Tom Cruise hasn’t aged. In fact, he is living his best life, from attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour show in London to enjoying Glastonbury recently. In his career so far, Cruise has always entertained us. The Hollywood icon’s career is a testament to his hard work, dedication to his work, and passion for what he loves doing for people. As the actor turns 62, let’s talk about the 10 best characters he has played so far.
American Made (2017)
American Made follows the outrageous (and true) adventures of a con man and pilot who are unwittingly hired by the CIA to lead one of the biggest covert operations in US history. Tom Cruise reunites with his Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman in this international adventure.
Minority Report (2002)
Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report, based on a short story by renowned science fiction author Philip K. Dick, tells the story of a future that is as colorful as the world Dick imagined for himself. In the world of the film, police arrest individuals before they even commit a crime, thanks to a special unit called the Precrime Unit.
In the film, Cruise plays Precrime Chief John Anderton, who faces murder charges in the near future. In an attempt to clear his record and avoid being tracked down by the same unit that was tracking him, Anderton goes on the run.
A Few Good Men (1992)
A Few Good Men is about the court martial of two Marines who are accused of murdering a colleague. This film by acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin is one of the best courtroom dramas ever made. Tom Cruise plays Lieutenant Daniel Caffey. Cruise brings a special intensity to his role
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Stanley Kubrick’s last film is an intense drama about a sexually charged one-night trip of a New York doctor (Tom Cruise) whose wife (Nicole Kidman) has admitted to fantasizing about another man. This Christmas movie is as cool as can be. Although Cruise’s fans have always considered him charming, this has not been a major part of his on-screen persona; Eyes Wide Shut is an erotic thriller. This was Stanley Kubrick’s last film; he died six days after showing his finished film to Warner Bros.
Collateral (2004)
The film focuses on Max (Jamie Foxx), a Los Angeles taxi driver with big ambitions. One evening, he meets Vincent, played by Tom Cruise, a hitman who asks Max to drive him around the city so he can complete a job for himself.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
It’s certainly one of the best ten action movies ever made, if not the best five. With Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team, Fallout picks up where Rogue Nation left off, revealing the existence of an underground organization called the Syndicate that is dedicated to achieving world domination. Knowing that danger can come anywhere, Ethan must go undercover to stop the remnants of the Syndicate from obtaining a plutonium core, which they can use to create a nuclear weapon.
The Last Samurai (2003)
Set in the world of 1870s Japan, The Last Samurai is a historical epic. Even though it is seen through the eyes of a white American, that perspective has not been adequately represented in Hollywood blockbusters; in the end, this is one of the greatest samurai films of the twenty-first century. Cruise plays Nathan Algren, an American military captain sent to Japan to guide the newly formed Imperial Japanese Army. After being captured by Katsumoto’s rival samurai army, Cruise searches for a way to connect with the Japanese people.
Rain Man (1983)
Rain Man offers a surprisingly complex perspective on the complex nature of brothers, while also telling a touching story about the value of family over materialism. Tom Cruise plays Charlie, a charming con man driven by greed who tries to use money to win over his autistic older brother after he learns their father broke his will. Rain Man is a film about love, compassion, and unity that does an excellent job of presenting its points in a realistic and emotional way.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
In the dystopian future film Edge of Tomorrow, based on a manga, Tom Cruise plays Major William Cage, a public relations officer with little combat experience who is forced by his superiors to assist in confronting alien-occupied Europe. Furthermore, Cage repeatedly dies and reboots throughout the film when he realizes he is stuck in a time loop. With its intense action and sharp humor, Edge of Tomorrow – one of the best science fiction films of the 2010s – offers a unique view of its source material. Together, Cruise and his fellow soldier Rita – the role that turned Emily Blunt into an action star – try to end the alien cycle.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
With all the elements we expect from Hollywood’s most bankable star, this film plays like a sequel to the 1986 film and Tom Cruise’s 40-year legacy of films. In this film, Tom Cruise plays Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who returns to the title school to mentor a group of newly recruited graduates while he faces some personal struggles. Top Gun: Maverick solidified Cruise’s place among Hollywood’s biggest stars.
