Do You Agree These are the Best Tom Cruise Movies?

If you are building a list of Tom Cruise essentials, these picks cover the big franchises, awards contenders, and the early roles that made him a star. Each entry notes the role, key creative team, and claims to fame so you can plug any gaps fast.

‘Top Gun’ (1986)

Tom Cruise plays naval aviator Pete Maverick Mitchell under the direction of Tony Scott. The film’s soundtrack became one of the best selling of the decade and features Take My Breath Away which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The movie significantly boosted U.S. Navy recruitment during its theatrical run. It established Maverick as one of Cruise’s defining characters.

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)

Cruise returns as Maverick with Joseph Kosinski directing and extensive real aerial photography supervised with the U.S. Navy. The film became one of the highest grossing releases of 2022 worldwide. It received multiple Academy Award nominations and won Best Sound. The production trained cast members to withstand high G forces during flight sequences.

‘Risky Business’ (1983)

Cruise stars as Chicago teen Joel Goodsen in Paul Brickman’s coming of age film. The movie features a score by Tangerine Dream and an iconic sequence set to Old Time Rock and Roll. It marked Cruise’s breakout leading role and earned him a Golden Globe nomination. The story follows Joel’s misadventures after his parents leave town.

‘Jerry Maguire’ (1996)

Cameron Crowe writes and directs with Cruise as sports agent Jerry Maguire. The film earned Cruise an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as wide receiver Rod Tidwell. The movie introduced catchphrases that entered everyday conversation and increased visibility for sports agent work.

‘Rain Man’ (1988)

Cruise co stars with Dustin Hoffman in Barry Levinson’s drama. The film won Best Picture along with awards for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Hoffman won Best Actor for his performance as Raymond Babbitt. It was the highest grossing film in North America for its release year.

‘A Few Good Men’ (1992)

Rob Reiner directs from Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay based on his stage play. Cruise plays Navy lawyer Daniel Kaffee opposite Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It features one of the most quoted courtroom exchanges in modern cinema.

‘Born on the Fourth of July’ (1989)

Oliver Stone directs this adaptation of Ron Kovic’s autobiography with Cruise in the title role. Cruise received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and won a Golden Globe. The film won Oscars for Best Director and Best Film Editing. It follows Kovic’s service, injury, and activism across multiple years.

‘Collateral’ (2004)

Michael Mann directs with Cruise as contract killer Vincent and Jamie Foxx as Los Angeles cab driver Max. The production was shot extensively with digital high definition cameras to capture nighttime cityscapes. Foxx received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The story unfolds over one tense night across multiple city locations.

‘Edge of Tomorrow’ (2014)

Doug Liman directs this science fiction action film based on the Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill. Cruise plays Major William Cage who relives the same day during a global conflict and trains with a Special Forces soldier played by Emily Blunt. The marketing emphasized the Live Die Repeat tagline in subsequent home releases. The film combines a time loop structure with large scale combat sequences.

‘Minority Report’ (2002)

Steven Spielberg directs this adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story. Cruise portrays John Anderton in a future where a Precrime unit attempts to prevent murders before they occur. The production consulted technologists to design gesture based interfaces and urban planning concepts. The film pairs science fiction ideas with a man on the run narrative.

‘Mission: Impossible’ (1996)

Brian De Palma launches the long running franchise with Cruise as Ethan Hunt. Cruise also serves as producer and helped revive the classic television property for modern audiences. The Langley vault sequence with the wire drop became one of the series’ signature set pieces. The film’s success led to a continuing series of sequels.

‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)

Christopher McQuarrie writes and directs with returning cast members and new additions including Henry Cavill. Cruise performed a rooftop jump during production that resulted in a broken ankle and the shot remained in the final cut. The film features a HALO jump sequence and an extended helicopter pursuit. It is the sixth entry in the franchise and connects storylines from prior installments.

‘The Last Samurai’ (2003)

Edward Zwick directs with Cruise as American adviser Nathan Algren during the Meiji Restoration. Ken Watanabe received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Large scale battle scenes were staged with extensive stunt coordination and period accurate costuming. The production filmed in New Zealand and Japan to depict rural and urban settings.

‘Magnolia’ (1999)

Paul Thomas Anderson directs an ensemble piece set over a single day in Los Angeles. Cruise plays motivational speaker Frank T. J. Mackey and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film interweaves multiple storylines with a shared thematic focus. Aimee Mann’s music provides a unifying element across characters.

‘The Color of Money’ (1986)

Martin Scorsese directs this sequel to The Hustler with Cruise as pool prodigy Vincent Lauria. Paul Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for reprising his role as Fast Eddie Felson. The film showcases competitive nine ball play and traveling tournament circuits. It helped position Cruise alongside established dramatic leads early in his career.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us which Tom Cruise films you would add next.