Tom Cruise has been dominating Hollywood ever since he stepped foot into the industry. Whether it is pulling off insane, almost impossible stunts or delivering passionate scenes with all his heart, the man has proven over and over again why he is the biggest superstar alive. The best thing about Tom Cruise is that he isn’t afraid of going out of his comfort zone. Thus, when you look at his filmography, you aren’t just going to find him playing larger-than-life characters and heroically saving the day. Sometimes, he likes to make a little mischief. There have been times when Tom Cruise ditched the charming hero to play more complex, darker characters. Sometimes he is Vincent, a cold-blooded hitman, and other times he’s the power-hungry Hollywood producer, Les Grossman. Clearly, the man can pull anything off. Take a look at five films where the superstar said no to being the nice guy.
Taps was only the second film of Tom Cruise’s career after Endless Love, and right off the bat, he proved that he can play both sides of the spectrum. The film follows the story of a group of military school students working together to save it from shutting down. Cruise plays the role of Cadet Captain David Shawn, who, even though is not a thorough villain, embodies the rigid ideology of the military institution. He is hot-headed and makes decisions that end up doing more harm than good. Towards the end of the film, David shoots at the authorities with a machine gun, resulting in not only his death but also the death of Timothy Hutton’s Brian Moreland. The film made $35 million at the box office on a budget of $14 million (via The Numbers). Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%. Where to watch: Available to rent/buy on Prime Video.
Next up is Interview with the Vampire, a film that apparently began the infamous feud with another Hollywood legend, Brad Pitt. Both actors play vampires in the film; however, it is Cruise’s Lestat de Lioncourt who is undoubtedly the villain of the story. Lestat is the one who turns Pitt’s Louis and thrives on power, control, and manipulating those around him. He is what you think of when you consider vampires. He’s ruthless and revels in his bloodlust. Cruise’s portrayal was both captivating and terrifying, proving that the man can do anything that’s asked of him! Interview with the Vampire made $223 million at the box office on a budget of $50 million (via The Numbers). Rotten Tomatoes score: 63%. Where to watch: Available to rent/buy on Prime Video.
In the 1999 drama film Magnolia, Cruise had a cast to die for, but it didn’t take much for his character, Frank, to steal the spotlight. A self-help guru who promotes misogyny as a way to pick up women, Frank is truly easy to despise. While he isn’t a villain per se, the character deals with emotional turmoil and vulnerability, which shape his identity. Cruise’s portrayal of the young man grappling with his past and learning how to move on was absolute perfection. No wonder he bagged himself a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor! In our honest opinion, Magnolia is a must-watch for anyone wanting to catch up with some of Cruise’s finest performances. The film made $48 million at the box office on a budget of $37 million (via The Numbers). Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%. Where to watch: Available to rent/buy on Prime Video.
Where do we even start with Les Grossman? For starters, you may not even recognize the superstar behind the balding head and the protruding belly who has dance moves for days! It was honestly a bit shocking, yet pleasantly surprising, to see Cruise pull off such an eccentric character like it was no big deal. It is clear that the actor thoroughly enjoyed his cameo in the controversial cult classic. Giving into the stereotype of a stuffy Hollywood producer, Cruise’s performance was so genuine that it made us wonder just how many such characters he has come face-to-face with in his Hollywood journey. Tropic Thunder made $191 million on a budget of $90 million (via The Numbers). Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%. Where to watch: Paramount+.
Last but CERTAINLY not least is Collateral. Not only is the film probably the best on this list, but it is also one of the best ever in Cruise’s career. Playing the role of a cold-blooded hitman who doesn’t think twice before pulling the trigger, Collateral saw Cruise in a role like never before. The man that we are so used to seeing saving the world became someone the world needed saving from, and we are here for it! Vincent will forever remain a memorable role in the actor’s career for all the right reasons. The film made $217 million on a budget of $60 million (via The Numbers). Here’s hoping to see Cruise in more such menacing roles in the future. Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%. Where to watch: Paramount+.
