Thanks to the Mission: Impossible and even the Top Gun franchises, Tom Cruise is now best known for his stunts, but he has a lot of other memorable film moments that aren't action sequences. Looking back at Cruise's career in the last few years, it's clear that he has been focused on action-adventure types of movies. He recently revisited his most iconic role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick and is set to reprise his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part 1. Given this, it's easy to forget that he has range as a movie star, having done all kinds of projects in his decades in the business.
Cruise started acting in the early '80s, appearing in several films throughout the decade in various levels of involvement and genres. By the '90s, he has solidified his place as one of the best actors of his generation, continuing to book countless films that allowed him to flex his acting muscles. He kickstarted the 2000s by starring in Mission: Impossible II — his first-ever sequel. Two decades since then, Cruise continues to spearhead the franchise, while also expanding his portfolio by focusing on action movies. That being said, there's more to his filmography than lead characters who are trying to save the world.
11 Rain Man
Barry Levinson's Rain Man features Cruise playing schemer Charlie Babbitt, who discovers that he has an older brother, Dustin Hoffman's Raymond after their father dies. Hoffman is the true standout of Rain Man, however, Cruise also delivers one of his most underrated performances as Charles slowly evolves throughout the film. Arguably Cruise's best scene in Rain Man happens at the end of the film. As Charles and Raymond say goodbye at the train station, they talk about the next reunion. It clearly shows how much Charlie has changed, from a callous and self-centered person to a gentle and calm brother — all because of the time he spent with Raymond.
10 Interview with the Vampire
In 1994, Cruise booked the role of Lestat de Lioncourt in Neil Jordan's adaptation of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. Rice was very vocal about her opposition to seeing Cruise play the role of Lestat, heavily pushing for British actor Julian Sands for the part. Ultimately, however, Cruise won Rice over with his performance.
Co-starring with Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, and Kirsten Dunst, among others, the film is technically an ensemble project, but the actor is able to have a couple of stand-out scenes. Arguably his best one, however, happens at the end of the film. After Daniel Molloy's interview with Louis de Pointe du Lac, he is driving in her convertible when Cruise's Lestat appears and delivers his line: "I assume I need no introduction," before biting him.
9 Jerry Maguire
Cruise may no longer be doing rom-coms, but in 1996, the same year he debuted Ethan Hunt in the first Mission: Impossible, he also played Jerry Maguire in Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire. In the film, the actor plays the titular aggressive sports agent, who has a change of heart with how he does business, resulting in his struggle. During his darkest days, however, he falls in love and marries single mother Dorothy Boyd, played by Renée Zellweger. While the pair's romance is only secondary to Jerry Maguire's sports-centric arcs, Jerry's "You complete me" line as he declares his love for Dorothy is arguably its most iconic moment.
8 Tropic Thunder
One of the most creative movies about filmmaking, Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder from 2008 doesn't have any shortage of talent in its cast list. It features Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Danny McBride, Nick Nolte, and Stiller himself, who are all amazing in their roles. That being said, possibly the most memorable scene from the blockbuster is its Cruise's cameo as Les Grossman. At the end of Tropic Thunder, the actor with heavy prosthetics, bust out some of his wackiest moves as the foul-mouthed film executive.
7 A Few Good Men
The movie adaptation of Andy Sorkin's play, A Few Good Men, assembles an impressive ensemble led by Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessep and Cruise's Lt. Daniel Kaffee. Directed by Rob Reiner, the 1992 drama tackles the murder of a U.S. Marine by his fellow men, and the legal proceedings that followed. It all culminates when Jessep is put on the stand and subjected to Kaffee's intense questioning. The whole back-and-forth is tense, with both Nicholson and Cruise delivering some of their best acting. It all ends when Jessep finally its to the crime.
6 Magnolia
Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia tackles the life of interrelated people in San Fernando Valley as they go through the ups and downs of life. Cruise plays Frank T.J. Mackey, a motivational speaker and schemer. Critics praise the movie's cast, particularly Cruise's performance as the sketchy character, with the movie giving him several opportunities to fully lean on the weirdness. His "tame it" speech, however, encapsulates just how ridiculous Mackey is. The actor plays the character so brilliantly and effortlessly as he worked the stage just like a real scheming influencer.
5 Top Gun: Maverick
Almost four decades since Tony Scott's original film, Cruise steps back into the shoes of Maverick in Joseph Kosinski's Top Gun: Maverick. The sequel zeroes in on Cruise's Mitchell as he is forced to re-examine his life. Kosinski purposefully didn't bring back many of the original cast . Aside from Cruise, only Val Kilmer reprises his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. Maverick and Iceman's reunion in Top Gun: Maverick is the emotional backbone of the film. Knowing their history in the 1986 film, seeing them have an earnest conversation is touching and nostalgic. It also allows Cruise to deliver some of his most dramatic acting in years.
4 The Color Of Money
It's difficult to be charismatic when co-starring with the legendary Paul Newman. However, that's exactly what Cruise does in Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money. Released in 1986, the film follows Newman's old-time pool hustler, Eddie Felson, and his prodigy, Cruise's Vincent. Despite wanting to work together, the pair find themselves at odds for the most part of the movie. Vincent's Werewolves of London grandstanding scene in the film where he easily beats an opponent is quintessential cocky and capable Cruise, however.
3 Cocktail
1988's Cocktail has a pretty straightforward story. It centers around Cruise's business student Brian Flanagan, who takes up bartending to make ends meet. Just like a lot of the actor's early projects, the Roger Donaldson-directed movie features Cruise playing a cool, charming, and arrogant character. What separates Cocktail from his other projects is the fact that he has to act while also performing some nifty bartending stunts as seen in the film's well-choreographed "Hippy Hippy Shake" sequence.
2 Risky Business
Before Cruise shot to mainstream fame in Top Gun, he made waves first in Paul Brickman's Risky Business. He plays wealthy high school student Joel Goodsen. While his parents are away, he takes advantage of the whole house and raids the liquor cabinet. This is where Cruise's ridiculously famous singing scene happens. Wearing only an oversized button-down, underwear, and socks, Goodsen wildly performs Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll." The scene shows Cruise with his youthful appeal and potential, something that he leaned on for most of his roles in the '80s.
