The Best and Worst Tom Cruise Movies
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
Even the biggest names have ups and downs. For this list, we'll be ranking the career highs and lows of Hollywood titan Tom Cruise. Our countdown includes the Tom Cruise movies "Mission: Impossible – Fallout", “The Mummy”, "Top Gun: Maverick", , "Vanilla Sky", "Jerry Maguire", and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for The Best and Worst Tom Cruise Films. For this list, we’ll be ranking the career highs and lows of Hollywood titan Tom Cruise. We’ll be allowing for multiple films per franchise, and alternating between worst and best, until we reach the top! What’s your favorite Tom Cruise movie? Let us know in the comments!
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise has been a huge success for Tom Cruise, serving up some of the best action movie beats of all time. This first sequel was something of a hiccup, however, despite being directed by the legendary John Woo. There’s a distinct disconnect between the character development in this film and subsequent entries, while the action sequences, though stylish, feel thoroughly ridiculous in execution. We’re looking at you, bike-fu sequence. Doing a deep dive into the world of “Mission: Impossible” can prove rewarding, but this one has honestly not aged well.
It could (and perhaps should) be said that “Rain Man” is truly more of a Dustin Hoffman movie than a Tom Cruise movie. Yet, often the performance of a good actor also requires an equally good performance of another in order to resonate with an audience, and this is where Cruise shines. The character of the self-absorbed and obnoxious Charlie Babbitt is inhabited by Cruise, and enables Hoffman’s Raymond to take his place at the center of the film. “Rain Man” wouldn’t work as well with Hoffman in a vacuum, and it’s the pair’s dynamic that, in part, helps make the film’s narrative work.
It’s been said that the most cardinal sin a film can commit is to be boring. Well, it could be argued that “Oblivion” commits that sin within both its story execution, although the performance of Tom Cruise does do its best to keep the audience invested. The plot of “Oblivion” has been described as being indebted to the more cerebral science fiction of the 1970s, but the film’s visuals possess a monotonous sameness, while the pacing struggles to rise above a modest trot of excitement. The post-apocalyptic setting is interesting, and “Oblivion” perhaps could’ve been a good film under different circumstances, but yeah, consider this one a misstep.
Cameron Crowe has the distinction of directing both one of Tom Cruise’s best films, and one of his worst. Unfortunately, we’re going to be discussing the latter example first, 2001’s “Vanilla Sky.” The film was a remake of a 1997 film from director Alejandro Amenábar, yet it also possesses elements that somewhat fall in line with 1990’s “Total Recall” and its source novel from Philip K. Dick, “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.” The aspect of lucid dreaming within “Vanilla Sky” is interesting, and its questioning of reality is executed with psychedelic flair, but Cruise feels miscast in the role, and his movie star name recognition hurts the film, rather than helps it along.
Speaking of Philip K. Dick, “Minority Report” is another film that adapts the man’s work to the silver screen. It’s also a sci-fi film that serves as a better example of Cruise’s talent, and his ability to headline such an imaginative work. Of course, it helps that “Minority Report” was helmed by none other than Steven Spielberg, but Cruise proves to be more than capable as a man accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Or is that, will not commit? “Minority Report” deals with a future that features “Precrime,” a division of law enforcement that can seek out and apprehend criminals that haven’t yet committed their crimes. It’s an interesting premise that never loses sight of its goals, while remaining a thrilling blockbuster.
The aim of 1992’s “Far and Away” feels admirable enough. There’s an honest simplicity and earnestness that almost makes it feel like an attempt at a “New Hollywood'' style of picture from the 1970s. The casting of real life couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman within the film hurts this aim, although it’s probably no fault of the actor’s own. Their on-screen chemistry makes this feel like a multiplex movie, rather than a character-driven tale about the American Dream. “Far and Away” certainly looks gorgeous, and is certainly not the worst movie on this list, but it’s still a film that arguably underperformed.
On paper, “Edge of Tomorrow” probably should’ve been a huge flop for Tom Cruise. And this seemed to be the case initially, as this adaptation of a 2004 Japanese light novel struggled to make headway at the box office. There was even a confusing retitling to “Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow,” to further complicate things, but this film DID make it in the end. This was thanks to a solid critical response and fan word-of-mouth, to the point where “Edge of Tomorrow” actually ended up doing quite well for itself, nearly doubling its budget. Cruise is great in the film, too, having fun with the selling point of his character dying over and over again until he can figure out a way to stop a marauding alien horde.
Based on the Broadway musical, this jukebox musical comedy features an impressive ensemble cast. And to Cruise’s credit, he nonetheless manages to stand out thanks to his commitment to the role of rockstar Stacee Jaxx. His performances of the songs "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" were particularly lauded. However, the film as a whole is fairly bland and proved to be a box office bomb. It received poor reviews, although critics did refer to Cruise as a highlight. Ultimately though, not even he could save the film.
It’s redemption time for director Cameron Crowe, as this 1996 film was a monster smash hit for both the former Rolling Stone writer, and his leading man, Tom Cruise. On paper, “Jerry Maguire” doesn’t sound like a guaranteed hit, but sometimes cinema manages to capture lightning in a bottle. The chemistry between Cruise and Renée Zellweger had a lot to do with it, as did endlessly quotable lines like “show me the money”. “Jerry Maguire” managed to bring Tom Cruise’s movie star persona down to earth, and make him relatable, which is no small feat. But then again, Cameron Crowe was definitely up for the challenge.
Remember what we mentioned earlier about boring your audience being a cardinal sin? Well, how about being so unmemorable that Tom Cruise fans might even forget the film exists? Enter 2007’s “Lions for Lambs,” a blink-and-you-missed-it role for Tom Cruise that saw the star acting alongside heavy hitters Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. Not even this trifecta of movie stars could save “Lions for Lambs” from befuddling critics and audiences alike. Heavy political drama wasn’t exactly foreign waters for Cruise, yet he still seems like he doesn’t fit the film’s overall tone. “Lions for Lambs” may have eventually made a financial profit, but it hasn’t enjoyed continued relevancy in Cruise’s filmography.
Here’s a question that perhaps comes up more often than it should: is Tom Cruise a movie star, or an actor? The short answer is that of course Tom Cruise can act, and fans need just point to 1989’s “Born on the Fourth of July” for certified proof. Actors routinely vacillate between roles that require powerful pathos, or those that are more fun, genre fare. This film is most certainly the former, and showcases Cruise’s range as an actor in a wonderful way. Cruise comes alive as a character that grows not only physically, but emotionally, throughout all of the trials in his life. This collaboration with writer/director Oliver Stone even earned Cruise his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were reunited in 2010 for the film “Knight and Day,” but unfortunately the end results weren’t much better than their initial pair-up in “Vanilla Sky.” The advance buzz for “Knight and Day” wasn’t positive during preview screenings, and the movie’s theatrical release made good on this fear, and it performed poorly. Critics weren’t much kinder to the film, either, although gripes tended to focus more upon the script of “Knight and Day,” rather than anything specifically that Cruise or Diaz did wrong. There are certainly worse time-wasters than “Knight and Day,” but there’s nothing here that adds to Tom Cruise’s legacy as an actor.
Monologue-heavy courtroom dramas aren’t historically known to set box office receipts on fire, but “A Few Good Men” isn’t your average courtroom drama. Directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, the film boasts an absolutely stacked cast, with Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon and more making this much more than “just” a Tom Cruise movie. Sorkin’s inimitable mastery of dialogue is set on full display, with exchanges that are captivating from first word to last, and Tom more than holds his own against screen icon Nicholson. It’s one of those movies that helped define early nineties drama.
Lee Child’s beloved series about former military policeman Jack Reacher has spanned dozens of books since the character’s debut in 1997. Cruise first brought Reacher to the silver screen in 2012’s “Jack Reacher”; while he turned in a solid performance, the film received mixed reviews. Cruise bears little resemblance to the character, who’s described in the books as brawny with fair hair and blue eyes. The sequel, “Never Go Back”, was formulaic and failed to make a case for further installments in the franchise. It’s hard to outdo Tom Cruise, but Alan Ritchson has arguably done so with his portrayal of the character in Amazon’s subsequent “Reacher” series.
There are many reasons why “Risky Business” is a great film. For starters, there’s the amazing Tangerine Dream score. But, a lot of the heavy lifting is also done by a young, unproven Tom Cruise in the lead. “Risky Business,” in many ways, served as a coming out party for Cruise, and his charisma is off the charts. He manages to balance out innocence and a smart-ass attitude, while remaining likable throughout the film’s running time. His charisma with co-star Rebecca De Mornay also feels palpable, and their romance assists in lifting “Risky Business” above its simple premise to become one of the most stylish and engaging films of the early ‘80s.
We’ve mentioned Tom Cruise’s attitude a lot throughout this list, and this on-screen charm can often make or break one of his films. And it’s true that his movie-star presence did make “Cocktail” a hit back in 1988, but it arguably hasn’t aged well in the modern day. There just isn’t much to chew on, with Cruise as a relatively unlikable protagonist, one whose smirking confidence may have worked in the self-absorbed ‘80s, but largely struggles on a rewatch. The original script was apparently much darker, and closer to screenwriter Heywood Gould’s original book. But today “Cocktail” is probably more known for its soundtrack hits from artists like The Beach Boys, than for its content.
It’s a shame that Universal Pictures seemed so eager to jump the gun on their “Dark Universe” ambitions, because “The Mummy” could’ve been a fun blockbuster. After all, the classic horror franchise had been rebooted before, with resounding success. So what went wrong? Well, in terms of horror, the Boris Karloff original from 1932 is a tough one to beat. And Brendan Fraser’s 1999’s “Mummy” is ridiculously fun. “The Mummy” 2017 went all in on visual effects, but the script lacks exciting ideas, and Cruise’s performance feels largely like a retread of his “greatest hits.” We just have to echo Brendan Fraser’s sentiments here, with #notmymummy.
It’s sort of fitting that we bookend this list with “Mission: Impossible” movies, especially considering how “Fallout” represents so brilliantly how much this franchise has grown over the years. Although Brian De Palma’s unique directorial style was all over the first film from 1996, by the time 2018’s “Fallout” rolled around, Tom Cruise and company could firmly rest on their own laurels. “Fallout” has it all: thrilling stunts from Cruise, a wonderful ensemble cast, and all of the espionage thrills that fans had come to expect from the franchise. It’s popcorn summer fun in the best, blockbuster way.
#20: Worst: “Mission: Impossible 2” (2000)
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise has been a huge success for Tom Cruise, serving up some of the best action movie beats of all time. This first sequel was something of a hiccup, however, despite being directed by the legendary John Woo. There’s a distinct disconnect between the character development in this film and subsequent entries, while the action sequences, though stylish, feel thoroughly ridiculous in execution. We’re looking at you, bike-fu sequence. Doing a deep dive into the world of “Mission: Impossible” can prove rewarding, but this one has honestly not aged well.
#19: Best: “Rain Man” (1988)
It could (and perhaps should) be said that “Rain Man” is truly more of a Dustin Hoffman movie than a Tom Cruise movie. Yet, often the performance of a good actor also requires an equally good performance of another in order to resonate with an audience, and this is where Cruise shines. The character of the self-absorbed and obnoxious Charlie Babbitt is inhabited by Cruise, and enables Hoffman’s Raymond to take his place at the center of the film. “Rain Man” wouldn’t work as well with Hoffman in a vacuum, and it’s the pair’s dynamic that, in part, helps make the film’s narrative work.
#18: Worst: “Oblivion” (2013)
It’s been said that the most cardinal sin a film can commit is to be boring. Well, it could be argued that “Oblivion” commits that sin within both its story execution, although the performance of Tom Cruise does do its best to keep the audience invested. The plot of “Oblivion” has been described as being indebted to the more cerebral science fiction of the 1970s, but the film’s visuals possess a monotonous sameness, while the pacing struggles to rise above a modest trot of excitement. The post-apocalyptic setting is interesting, and “Oblivion” perhaps could’ve been a good film under different circumstances, but yeah, consider this one a misstep.
#17: Best: “Collateral” (2004)
It isn’t too often that Tom Cruise gets to play an antagonistic role. So when the actor was able to get the chance with Michael Mann’s “Collateral,” Cruise definitely reached for that brass ring. There’s an understated menace to Cruise’s performance, as well as a palpable chemistry with his co-star, Jamie Foxx. The pair work brilliantly off each other, and “Collateral” benefits from Mann’s experience within the thriller genre to keep things well-paced and exciting. This may be one of Tom Cruise’s more underrated performances on this list, but “Collateral” is most definitely a film to seek out.#16: Worst: “Vanilla Sky” (2001)
Cameron Crowe has the distinction of directing both one of Tom Cruise’s best films, and one of his worst. Unfortunately, we’re going to be discussing the latter example first, 2001’s “Vanilla Sky.” The film was a remake of a 1997 film from director Alejandro Amenábar, yet it also possesses elements that somewhat fall in line with 1990’s “Total Recall” and its source novel from Philip K. Dick, “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.” The aspect of lucid dreaming within “Vanilla Sky” is interesting, and its questioning of reality is executed with psychedelic flair, but Cruise feels miscast in the role, and his movie star name recognition hurts the film, rather than helps it along.
#15: Best: “Minority Report” (2002)
Speaking of Philip K. Dick, “Minority Report” is another film that adapts the man’s work to the silver screen. It’s also a sci-fi film that serves as a better example of Cruise’s talent, and his ability to headline such an imaginative work. Of course, it helps that “Minority Report” was helmed by none other than Steven Spielberg, but Cruise proves to be more than capable as a man accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Or is that, will not commit? “Minority Report” deals with a future that features “Precrime,” a division of law enforcement that can seek out and apprehend criminals that haven’t yet committed their crimes. It’s an interesting premise that never loses sight of its goals, while remaining a thrilling blockbuster.
#14: Worst: “Far and Away” (1992)
The aim of 1992’s “Far and Away” feels admirable enough. There’s an honest simplicity and earnestness that almost makes it feel like an attempt at a “New Hollywood'' style of picture from the 1970s. The casting of real life couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman within the film hurts this aim, although it’s probably no fault of the actor’s own. Their on-screen chemistry makes this feel like a multiplex movie, rather than a character-driven tale about the American Dream. “Far and Away” certainly looks gorgeous, and is certainly not the worst movie on this list, but it’s still a film that arguably underperformed.
#13: Best: “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014)
On paper, “Edge of Tomorrow” probably should’ve been a huge flop for Tom Cruise. And this seemed to be the case initially, as this adaptation of a 2004 Japanese light novel struggled to make headway at the box office. There was even a confusing retitling to “Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow,” to further complicate things, but this film DID make it in the end. This was thanks to a solid critical response and fan word-of-mouth, to the point where “Edge of Tomorrow” actually ended up doing quite well for itself, nearly doubling its budget. Cruise is great in the film, too, having fun with the selling point of his character dying over and over again until he can figure out a way to stop a marauding alien horde.
#12: Worst: “Rock of Ages” (2012)
Based on the Broadway musical, this jukebox musical comedy features an impressive ensemble cast. And to Cruise’s credit, he nonetheless manages to stand out thanks to his commitment to the role of rockstar Stacee Jaxx. His performances of the songs "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" were particularly lauded. However, the film as a whole is fairly bland and proved to be a box office bomb. It received poor reviews, although critics did refer to Cruise as a highlight. Ultimately though, not even he could save the film.
#11: Best: “Jerry Maguire” (1996)
It’s redemption time for director Cameron Crowe, as this 1996 film was a monster smash hit for both the former Rolling Stone writer, and his leading man, Tom Cruise. On paper, “Jerry Maguire” doesn’t sound like a guaranteed hit, but sometimes cinema manages to capture lightning in a bottle. The chemistry between Cruise and Renée Zellweger had a lot to do with it, as did endlessly quotable lines like “show me the money”. “Jerry Maguire” managed to bring Tom Cruise’s movie star persona down to earth, and make him relatable, which is no small feat. But then again, Cameron Crowe was definitely up for the challenge.
#10: Worst: “Lions For Lambs” (2007)
Remember what we mentioned earlier about boring your audience being a cardinal sin? Well, how about being so unmemorable that Tom Cruise fans might even forget the film exists? Enter 2007’s “Lions for Lambs,” a blink-and-you-missed-it role for Tom Cruise that saw the star acting alongside heavy hitters Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. Not even this trifecta of movie stars could save “Lions for Lambs” from befuddling critics and audiences alike. Heavy political drama wasn’t exactly foreign waters for Cruise, yet he still seems like he doesn’t fit the film’s overall tone. “Lions for Lambs” may have eventually made a financial profit, but it hasn’t enjoyed continued relevancy in Cruise’s filmography.
#9: Best: “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989)
Here’s a question that perhaps comes up more often than it should: is Tom Cruise a movie star, or an actor? The short answer is that of course Tom Cruise can act, and fans need just point to 1989’s “Born on the Fourth of July” for certified proof. Actors routinely vacillate between roles that require powerful pathos, or those that are more fun, genre fare. This film is most certainly the former, and showcases Cruise’s range as an actor in a wonderful way. Cruise comes alive as a character that grows not only physically, but emotionally, throughout all of the trials in his life. This collaboration with writer/director Oliver Stone even earned Cruise his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
#8: Worst: “Knight and Day” (2010)
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were reunited in 2010 for the film “Knight and Day,” but unfortunately the end results weren’t much better than their initial pair-up in “Vanilla Sky.” The advance buzz for “Knight and Day” wasn’t positive during preview screenings, and the movie’s theatrical release made good on this fear, and it performed poorly. Critics weren’t much kinder to the film, either, although gripes tended to focus more upon the script of “Knight and Day,” rather than anything specifically that Cruise or Diaz did wrong. There are certainly worse time-wasters than “Knight and Day,” but there’s nothing here that adds to Tom Cruise’s legacy as an actor.
#7: Best: “A Few Good Men” (1992)
Monologue-heavy courtroom dramas aren’t historically known to set box office receipts on fire, but “A Few Good Men” isn’t your average courtroom drama. Directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, the film boasts an absolutely stacked cast, with Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon and more making this much more than “just” a Tom Cruise movie. Sorkin’s inimitable mastery of dialogue is set on full display, with exchanges that are captivating from first word to last, and Tom more than holds his own against screen icon Nicholson. It’s one of those movies that helped define early nineties drama.
#6: Worst: “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” (2016)
Lee Child’s beloved series about former military policeman Jack Reacher has spanned dozens of books since the character’s debut in 1997. Cruise first brought Reacher to the silver screen in 2012’s “Jack Reacher”; while he turned in a solid performance, the film received mixed reviews. Cruise bears little resemblance to the character, who’s described in the books as brawny with fair hair and blue eyes. The sequel, “Never Go Back”, was formulaic and failed to make a case for further installments in the franchise. It’s hard to outdo Tom Cruise, but Alan Ritchson has arguably done so with his portrayal of the character in Amazon’s subsequent “Reacher” series.
#5: Best: “Risky Business” (1983)
There are many reasons why “Risky Business” is a great film. For starters, there’s the amazing Tangerine Dream score. But, a lot of the heavy lifting is also done by a young, unproven Tom Cruise in the lead. “Risky Business,” in many ways, served as a coming out party for Cruise, and his charisma is off the charts. He manages to balance out innocence and a smart-ass attitude, while remaining likable throughout the film’s running time. His charisma with co-star Rebecca De Mornay also feels palpable, and their romance assists in lifting “Risky Business” above its simple premise to become one of the most stylish and engaging films of the early ‘80s.
#4: Worst: “Cocktail” (1988)
We’ve mentioned Tom Cruise’s attitude a lot throughout this list, and this on-screen charm can often make or break one of his films. And it’s true that his movie-star presence did make “Cocktail” a hit back in 1988, but it arguably hasn’t aged well in the modern day. There just isn’t much to chew on, with Cruise as a relatively unlikable protagonist, one whose smirking confidence may have worked in the self-absorbed ‘80s, but largely struggles on a rewatch. The original script was apparently much darker, and closer to screenwriter Heywood Gould’s original book. But today “Cocktail” is probably more known for its soundtrack hits from artists like The Beach Boys, than for its content.
#3: Best: “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022)
It’s incredibly rare for a nostalgia-fueled sequel, released so many years after the original, to live up to both commercial and critical expectations. Yet “Top Gun: Maverick” was an absolute, barnstorming box office success. Although some initially dismissed “Maverick” as a vanity project, fans of the “Top Gun” franchise largely ignored these dissenting voices. Instead, fans felt the need for speed, and headed straight into the danger zone, fueled by the mighty wings of their fond memories. “Top Gun: Maverick” possessed more pathos than perhaps anyone expected; this isn’t a mere cash-grab, but instead a satisfying sequel that, in many ways, bests its predecessor.#2: Worst: “The Mummy” (2017)
It’s a shame that Universal Pictures seemed so eager to jump the gun on their “Dark Universe” ambitions, because “The Mummy” could’ve been a fun blockbuster. After all, the classic horror franchise had been rebooted before, with resounding success. So what went wrong? Well, in terms of horror, the Boris Karloff original from 1932 is a tough one to beat. And Brendan Fraser’s 1999’s “Mummy” is ridiculously fun. “The Mummy” 2017 went all in on visual effects, but the script lacks exciting ideas, and Cruise’s performance feels largely like a retread of his “greatest hits.” We just have to echo Brendan Fraser’s sentiments here, with #notmymummy.
#1: Best: “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” (2018)
It’s sort of fitting that we bookend this list with “Mission: Impossible” movies, especially considering how “Fallout” represents so brilliantly how much this franchise has grown over the years. Although Brian De Palma’s unique directorial style was all over the first film from 1996, by the time 2018’s “Fallout” rolled around, Tom Cruise and company could firmly rest on their own laurels. “Fallout” has it all: thrilling stunts from Cruise, a wonderful ensemble cast, and all of the espionage thrills that fans had come to expect from the franchise. It’s popcorn summer fun in the best, blockbuster way.
