible — Fallout (2018)

During its short time thus far in theaters, Mission:Impossible — Fallout has proven to be an action master class, marrying ridiculous plot turns with astounding set pieces. Cruise matches the bravura of the film around him with gusto. He throws himself headlong into his outrageous stunts — one of which led to an injury, which brings up a host of questions about how his career can continue in this manner. But Cruise is a blast to watch as he navigates confusion and double crosses, his performance dented only by the requirement of traditional romance (although his scenes with Michelle Monaghan bristle with an intriguing awkwardness). He shares the glory here with some great supporting cast, most notably Henry Cavill’s surprisingly effective turn as a bruiser with slippery loyalty and Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa, the gimlet-eyed agent turned quasi–love interest.

10. Rain Man (1988)

While Cruise is obviously adept at providing the presence and physical dexterity action films require, his skills as an actor really shine through in drama films of this caliber. Rain Man gives Cruise the chance to stretch his abilities without resting on his typical charms. The entire film depends on his ability to capably communicate his character’s tricky arc: Cruise plays Charlie Babbitt, an unscrupulous and cunning yuppie who finds out that most of his estranged father’s estate is being given to an older brother he didn’t know about (Dustin Hoffman in an Oscar-winning role). As the two brothers travel across the country, Cruise delivers a genuinely touching portrayal of a man shedding his abrasive, self-centered nature to become a protective, tenderhearted brother. He has rarely felt so vulnerable onscreen.

9. Top Gun (1986)

Maverick is the quintessential cocksure, determined, highly skilled leading character that Cruise has spent a career perfecting. For many people, Top Gun is synonymous with the actor — it’s the first image they think of when they think of Tom Cruise. And while the film, directed by Tony Scott, exemplifies some of the worst aspects of Reagan-era America, Cruise himself isn’t dragged down by this one bit. It’s easy to see why this performance has left such an impact on the pop-culture imagination. His physical bravado, confidence, and joyfulness cast a spell.

8. Mission: Impossible (1996)

It’s easy to believe that Tom Cruise The Action Star has always been with us. But Mission: Impossible is when he became the real-life action figure we know him as today. And what a doozy it is. Helmed by Brian de Palma, in the film Cruise effortlessly toggles between espionage-thriller mood and impactful physicality. The movie perfectly demonstrates how smoothly Cruise can shift between tones when he needs to — just look at the infamous Pentagon break-in sequence, where he blends sweaty anxiety with light humor and, on top of all that, the action-movie tension needed to make it all work.

7. Minority Report (2002)

Minority Report is a sleek, absorbing science-fiction yarn that manages to turn a Philip K. Dick story into an expressive blockbuster action film. But Tom Cruise’s performance as John Anderton, an on-the-run detective in a futuristic world in which people can be arrested for crimes before they’ve even committed them, pushes the dark social commentary and exhilarating nature of the story to new heights. As Anderton, Cruise marries the best of his genre-film talents into one impressively gripping performance. There’s a haunted quality to his Anderton, the kind of man who carries his past wounds with him. Cruise proves to be extremely potent as a neo-noir lead.

6. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

This adaptation of the autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic (played by Cruise) is an emotional gauntlet for the actor — and it requires a dramatic physical transformation too. I’ve lamented Cruise’s work in period pieces, but he works well in this film’s ’60s and ’70s settings. One of Cruise’s specialties is to dissect the American myth, and he gets ample opportunity to do so here as he charts Kovic’s transformation from a fresh-faced soldier to an emotionally wounded, paralyzed, war-protesting vet. A mirror opposite of the more traditional military leads Cruise tends to play, his performance here is arresting, raw, and powerful.

5. War of the Worlds (2005)

Cruise is not exactly the first actor you’d expect to play an Everyman like Ray Ferrier, the longshoreman at the heart of Steven Spielberg’s 2005 sci-fi epic . But he brings gravity and heart to the central dynamic of the film — Ferrier’s desire not to be a failure as a father, and the all-consuming goal to protect his children from the alien havoc decimating the world. It’s an excellent, absorbing, humane performance that sees Cruise’s typical mania soften into a heartwarming dedication to save his family.

4. Magnolia (1999)

Few modern actors understand the mask-like quality of celebrity better than Tom Cruise, who interrogates these ideas with aplomb in Magnolia. Has Cruise ever been more utterly disturbing or strangely entrancing than as self-help guru and living embodiment of toxic masculinity Frank T.J. Mackey? Cruise only plays a supporting role here, but he’s what the viewer is drawn to most; he embodies modern masculinity’s most noxious qualities. And when all that bravado is threatened by the mere mention of his family, the way Cruise communicates the damaged vulnerability lurking beneath the surface is a marvel.

3. Collateral (2004)

In a Black Book interview, director Mary Harron shared that actor Christian Bale found inspiration for American Psycho ’s obsessive serial killer Patrick Bateman in Tom Cruise. “We talked about how Martian-like Patrick Bateman was, how he was looking at the world like somebody from another planet, watching what people did and trying to work out the right way to behave. And then one day he called me and he had been watching Tom Cruise on David Letterman, and he just had this very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes, and he was really taken with this energy.” It’s for precisely this reason why Cruise never feels like a truly capable romantic lead: There’s something practiced, even unnatural about his charisma, like a mask being worn. Most directors miss out on this quality, but Michael Mann capitalized on it. Cruise delivers one of his most assured and complex performances as Vincent, a hit man who ropes in an unsuspecting cabdriver played by Jamie Foxx. Cruise’s charisma is finally used as a weapon, not a lure.

2. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Dr. Bill Hartford is an unlikely part for Cruise. He’s humiliated, confused, and frequently out of his depth in Stanley Kubrick’s odd erotic drama Eyes Wide Shut. But it proves to be one of Cruise’s richest and most complex performances as he navigates a strange milieu of sexual desire. The tension between him and then-wife Nicole Kidman, playing his movie wife Alice Hartford, along with Cruise’s utter lack of an equilibrium make this as much about sexuality as it is about the trials and tribulations we endure to find any sense of happiness.

1. Interview With the Vampire (1994)

Lestat, the preening and egotistical creation by Gothic novelist Anne Rice, is the photo negative of a typical Tom Cruise role — at least that’s how he seems at first. He doesn’t run or channel manic energy or do stunt work; he saunters and stalks with the coolly focused energy of a wolf. He’s languid and frightening, lupine and menacing. But Lestat does share one trait that snakes its way through Cruise’s greatest work: bold narcissism. Interview With the Vampire allows Cruise to lean into that. It lets Cruise be something he’s rarely been — archly humorous, disturbingly erotic, truly dangerous. It’s wondrous watching him turn from sincere to brutal as he plays off the cheerfully cruel Kirsten Dunst and the solemn Brad Pitt.

More importantly, this is one of the rare performances in which Cruise utterly cuts loose and experiments beyond the usual archetypes he’s grown accustomed to. It isn’t a perfect performance — it’s better than that. Beguiling and malevolently anti-charismatic, Cruise has never been more fun to watch.

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Warner Bros. Spends Big: ‘Joker 2’ Budget Hits $200 Million, Lady Gaga’s $12 Million Payday, Courting Tom Cruise’s New Deal and More 

By Tatiana Siegel

Tatiana Siegel

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In January, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy jetted to London to connect with the new crown jewel of the studio, Tom Cruise . The three met to identify a film that would kick off their nonexclusive “strategic partnership.” Sources say a raft of possibilities were discussed, including an “Edge of Tomorrow” follow-up and Quentin Tarantino ’s “The Movie Critic,” which currently isn’t set up with a distributor and has Warner Bros., like every major studio, salivating.

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“The strategy at Warner Bros. right now and the reason they made some of these big star deals is they’re basically playing with other people’s money,” says one insider. “They’re shopping for Quentin or Cruise with the notion they can use it as a shiny object that is going to be additive when Zaslav sells the company.”

That time may be approaching. In April, Warner Bros. Discovery can entertain offers to buy, sell or merge with a studio like NBCUniversal, as many on the lot believe will happen. That’s when the two-year lock-up period expires as part of the 2022 deal that united WarnerMedia and Discovery. All of the recent moves, from a first-look pact with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap to the quest to land Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” follow-up are akin to painting a house before it hits the market.

And this is one splashy renovation. The budget for Todd Phillips’ musical “Joker” sequel — one of De Luca and Abdy’s first green lights — has ballooned to about $200 million, a significant bump from the $60 million cost of the first film. Sources say Joaquin Phoenix is getting $20 million to reprise his role as the clown prince of crime, while Lady Gaga is taking home about $12 million to play Harley Quinn. “Joker” took in more than $1 billion, but musicals are tricky. Case in point: Warners lost $40 million on last year’s “The Color Purple,” according to sources. Though that one can be blamed on the previous regime.

Some argue that spending big is essential when releasing movies in theaters.

“There’s only so much top talent in Hollywood, and it’s very competitive and stretched thin because a lot of talent have deals in streaming,” says Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations. “If theatrical is going to work, you need the A-lister like Tom and Leo, and Warner Bros. is spending what they need to spend to keep this talent.”

But executives across town believe Warners’ math sometimes doesn’t add up, with the studio decried as fiscally irresponsible. The Anderson film, for instance, was greenlit with a $115 million budget, according to sources. Underscoring the gamble, none of the director’s movies has crossed $80 million at the box office. His latest, 2021’s “Licorice Pizza,” made $33 million worldwide. Even with Cruise’s star power, “Magnolia” only mustered $48.5 million. (It was De Luca, then a New Line exec, who convinced Cruise to play “Magnolia’s” misogynistic self-help guru.) The pair are said to be less pumped about another auteur’s latest: Bong Joon Ho ’s “Mickey 17.” In January, Warner Bros. pulled the $150 million Robert Pattinson sci-fi starrer from its schedule and then moved it to 2025. A Warner rep insists: “There is, of course, enthusiasm for it.”

As merger mania draws near, De Luca and Abdy seem unwilling to push back on talent asks. But apparently they did just that during the Coogler-Jordan negotiations. The director and star wanted 25% of first-dollar gross to split and two guaranteed theatrical release slots for future films. Both deal points were nixed.

Despite the pressure to acquiesce to demands from top talent, De Luca and Abdy can still say no.

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Tom Cruise’s Massive Impact on One MCU Superhero’s Career Shows He Never Really Needed Marvel Movies to be a Cinematic God

T om Cruise is one giant movie star who has influenced many actors who have worked with him and taught them various necessary skills to get on in the industry. Fans have heard many stories about his co-stars talking about how he is a people pleaser and is a big supporter of movies and filmmaking. The actor is also always ready to shower advice on anyone who needs any kind of guidance.

Cruise worked with Jeremy Renner in two Mission Impossible films. Renner experienced the dedication of Cruise and his prep for the death-defying action sequences. The Avengers star was inspired by Cruise in action filmmaking and learned a lot from him about taking care of one’s body to prepare for intense stuntwork.

Tom Cruise Had a Big Impact on Jeremy Renner On Action Filmmaking And Physical Fitness

No one is as daring in Hollywood as Tom Cruise when it comes to death-defying stunts and his insistence on practical action filmmaking. The actor has broken boundaries and shocked audiences with his amazing feats with the Top Gun and Mission Impossible franchises, and his co-stars over the years have nothing but great things to say about him.

Harrison Ford Lost the Opportunity of a Lifetime By Turning Down a $106 Million Cult-classic Film With Director Who Kicked Off Tom Cruise’s $4 Billion Franchise

His Mission Impossible co-star Jeremy Renner is also one the people in awe of Cruise and his incredible work ethic. The Avengers star has witnessed him prepare for his stints and how he trains his body to be able to execute those feats. In an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Renner stated that Cruise has been a major inspiration in how he approaches action in films.

Highest-Rated ‘Mad Max’ Film Starring Mel Gibson Has a Stunt That Can Rival Tom Cruise’s Ankle-Breaking Scene in ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’

Renner revealed that Cruise changed the game for him with regard to the physical aspect of action films. Cruise’s methods taught him his body awareness, how much his body would be able to do, and how to use it as an instrument. The Hawkeye actor carried his learnings to his action films in the MCU and The Bourne Legacy. Renner said,

Tom did a lot, especially with the action stuff. The way he approached the physical aspect of action film. So, he really changed the game for me there, but also the narrative. I learned my body awareness, I learned that this is an instrument, you had to train like a professional athlete, and had to treat my body as such I gotta take that for The Bourne Legacy and all the Avengers films, you gotta use that mindset…to really get into it and take it seriously. 

Cruise’s impact on Renner is one of many anecdotes about the actor being a huge support for his co-stars and other actors in the industry. Timothée Chalamet and Glen Powell have also talked about Cruise’s advice to them in navigating the industry. Cruise is a mentor to them and is ever-ready if anyone needs his help.

Jeremy Renner Was Planned For More Appearances In The Mission Impossible Franchise

Jeremy Renner played William Brandt in Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation . However, he surprisingly did not return for 2018’s Fallout. The films required him to be overseas for a big chunk of time, and he had to sacrifice it to be a family man and be with his daughter.

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In an interview with Collider , he revealed the shooting schedules didn’t work out, and he didn’t return. However, as his daughter has grown up now, he would be open to a return to the franchise as he loved working with Tom Cruise and the crew on those films. The actor said,

Yeah. I had to leave that. I was supposed to do more with them. I love those guys. I love Tom [Cruise] so much. We had so much fun, and I love that character a lot. It requires a lot of time away. It’s all in London. I had to go be a dad. It just wasn’t gonna work out then. Maybe now that my daughter is older that could happen. I’d always jump into a Mission: Impossible anytime and back into Brandt. It’s great.

Renner is back stronger than ever after his tragic snowplow accident last year and is excited to continue being an actor. It remains to be seen if he is called back into the franchise. The actor recently landed a role in the upcoming third film in the Knives Out franchise.