5omTop Gun To Minority Report: Cruise’s Must-See Movies Before MI8

 

As Tom Cruise prepares to bid farewell to his iconic role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, it's the perfect time to take a thrilling trip down memory lane and revisit his most unforgettable performances. With a career spanning decades, Cruise has captivated audiences with his versatility, delivering iconic roles in action-packed blockbusters like Top Gun and emotionally charged dramas like Rain Man. As we count down to the final Mission: Impossible, which classic Tom Cruise film should fans revisit before saying goodbye to Ethan Hunt?

 

1. Top Gun, released in 1986

 

Though mostly recognised as an action star today, Tom Cruise entered the limelight by being the flamboyantly daring fighter pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in the superior film Top Gun. The movie, marked by its flying scenes and high drama, allowed him to do stunts in later films like Mission: Impossible. With Top Gun: Maverick, this legacy goes on, thus proving Cruise's sustained relevance in the industry.

 

2. A Few Good Men (1992)

 

The courtroom thriller by Cruise, where he stubbornly opposed Jack Nicholson, allowed him to energise and fill a script with charisma, talents he would later use for the role of Ethan Hunt. In this one, Cruise established his mettle in portraying Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a role beyond his core area of expertise: action.

 

3. Rain Man (1988)

 

In working with Dustin Hoffman, Cruise gives a sensitive performance as Charlie Babbitt. The depth of emotion shown throughout the film is proof of his range and it shows his ability to work through the complexities of character-based films.

 

4. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

 

An Oscar nominee for his fiery portrayal of Vietnam vet Ron Kovic, this raw and emotionally exhausting work is perhaps one of the best performances in his career and is the testimony of his dedication to almost pioneer material.

 

5. Minority Report (2002)

 

Steven Spielberg directed the action-packed sci-fi thriller, reminiscent of a Mission: Impossible movie. A fugitive police officer was played by Cruise; he balled together the suspense coupled with the futuristic action much like his character, Ethan Hunt, was ever-so-persistent.

 

Conclusion: A Legacy of Action and Drama

 

Whether as Maverick in Top Gun or as a fugitive cop in Minority Report, Tom Cruise's iconic roles reflect the same dynamic spirit as Ethan Hunt: a potent blend of physical intensity and emotional depth. These films showcase his remarkable ability to deliver high-octane action and dramatic nuance, a winning combination that has cemented Mission: Impossible as a cult favorite. 

For a thrilling retrospective, start with the aerial thrills of Top Gun, followed by the dramatic depth of Rain Man, and finish with the futuristic action of Minority Report – a set of films that demonstrate Tom Cruise's mastery of high-stakes intensity and his enduring appeal as a Hollywood icon.