re: What is your Mount Rushmore of Tom Cruise movies?

My top 4 would be

Rain Man
Born on the 4th of July
A Few Good Men
The Last Samurai

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What's he going to be most remembered by:

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Risky Business - without this movie I’m not sure we know Tom Cruise. One scene to a bob segar tune.
Top Gun - nothing needs to be said.
Jerry Maguire - a lot of nominations with snubs but “Show me the money!”
Mission Impossible.


Maybe A few good men and Rainman could be argued.

None of those are my favorite but those are the epitome of Tom Cruise. I personally like Color of Money, Collateral, rainman. & all the right moves.

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That's the only possible replacement for Jerry Maguire, his biggest chick flick ever. His only chick flick ever, maybe. And one of the biggest chick flicks ever.

But Nicholson steals the show in A Few Good Men while Cruise is underwhelming. Yet he is everything in Jerry Maguire. He is Jerry Maguire.

So he has to be represented on the non-action or drama side on Mt. Rushmore.

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shite, I think you make a good case. I’m convinced.

Maguire needs to be on there.

I hate to take Frank Mackey off though. It’s such a unique role in his filmography and one that I think everyone remembers and recognizes instantly. Collateral as well, it’s his only real villian role other than Tropic Thunder

But I think I’d take Vincent off before Mackey, I don’t know.

That fourth spot is a real bitch, but Maverick, Hunt, and Maguire are essential imo.


As for AFGM, I would take issue with him being underwhelming. I think he’s great and carries an excellent Oscar level movie. Nicholson has the flashy scene at the end, but is really only in the movie for two scenes, and YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH doesn’t work if Cruise isn’t going toe to toe with him and setting him up for the grand slam.

It’s an outstanding performance in one of his best movies, but I do think the character isn’t that unique in his work. All of those great early performances were variations on Maverick imo.


Cocktail, Days of Thunder, A Few Good Men, even Rain Man and The Firm, all the way back to Risky Business really, he’s kind of just Tom Cruise in a different setting. I don’t mean that in a bad way, that first decade he was money.


He didn’t really challenge himself outside of Born on the 4th and Vampire, Far and Away was just Cruise with an accent

Maguire was still Cruise but was the first time he really tried to mature the character and add some depth to it.

Went straight from that to Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky, then the sci fis and Samurai/Collateral, so the progression was clear and you’re right, it all started with Macguire.


After considering it, I’ll go

Maverick (1986)
Jerry Maguire (1995)
Algren (Last Samurai 2003)
Ethan Hunt (96-present but really took it to another level in the 2010s starting with Ghost Protocol 2011)

So that keeps one major role from every decade, and Algren has both the darkness of Vincent and the hair of Mackey, so it covers it all

Outside the box Mt Rushmore,
Taps
Tropic Thunder
Loosin’ it
Rock of Ages

Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder

Risky Business - This is his earliest standout lead role, so it has to be there.

Top Gun - Iconic character, intro to Cruise's action portfolio, unforgettable soundtrack.

MI series - By now his most recognizable role.

Collateral - Successful portrayal of an anti-hero. He sold himself as the bad guy. Made you root against a Tom Cruise lead for the first time.

No love for "Interview With The Vampire" I see.

does he have to be the lead?