Once Upon A Time Tom Cruise Was The Best Thing Ever
Let it be said, Tom Cruise used to be awesome. Before his sofa-jumping declarations of love and questionable rants on his beloved Scientology, this movie maverick was all kinds of brilliant. So in honour of Tom releasing his 40th film, Oblivion, today, we look back at a simpler and most excellent time... When Tom ruled Hollywood. Picture Editor: Sandra Waibl
Rex FeaturesRisky Business
1983
Let us begin by saying this movie first and foremost, gave us this. One of the best teen movies of all time, Risky Business was Tom Cruise's first leading role. Not only did the famous shirt, socks and Y-fronts dance go down in cinematic history, it was also a fab cautionary tale of what not to do when you have the house to yourself.
Rex FeaturesTop Gun
1986
I feel the need for speed! - Maverick and Goose
Singularly his best film ever, Tom Cruise has never been sexier than playing 80s fighter pilot Maverick. Fact. The film had it all; great lines, action, true romance and one heart-rending plot twist. Plus, it also confirmed Cruise's leading man status in Hollywood. Just takes your breath away, doesn't it?
Rex FeaturesCocktail
1988
Only God knows why Tom got nominated for a Razzie for this masterpiece; it should've been an Oscar. Tom's portrayal of a business-student-turned-mixologist-ladies-man who ends up, after much struggle, merging his two talents (cocktail-making and business know-how) to open a bar called Flanagan's Cocktails & Dreams (yes, way) is frankly, beautiful.
Rex FeaturesRain Man
1988
Okay. He actually deserved an Oscar nod for this one. Playing the world's most insensitive man caring for his older autistic brother, Rain Man makes us cry every single time.
Rex FeaturesDays Of Thunder
1990
Touted by die-hard Cruisers (that's Tom mega fans) as one of his finest pieces of work, car racing movie Days Of Thunder is important for another reason too: it's where Cruise met his second wife Nicole Kidman. The two were married shortly after filming wrapped and so the power couple of the 90s was born.
Rex FeaturesFar & Away
1992
Ermagherrd. Movie heaven came in the form of Tom and Nic's second movie outing together, where the two played an Irish couple in the 1890s emigrating to the US of A. Tom was recently honoured at an event in Dublin and we're pretty sure it's for his services to the depiction of the Irish accent in this film.
Rex FeaturesA Few Good Men
1992
Tom wanted the truth but Jack Nicholson told him in no uncertain terms that he couldn't handle it. Great stuff.
Rex FeaturesInterview With The Vampire
1994
My personal favourite of Tom's impressive body of work, Interview With The Vampire sees T-Cru playing the vile - and hilariously camp – Lestat de Lioncourt. Putting Brad Pitt's boring old Louis in the shade for the entire film, everything from the pseudo-French accents to the riveting performance from Christian Slater (LOL) is all kinds of wonderful and Tom steals every scene.
Rex FeaturesJerry Maguire
1996
Speaking of scene-stealing... How could we not mention the phenomenal Jerry Maguire? Probably the most super declaration of love in a film, ever, every line of Tom's is quotable and he was frankly robbed when he didn't pick up an Oscar for this gem.
Rex FeaturesMagnolia
1999
A year before filing for divorce from Nicole Kidman and already veering into weirdo territory with his antics, Tom Cruise made one last hurrah with a fantastic, if not expletive-filled, performance in Magnolia.
