Tom Cruise has been one of the most iconic actors of all time. Since the 80s, Tom Cruise has been starring in movies that have stood the test of time and became classics. From Top Gun to A Few Good Men, Tom Cruise has managed to show that he can act in both action movies and in intense dramas.
Perhaps the most famous thing about Tom Cruise is that he insists on doing his own stunts, regardless of his age or the danger of the stunt. Age has clearly not slowed Cruise down as he continues to act and complete his own stunts in this decade. This article will list the 10 best Tom Cruise movies of the decade, according to IMDb.
Rock Of Ages - 5.9
Rock of Ages presents itself as a change of genre for Tom Cruise. The movie follows a couple of young people as they follow their respective goals of becoming Hollywood stars. The movie uses the music of 80s bands such as Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Foreigner, and Journey.
While the performances of the cast, notably Tom Cruise, were praised, the movie overall did not land too well with critics. Many considered the movie to be far too long and without any compelling plot despite its absurd nature.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - 6.1
Never go Back is the second installment in the popular Jack Reacher franchise. The film follows the titular Jack Reacher as he is accused of murder and also discovers that he may be a father to a child he hasn’t met.
While the action set pieces and Tom Cruise’s performance were praised by critics, the movie wasn’t an overall critical success. Many critics saw the movie’s plot as being far too ‘cookie-cutter’ in nature and did not bring anything unique or interesting to the genre.
Knight And Day - 6.3
Knight and Day is a fairly underrated movie. The film follows June Havens, played by Cameron Diaz, as she becomes embroiled in a complicated battle between Roy Miller, played by Tom Cruise, and the FBI.
While the movie’s plot is undeniably basic and formulaic in nature, it still remains an entertaining and hilarious watch. The chemistry between Diaz and Cruise is outstanding to watch and their performances help to elevate the movie’s entertainment value far beyond the restraints of the plot.
Oblivion - 7.0
Oblivion is a visually stunning and groundbreaking science fiction movie that follows Jack Harper, Tom Cruise, as he tries to receive redemption for his past and save the human race. In addition to Cruise, the movie also had the star power of Game of Thrones’ very own Nickolaj Coster-Waldau, along with Olga Kurylenko and Morgan Freeman.
Despite the imagination of the filmmakers, the movie was not a critical success. Many critics saw the overall narrative as the main flaw in the movie, as it did not go into as much depth as would have been required. That being said, the movie was praised for its stunning visuals and a fantastic performance from Tom Cruise.
Jack Reacher - 7.0
Jack Reacher is a visually stunning and compelling crime thriller from Christopher McQuarrie, starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike. The film follows Jack Reacher as he must get to the bottom of a perplexing, confusing, and gripping murder mystery.
Jack Reacher was successful at both the box office and among critics. The film was praised for its excellent cinematography and its complex and gripping plot. Additionally, Tom Cruise’s performance was also praised for his memorable and charismatic portrayal of the titular character.
American Made - 7.1
American Made follows the story of pilot Barry Seal, Tom Cruise, as he is recruited by the CIA in order to provide intelligence on the growing influence of communism across the Central American nations. The film is based on true events and follows Barry Seal as he finds himself embroiled in one of the largest CIA operations of all time and its influence on both the USA and the Central American nations.
The movie was very well received by critics, who praised American Made for the charismatic and powerful portrayal of Tom Cruise in this movie.
Rogue Nation - 7.4
The fifth installment in the Mission Impossible franchise is also one of the most critically and commercially successful. The film follows Ethan Hunt as he and his team attempt to take down a very well connected and mysterious group called the Syndicate.
The film was critically praised for its stunning action and heart-racing stunt work provided by Tom Cruise. For a movie series as long-running as Mission Impossible, it is incredible that their movies continue to feel so fresh and unique.
Ghost Protocol - 7.4
Ghost Protocol was the fourth installment in the Mission Impossible franchise and helped trigger the recent resurgence in the franchise. The film follows Ethan Hunt and his team as they are forced to go undercover to defeat an international terrorist plot and help prove the IMF organization innocent.
Ghost Protocol also features one of Tom Cruise’s most iconic stunts of all time, as he climbed up the gigantic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The movie was critically praised for its fresh take on the genre and its unrelenting and exciting action sequences.
Fallout - 7.8
The 6th and most recent movie in the Mission Impossible franchise, Fallout is arguably the best in the franchise and continues the trend of Mission Impossible movies systematically getting better and better. This film follows Ethan Hunt as he attempts to stop a terrorist organization known as the Apostles who are attempting to organize a devastating nuclear attack on several world cities.
Fallout continued to provide the fantastic action set pieces, compelling plots, and outstanding performances that have become a hallmark of the Mission Impossible franchise.
Edge of Tomorrow - 7.9
The Edge of Tomorrow is a gripping and thrilling post-apocalyptic thriller that follows the remaining humans as they attempt to fight back against an apparently unbeatable alien force. The movie follows Cruise’s character as he is locked in a time loop that causes him to die over and over, but growing in skill with every death.
The movie was praised among critics due to its intelligent plot that carefully manages to balance its high octane action with its humorous elements. Additionally, the stellar performances of both Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt manage to elevate the quality of the movie even further.
