Mission Impossible franchise.
Cruise earned his stripes back in the 80s in more dramatic roles and cemented his position as a Hollywood protagonist in the 90s playing characters who, more often than not, didn't shoot any bad guys whatsoever. In the process, he worked with some of the most prestigious names in Hollywood. Here are his 10 greatest dramatic roles.
Taps (1981) - 6.8/10
Taps was Cruise's second film appearance, mere months after the release of Endless Love. It was also Sean Penn's first film.
The film follows a group of students from the Bunker Hill Military Academy, who take over the school to prevent it closing. While things do get violent, it is by no means an action movie, instead, it is more focused on drama and politics.
Risky Business (1983) - 6.8/10
Risky Business is the movie that put Cruise on the map. The classic teen coming-of-age comedy was a big hit and made 10 times its budget, giving Hollywood a reliable new frontman.
The film follows the dubious adventures of over-achieving high schooler Joel Goodson, while his parents are away on a trip, from playing loud music and dancing iconically in his underwear to getting involved with prostitutes, pimps, and brothels in an outrageous feel-good romp.
Vanilla Sky (2001) - 6.9/10
Vanilla Sky is mostly ed for having one of the most expensive shots in movie history since the logistics involved closing down Times Square to make room for some first-rate Tom Cruise running.
But the film remains a dark and fascinating watch, in the vein of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's nice to see Cruise play someone who isn't omniscient and often makes the wrong choice.
The Color Of Money (1986) - 7/10
Back in the days when there were people more famous than himself, Cruise proved his chops in Martin Scorcese's adaptation of Walter Tevis's novel, opposite screen legend Paul Newman. The movie is a direct sequel to Hustler, also based on a novel by Tevis.
The film follows Newman's iconic pool hustler "Fast Eddie" as he crosses paths with and comes to mentor Cruise's Vince, a naive young pool hustler.
Jerry Maguire (1996) - 7.3/10
Jerry Maguire is a beloved classic and could be Cruise's most iconic performance, bagging him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The inspiring rom-com/sports drama also stars Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr., who's ionate performance earned him the Academy Award for Best ing Actor.
The film is inspired by real-life sports agent, Leigh Steinberg, who acted as a technical consultant on the film.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) - 7.4/10
As well as fewer dramatic roles, we rarely get to see Tom Cruise get weird anymore.
Stanley Kubrick's Nicole Kidman.
Interview With A Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) - 7.6/10
Interview With A Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles is a unique vampire flick, telling the story of a vampire's life from the setting of a (then) present-day interview with a reporter.
The film is also unique in that it stars both Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise playing opposite each other, as well as a young Kirsten Dunst. The film was an important milestone in vampirical screen history.
A Few Good Men (1992) - 7.7/10
Jack Reacher in of its action and themes and is a much more cerebral role for the film star.
Also starring Jack Nicholson and a host of Hollywood A-listers, the legal drama remains one of the most thrilling and satisfying trial-based movies, though it does take some creative liberties when it comes to acceptable courtroom behavior and practices.
Magnolia (1999) - 8/10
Paul Thomas Anderson's psychological epic Magnolia is one of the most conceptually creative movies Cruise has appeared in, and it earned him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for Best ing Actor.
The film follows multiple independent stories told by the narrator that demonstrate that perhaps coincidence isn't just mere chance, but a tangible force. Cruise has a whale of a time as the sleazy motivational speaker, Frank Mackey.
Rain Man (1988) - 8/10
Rain Man is what makes this movie, but the performance would have been for naught were it not for the chemistry between Cruise and Hoffman.
While very much the straight guy to Hoffman's genius autistic savant out-of-water, it is Cruise's Charlie Babbit who goes through the real emotional change, and he brings a lot of humanity to the generally unlikeable character. It's this same superpower that turned him into the immovable Hollywood frontman he is today.
