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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 has got to be 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.
1Taps(1981)
Tapswas only the second film ofTom Cruise‘s career afterEndless Loveand 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 through and through villain, embodies the rigid ideology of the military institution. He is hot-heated 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 and it results in not only his death but also the death ofTimothy Hutton‘s Brian Moreland. The film made $35 million at the box office on a budget of $14 million (viaThe Numbers).
Rotten Tomatoes score:68%
Where to watch:Available to rent/buy on Prime Video.
2Interview with the Vampire(1994)
The 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.
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Lestat is what you think of when you think of vampires. He’s ruthless and he 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 Vampiremade $223 million at the box office on a budget of $50 million (viaThe Numbers).
Rotten Tomatoes score:63%
3Magnolia(1999)
The 1999 drama film had a cast to die for but it didn’t take much for Cruise’s Frank to steal the spotlight. A self-help guru who promotes misogyny as a way to pick up women, Frank really was easy to despise. While he isn’t a villain per se, the character deals with emotional turmoil and vulnerability which make him who he is.
Cruise’s portrayal of the young man dealing with the skeletons of 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,Magnoliais 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 (viaThe Numbers).
Rotten Tomatoes score:82%
4Tropic Thunder(2008)
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 got dance moves for days! It was honestly a bit shocking (pleasantly) 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.
5 Times Tom Cruise Totally Deserved the Oscar but the Academy Denied Him
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 Thundermade $191 million on a budget of $90 million (viaThe Numbers).
Where to watch:Paramount+.
5Collateral(2004)
Last but CERTAINLY not least isCollateral.Not only is the film most probably the best on this list, but is also one of the best ever of Cruise’s career. Playing the role of a cold-blooded Hitman who doesn’t think twice before pulling the trigger,Collateralsaw Cruise in a role like never before.
The man that we are so used to seeing saving the world was now 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 (viaThe Numbers). Here’s hoping to see Cruise in more such menacing roles in the future.
Rotten Tomatoes score:86%
Mishkaat Khan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2257
A connoisseur of all things horror, fantasy, and the occasional chick flick, Mishkaat has been penning pieces for FandomWire since 2022. She started off as an intern and has worked her way up to a Senior Writer with over 2000 articles to her name.Outside of entertainment, she has also written well-researched medical content as a freelance writer and has experience in social media management.When not writing, you can find her relaxing with a romance novel and a tall glass of iced coffee in her hand or watching re-runs of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Office.’
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Brad PittcollateralInterview With The VampireTom CruiseTropic Thunder
