5 Best Tom Cruise Movies Except for 'Mission: Impossible', Ranked by IMDb
Now that the Mission: Impossible franchise has come to an end, it's time to look back at some of Tom Cruise's other standout roles. These five films prove that Cruise is a versatile actor.
In recent years, the actor has starred mainly in epic blockbusters. On May 23, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning was released, the latest installment of the main franchise in the actor's career.
However, Cruise's filmography includes many different and brilliant roles, from a charismatic sports agent to a cold-blooded killer.
5. 'Jerry Maguire', 1996
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Sports agent Jerry Maguire is disappointed with his bosses' methods. He believes that agencies do not consider the health of their clients and exploit them for money. Maguire writes a manifesto, for which he is fired.
He then decides to start his own company. His wife leaves him, and competitors poach all of his athletes. He only manages to recruit football player Rod Tidwell.
Tom Cruise was awarded a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for his role as the charismatic sports agent – the second nomination of his career, after Born on the Fourth of July.
4. 'Eyes Wide Shut', 1999
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Bill and Alice are having problems in their relationship. Alice feels that Bill does not pay her enough attention, so she tries to make him jealous. Bill accidentally learns about a secret party from a friend and receives a password to get in. His life would never be the same.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman brilliantly play a couple on the verge of breaking up. The two actually divorced shortly after the release of Eyes Wide Shut.
3. 'Collateral', 2004
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
A professional killer named Vincent hails a taxi driven by a man named Max. Vincent asks Max to take him to five different addresses overnight. Max soon realizes that his passenger is not making friendly visits and that he will probably be the last victim.
In Collateral, Tom Cruise plays an antagonist, a rare role for him. His portrayal of Vincent, a sociopath, gives goosebumps to both the main character and the viewers.
2. 'The Last Samurai', 2003
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
Japan, second half of the 19th century. Captain Nathan Algren is training the Emperor's soldiers in modern combat techniques. Shortly after training begins, Algren receives orders to fight the rebels.
During one of the battles, Algren is captured, but contrary to expectations, he is not executed. There, he meets the legendary warrior Katsumoto, who becomes his mentor. Algren adopts the samurai philosophy and their code of honor, becoming one of them.
Of course, Tom Cruise, who played the role of Nathan, performed all the stunts himself.
1. 'Magnolia', 1999
IMDb Score: 8.0/10
Magnolia is a twisted, three-hour story about a variety of people. Among them are Jimmy Gator, the host of a popular program; Donnie Smith, a former child prodigy turned ordinary worker; a dying old man; a nurse; and a dozen other characters.
In Magnolia, a masterpiece by Paul Thomas Anderson, Tom Cruise plays Frank T.J. Mackey, the author of a pickup method for men. For his work in the film, Cruise won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar.
