When discussing Hollywood legendsfew names shine as brightly as Tom Cruise. With a career that spans more than four decadesCruise has become a symbol of high-energy actiongripping dramaand memorable characters. From fearless secret agents to intricate antiheroeshe has embraced roles that have shaped genres and enthralled audiences worldwide. Whether you’re a devoted fan or just beginning to explore his filmographythis compilation of the 10 best Tom Cruise movies serves as the ideal introduction to appreciate the breadth of his talent. Get ready — these films promise an experience you won’t want to overlook.
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1. Top Gun Maverick
- IMDb Rating- 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 96%
- Smartprix Rating-9/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 13 minutes
- Starring- Tom Cruise with Miles TellerVal Kilmer & others
About the Movie- The plot of the movie is based on Maverick confronting his past while training a group of younger Top Gun graduatesincluding the son of his deceased best friendfor a dangerous mission. You can watch it on JioHotstarAmazon Prime Videoand Zee5.
Tom Cruise has given one of his best performances in Top Gun: Maverickblending nostalgiaactionand emotion. In the movieit is shown as an instructor training a new generation of elite pilots for a dangerous mission. Cruise underwent months of flight training so they could use real fighter jets and portrayed a seasoned and rebellious leader to the T. The film earned 1.4 billion dollars globally and received six Oscar nominations as well.
2. Risky Business
- IMDb Rating-6.8/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-93%
- Smartprix Rating-7/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 39 minutes
- Starring- Tom Cruise with Rebecca De MornayJoe Pantoliano & others
About the Movie- The movie revolves around a rich suburban teenager who decides to turn his family home into a brothel while his parents are awayas he wants to raise money in order to repair his father’s carwhich he completely destroyed. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video
The movie marked Tom Cruise’s breakthrough performancetransforming him from a rising actor into a full-fledged Hollywood star. The movie has various iconic moments like the dance sceneand Cruise’s performance is a combination of charm and naivety which hadn’t been seen before.
3. Collateral
- IMDb Rating-7.5/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-86%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime-2 hours
- Starring- Tom Cruise with Jamie FoxxMark Ruffalo & others
About the Movie- The movie revolves around Maxa cab driver who is shocked after he learns that his passengerVincentis an assassin who is on a deadly mission to kill people. Howeverhe must stop Vincent before it is too late. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and JioHotstar.
The movie was a bold departure from Tom Cruise’s usual heroic rolesand it paid off brilliantly. He played the role of Vincentan assassin who was a methodical hitmanand this was one of the rare times he played a villain. He appeared different with grey hair and subtle mannerismsand got trained in weapons handling and close-quarter combatwhich reflected in his performance.
4. American Made
- IMDb Rating-7.1/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-85%
- Smartprix Rating-7.5/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 55 minutes
- Starring- Tom Cruise with Sarah WrightJayma Mays & others
About the Movie- The movie is based on Barry Seala commercial airline pilot who gets involved in drugs and arms trafficking while working for the CIA. Laterhe turns into a government informant in order to escape his jail time. You can watch it on NetflixAmazon Prime Videoand JioHotstar.
Tom Cruise plays a real-life pilot turned drug smuggler and CIA informantand it is one of his most underrated and fascinating performances. He is a wittyfast-talkingand morally gray guy who’s neither good nor eviland this makes his character interesting. The movie is a break from his usual clean-cut action hero characters and has undertones of dark comedy as well.
5. A Few Good Men
- IMDb Rating-7.7/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-84%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 18 minutes
- Starring-Tom Cruise with Jack NicholsonDemi Moore & others
About the Movie- The plot of the movie revolves around Lt. Daniel Kaffeea US military lawyer who defends two US marines charged with murdering a fellow marine at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. The needle of suspicionhoweverpoints to a colonel. You can watch it on JioHotstarAmazon Prime Videoand Sony LIV.
Tom Cruise has given one of his most critically acclaimed performances in this legal dramawhere he plays a young Navy JAG lawyer who’s known for plea bargains rather than courtroom battles. Cruise portrays Kaffee’s evolution beautifully and gives a top-notch performance in courtroom scenes. The film received 4 Oscar nominationsand Cruise’s chemistry with Moore was also appreciated.
6. Jerry McGuire
- IMDb Rating-7.3/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-85%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 19 minutes
- Starring-Tom Cruise with Renee ZellwegerJonathan Lipnicki & others
About the Movie- The movie revolves around Jerry McGuirea sports agent who gets fired from his job for exposing the alleged illegal practices in his profession. He then starts his own agency but manages to get only one client. You can watch it on NetflixAmazon Prime Videoand SonyLIV.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his most layeredheartfeltand iconic performances in this movie. It even earned him a Best Actor Oscar nominationand the movie became a Pop culture touchstone thanks to its story and treatment. The character of Jerry is charismatic yet deeply flawedand the movie traces his journey of becoming a better man. He has an electric rapport with Cuda Gooding Jr and Renee Zellwegerbringing warmth and tension to relationships.
7. The Firm
- IMDb Rating-6.9/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-76%
- Smartprix Rating-7/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 34 minutes
- Starring-Tom Cruise with Gene HackmanKarina Lombard & others
About the Movie- The story is about Mitcha lawyer who is seduced by the perks that come with his job at a big law firmand is trapped into staying quiet about their illegal financial dealingsincluding those of a Chicago mafia family. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
Cruise delivers a sharpsuspenseful performance as a young lawyer trapped in a web of corruptiondeceitand danger. He plays Mitch as ambitious but not arrogantand his fear feels palpablebut so does his determination. He is a different kind of hero who outthinks everyoneand there are no stunts in this moviejust dialogues that make him shine.
8. Far & Away
- IMDb Rating-6.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-51%
- Smartprix Rating-6.7/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 20 minutes
- Starring-Tom Cruise with Nicole KidmanColm Meaney & others
About the Movie- The show revolves around Joseph Donellywho visits Daniel Christie to avenge his father’s death. Therehe meets and falls in love with ShannonDaniel’s daughterand asks her to leave her parents’ mundane life. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
This romantic epic directed by Ron Howard showcases a different side of Cruise and not the usual slickmodern action hero that he has portrayed before. He took on a heavy Irish accent and had undeniable chemistry with Kidman as the two were dating in real life then. He prepared himself by learning bare-knuckle boxing scenesriding horsesand chaotic land runs.
9. Mission Impossible: Fallout
- IMDb Rating-7.7/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-98%
- Smartprix Rating-8.5/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 27 minutes
- Starring- Tom Cruise with Rebecca FergusonSimon Pegg & others
About the Movie- The movie follows a group of terrorists who plan to detonate three plutonium cores for a simultaneous nuclear attack on different cities. Ethan Huntalong with his IMF teamsets out to stop the carnage. You can watch it on Amazon Prime VideoJioHotstarand Zee5.
Tom Cruise delivered one of his most intense and accomplished action performances ever in this movie. He performed nearly every stunt himselfand the movie also brought a more vulnerable Ethan Hunt to the forefront. Tom Cruise balances Ethan’s superhuman drive with human fearfatigueand empathy.
10. Minority Report
- IMDb Rating-7.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-89%
- Smartprix Rating-7.8/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 25 minutes
- Starring-Tom Cruise with Samantha MortonKathryn Morris & others
About the Movie- The plot revolves around Johnwho works with PreCrime policewhich stop crimes before they take place with the help of three PreCogs who can foresee crimes. Events ensue when John finds himself framed for a future murder. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
Tom Cruise in the movie is a masterclass in combining blockbuster action with cerebral science fiction. He balances griefguiltand desperation welland being fully committed to actionhe puts all his signature stamina and urgency into it. He brings credibility to the film’s philosophical themes with complete integrity.
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