He’s a man who needs no introduction, really, but we’ll give it a go anyway. As far as movie stars go, there are quite simply none who can hold a candle to Tom Cruise in this modern era, and he’s quite possibly the main reason we still get to enjoy the cinematic experience at all thanks to his undying drive to preserve the sanctity of the theatre.
Having worked with some of the finest directors around and opposite some of the most esteemed actors of all time, it’s no surprise that picking the best Tom Cruise movies is a gruelling mission that even Ethan Hunt may struggle to accept. But we accept, and we’ll even go the extra mile to tell you where you can watch the movies, too.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Tom Cruise has the honour of being able to say he worked with arguably the greatest filmmaker the world has ever seen, Stanley Kubrick. Not only that, he was a key part of Kubrick’s final movie, Eyes Wide Shut, and frankly, it’s a masterpiece.
This dark and seedy sexual thriller is embellished by glorious, extravagant set designs and the usual Kubrickian flair behind the camera, but there can be no accusations of style over substance with this film. Cruise and Nicole Kidman are terrific in the lead roles here, expertly diving into the layers of intrigue and mystique at the heart of this provocative and pulsating story.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
If Tom Cruise did save cinema in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, Top Gun: Maverick was the vehicle he used to make it happen. A legacy sequel arriving 26 years after the original, there was no need for Cruise and Joseph Kosinski to go this hard, but god damn we’re glad they did.
Top Gun: Maverick is a marvel of modern filmmaking, and a movie that truly underpins the big-screen experience. From its array of epic set-pieces, to the endlessly charming ensemble cast, and even down to the surprisingly emotional beats, this is why we go to the cinema.
The Color of Money (1986)
Interestingly, it’s another legacy sequel that breaches the upper echelons of this list of the best Tom Cruise movies, with Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money, a follow-up to the 1961 hit, The Hustler.
Truth is, when you get someone like Scorsese behind the lens and pair up the iconic Paul Newman with Cruise, a dynamic young buck at the time, you’re going to get magic, and The Color of Money is just that. The electricity on screen is palpable, and it’s hard to find a film which just exudes coolness quite like this one (apart from maybe Top Gun: Maverick).
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
We couldn’t put this list together without at least one Ethan Hunt outing making the top ten, and the inclusion of Mission: Impossible - Fallout is a simple one, really. This 2018 effort is the pinnacle of the series by some distance, which is saying something when you consider the quality of the franchise.
While Mission: Impossible - Fallout still has its fair share of quintessentially cheesy quips and absurd twists, there’s a grittiness to this effort that helps it stand apart. From the wild halo jump to the helicopter battle in the finale, and even that Henry Cavill bathroom brawl, there are so many memorable moments here that we could almost watch it with our eyes closed—but why would we do that, when it looks so good?
A Few Good Men (1992)
Tom Cruise went on a ludicrous run from the early ‘80s through to the early ‘90s, culminating in the still relatively young actor facing off against one of the all-time greats, Jack Nicholson, in A Few Good Men. But, Cruise doesn’t just make up the numbers here or let himself become overawed by the company he’s keeping; no, he matches Nicholson blow-for-blow throughout this Rob Reiner classic.
To see a then-30-year-old Cruise brimming with confidence, charm, and carrying such an immense screen presence in A Few Good Men is astounding, really, and is perhaps the true marker of when he really established himself as a force in Hollywood.
Collateral (2004)
Nowadays, Cruise is so unilaterally recognised as the hero that it’s hard to imagine him ever being the bad guy, but in Michael Mann’s Collateral, he’s as downright dastardly as they come. His portrayal of Vincent is unflinching, unnerving, and truly menacing, but if Cruise didn’t sell the character half as well as he did, the whole film would collapse.
There’s a reason Collateral is revered as one of the best crime-thrillers of the 21st century. It’s a tight, taut, tension-filled rollercoaster ride, with some of the most sublime visuals you’re likely to see in a film in this genre, and performances to match.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
From the very sharp and serious to something far more light, with Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow. It’s like Groundhog Day but with aliens and big explosions (and Emily Blunt, too). And, at the heart of it all, you guessed it, Tom Cruise.
This is the epitome of the kind of bombastic popcorn blockbuster you would give anything to have back in theatres right now, but it’s just as much fun in the comfort of your own home. The time loop gimmick has been done to death over the years, and yet it feels fresh and exciting here, largely thanks to the chemistry of the lead actors, with both Blunt and Cruise breathing life into the story.
Rain Man (1988)
Within that wild run of films we spoke about earlier, Cruise also had the privilege of going toe-to-toe with Dustin Hoffman in the late ‘80s. Rain Man has had its fair share of criticism in recent years as audiences reappraise the themes at the heart of the story, but as a product of its time, there’s no denying the objective quality of this picture.
Admittedly, it is Hoffman who’s the star of the show here, but the softness and sincerity of his Raymond would be far less effective were it not for the colder, more cynical portrayal of his brother, Charlie, that Cruise delivers.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Show me the money! Somehow, Jerry Maguire is a hybrid of a sporting underdog story and a cheesy romantic comedy, and it excels in both areas. While it’s not the most showy or exciting Tom Cruise movie, there’s so much heart and warmth in this ‘90s flick that you just can’t help but fall in love with it.
Cruise is superb as the titular sports agent, while both Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renée Zellweger are fantastic in support. In fact, the cast is so effective in this Cameron Crowe picture that Gooding Jr. won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, while Cruise was nominated in the lead category.
Minority Report (2002)
It’s testament to Tom Cruise’s incredible filmography that his collaboration with the legendary Steven Spielberg only just makes the top ten in this list. Minority Report is a film with big ideas, but it excels in bringing them to the big screen, and is something of a triumph for its time.
It’s a film absolutely soaked in those post-millennium tropes many would rather not be reminded of now, with an abundance of CGI, flashy editing, and a somewhat grungy score, but under the masterful control of Spielberg, and with Cruise to lead the line, it all works. In more ways than one, Minority Report was a film ahead of its time and is a movie many filmmakers would kill to have on their CV today.
Where To Watch The Best Tom Cruise Movies Online
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