It’s often said that Tom Cruise is the last true movie starand to this pointno one’s really challenging him for the title. Now in his sixtieshe’s four decades into one of Hollywood’s most bankable names. Surethere have been ups and downsin his career and personal life. But every time it seems like his profile is dimminghe goes and scales a skyscraperjumps out of a plane and saves the movie industryand he leaps right back into the good graces of both the public and casting directors.

At this pointthe guy’s done it allfrom big-budget popcorn flicks to intense character studies to prestige dramas and a handful of comediesthough over the last decade plushe’s mostly become known as a death-defying action star. With the massively popular Mission: Impossible franchise seemingly wrapping upthoughCruise seems to be entering a new phase of his career. Will he get serious about possibly taking home an elusive Oscar or look for another bridge to leap off? That remains to be seen. For nowwe’ve decided to celebrate what we have seenby ranking his 24 best roles to date.