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Tom Cruise....one of the greatest actors of all time or no?

Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:11 am
Posted by BFANLC
The Beach
Member since Oct 2007
23857 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:11 am
Just looking over a list of some of his movies got me to wondering if he isn't one of the greatest actors of all time. The guy has played villains, heroes, action, comedy, drama. Pretty impressive list of films.

LINK
Posted by Rockbrc
Attic
Member since Nov 2015
9966 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:14 am to
No
Posted by BFANLC
The Beach
Member since Oct 2007
23857 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:16 am to
What do you use to determine a great actor? Awards? Profit? Range?
Posted by Rockbrc
Attic
Member since Nov 2015
9966 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:20 am to
I think he’s had a good run but I don’t think he’s one of the greatest of all time. Certainly very good, but just not great in my opinion.
Posted by SG_Geaux
Beautiful St George, LA
Member since Aug 2004
80879 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:21 am to
Movie Star. Yes.

Actor. No.
Posted by DustyDinkleman
Here
Member since Feb 2012
20425 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:36 am to
Haters will come in here and scream “NO” because of their jealousy over his weird lifestyle and possible homosexualism.

But he’s been a time and time again proven bankable star who knows his range and sticks to it. Is a huge box office draw, and is getting more sequels done right with massive success.

The guy carried the MI franchise (which honestly wasn’t that good at first) but he knew it could be more.

I could maybe see an argument for “best action star” instead. He definitely is in the mount Rushmore of best action stars of his generation. The stunts he pulled off alone got him there.
Posted by BWHLSU
Member since Jul 2026
211 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 12:38 am to
100% Top 25.

But he was in a Top 10 worst film ever, Cocktail.
Posted by BK Lounge
Member since 1978
Member since Nov 2021
5479 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:10 am to
The problem with this question is that acting is just so subjective ... some people think 'good acting' means like Sir Lawrence Olivier, or Daniel Day Lewis or Meryl Streep or something.. those actors have awesome range and incredible talent, dont get me wrong.. but to me, the sign or a good actor is when you dont catch them acting .. when they make it look effortless... it's why I admire Cruise's performance in Rain Man more than Hoffman's.. Hoffman got the award and the acclaim, but the range Cruise showed going from the selfish dude in the beginning, to the caring brother at the end, was to me next -level acting .

Best perfomance I ever saw from Cruise was Born on the Fourth, followed by Magnolia .. looking forward to his next film Digger .. I think for sure, Cruise is one of the more UNDERRATED actors of his generation .
Posted by Carson123987
Middle Court at the Rec
Member since Jul 2011
68264 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:13 am to
I wouldn’t call him one of the greatest in terms of raw acting ability, though he does have a bunch of amazing performances

He’s unequivocally the greatest modern movie star though
Posted by AndyCBR
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Nov 2012
8365 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:15 am to
I think top ten is a fair statement. Greatest of all time? Not in my opinion.

To me, people like Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks have had similar levels of success in movies.

WIth that said the product coming out of the movie biz has been largely crap over the last two decades or so.

I watch fewer movies and TV shows than I ever have and going to movies in theaters was a favorite pastime when I was in my teens and 20's.


This post was edited on 9/3/26 at 1:16 am
Posted by la_birdman
Northern GA via Lake Charles
Member since Feb 2005
32166 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:19 am to
I'm not sure if I'll say one of the best actors of all time however the guy is in his early 60s and is phenomenal shape. He does most of his own stunts at that age. That alone deserves to be recognized.

The Mission Impossible movies are a ton of fun.

Where it goes weird is when you bring in the Scientology stuff.

I don't pay attention to it. Whatever.


But his movies are off the chart and he puts 100% into the character.

I like his movies.

Mission Impossible series
The Last Samurai
Collateral
Top Gun (both movies)




For me, it's just about enjoying the movie. Nothing else.

This post was edited on 9/3/26 at 1:21 am
Posted by StansberryRules
Member since Aug 2024
5704 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:22 am to
In terms of raw acting talent? No.

In terms of overall quality of career for an actor, absolutely.

40 years of highly entertaining, highly profitable well loved films, including many legit classics.
Posted by Hondo Blacksheep
Member since Jul 2022
3578 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:34 am to
Also DiCaprio ... totally a douche but some really great movies.
Posted by PhilipMarlowe
Member since Mar 2013
22099 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 1:35 am to
One of the greatest movie stars absolutely. Goat actor, not for me, but he can be a really good actor, and I like him in just about everything.
Posted by mattchewbocca
houma, la
Member since Jun 2008
6981 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:39 am to
I think he’s definitely one of the greatest actors of all time. He’s definitely under appreciated. He was amazing in a few good men, far and away, vanilla sky. Jerry acquire, and all the action related stuff. And he’s got this new movie coming out that looks completely different. Best actors as far as range I usually think of Gary Oldman, Jeff bridges, daniel day Lewis, and maybe tom hanks
Posted by ManBearTiger
BRLA
Member since Jun 2007
22678 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 3:00 am to
One of the greatest movie stars of all time no question.

He's not an actor he's a super star baw
Posted by Underwood
Member since Dec 2022
1771 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 3:01 am to
Born on the 4th of July, Rain Man, Magnolia, Tropic Thunder..he's knocked it out of the park multiple times for acting, yes he is one of the best to do it just has different priorities with his role choice.
This post was edited on 9/3/26 at 3:03 am
Posted by A10Rebel
Colorado
Member since Nov 2018
1122 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 4:01 am to
I think he's top 25. He pours a lot of detail into his movies, and he works passionately to make it as authentic as it can be based on the subject and I appreciate that. You don't get that in a lot of movies, today.

The camera angles he gets, specifically in any of his arial movies are fantastic. This makes a lot of his films.

I watched a brief interview of him talking about the days of thunder sequel and he emphasized how the camera work was absolutely important to the story, so I expect it to be similar in quality as it was in Maverick. The movie could absolutely bomb because sequels generally do but Maverick was absolutely an exception to that rule and I believe that is what is drawing so much interest to Days of Thunder.
This post was edited on 9/3/26 at 4:02 am
Posted by moontigr
Dark Side of the Moon
Member since Nov 2020
7797 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 4:25 am to
quote:

Also DiCaprio


Well, according to Bobbie Brown he has the biggest dick in Hollywood, so I guess he has that going for him

As for Tom it’s pretty well-known that he goes both ways… not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I’m personally not a fan and don’t think he’s anything special as an actor.
Posted by Jizzy08
Member since Aug 2008
12443 posts
Posted on 9/3/26 at 4:54 am to
DDL is the greatest of my lifetime
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