Tom Cruise’s Most Iconic Performances

Published on July 30, 2015. Updated June 24, 2020

Tom Cruise has some serious acting chops. And really great hair. You’ve likely noticed one, the other… or both. Sure, his Achilles heel has stemmed from some personal misgivings and a life in the public eye, but when it comes to what he does for the camera, few have done it better. We have collected his 10 most iconic performances — check it out!

10. Cole Trickle – Days of Thunder

Maybe Days of Thunder beat out something like Rain Man based on the character name alone: Cole Trickle. If ever there were a fictional stock car driver who you’d swear were a real dude, it’s Cole Trickle. In addition to being an awesomely cheesy romp from the 1980s into the 1990s, Days of Thunder served as the first time Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman worked together. Does the story hold up? Sure. Why not? It’s about racin’ in a specific time period. Of course it holds up. And the on-screen chemistry between Tom and Nicole is all that. It really is. What is it about Tom Cruise in a cockpit going really fast that is so attractive to film audiences?

PREMIUM — DAYS OF THUNDER

9. Nathan Algren – The Last Samurai

The character of Nathan Algren was one of Tom’s best turns for the silver screen. A former U.S. Civil War Army Captain, and individual responsible for running Native Americans off land by any means necessary, Nathan Algren has become a functional alcoholic with more snide and snark than is appreciated by his peers. He is hired to help “westernize” the Japanese military in the late 19th century, but finds himself entrenched with the last of a Samurai culture. Tom is able to play on his strengths, which is physicality and practical stunts — as well as his emotional vulnerability — to craft a very powerful performance. The film is absolutely stunning, and as a little bonus trivia: it was shot in New Zealand, as opposed to Japan. The story is solid, and it’ll likely jerk a few tears from most viewers.

8. Lestat de Lioncourt – Interview With a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles

How corny was Interview With a Vampire? Well, not at all if you’re one of those vampire lovin’ types. It was incredibly romantic and sexy… and bloody. In fairness to the production, the cast was outstanding and the film was well received at the box office. It was pretty much the beginning of sexy vampires, thanks in part to novelist Anne Rice. The film starred Tom Cruise as Lestat de Lioncourt opposite an up and coming Brad Pitt as Louis de Pointe du Lac. Within this drama horror mix, Pitt is offering an interview in modern San Francisco, having claimed that he became a vampire in Spanish controlled Louisiana in the late 18th century. The story shifts to the memory bank, and enter Tom Cruise as a vampire. In 1994, this is how most women preferred to die… or live forever…

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7. Les Grossman – Tropic Thunder

People went the entire film, and didn’t recognize Tom Cruise. The entire film. They proved it when he was revealed during the closing credits with audible gasps and swearing directed at the screen. He was one of the most disgusting characters in cinematic history: Hollywood producer, Les Grossman. For those who hopped into the local cineplex to take in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, it was a real treat. The cast was a who’s who of Hollywood: Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Matthew McConaughey, Danny McBride, Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Bill Hader … and an unrecognizable Tom Cruise. Tom worked his magical skill set in a body suit, and make up that offered every aspect of the character that he needed. Even the critics who hated the film loved Tom Cruise as Grossman.

Source: DreamWork Pictures

6. Joel Goodson – Risky Business

“Sometimes, you gotta say… ‘What the f***!? … make your move.” And that’s exactly what Tom Cruise did as Joel Goodson in Risky Business. How could this film not launch Tom Cruise to super stardom? The film itself is rooted in everything a high school kid wishes would happen when his parents are out of town. Well, everything a high school kid might imagine could happen. As Joel Goodson, Tom Cruise gets drunk, dances around the house in his underwear, scores lovin’ from a lady of the night, finds himself mixed up in some crime, drives around in his dad’s Porsche, scores more lovin’ from the lady of the night, turns his house into a brothel, then eventually gets accepted into Princeton. For those who have never seen it, Risky Business is quintessential Tom Cruise: fearless.

PREMIUM — RISKY BUSINESS

5. Ethan Hunt – Mission Impossible Series

The fascinating thing about the Mission: Impossible film series is the continuation and maturation of the agent we’ve all come to know and love named Ethan Hunt. For Tom Cruise, it’s an opportunity to create more than a character, but give birth and lasting legacy to an icon. It was obvious they’d do a sequel after the first film was released in 1996, almost 20 years ago, but to think that they’d still be pumping them out with the same lead actor in 2015? That’s the stuff legends are made of. At that, Tom is still doing his own stunts, and Tom continues to take his stunts to the next level. Fans and critics are in agreement for Rogue Nation. It’s awesome. The best yet. And it’ll be another reminder for movie fans that Tom Cruise is king of the IT factor.

PREMIUM — MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

4. Stefen Djordjevic – All The Right Moves

In 1983, Tom Cruise, completely rough around the edges, and reliant on talent and execution over a Hollywooding of his looks, played small-town high school kid, Stefen Djordjevic, in All The Right Moves. In love with football, and skilled at the defensive back position, he wanted nothing more than the opportunity to earn a scholarship so he could get out of his town. In addition to being a talented jock, Stefen is a witty academic — a bit of a renaissance man — who has a sweet girlfriend who is about the only reason he enjoys living in the town. There is something so palpable about this film. Tom Cruise is able to tap into a reality that films in this era were sorely lacking. He is every kid in every small town who dreams of something better, screws it up for himself then finds a way to right the ship.

3. Jerry Maguire – Jerry Maguire

Tom Cruise firmly planted his flag as King on the Hollywood mountain with his turn as Jerry MaGuire. Everything you could ask an actor to do in a film, Tom does it as Jerry. Tom Cruise and writer-director, Cameron Crowe, were able to offer Jerry Maguire more layers than an onion, as opposed to the cut and dry two dimensional characters that often lead films of this nature. The ensemble cast was perfect, and the story was universal, regardless of being set in the realm of big business and professional sports — that reminder that every story is ultimately a love story. Screen chemistry was on overdrive in this film, including the fauxmance between Tom and Kelly Preston, the romance between he and Renee Zellweger and the bromance of he and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Source: TriStar Pictures

2. Maverick – Top Gun/Top Gun 2

Tom Cruise redefined cool with his performance in Top Gun, playing Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a U.S. Navy pilot responsible for flying an F-14A Tomcat. Maverick had a skill set unlike many others, and an attitude to go with it. His arrogance is born of insecurity, and a misunderstood legacy — a second generation fighter pilot who never really knew his father. You know a film had an impressive influence on its culture by the popular response. For the United States Navy, that meant a 500 percent increase in enlistees following the release and popularity of the film. There’s no arguing the corny aspects of the film, from some of the dialog to the bluest love scene you’ll ever see, but the action? Practical perfection. And about Top Gun 2? Tom Cruise says he’s totally game, so long as FX are practical, the jets are real and CGI is not used. Sweet!

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1. Frank T.J. Mackey – Magnolia

There is no argument. This is absolute. The role of Frank T.J. Mackey was written by Paul Thomas Anderson for Tom Cruise, and it is Tom’s greatest performance. He has offered some dandies, but when it comes time to remember his career as a legacy, this will be the role people will point to and say, “He was a star, but he was also one of the finest actors the world has ever known.” The fact that he didn’t win every award for Supporting Actor in Magnolia was utter nonsense. Magnolia is an incredibly crafted film — a cinematic masterpiece — layered with perpetual motion and a story that continues to develop toward one of the strangest climaxes in movie history. And Tom Cruise within this film? He’s every version of humanity imaginable — the good and the bad — the conqueror and the conquered.