# The best Tom Cruise films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116 "2017-07-12T18:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/1 "2017-07-12T18:35:38Z")
He’s been in over 35 films, but which in your opinion is the best? My top 8: Risky Business A Few Good men Top Gun The Firm Rainman Jerry Maguire Born on the Fourth of July The Color of Money ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/2 "2017-07-12T18:46:04Z")
Didn’t we JUST do this? Only with a poll? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/3 "2017-07-12T19:18:19Z")
No poll that I could find, but yes, there is this thread from last month: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=828639](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=828639) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/4 "2017-07-12T19:28:12Z")
He was in some very good movies, but they were great despite of him, he never carried a good movie I have seen. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/5 "2017-07-12T20:07:15Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Didn’t we JUST do this? Only with a poll? Apologies. In the future, I shall search for a thread before creating a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/6 "2017-07-12T20:08:22Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He was in some very good movies, but they were great despite of him, he never carried a good movie I have seen. I think he carried Born on the Fourth of July. Cruise to me is much better at drama, and not so good at sci-fi or fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/7 "2017-07-12T20:09:27Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He was in some very good movies, but they were great despite of him, he never carried a good movie I have seen. _Valkyrie_ being the best example of this. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/8 "2017-07-12T20:12:08Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He was in some very good movies, but they were great despite of him, he never carried a good movie I have seen. I think he caries Mission Impossible 4 more than any other in the series. It’s not just stunts; he’s really good in the movie. It along with Minority Report are probably his best movies and I’ve seen a lot of them. Actually, he carries Edge of Tomorrow as well and he really delivers. He’s still the best thing in Tropic Thunder, too. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/9 "2017-07-12T20:13:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I think he caries Mission Impossible 4 more than any other in the series. It’s not just stunts; he’s really good in the movie. > > It along with Minority Report are probably his best movies and I’ve seen a lot of them. > > **Actually, he carries Edge of Tomorrow as well and he really delivers.** > > He’s still the best thing in Tropic Thunder, too. 9 of 10 non-Tom Cruise fans agree. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/10 "2017-07-13T14:52:24Z")
My TC faves: _Taps Mission: Impossible Minority Report Tropic Thunder_ (a small role, almost unrecognizable, but great) _Risky Business Valkyrie Knight and Day_ (I liked it more than most people; I just imagine that he’s playing his _M:I_ character on a psychotic break) _A Few Good Men Top Gun Rainman Jerry Maguire Edge of Tomorrow Born on the Fourth of July_ (where I think he did the best out-of-his-comfort-zone real _acting_ of his entire career) ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/11 "2017-07-13T17:47:53Z")
Isn’t it weird that I have little overlap with others on this: Collateral Magnolia Interview with a vampire Edge of tomorrow Jerry Maguire Basically any when he’s not a total d\*ckbag. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/12 "2017-07-13T17:52:03Z")
**Interview with a Vampire** was the best film with Cruise in it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/13 "2017-07-13T17:52:44Z")
Which one is he in the least? That one. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/14 "2017-07-13T18:21:05Z")
He was great in **Jack Reacher**. Really fun movie. He was surprisingly good as a bad guy in \*\*Collateral \*\*. Jack Reacher Collateral A Few Good Men Edge of Tomorrow Taps Top Gun knight and Day The Color of money ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/15 "2017-07-13T18:56:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Which one is he in the least? > That one. [Austin Powers in Goldmember](https://centerforartinwood.org/product/dewey-garrett-ostrich-egg-cup/) > [@](#): > > Tom Cruise dons false teeth, glasses and a wig to play Austin Powers in the new Mike Myers’s film Goldmember. His cameo comes in an exquisitely self-referential scene in which Steven Spielberg is shown making a movie of the exploits of Austin Powers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/16 "2017-07-13T21:14:18Z")
Of the 3 best movies in which he’s appeared ( **Magnolia, Collateral, Tropic Thunder** ), he’s a supporting player in two of them. Going further down brings up movies that definitely have problems but where he’s quite good as the lead (_Jerry, Born_) or in a more substantial secondary part (_Color_). He brings an enormous amount of commitment to his roles, which makes some of his action films (_MI 3 & 4, J.Reacher, Minority, Firm, Edge, Knight_) better than they would be in most any other hands. **Risky Business** is probably the best movie he’s in where his presence is almost incidental. Rebecca De Mornay owns that movie so conclusively, he barely matters (though he’s fine). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/17 "2017-07-13T21:23:55Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Of the 3 best movies in which he’s appeared ( **Magnolia, Collateral, Tropic Thunder** ), he’s a supporting player in two of them. Going further down brings up movies that definitely have problems but where he’s quite good as the lead (_Jerry, Born_) or in a more substantial secondary part (_Color_). He brings an enormous amount of commitment to his roles, which makes some of his action films (_MI 3 & 4, J.Reacher, Minority, Firm, Edge, Knight_) better than they would be in most any other hands. **Risky Business** is probably the best movie he’s in where his presence is almost incidental. Rebecca De Mornay owns that movie so conclusively, he barely matters (though he’s fine). No comment on RAIN MAN, which was the highest-grossing movie of its year and won Best Picture? (Not saying that’s _proof_ of how great it was, but I figure it’s evidence that it deserves quick _mention_ if you’re naming the best movies he’s been in.) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/18 "2017-07-13T22:53:40Z")
I thought the way he flipped bottles around in _Cocktail_ was pretty good. BIAS (but in all seriousness) - he was actually quite tolerable in _Magnolia_ - his scenes with Robards weren’t all that bad, really. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/19 "2017-07-14T00:12:48Z")
No hugs for [Changing Lanes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/changing_lanes)? I think it’s one of his best, very underrated. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116/20 "2017-07-14T02:08:19Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > No hugs for [Changing Lanes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/changing_lanes)? > > I think it’s one of his best, very underrated. I think you’re confusing Tom Cruise with Samuel L. Jackson. Easy mistake. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-tom-cruise-films/791116.md?page=2)