10 Best Tom Cruise Movies of All Time: From ‘Top Gun’ to ‘Mission: Impossible’

Do you know why Tom Cruise is considered one of the biggest stars in Hollywood? It’s just because he isn’t just a great actor but also performs all his own stunts in his movies. With a career spanning over 40 years, Cruise is not just an American actor but also a successful producer. His brilliant performances shine through in every film. While he’s a master of the action genre, he also excels in romantic and dramatic roles.

Tom Cruise’s movies are so impactful that everyone should watch them at least once, regardless of whether you are a fan or not. If you’re searching for the best Tom Cruise movies of all time, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 10 of his finest films that might surprise you and make you wonder why you haven’t seen them yet.

10. Oblivion (2013)

Oblivion is based on an unreleased graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed the film. The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic universe where Tom Cruise plays the role of Jack Harper, a drone pilot tasked with gathering vital resources from an almost deserted Earth. In the process, he begins to share startling truths about his past, the war, and the world he thought he knew.

The film brings beautiful images together with a smart sci-fi narrative. Released by Universal Pictures on April 19, 2013, Oblivion received mixed reviews from critics but did well at the box office, earning $286 million worldwide on a budget of $120 million. It currently holds a solid 7/10 rating on IMDb.

9. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Eyes Wide Shut is a psychological mystery drama film directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick in his final film. Tom Cruise stars as Dr. Bill Harford, a New York physician whose existence begins to unravel when his wife (Nicole Kidman) confesses to having considered an affair. Heartbroken, he embarks on a surreal, all-night adventure that leads him into the underworld of a secret society and a mysterious masked ritual.

8. Minority Report (2002)

In this futuristic thriller directed by Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise plays the role of John Anderton who is a PreCrime police officer who prevents crimes before they are actually committed with the help of three ‘PreCogs’ who can foresee crimes. Things take a turn when John is accused of killing someone in the future. The film is appreciated for its clever storyline and Cruise’s excellent performance in the lead role.

Minority Report also received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success as 2002’s tenth highest-grossing film worldwide, collecting over $358 million on a budget of $102 million. It received a nomination for a few awards including an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Editing.

7. Magnolia (1999)

In Magnolia, Tom Cruise steps away from his usual action-hero persona to deliver one of the best dramatic performances of his career. Paul Thomas Anderson directs the film, which weaves together multiple emotional storylines set in Los Angeles and explores such themes as regret, forgiveness, and the convolutions of human relationships.

Tom Cruise plays Frank T.J. Mackey, a smooth-talking but deeply troubled motivational speaker. His honest, unvarnished performance was greeted with universal acclaim and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Magnolia is a risk-taking, passionate film that exposes Cruise’s deeper depth and range beyond action pictures. Magnolia received acclaim from critics. It grossed $48.5 million on a budget of $37 million. It has been cited as one of the greatest films of all time by many publications.

6. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow is one of Tom Cruise’s most entertaining and, best-written sci-fi films which is loosely based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. The movie is directed by Doug Liman and set in the future when the world is attacked by an alien extraterrestrial race. Cruise plays Major William Cage, a war-faring soldier with no training and no gun expertise who finds himself in a time loop, spending the same lethal day over and over again after he is killed.

Teaming up with a fierce warrior played by Emily Blunt, Cage must learn, acclimate, and battle his way to survival. The film combines action, humor, and smart storytelling, making it a standout in Cruise’s filmography. With rapid editing scenes and a different twist on the time travel genre, it’s a film that any lover of sci-fi or action would enjoy watching.

The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the plot, direction, action sequences, and performances. It grossed over $370.5 million worldwide in its theatrical run and currently holds a solid 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

5. Collateral (2004)

Directed by Michael Mann, this stylish crime thriller movie Collateral unfolds on a single tense night in Los Angeles. Cruise plays Vincent, a tough and methodical assassin who hires a cab driver, played by Jamie Foxx, to drive him around the city as he carries out a string of murders.

Collateral was released on August 6, 2004, in the US and grossed over $220 million worldwide. The performances of Cruise and Foxx, Mann’s direction, and the editing have received widespread acclaim for the movie. The National Board of Review chose Collateral as one of the best ten films of 2004.

4. Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man is a touching drama that really shows off Tom Cruise’s emotional range as an actor. He plays Charlie Babbitt, a self-centered car dealer who finds out that his estranged brother Raymond—played brilliantly by Dustin Hoffman—is an autistic savant and the sole heir to their father’s fortune. Charlie, initially motivated by money, takes Raymond on a cross-country road trip, but along the way, he undergoes a surprising personal transformation.

The film wonderfully explores the themes of family, acceptance, and self-discovery. While Dustin Hoffman won the Oscar for Best Actor, Cruise’s performance as the emotionally evolving younger brother is equally powerful. Rain Man is a classic for the ages and a must-watch in Tom Cruise’s filmography.

The movie grossed $354–$429.4 million at the box office against a budget of $25 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1988, and received a record eight nominations at the 61st Academy Awards and won four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for Hoffman), and Best Original Screenplay.

3. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Thirty-plus years since the original Top Gun, Tom Cruise reprised the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell—and didn’t disappoint. Top Gun: Maverick is no ordinary nostalgic sequel. It’s a high-flying, emotionally grounded film that balances breathtaking aerial stunts with a strong story.

The story follows Maverick confronting his past as he trains a team of young Top Gun graduates, including his deceased best friend’s son, for a dangerous mission.

It’s not only one of the best-reviewed films of Cruise’s career but also a massive box office hit that reminded everyone why he’s still one of Hollywood’s top stars.

2. Jerry Maguire (1996)

Jerry Maguire is one of those rare films that mixes heart, humor, and inspiration—all wrapped in a standout performance by Tom Cruise. It is a sports drama movie. Cruise plays a sports agent, Jerry Maguire, who is working for Sports Management International (SMI). Following criticism from the son of an injured player, who leads to an epiphany, he writes a mission statement regarding perceived dishonesty in business and his own wish to have fewer clients so he can create a better, more compassionate personal connection with them.

Jerry Maguire was inspired by an incident the sports agent Leigh Steinberg, the film’s technical adviser, had with client Tim McDonald (who makes a cameo appearance in this film) during the 1993 NFL season when free agency was established. The film was also partly inspired by a 28-page memo that was written at Disney in 1991 by Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Jerry Maguire received critical praise for its acting and screenplay. It grossed more than $273 million worldwide on its $50 million budget. It was the ninth highest-grossing film of 1996. It garnered five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cruise, and Cuba Gooding Jr. won Best Supporting Actor.

1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is widely considered one of the best action movies of the last decade, and it showcases Tom Cruise at the peak of his career. Returning as Ethan Hunt for the sixth time, Cruise delivers an electrifying performance full of intensity and heart. The film’s story follows Hunt and his team as they race against time to stop a global disaster after a mission goes wrong, facing dangerous enemies and impossible odds along the way.

What distinguishes Fallout isn’t just its clever script or jaw-dropping action—it’s Tom Cruise’s daredevil dedication. He does almost all his own stunts, including some jaw-dropping ones like a helicopter chase, rooftop jumps, and a high-altitude skydiving leap. His refusal to use a stunt double for these dangerous stunts gives each frame a sense of authenticity and intensity.

The film was widely praised, especially for its stunning action set pieces, and received many awards. It also set box office records for the Mission: Impossible film series, earning $791.7 million worldwide. This made it the highest-grossing film in the franchise and the eighth-biggest success of 2018.

More Great Tom Cruise Movies Worth Watching

While the above-mentioned ten movies represent the best of Tom Cruise’s iconic career, his filmography is packed with numerous other performances indispensable to him. Here are more standout Tom Cruise films that are also worth watching:

• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
• Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
• Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
• Risky Business (1983)
• The Color of Money (1986)
• Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
• American Made (2017)
• A Few Good Men (1992)
• Tropic Thunder (2008)
• The Last Samurai (2003)
• Vanilla Sky (2001)
• The Firm (1993)
• Interview with the Vampire (1994)
• Mission: Impossible (1996)