Tom Cruise has been a staple of Hollywood blockbusters for decades, and his new film Top Gun: Maverick looks set to continue the trend. Throughout his career, the actor has appeared in a number of big franchise hits as well as a few more arthouse films.
Ranker has compiled a comprehensive list of Tom Cruise’s top films to date, based on user votes. Even the best actors in the industry would struggle to match the end product, which is a varied combination of action, drama, and even sci-fi.
A Few Good Men (1992)
It’s easy to see why Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay for the courtroom drama A Few Good Men is usually recognized as one of the best in the genre’s history. It weaves a deep and comprehensive narrative that’s impossible not to lose yourself in, thanks to outstanding performances from Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson.
A Few Good Men is both a riveting legal thriller and an in-depth analysis of America’s wartime behavior and the morality of how the government treats prisoners of war. There’s a lot more to the narrative than meets the eye, which makes it infinitely more compelling.
Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
Cruise’s labor had been taken up with Mission: Impossible for several years at this point, so Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow acted as a kind of comeback to the sci-fi genre for him. The film depicts a futuristic universe in which a US soldier is trapped in a time loop while fighting an alien species on Earth.
In the picture, Tom Cruise co-stars with Emily Blunt, and the two have excellent chemistry in every scene they share. They give the plot a much-needed human element by rooting it in truth rather than fiction. Edge of Tomorrow is widely regarded as one of the best original-concept sci-fi films of recent years for this reason.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire is a film directed by Cameron Crowe about a sports agent who is forced to examine his life after losing his job. The film follows Jerry as he tries to get back on his feet, documenting the difficulties he encounters along the road.
Jerry Maguire is widely regarded as one of Tom Cruise’s best parts, not just because of his outstanding performance, but also because of Crowe’s engaging script and distinct writing style. The film is so much more than a typical sports picture, seamlessly merging genres with a tale that appeals to a wide range of consumers.
Minority Report (2002)
Minority Report, Steven Spielberg’s prophetic investigation of the future, has been incessantly discussed since its premiere, but it still feels relevant and timely. The film depicts a dystopian future in which cops employ psychic technology to apprehend criminals who will commit crimes in the future.
When Cruise’s character is found guilty of a crime he did not commit, he quickly realizes how dangerous and terrible this new technology is. It’s an exciting watch, with plenty of deep and philosophical ideas at its core.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Tom Cruise is most known for his roles in Mission: Impossible and its sequels, with Ethan Hunt fast becoming one of the genre’s most iconic and revered characters. Agent Hunt’s work for the Impossible Missions Force sends him on a variety of life-threatening adventures throughout the movie.
The Mission: Impossible films contain a collection of Tom Cruise’s most daring exploits to date, the majority of which are carried out by the actor himself. Even when some of the installments have a poorer story, the franchise thrives thanks to these authentic action sequences.
Rain Man (1988)
When self-motivated auto dealer Charlie discovers that his late father’s inheritance is being provided to the mental institution where his long-lost brother Raymond is being held, he decides to check Raymond out and bring him to Los Angeles, where he intends to reclaim his father’s money.
Rain Man is one of Cruise’s most riveting and emotional films to date, despite the unethical and confusing plot at its core. This is mostly due to the strength of Marrow & Bass’s screenplay and their outstanding character work throughout the story.
Risky Business (1983)
One of Tom Cruise’s first major film roles was in Risky Business, in which he played a high school senior who converts his family’s home into a brothel while his parents are away. It’s an incredibly dangerous comedy that frequently crosses the border between humorous and unpleasant, yet does so in a constantly engaging manner, as the title suggests.
Many consider Risky Business to be one of the best teen comedies of the 1980s, because to Tom Cruise’s charm and charisma, which holds the whole thing together. It’s a film that would be unlikely to be made today, which adds to the nostalgia and respect that many people have for it.
The Firm (1993)
The Company is one of Cruise’s most well-known thrillers, portraying the story of an ambitious young lawyer who becomes embroiled in a hazardous murder case after accepting a position with a shady legal firm. It’s one of the actor’s most riveting and intriguing flicks, with a plot that will have any audience on the edge of their seats.
The Firm was one of the first films that launched Cruise into the ’90s action film’ phase of his career, for which he is most well-known. He is an engrossing protagonist who keeps the audience guessing and navigates the plot in an original manner.
The Last Samurai (2003)
The Last Samurai isn’t your standard Tom Cruise movie, but it nevertheless has all of the action and violence that the star has become known for. Nathan Algren, a US soldier, is charged with training the Japanese army to combat a Samurai revolt.
The Last Samurai, like many other action films of the era, is held together by some very bold and creative direction that allows its explosive set-pieces to stand out. It has a distinct voice and style that gives the story a fresh and innovative vibe.
Top Gun (1986)
Many people consider Top Gun to be one of Tom Cruise’s best films of all time, owing to how powerfully it is imbued with ’80s charm and nostalgia. The plot follows top pilot Maverick as he navigates the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School, where he clashes with other pilots and vies for the attention of his flight teacher Charlie.
Despite the fact that some fans think the picture is a touch old, Top Gun has always been a tremendous hit with critics and audiences. It reflects a specific type of blockbuster filmmaking that we don’t see very often these days, and one that many fans are hoping to witness with Top Gun: Maverick this year.
