Tom Cruise has been a Hollywood staple for over six decades, and his career has been filled with iconic roles. From his first Oscar nomination to his most recent projects, Cruise has consistently delivered performances that have earned him critical acclaim and legions of fans. Cruise's first major role was in the 1990 film Days of Thunder, where he played NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. This film stands out for being the first collaboration between Cruise and his future wife Nicole Kidman, as well as bringing Cruise together with the director of Top Gun, Tony Scott.
The next year, Cruise starred in the action-packed classic Top Gun. The film follows Cruise's character Maverick as he navigates the world of fighter pilots and falls in love with his instructor, played by Kelly McGillis. The movie was a massive success and is still considered one of the best action films of all time. Cruise then starred in Ridley Scott's dark fantasy epic Legend.
While Cruise was certainly engaged in the role, the film failed to make an impact at the box office. Undeterred, Cruise then teamed up with Tony Scott again for the psychological thriller The Last Boy Scout. The movie featured both Cruise's charming side and his more disturbed side, and it was a hit with audiences. Cruise then took on the role of Jack Reacher in the 2012 adaptation of Lee Child's novel One Shot.
Fans of the book series were initially skeptical of Cruise's casting due to Reacher's description in the books, but Cruise managed to deliver a performance that won over fans and critics alike. Cruise then starred alongside Kidman again in Ron Howard's romantic drama Far and Away. The movie follows an Irish immigrant couple as they travel to America in search of a better life. While their chemistry was better than it had been in Days of Thunder, it was still hard to buy Cruise in this period piece setting.
Most recently, Cruise starred in Mission: Impossible - Fallout, which is widely considered to be one of the best action films ever made. The movie follows Ethan Hunt as he attempts to stop a nuclear attack while being pursued by a mysterious assassin. Cruise performed many of his own stunts for this movie, including a daring helicopter chase scene that has become iconic among fans.
