tom cruise movies 1981

Tom Cruise's Best 80s Movie Roles, Ranked

Jed Hunt

Tom Cruise's career in the 1980s was nothing short of spectacular. He starred in 12 feature films during the decade, showcasing his dynamic range and ability to play various characters. His early career began with small parts in Endless Love (1981) and Taps (1981) before landing his breakout role in The Outsiders (1983) as part of the ensemble cast. He continued to gain momentum with his roles in All the Right Moves (1983) and Risky Business (1983). Cruise's portrayal of Maverick in Top Gun (1986) truly earned his status as a leading man. 

Cruise's versatility, dedication, and talent were displayed in the 1980s, and he quickly established himself as one of Hollywood's most prominent and sought-after actors. Cruise's films have earned over $4 billion in North America alone, so it's not surprising he's considered not only one of the best actors of the '80s but also one of the greatest actors of all time.

Below is a list of all 12 Tom Cruise movies from the '80s, ranked best to worst. Which do you think are the most iconic?

Top Gun

In Top Gun, Tom Cruise plays Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. In this breakout role, Cruise is a young and reckless pilot who competes to become the best at the Top Gun naval flying school and falls in love with his instructor.

Rain Man

Tom Cruise stars in Rain Man as Charlie Babbitt, a selfish yuppie who discovers that his estranged brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) has autism and inherits a large sum of money and learns to connect with him.

Born on the Fourth of July

Born on the Fourth of July

Born on the Fourth of July stars Tom Cruise as Ron Kovic, in a leading role as a Vietnam War veteran who becomes an anti-war activist after being paralyzed in combat and struggles with PTSD and identity.

Risky Business

Risky Business

As Joel Goodsen in Risky Business, Tom Cruise plays the leading role of a high school student who starts a prostitution business to pay for damages he caused while throwing a party and gets caught up in a wild adventure.

The Color of Money

The Color of Money

The Color of Money features Tom Cruise as Vincent Lauria, a leading role as a young pool shark who becomes a protege of legendary pool player "Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman).

Taps

Taps features Tom Cruise as David Shawn, in a prominent role as a cadet who leads a group of military academy students to take over the school when it is scheduled to be closed and faces the moral dilemmas of rebellion.

The Outsiders

The Outsiders

In The Outsiders, Tom Cruise plays Steve Randle, a member of a gang of "greasers" growing up in Oklahoma during the 1960s and facing the harsh realities of poverty and violence.

All the Right Moves

All the Right Moves

All the Right Moves features Tom Cruise as Stefen Djordjevic, a high school football player who clashes with his coach while trying to win a scholarship and navigate the pressure and expectations of small-town life.

Cocktail

Cocktail stars Tom Cruise as Brian Flanagan, a young man who becomes a bartender and learns the secrets of the trade while pursuing a woman and finding success but also losing sight of what's truly important.

Legend

Legend stars Tom Cruise as Jack, a simple forest dweller who must rescue a kidnapped princess from the Lord of Darkness and battle mythical creatures in a fantastical world.

Losin' It

Losin' It

Losin' It features Tom Cruise as Woody, a high school student who travels to Tijuana with friends for a wild spring break and gets into trouble with a local gang.

Endless Love

Endless Love

Endless Love was Tom Cruise's first movie appearance. He's credited with a single scene, playing a shirtless teenager playing soccer. 

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All Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer

Top Gun: Maverick is back in theaters for Rotten Tomatoes’ 25th anniversary screening series at AMC — get tickets now !

From his teen idol days in the early ’80s to his status as a marquee-lighting leading man today, Tom Cruise has consistently done it all for decades — he’s completed impossible missions, learned about Wapner time in Rain Man , driven the highway to the danger zone in Top Gun , and done wonders for Bob Seger’s royalty statements in Risky Business , to offer just a few examples. Mr. Cruise is one of the few honest-to-goodness film stars left in the Hollywood firmament, so whether you’re a hardcore fan or just interested in a refresher course on his filmography, we’re here to take a fond look back at a truly impressive career and rank all Tom Cruise movies.

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Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) 97%

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Top Gun: Maverick (2022) 96%

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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) 96%

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Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015) 94%

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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 93%

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Risky Business (1983) 92%

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Edge of Tomorrow (2014) 91%

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Minority Report (2002) 89%

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Rain Man (1988) 88%

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The Color of Money (1986) 88%

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Collateral (2004) 86%

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Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 84%

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American Made (2017) 85%

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A Few Good Men (1992) 84%

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Jerry Maguire (1996) 84%

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Magnolia (1999) 82%

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Tropic Thunder (2008) 82%

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Eyes Wide Shut (1999) 75%

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The Firm (1993) 76%

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War of the Worlds (2005) 76%

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Mission: Impossible III (2006) 71%

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The Outsiders (1983) 70%

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Taps (1981) 68%

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Mission: Impossible (1996) 66%

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The Last Samurai (2003) 66%

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Interview With the Vampire (1994) 63%

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Jack Reacher (2012) 64%

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All the Right Moves (1983) 61%

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Valkyrie (2008) 62%

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Top Gun (1986) 57%

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Mission: Impossible II (2000) 56%

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Oblivion (2013) 54%

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Knight and Day (2010) 52%

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Far and Away (1992) 50%

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Rock of Ages (2012) 42%

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Vanilla Sky (2001) 43%

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Legend (1985) 41%

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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) 38%

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Days of Thunder (1990) 38%

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Lions for Lambs (2007) 27%

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Losin' It (1982) 18%

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The Mummy (2017) 15%

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Cocktail (1988) 9%

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Every Tom Cruise Movie Performance, Ranked

tom cruise movies 1981

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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Tom Cruise

  • Overview ↓
  • Filmography ↓
  • Other Appearances ↓
  • Awards ↓

Filmography

tom cruise movies 1981

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About the 80s

7 Best Tom Cruise Movies of the 80s

Born in Syracuse, NY on July 3, 1962, Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s most popular actors and producers, receiving numerous accolades for his work, including three Golden Globe Award and three nominations for Academy Awards.

He has a net worth of $570 million as of 2020 and is one of the highest paid actors in the world. He’s also one of the highest-grossing box office stars of all time, with films grossing over $4 billion in North America and over $10.1 billion around the world.

Tom Cruise in the Early 80s

Tom Cruise’s early career started when moving to New York City with his mother and step father to pursue an acting career. He first found a job as a busboy and later went to Los Angeles to try out for television roles, where he landed a contract with CAA and started acting in films. His first film was Endless Love (1981) where he appeared in a bit part, followed by a major supporting role as Billy in Taps .

In 1983, he was made part of the ensemble cast of The Outsiders before starring in All the Right Moves and Risky Business which was described as “A Generation X classic, and a career-maker for Tom Cruise.” It was then in 1986 where he landed the major role of playing Maverick in Top Gun, where his career really took off.

Top Tom Cruise Films of the 80s

1. top gun (1986).

Directed by Tony Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer in association with Paramount Pictures, Tom Cruise played Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchel, a young naval pilot working off the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, along with his best friend and Radar Intercept Officer, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards). Together, they are given the opportunity to train at the US Navy’s Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, CA.

After being released, Top Gun first had mixed reviews from critics, but most loved the action scenes, effects, aerial stunts and acting performances from Cruise and Kelly McGillis (Charlotte). Despite its mixed reviews, the film had grossed $356 million in the US with a budget of just $15 million. It maintained its popularity throughout the 80s and also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin.

Fun fact: a sequel, Top Gun: Maverick will be released on July 2, 2021, after being postponed twice due to COVID-19.

2. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Directed by Oliver Stone and based on an eponymous 1976 autobiography by Ron Kovic, Born on the Fourth of July is a biographical war drama film about the life of Kovic (Cruise) over a 20-year period. The story covers his childhood, military service and paralysis during the Vietnam War and then his transition to anti-war activism.

After the film’s release, it was praised by critics for its story, including Tom Cruise’s acting and Stone’s direction. While they initially had a $14 million budget, it ended up costing $17.8 million after reshoots when Al Pacino (who would have played Kovic) and producer Bregman left.

Despite going over budget, the movie was largely successful at the box office as it grossed over $161 million worldwide, making it the tenth highest-grossing film of 1989. The film also won four Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

3. Rain Man (1988)

Directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass, Rain Man is about an abrasive, selfish young wheeler-dealer named Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) who discovers his estranged father died and left his multi-million dollar home to his other son, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). Raymond is an autistic savant of whom Charlie didn’t even know. The only items left for Charlie were his father’s beloved vintage car and rosebushes. Valeria Golino also stars alongside Tom Cruise as Charlie’s girlfriend Susanna.

Rain Man was the highest grossing film in 1988, winning four Oscars at the 61st Academy Awards in March 1989, including Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading role for Hoffman, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. The film crew had also received an additional four nominations. The movie also won the Golden Bear at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.

4. Risky Business (1983)

Written and directed by Paul Brickman and starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay, Risky Business is about a once young, smart, innocent boy, Joel (Cruise) who lives with his wealthy parents in Chicago’s North Shore of Glencoe.

His future means everything to him, but his friend, Miles, steps in and calls a prostitute on his behalf. Turns out, she happened to be a trans woman, who Joel paid for her to leave. But before she did, she gave Joel the number of another prostitute, Lana, who Joel also called and invited over.

She was a gorgeous young blonde who fooled around with him the rest of the night and asked him for $300 the following morning for her services. He didn’t have the money on hand, so he went to the bank, leaving the prostitute in his home, where she stole his mother’s expensive Steuben glass egg.

The film had a great presentation for themes including loss of innocence, coming of age, capitalism and materialism, grossing over $63 million with just a $6.2 million budget.

5. The Color of Money (1986)

Directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Richard Price in association with Touchstone Pictures, The Color of Money is a drama film based on the 1984 novel by Walter Tevis. The movie features the continued story of a pool hustler and stake horse Edward “Fast Eddie” Felson, who decides to introduce a student to his game of scamming others in pool halls.

He meets talented, green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and proposes a partnership. When Fast Eddie leads Vince through various pool halls and teaches him the tricks of scamming, he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent’s showboat antics which leads to a major argument and fallout between the two. But Eddie soon takes up playing again and takes on Vincent as an opponent.

The film won an Academy Awards for Best Actor, National Board of review Awards for Top Ten Films and National Board of Review Awards for Best Actor. It also grossed $52.3 million with a budget of $13.8 million.

6. All the Right Moves (1983)

Directed by Michael Chapman, All the Right Moves is a sports drama about Stefan Djordjevic (Tom Cruise), who is the star player of his high school football team who’s hoping his talents will earn him a scholarship and move him out of his small hometown of Ampipe, PA. But a heated argument between him and his coach (Craig T. Nelson) gets him booted from the football team, and he’s blacklisted from college recruiters. So Stefan must fight for the chance to live out his dream and escape from a dead-end future.

While the film wasn’t nominated nor won any awards, it did gross over $17 million at the box office with a budget of $5.6 million.

7. Legend (1985)

Directed by Ridley Scott, Legend is an epic dark fantasy adventure story , revolving around Jack, a pure being who must stop the Lord of Darkness, who plans to cover the world in darkness forever. Most describe this film as a dark fairy tale and return to more original and even disturbing fables originating from the ancient times oral tradition.

This movie was not a commercial success when it was first released, but it did win the British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in 1985 for cinematographer Alex Thomson. It was also nominated for a number of other awards, including:

  • Oscar for Best Makeup
  • Academy of Science Fiction
  • Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Award for Best Makeup
  • BAFTA Awards for Best Costume Design
  • Best Makeup Artist
  • Best Special Visual Effects
  • DVD Exclusive awards
  • Young Artist Awards

But despite all the nominations, the film only grossed $23.5 million with a $24.5 million budget.

Tom Cruise’s Films with Minor Roles

1. the outsiders (1983).

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Outsiders is based on the 1967 novel by S. E. Hinton, where Jo Ellen Misakian and her students inspired Coppola to make the film at Lone Star Elementary School in Fresno, CA. It had various up-and-coming stars, including C. Thomas Howell (who won a Young Artist Award), Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swazy, Ralph Maccio, and Diane Lane. The film also inspired the Brat Pack genre of the 80s, where a rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and rich Socs heats up when one gang member kills a member of the other. While Cruise didn’t have a strong role, it helped him to land the starring role as Joel in Risky Business.

The movie received mostly positive reviews from movie critics, mostly for the acting performances, specifically Macchio being singled out for praise. The movie grossed $33.7 million at the box office with only a $10 million budget.

2. Taps (1981)

Directed by Harold Becker, Taps is a 1981 drama starring George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton about a group of military school students who decide to take over their school and save it from closing. While it was Sean Penn’s first film role and Cruise’s second, Cruise only had a supporting role, playing David Shawn.

But it was this film, along with another film, Endless Love that gave him the opportunity to star as Joel in Risky Business, where he would have his big break.

With a budget of only $14 million, the movie grossed almost $36 million at the box office.

3. Endless Love (1981)

Endless Love is another 80s romance drama directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt. Tom Cruise had a minor role as Billy. The movie was also based on the 1979 novel, written by Scott Spencer.

The story is about a love-obsessed couple where a 15-year-old girl is thwarted by her parents’ disapproval of her relationship. So she burns down her family’s home and is committed to a psychiatric hospital.

While the movie was unfavorably compared to the book, which featured the dangers of obsessive love as well as receiving poor reviews, its theme song became a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100. The song also received an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination for “Best Original Song” in addition to five Grammy Award nominations.

Tom Cruise’s Less Successful Films

1. cocktail (1988).

Directed by Donaldson and written by Heywood Gould, this 80s rom com was based on Gould’s novel. The Cocktail is about a young business student living in NYC, Brian Flanagan (Cruise) whose dream is to go into marketing. But he learns how to bartend to pay for college and make ends meet, where he meets his veteran boss, Doug Coughlin (Bryan Brown). Working together, they show off special tricks and charisma while bringing in large tips and crowds – until they have a falling out. Flanagan ended up moving to Jamaica to raise money to open his own bar, where he fell in love with the beautiful artist Jordan Mooney (Elisabeth Shue).

Despite its success in the box office, grossing over $171.5 million, the film had horrible reviews from critics. One had said, “There are no surprises in Cocktail, a shallow, dramatically inert romance that squanders Tom Cruise’s talents in what amounts to a naive barkeep’s banal fantasy.”

Losin It

2. Losin’ It (1983)

This American-Canadian film was directed by Chris Hanson and involves four teenagers trying to lose their virginity. Losin’ It takes place in 1950s Los Angeles where the group is on their way to Tijuana, Mexico. Dave, Spider and Woody (Cruise) are there to lose their virginity while Wendell came to buy fireworks. They pick up a young woman named Kathy, who tags along because she wants a quick divorce from her husband. But they quickly find themselves in a series of adventures and troubles south of the border.

This film received a ton of negative reviews from critics and has a 20% score on Rotten Tomatoes according to 10 reviews.

What’s Your Favorite Tom Cruise Film?

Even if it’s not from the 80s, Tom Cruise starred in many highly successful films, including the Mission Impossible series, Jerry Maguire (1996), Minority Report (2002), Interview with the Vampire (1994), The Last Samurai (2003), Vanilla Sky (2001), and The Mummy (2017). What are your favorites? Please let us know in the comments below!

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Every Tom Cruise Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

He's more than a guy who looks good in Ray-Bans and runs a lot.

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A movie so bad, it was the first and last entry in Universal’s planned monster movie cinematic universe.

Rock of Ages

Performance, Rock concert, Concert, Performing arts, Event, Stage, Public event, Music venue, Metal, Musician,

Amazon Hulu

In this extremely unfortunate musical about ‘80s hair metal, Tom Cruise plays a karaoke version of a rock and roll god named Stacee Jaxx.

Fun, Adaptation, Event, Night, Drink, Smile,

Amazon Tubi

Released the same year as Risky Business , Tom Cruise plays the hunk in this high school sex comedy that time forgot. Get it? They’re "losin’ it"—as in their virginity.

Endless Love

Barechested, Abdomen, Chest, Muscle, Thigh, Leg, Fun, Summer, Trunk, Arm,

Amazon HBO Max

In his first on-screen appearance, Tom Cruise is some random shirtless kid in Daisy Dukes bragging about being a pyromaniac.

Lions for Lambs

White-collar worker, Suit, Photography, Businessperson, Employment, Window, Job,

Amazon iTunes

Nearly a decade before Trump coined the term “Fake News,” Tom Cruise plays a morally corrupt senator making a presidential bid by planting a story through a journalist played by Meryl Streep. In the end, this pretentious and convoluted plot says very little about its moving parts.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Hand, Arm, Technology, Finger, Room, Gesture, Art, Media, Vacation, Interior design,

Though the tagline warns to never go back, Cruise unfortunately did go back to play the titular Jack Reacher, in a sequel that plays out like dumb, less tech-savvy Mission: Impossible.

Romance, Human, Interaction, Organism, Love, Adaptation, Photography, Scene, Movie, Cg artwork,

YouTube iTunes

Tom Cruise and Mia Sara try to protect the last of the unicorns from Tim Curry, who is some sort of awesome devil muppet. It’s also the only straight-up fantasy movie Cruise has ever done—and it’s pretty obvious why.

Far and Away

Romance, Interaction, Forehead, Love, Fun, Photography, Gesture, Scene,

Seven years before they co-starred in Eyes Wide Shut (and two years after their wedding), Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman played star-crossed lovers and Irish immigrants trying to make it in America.

Digital compositing, Fictional character, Cg artwork, Adventure game,

In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, Cruise is a drone repairman who’s also into American sports. When he finds a group of survivors (led by Morgan Freeman), he begins to question the nature of his entire reality. As always, Cruise holds down what is otherwise a pretty clunky plot.

Soldier, Army, Military, Motor vehicle, Vehicle, Mode of transport, Troop, Off-road vehicle, Military organization, Military uniform,

YouTube Pluto TV

Tom Cruise plays a German officer with an American accent who leads a group of German soldiers with British accents in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler during WWII. It’s based on an actual military plot that could have entered some intriguing territory, had it not settled for being average historical escapism.

Knight and Day

Gun, Firearm, Shooter game, Airsoft gun, Airsoft, Trigger, Movie, Games, Recreation, Shooting,

In this action comedy, Cruise is once again a secret agent who accidentally ropes Cameron Diaz into an international conspiracy. For all his macho spy stuff, Cruise proves in Knight and Day that he can take this hero stuff lightly too.

Mission: Impossible II

Blue, Water, Light, Fun, Photography, Liquid bubble, Glass,

Paramount+ Netflix

The worst of Cruise’s six Mission: Impossible movies, this one sees Ethan Hunt trying to stop a deadly weaponized virus that’s going to be released by terrorists. Unfortunately, director John Woo’s style didn’t quite fit with the international espionage of this franchise.

Jack Reacher

Movie,

In his first of two movies playing the titular former military police-officer-turned-vigilante-drifter, Cruise’s character tries to stop a military sniper on a killing spree. Of course, Cruise also did all his own driving stunts.

The Outsiders

Social group, People, Youth, Friendship, Fun, Team, Photography, Leisure, Jeans, Family,

Coming down from the golden phase of his career, Francis Ford Coppola assembled an incredible upcoming cast for The Outsiders that included Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane.

Vehicle, Car, Fictional character, Family car, City car,

In his second-ever onscreen role, Cruise plays David Shawn, one of the military cadets who attempt to protect their academy from being torn down for local condo developers. Pretty low stakes as far as military dramas go.

War of the Worlds

Human, Jacket, Outerwear, Beard, Facial hair, Leather, Fictional character,

In this Steven Spielberg re-imagining of the H.G. Wells novel, Cruise plays a father attempting to keep his children safe throughout an alien invasion. Though it has all the highlights of a Spielbergian sci-fi, it wasn’t quite enough to cause riots like Orson Welles’s infamous radio broadcast.

The Last Samurai

Recreation, Musical instrument, Team,

Amazon Netflix

A white savior complex brings down what is otherwise a well-acted period period piece about an American Civil War veteran sent to train a 19th century Japanese army.

Mission: Impossible III

Romance, Interaction, Love, Human, Photography, Gesture, Scene, Happy, Flash photography, Dance,

Before he was put in charge of both Star Wars and Star Trek , J.J. Abrams’s big Hollywood blockbuster movie directorial debut was at the helm of Mission: Impossible III , which saw a retired Ethan Hunt brought back in the game to stop an excellent Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Vanilla Sky

Barechested, Chest, Muscle, Human, Arm, Human body, Neck, Flesh, Photography, Trunk,

Cruise stars in this philosophical thriller as a man haunted by the specter of a former flame after becoming disfigured in a car crash. (Fun fact: Penelope Cruz plays the same character in this remake of her Spanish film, Abre los Ojos .)

Days of Thunder

Vehicle, Car, Tire, Automotive wheel system, Motorsport, Automotive tire, Compact car, Team, City car,

NASCAR moved into the mainstream thanks to this movie in which Cruise plays a promising driver hoping to making it in the big leagues.

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Tom Cruise’s 10 Best Non-'Mission: Impossible' Movies, According to Rotten Tomatoes

If you want to see more of the actor behind Ethan Hunt, check out these highly-rated movies!

From his earliest days starring in comedic teen dramas to his current standing as a major blockbuster draw card the world over, Tom Cruise can only be viewed as one of the greatest movie stars cinema has ever seen. Ever since he starred in 1996’s reboot of Mission: Impossible , the action franchise has become a major part of his cinematic identity, and with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in theaters from July 12, fans will be coming out in droves to see what Ethan Hunt and the IMF have in store.

Despite his action star image, Cruise has honed his skill set in a wide range of roles across many different genres. From unlikely heroes to terrifying antagonists and, of course, a couple of iconic action roles, these are Tom Cruise’s best movies outside the Mission: Impossible franchise, according to Rotten Tomatoes .

10 'Jerry Maguire' (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

A sports management romance flick, Jerry Maguire excelled thanks to its wonderful cast and Cameron Crowe ’s unique style. It stars Cruise as the titular character, a successful sports agent who want to re-invent the way athlete management operates for the better, with only one client staying with him to see if it will work.

Ever on the brink of everything falling apart, Cruise brings out Jerry Maguire’s angst and desperation but also his convictions and humor to make for a charming and triumphant outing. With Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. also outstanding in their parts, the film remains a rewarding, endlessly quotable '90s rom-com classic.

9 'American Made' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

A comedic crime drama based on true events, American Made had raucous and infectious energy befitting its stranger-than-fiction narrative. Cruise stars as Barry Seal, an American pilot hired by the CIA to gain intel on a communist threat in Central America only to end up working as a smuggler for the Medellín cartel.

A fun-fueled pressure cooker of a movie , it demanded Cruise shoulder the load of its tonal complexity. He delivered in spades, embodying the reckless, shameless moral debauchery that made the film such a spectacle. It encapsulates the freewheeling chaos of 1980s America and roars to an abrupt and violent ending.

8 'Born of the Fourth of July' (1989)

Possibly the single most underrated performance of Tom Cruise’s career, Born on the Fourth of July features the movie icon at his dramatic best. The biographical war drama follows Ron Kovic, a paralyzed veteran of the Vietnam War who becomes an anti-war activist as the world around him fails to comprehend what he lives with.

From director Oliver Stone , the film was an angry, exceptional swipe at so many aspects of American society and how it handled the war and its veterans in its entirety. Taking Kovic from an optimistic and naïve youth to a furious, jaded activist earned Cruise his first Oscar nomination and remains his most striking performance.

7 'Collateral' (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

Tom Cruise has made a name for himself as one of the greatest action stars cinema has ever seen. As such, it is rather rare to see him in the role of the antagonist, which is a shame considering how fantastic he was at playing the villain in Collateral .

The thriller stars Jamie Foxx as an L.A. cabbie who realizes he’s been driving a rampaging hitman from one job to the next. The action is high-tempo and intense, and the tension only builds as Foxx’s innocent protagonist tries to figure out how to escape the night alive, but the film hinges its brilliance on Cruise’s magnetic and utterly intimidating performance as the psychotic gunman.

6 'The Color of Money' (1986)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

A legacy sequel before legacy sequels were a thing, The Color of Money succeeded The Hustler some 25 years after the first film was made. Paul Newman reprised his role as “Fast Eddie” Felson, a once legendary pub-crawling con artist who returns to scamming pool games and takes young accomplice Vincent Lauria (Cruise) under his wing.

The mentor-to-rivalry relationship between the two is a joy to watch, especially with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese giving the film a real visual punch. While Newman was the leading man, the film showed that Cruise wasn’t out of his depth rubbing shoulders with major stars on the big screen and still stands as a pivotal moment in his career.

5 'Rain Man' (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

From director Barry Levinson , Rain Man was an early opportunity for Cruise to capitalize on his early success in a dramatic road trip film which would win four Oscars, including Best Picture. It follows a sketchy car dealer who, upon learning his estranged father has died, returns home and learns his inheritance has been left to a mental institution that houses an autistic older brother he never knew he had.

Wanting to get his hands on the inheritance, Charlie (Cruise) checks his brother out of the facility, leading to a chaotic, comedic, and heartfelt road trip across America. With good humor, great character development, and a wonderful sense of adventure, Rain Man has become a deserving classic and one of the most memorable films of Cruise’s career.

4 'Minority Report' (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

2002’s Minority Report presented moviegoers with a mouth-watering collaboration between Tom Cruise and veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg . As a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller, it did not disappoint, taking place in a future where police can arrest murderers before they strike. The movie follows a Precrime officer accused of murdering a man he is yet to meet.

As a high-concept action blockbuster, the movie is quite remarkable in giving audiences high-octane thrills while still delivering a contemplative story about right and wrong in law enforcement. It also gave Cruise plenty of room to showcase his acting chops, with intense scenes involving the mystery of his missing son and the prospect of vengeance against the man who took him from him.

3 'Edge of Tomorrow' (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

It seems as though every genre has given its own spin on the time loop narrative, from romantic comedies like Palm Springs and Groundhog Day to horror flicks like Happy Death Day . However, few are as good as Edge of Tomorrow , an action sci-fi thriller following an alien invasion of Earth and a soldier who becomes humanity’s last hope when he falls into a time loop.

While the film has astonishing action sequences and visual effects, the most enjoyable aspect of it is seeing Cruise portray Major William Cage, an officer who has never seen combat and desperately tries to wriggle out of battle any way he can. The role brought Cruise’s underrated comedy chops to the fore and gave audiences a noble character arc that was fun and engaging.

2 'Risky Business' (1983)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

An early star-making flick for Cruise, Risky Business unveiled Tom Cruise as a leading man with strong comedic presence. It follows an upper-class high schooler from Chicago suburbia whose night of wild fun leads to a desperate, farcical adventure as he must rack up money fast, leading him to use his parents’ house as a brothel.

The flick is quintessentially '80s, but it does work exceptionally well, thanks to its focus on teenage angst and its willingness to incorporate darker themes. It also features a famous scene showing a baby-faced Tom Cruise relishing his newfound freedom by lip-syncing, air-guitaring, and dancing to Bob Seger ’s "Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll."

1 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

A rousing, triumphant, glorious throwback to '80s action, Top Gun: Maverick could well go down as Tom Cruise’s crowning achievement. The legacy sequel follows an aging fighter pilot brought back to Top Gun to train a cohort of pilots ahead of a dangerous mission.

In addition to its romantic nostalgia, the film boasted a truly staggering visual display, making it an incredible big-screen experience appreciated by fans and critics alike. It won an Academy Award for Best Sound and currently sits as the second-highest-rated Tom Cruise film on Rotten Tomatoes, just behind Mission: Impossible – Fallout .

KEEP READING: Every 'Mission: Impossible' Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

tom cruise movies 1981

Not Robert Downey Jr, Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, World’s Richest Actor Has a $3 Billion Fortune Despite a Razzie Nomination

When we think about the world’s  richest  actors, Robert Downey Jr, Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise are the names we cannot just skip. However, many would be surprised to know that the  richest  actor in the world has not been an active face in the industry for now. We’ve been referring to  The Lost Boys  actor Jami Gertz  who has a massive net worth of $3 billion as of 2023.

It would be a surprise for many to digest  the fact  that the actress has been holding that position, especially when she has been inactive in the entertainment world. 

Jami Gertz Has a Massive Fortune Alongside a Razzie Nomination! 

The 1965-born actress has been active in the acting industry since she was a child.  After appearing in  small   TV  roles, she made her film debut with Endless Love (1981). After co-starring in the 1980s  sitcom,   Square Pegs , she gained prominence for playing Robert Downey Jr.’s friend in  Less than Zero . 

“I was trying to find the common denominator”: Tom Cruise Went To Extreme Lengths To Prepare For His Worst Rated Movie That Landed Him a Razzie Nomination

Her film credits  also  include  Listen to Me (1989), Jersey Girl, Twister ,  Seinfeld, Modern Family and   This is Us.  As for her television credits, she also played the recurring character of Dr. Nina Pomerantz in the 1997 season of  ER . She also co-starred in  Still Standing,  which is   her longest-running and most successful television show to date.

Apart from acting, she is also a part-owners of Atlanta Hawks, an NBA team  along  with her husband, Tony Ressler. The duo also own a minority stake in the Milwaukee Brewers.

As per Capitalism , Gertz’s net worth  majorly comes from her marriage. Her husband  is  an American billionaire and  the co-founder of Ares Management, a management company with over $136 billion in assets under management.  While many would take it as a negative remark, it is to  be noted  that Gertz was with the latter when he was a financier.  Therefore, her total net worth now stands at a whopping $3 billion,  which makes her the  richest  actor in the world .  

Where Do Robert Downey Jr., Brad Pitt, or Tom Cruise Stand in the World’s Richest Actor List? 

Although Gertz is not very active in the industry, her other work continues to bring money to the table. Meanwhile, familiar faces of the industry like Downey Jr., Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise have continued to captivate audiences with their charms and on-screen performances. 

With His Recent Expendables 4 Win, Sylvester Stallone Now Has a Razzies Record No Other Action Star Will Dare to Break

While many recognize Downey Jr. for his Iron Man portrayal, he recently  nabbed  his first Oscar win for his role in Cillian Murphy’s  Oppenheimer .  As for Cruise, he is a household name in the action genre, known for his  Mission: Impossible  saga.  Whereas,  the  Bullet Train  actor has had a prolific career in film, spanning various genres and earning him numerous awards and nominations.

As per Celebrity Net Worth , the  Sherlock Holmes   star boasts a net worth of $300 million, standing at no. 39 in the top 50 of the richest  actors’ list. Pitt takes the 18th place with a net worth of $400 million  whereas  the Top Gun actor ranks 8th with a net worth of $600 million. 

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in the 2012 movie.

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Tom Cruise Celebrates 38 Years Since the Original Top Gun : 'It's Incredible to Look Back'

'Top Gun' producer Jerry Bruckheimer told PEOPLE in March that Tom Cruise has been pitched an idea for a third 'Top Gun' movie that "he liked"

Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Tom Cruise is celebrating nearly four decades of taking to the skies.

On May 13, the actor-producer, 61, shared photos from the set of 1986's original Top Gun on Instagram in honor of the film's 38th anniversary.

The photos show behind-the-scenes pictures of him on set with the movie's director Tony Scott , who died in 2012 at 68, as well as a photo of him sitting with the film's cast in its air-hangar-turned-classroom set.

One throwback photo shows the actor smiling during a conversation with producer Jerry Bruckheimer . Another shows Cruise filming 2022's Top Gun: Maverick as he stares at the famous still of him and costar Val Kilmer shaking hands at the end of the original movie.

"It’s incredible to look back on the thirty-eight years of Top Gun ," he wrote in a caption. "To the fans who have been with us since the start, there wouldn’t be a Top Gun Day without you."

Cruise's original Top Gun movie was an immediate hit when it hit theaters May 16, 1986. The movie follows his character Pete "Maverick" Mitchell as he attends the U.S. Navy's Fighter Weapons School, better known as Top Gun. The movie costarred Anthony Edwards, Kelly McGillis and Kilmer, 64, as Maverick's chief rival and eventual ally Tom "Iceman" Kazansky."

Top Gun was the highest-grossing film at the domestic box office that year. It won one Academy Award , for Best Original Song, at the 59th Oscars in 1987, among four total nominations.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Decades later, Cruise regrouped with producer Bruckheimer, 80, to make a sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , which similarly captured audiences' imaginations as the highest-grossing movie of 2022 domestically and made $1.5 billion worldwide. The sequel sees Maverick return to Top Gun to train a new generation of pilots — including characters portrayed by Miles Teller and Glen Powell , among others — for new missions with the Navy.

Paramount/Courtesy Everett 

Many have speculated about the franchise's future given the smash success of Maverick . The Hollywood Reporter reported in January that a third Top Gun movie was in development . In March, producer Bruckheimer told PEOPLE he is working on putting a new entry together.

" We pitched Tom a story he liked . But he's a very in-demand actor and he's got a lot of movies lined up, so we have to wait and see," he said.

Related Articles

Sort by Year - Latest Movies and TV Shows With Tom Cruise

  • Movies or TV
  • IMDb Rating
  • In Theaters
  • Release Year

1. Live Die Repeat and Repeat

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | Announced

Plot unknown. A follow-up to the 2014 sci-fi film, 'Edge of Tomorrow'.

Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Emily Blunt , Tom Cruise , Rolando Davila-Beltran

2. Top Gun 3

Action | Announced

Plot kept under wraps.

Stars: Glen Powell , Tom Cruise , Miles Teller

3. Untitled Tom Cruise/SpaceX Project

Pre-production

Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman travel far beyond Earth to film the first ever Hollywood motion picture in outer space

Director: Doug Liman | Star: Tom Cruise

4. Luna Park (I)

A group of renegade employees who venture to the moon to steal an energy source.

Director: Doug Liman

5. Untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu Film

Plot under wraps.

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu | Star: Tom Cruise

6. Adventurer's Club

Adventure | Announced

7. Untitled Les Grossman Project

Comedy | Announced

A comedic biography of renown movie producer Les Grossman.

8. The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015–2023) Episode: Tom Cruise/Monica Barbaro/Teddy Swims

TV-14 | Comedy, Talk-Show

Actor Tom Cruise and actress Monica Barbaro (movie, "Top Gun Maverick"); Teddy Swims performs;

Stars: James Corden , Reggie Watts , Tom Cruise , Monica Barbaro

9. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two (2025)

Action, Adventure, Thriller | Post-production

The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Katy O'Brian , Hannah Waddingham , Tom Cruise , Vanessa Kirby

10. 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards (2024 TV Special)

Explore the winners and nominations for the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards, celebrates the very best in film of the past year.

Director: Tony Grech-Smith | Stars: David Tennant , Hannah Waddingham , Nick Mohammed , Judi Dench

11. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #43.107 (2024)

News, Talk-Show

Willie Geist, Martin Scorsese, Paul Giamatti, Lily Gladstone, Mark Ruffalo, Bradley Cooper, Zac Efron, and Jeremy Allen White hit the red carpet for the National Board of Review Awards Gala... See full summary  »

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Denny Directo , Rachel Smith

12. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #43.154 (2024)

On the red carpet for the Billboard Women in Music Awards; actress DeWanda Wise (movie, "Imaginary"); Drew Barrymore on her Oscar preview show; Garth Brooks at the grand opening of his bar ... See full summary  »

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Rachel Smith , Cassie DiLaura

13. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #43.170 (2024)

The latest on King Charles and Kate Middleton's cancer battles; the premiere of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire"; Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Ryan Seacrest dish on "American... See full summary  »

14. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

PG-13 | 163 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise , Hayley Atwell , Ving Rhames , Simon Pegg

Votes: 249,151 | Gross: $172.14M

15. The Coronation and Crowning of King Charles III & Queen Camilla (2023 TV Special)

Documentary, Music, News

Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, on May 6th, 2023 at Westminster Abbey following the death of Charles' mother, Elizabeth II.

Stars: Kirsty Young , Huw Edwards , Abdullah II King Of Jordan , Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

16. 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards (2023)

The 31st edition of the MTV Movie and TV Awards, and the sixth to jointly honor film and television. It was originally scheduled to be held on May 7, 2023 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and be hosted by Drew Barrymore.

Director: Joe DeMaio | Stars: Drew Barrymore , Adrian Blanco , Sofia Carson , Erica Christensen

17. The Last Last Late Late Show with James Corden Carpool Karaoke Special (2023 TV Special)

A prime time special that aired before James Corden's final episode.

Directors: Glenn F. Clements , Tim Mancinelli | Stars: Adele , James Corden , Tom Cruise

18. König Charles III - Tag der Krönung (2023 TV Special)

420 min | Family, News, Reality-TV

"König Charles III - Tag der Krönung" is a TV Special on WeLT Television (formerly known as N24).

Stars: Abdullah II King Of Jordan , Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah , Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani , Patrick Allen

19. etalk presents: Mission: Impossible - All Access (2023 TV Special)

30 min | News

We're in Rome with Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell and the rest of the 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' cast. They break down all the wild stunts, bemoan Toronto traffic and Tom even learns a little Hindi from Sonia Mangat.

Stars: Hayley Atwell , Angela Bassett , Sonia Beeksma , Tom Cruise

20. SAT.1 - Das ist die Krönung! (2023 TV Special)

390 min | Family, News, Reality-TV

"SAT.1 - Das ist die Krönung!" is a TV Special on SAT.1 (DE,AT,CH).

21. Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003– ) Episode: Tom Cruise/Camila Morrone/Walk Off the Earth (2023)

TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy, Music, Talk-Show

Actor Tom Cruise (movie, "Top Gun: Maverick"); actress Camila Morrone (TV mini-series, "Daisy Jones and The Six"); Walk Off the Earth perform;

Director: Danny Jelinek | Stars: Jimmy Kimmel , Tom Cruise , Camila Morrone , Walk Off the Earth

22. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.140 (2023)

TV-PG | 20 min | News

Happy Valentine's Day; interviews with Tom Cruise, Angela Bassett, and Colin Farrell; Rob Lowe's untold pizza delivery story; Carrie Underwood;

Stars: Billy Bush , Renee Bargh , Charissa Thompson , Jana Kramer

23. Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019– ) Episode: Bounce Back (2023)

TV-MA | Documentary, Sport

Mercedes principal Toto Wolff works to combat the team's unexpected struggles, while Lewis Hamilton navigates a bumpy ride in the team's redesigned car.

Stars: Mattia Binotto , Will Buxton , Jost Capito , Tom Cruise

24. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.143 (2023)

TV-PG | News, Talk-Show

Alec Baldwin appears in court for the "Rust" shooting; the cast of "Daisy Jones and The Six"; the Producer's Guild Awards; the NAACP Image Awards; the SAG Awards; singer Adam Lambert; singer Quincy Jones;

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Matt Cohen , Will Marfuggi

25. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.145 (2023)

The SAG Awards; actress Courteney Cox receives her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; actor Tom Cruise hits the red carpet for the Producers Guild Awards; back stage at the 450th episode ... See full summary  »

26. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.161 (2023)

Tom Cruise, Rihanna, and Jimmy Kimmel prepare for the Oscars; David Letterman and rock legends U2;

27. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.182 (2023)

James Corden talks about his final shows; a Tom Cruise surprise; Jennifer Garner's new collaboration with Reese Witherspoon on the TV series, "The Last Thing He Told Me";

28. Dish Nation (2011– ) Episode: Episode #11.178 (2023)

TV-PG | News

Tom Cruise is spotted with Shakira; Kroy Biermann seeks full custody of his children in his split from wife, Kim Zolciak; Doja Cat says that her latest two albums were money grabs; Jennifer... See full summary  »

Stars: Da Brat , Gary With Da Tea , Heidi Hamilton , Porsha Williams

29. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.213 (2023)

Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible: Deadly Reckoning - Part One"); Sydney Sweeney ("Reality"): Marcia Gay Harden ("So Help Me Todd"); Matt Dillon and Patricia Arquette ("High Desert");

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Rachel Smith , Hallie Stephens

30. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.229 (2023)

Summer movie preview; Tom Cruise; Harrison Ford; Margot Robbie; Sydney Sweeney;

31. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.223 (2023)

"Mission Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny"; "Barbie"; "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts"; "Gran Turismo"; "Joy Ride"; "Asteroid City"; "Oppenheimer"; "No Hard Feelings"; "Equalizer III";

32. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.237 (2023)

Happy Flag Day; Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and more at the premiere of "Asteroid City"; Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Colman, and the cast of "Secret Invasion"; Gordon Ramsay (TV series, "... See full summary  »

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Matt Cohen , Rachel Smith

33. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.247 (2023)

Juneteenth; Tom Cruise (movie, "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"); Robert Downey Jr's new reality series, "Downey's Dream Cars";

34. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.248 (2023)

Tom Cruise (movie, "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"); Sarah Jessica Parker (TV series, "And Just Like That..");

35. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.249 (2023)

Tom Cruise (movie, "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"); "And Just Like That..";

36. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.250 (2023)

Sofia Vergara tells of launching her own beauty line; Jeremy Allen White (TV series, "The Bear");

37. Access Hollywood (1996– ) Episode: Episode #27.242 (2023)

The cast of "And Just Like That"; Tom Cruise and the cast of "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; Harrison Ford and the cast of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny"; Erin ... See full summary  »

Stars: Mario Lopez , Kit Hoover , Scott Evans , Sibley Scoles

38. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.242 (2023)

"Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; "And Just Like That"; "Tudum"; Jonathan Majors faces another hearing; "Jack Ryan"; a tour of the Hollywood Memorabilia House; "Secret Invasion"; "Downey's Dream Car";

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Deidre Behar , Hayley Atwell

39. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.243 (2023)

"Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; Jennifer Lawrence (movie, "No Hard Feelings"); "LA Fire and Rescue" and the West Hollywood Fire captains; Anthony Anderson and Mama Doris ("Trippin' with Anthony Anderson and Mama Doris");

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Rachel Smith , Matt Cohen

40. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.244 (2023)

Tom Cruise (movie, "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"); Christina and Josh Hall (TV series, "Christina in the Country"); Morning Save's Amy Paffrath has "60 Seconds of Steals";

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Hallie Stephens , Cassie DiLaura

41. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Bahamas Week - Day 2 (2023)

Actor Edwin Hodge (TV series, "FBI: Most Wanted"); actors Andy Devine, Pierce Brosnan, and Nina Dobrev, and producer Adam Sandler (movie, "The Out-Laws"); actresses Ashley Park, Stephanie ... See full summary  »

42. Entertainment Tonight Canada (2005–2023) Episode: Episode dated 27 June 2023 (2023)

Family, News

Stars: Hayley Atwell , Angela Bassett , Luke Bryan , Carlos Bustamante

43. Access Hollywood (1996– ) Episode: Episode #27.255 (2023)

Interview with Kate Bosworth; the cast of "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; interviews with Sylvester Stallone and family;

44. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.259 (2023)

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling (movie, "Barbie"); Matt Damon and Emily Blunt (movie, "Oppenheimer's"); Thunder From Down Under's series. "Flip the Strip", with celebrity guests; "Mission: ... See full summary  »

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Hallie Stephens , Scott Evans

45. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.260 (2023)

"Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; the cast of "Barbie"; Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan discuss their formerly secretive relationship; Tiffany Haddish (movie, "Haunted ... See full summary  »

46. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.261 (2023)

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes at the premiere of his TV series, "Quarterback"; the cast of "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One";

47. Entertainment Tonight (1981– ) Episode: Episode #42.263 (2023)

The new cast members of "The Real Housewives of New York City"; the cast of "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; Melissa Joan Hart and her family do charity work in Zambia; ... See full summary  »

Stars: Kevin Frazier , Nischelle Turner , Rachel Smith , Brice Sander

48. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.266 (2023)

Tom Cruise (movie, "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One"; how Margot Robbie (movie, "Barbie") got Ryan Gosling to be her Ken;

49. Extra (1994– ) Episode: Episode #29.269 (2023)

Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning: Part One" co-stars talk about working with him; Sterling K. Brown's new movie puts his survival skills to the test;

50. Entertainment Tonight Canada (2005–2023) Episode: 4th July 2023 (2023)

Stars: Anne-Marie , Hayley Atwell , Carlos Bustamante , Belinda Carlisle

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COMMENTS

  1. Tom Cruise Movies List

    Tom Cruise Movies List. by ratul-majumder0 • Created 12 years ago • Modified 12 years ago. List activity. ... 1981 2h 6m PG. 6.8 (20K) ... his old home movies, comments from his colleagues and a narration by Tom Cruise. Director Jan Harlan Stars Katharina Kubrick Malcolm McDowell Stanley Kubrick. 23. Vanilla Sky. 2001 2h 16m R. 6.9 (286K) Rate.

  2. Tom Cruise filmography

    Tom Cruise filmography. Tom Cruise is an American actor and producer who made his film debut with a minor role in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love. [1] [2] Two years later, he made his breakthrough by starring in the romantic comedy Risky Business (1983), [3] [4] which garnered his first nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor ...

  3. Taps (1981)

    Tom Cruise plays David Shawn, a cadet who joins the resistance against the closure of Bunker Hill Military Academy. See the cast, crew, plot, reviews, trivia and more of this drama film directed by Harold Becker.

  4. Endless Love (1981)

    Endless Love: Directed by Franco Zeffirelli. With Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Shirley Knight, Don Murray. Parental disapproval of a passionate romance between two teenagers leads to arguments, circumstance, insanity and tragedy.

  5. Taps (film)

    Taps is a 1981 American thriller drama film starring George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton, with Ronny Cox, Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, and Evan Handler in supporting roles. Hutton was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1982. The film was directed by Harold Becker from a screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, James Lineberger, [user-generated source?] and Darryl Ponicsan, based on Devery Freeman's 1979 ...

  6. Tom Cruise's Best 80s Movie Roles, Ranked

    The Tom Cruise's Best 80s Movie Roles, Ranked, as voted on by fans. Current Top 3: Top Gun, Rain Man, Born on the Fourth of July ... (1981) and Taps (1981) before landing his breakout role in The Outsiders (1983) as part of the ensemble cast. He continued to gain momentum with his roles in All the Right Moves (1983) and Risky Business (1983). ...

  7. Endless Love (1981 film)

    Endless Love is a 1981 American romantic drama film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and starring Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Shirley Knight, Don Murray, Richard Kiley, Penelope Milford and Beatrice Straight.It also marked Tom Cruise's film debut.. Based on the 1979 Scott Spencer novel of the same name, the screenplay was written by Judith Rascoe. The original music score was composed by ...

  8. Tom Cruise Movies Ranked

    All Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer. Top Gun: Maverick is back in theaters for Rotten Tomatoes' 25th anniversary screening series at AMC — get tickets now!. From his teen idol days in the early '80s to his status as a marquee-lighting leading man today, Tom Cruise has consistently done it all for decades — he's completed impossible missions, learned about Wapner time in Rain ...

  9. The Best Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked

    The Vulture article ranks all of Tom Cruise's movie performances from worst to best, based on his charisma, energy, and versatility. His first film, Endless Love, is the lowest-rated, followed by The Mummy and Cocktail.

  10. Tom Cruise

    Tom Cruise Active - 1981 - 2023 | Born - Jul 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, United States | Genres - Drama , Action , Adventure Overview ↓

  11. Taps

    After winning over the headmaster (George C. Scott), Brian and his fellow cadets, Alex (Sean Penn) and David (Tom Cruise), face their toughest battle yet -- with the Army. Signed in Log in or sign ...

  12. 7 Best 80s Tom Cruise Movies

    Learn about Tom Cruise's early career and his most successful films in the 80s, including Top Gun, Rain Man and Risky Business. Find out the plot, cast, awards and fun facts of each movie.

  13. Endless Love

    Upcoming Movies and TV shows; ... and James Spader, and I love seeing Tom Cruise in his first appearance. Silly, funny, weird, and the best love song ever. ... Endless Love (1981) Endless Love ...

  14. 43 Best Tom Cruise Movies of All Time, Ranked

    In 1981, Tom Cruise, who may be the last real movie star, made his first on-screen appearance shirtless, wearing a pair of cut-off shorts and bragging about starting shit on fire.Since then, he's ...

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    Find out the movies Tom Cruise has made since 1981, his Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, and his salaries and box office sales. See his top-grossing films such as War of the Worlds, Mission: Impossible, and Top Gun.

  16. All 46 Tom Cruise Movies in Order

    1. Endless Love ( 1981 ) We'll start off this list with the movie that was the debut of Tom Cruise's amazing career. Endless Love is about David and Jade, two teenagers in love whose relationship is filled with turbulence and misdemeanors. Tom portrays the character of Billy, one of David's friends.

  17. Best Tom Cruise Movies Ranked (1981-2023)

    This list ranked by otten Tomatoes. Cruise began acting in the early 1980s and made his breakthrough with leading roles in the comedy film Risky Business (19...

  18. Tom Cruise Movies (1981-2022)

    Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962), known professionally as Tom Cruise, is an American actor and producer. One of the world's highest-paid actors,...

  19. Taps (1981) George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, Tom Cruise

    It was Penn's first film role, and Cruise's secondTaps is a 1981 American drama film starring George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton, with Ronny Cox, Tom Cruise,...

  20. All Tom Cruise Movies

    3. All the Right Moves. 1983 1h 31m R. 6.0 (20K) Rate. 62 Metascore. An ambitious young football star is trapped in a dying mill town--unless his gridiron skills can win him a way out. Director Michael Chapman Stars Tom Cruise Lea Thompson Craig T. Nelson. 4.

  21. Tom Cruise

    Tom Cruise. Actor: Top Gun. In 1976, if you had told fourteen-year-old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be Tom Cruise, one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to join the priesthood. Nonetheless, this sensitive, deeply religious youngster who was born ...

  22. Tom Cruise's 10 Best Non-'Mission: Impossible' Movies ...

    8 'Born of the Fourth of July' (1989) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%. Possibly the single most underrated performance of Tom Cruise's career, Born on the Fourth of July features the movie icon at ...

  23. Not Robert Downey Jr, Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, World's Richest Actor

    After appearing in small TV roles, she made her film debut with Endless Love (1981). After co-starring in the 1980s sitcom, Square Pegs , she gained prominence for playing Robert Downey Jr.'s ...

  24. Tom Cruise Evolution (1981-2016)

    The evolution of Tom Cruise since 1981 to 2016.

  25. Tom Cruise Celebrates 38 Years Since the Original

    Tom Cruise marked 38 years since the original 'Top Gun' movie hit theaters in 1986 in a rare Instagram post, sharing throwback photos from the set. 'To the fans who have been with us since the ...

  26. Sort by Year

    The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015-2023) TV-14 | Comedy, Talk-Show. Actor Tom Cruise and actress Monica Barbaro (movie, "Top Gun Maverick"); Teddy Swims performs; Stars: James Corden, Reggie Watts, Tom Cruise, Monica Barbaro.