With the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise set to be released later this month, everyone is assuming it will be a box office hit. And, part of that expectation is thanks to its superstar leading man, Tom Cruise. Although his off-screen life and behavior isn’t exactly free from controversy, there’s no doubting he’s a consumate professional and has the sort of star quality that others would die for. Aside from his notorious compulsion to do his own stunts, Cruise is simply brilliant at what he does, and it shows when you look at the box office earnings his most popular films have taken in. If you want to know which one of the bankable actor’s flicks earned the most at cinemas, then read ahead for Tom Cruise’s 10 highest-grossing movies of all time.
10. Mission: Impossible III (2006) — $399M
Mission: Impossible III was also J.J Abrams’ directorial debut, and the Star Wars and Star Trek filmmaker did a pretty good job — which makes sense, as he also co-wrote the script. He was the third director of the film (after David Fincher and Joe Carnahan, who both left citing creative differences) and was personally picked by Cruise, so had a big weight on his shoulders, yet delivered. The plot of the film follows Hunt as he is pulled out of retirement to hunt down a dangerous arms dealer, and has all the usual flare and fun you’d expect from a film in the franchise, as well as a much better story than the previous two efforts.
9. The Mummy (2017) — $410M
Although this reboot of the beloved Brendan Fraser film (itself a reboot of a 1930s series of movies) was a critical flop, the film had surprisingly good numbers at the box office, which was a testament to a stellar cast that included Russel Crowe alongside Cruise. However, thanks to its expensive production and other factors, the film actually ended up losing money for the studio, and the negative reaction basically killed the franchise. We don’t really have the wordcount to go into the nonsensical, meandering plot, but even Cruise couldn’t save this film, which tells you all you need to know about it.
8. The Last Samurai (2003) — $456.8M
Let’s face it: sometimes highly watchable, mostly well-made films are a little bit racist. And Cruise’s 2003 adventure epic The Last Samurai is one of those movies. In it, the actor portrays Nathan Algren, a fictionalized army captain who comes into contact with samurai warriors in 18th century Japan as their hold on the country’s culture is being loosened by modernization. Although the cinematography, acting, and characterization is incredible, watching the film through a more critical lens shows several more sinister themes, like a textbook example of the white savior trope, and a romanticization of a brutal, hierarchical caste system. All in all, though, a great watch — and audiences at the time seemed agree.
7. Mission: Impossible (1996) — $457.7M
Cruise was already a bonified movie star when Mission: Impossible hit theaters in the nineties, and the first in the now seven film-long franchise further cemented that fact. The movie begins with Hunt on a failed mission, before he is sent on the run, accused of being a mole. We then get a slightly confusing series of events that I’ll distill into three key phrases that sum them all up: exploding chewing gum, CIA offices infiltration, and an attempted double-cross. Based on a 1966 television series, Mission: Impossible is actually a bit of a middling film — despite the several movies it’s spawned — but that doesn’t really matter. The convoluted plot was negated by great action sequences, brilliant gadgets, and its magnetic leading man.
6. Mission: Impossible II (2000) — $546.4M
Released in 2000, Mission: Impossible 2 was the highest-grossing film of that year, making it yet another win for Cruise in terms of box office receipts. In the second film in the series we see a long-haired Cruise reprise the role of Hunt, and this time he’s stopping a potential bio-terrorism incident and global pandemic (where was he in late 2020, I wonder?). Like its predecessor, the film is saved by the great action sequences, cinematography, and abundance of thrills, instead of actually being something that makes you think — but then again, that wasn’t why people went to see a Mission Impossible flick. And was it ever going to be any other way, considering a screenwriter for the movie admitted there were action sequences planned before the plot had been settled on?
5. War of the Worlds (2005) — $603.9M
Cruise is enough of a draw himself, but when you add the legendary Steven Spielberg to the mix, then a movie is basically guaranteed box office success. War of the Worlds is a retelling of the famous H.G. Wells novel of the same name, and is a pretty classic tale of alien invasion. The moral and social nuances of the beloved book might not all shine through in the on-screen version, but it’s definitely thrilling and a great visual spectacle, helped along by a great cast and some even better acting. Many criticisms of the film focused on the ending, which isn’t really anyone’s fault but Wells’, so in that sense it was a highly successful adaptation — even if it didn’t have an absurd box office taking.
4. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) — $682.7M
Although it’s not the highest-grossing Mission: Impossible flick on this list, Rogue Nation is probably the best watch from a fan perspective, although Ghost Protocol and Fallout could both make good claims to that crown. The movie blends the usual unbelievable special effects and action sequences with a genuinely intriguing plot and phenomenal performances all around, making it a compelling watch. Rogue Nation naturally focuses on Cruise as Hunt, as he’s once again ended up a fugitive after a shady group named “the syndicate” kidnaps him and forces him to watch a murder, before he escapes with the help of a mystery woman. What follows is a genuine rollercoaster and a thrilling ending that will leave your jaw on the floor.
3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) — $694.7M
The gap between this fourth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise and its predecessor was six years, and in that time the producers and others connected to the movies clearly decided crazy action sequences could only take a film so far. Thankfully, they kept all the wild stunts and brilliant shots, but decided to actually work on a thrilling plot to keep audiences captivated beyond the visuals. Ghost Protocol sees Cruise and his fellow IMF agents trying to clear their names after a bomb destroys much of the Kremlin – and is an astounding watch.
2. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) — $791.1M
Christopher McQuarrie’s second time directing a Mission: Impossible film made him the first person to return behind the camera in the franchise, and he delivered in spades, crafting yet another action masterpiece that underlined the fact that the franchise had moved from being a purely visual and adrenaline pumping masterpiece into actually making brilliant films worthy of its leading man’s talent. Everything about the sixth film in the series is unforgettable, from its breathtaking visuals to the winding but intriguing plot, which sees Ethan Hunt trying to stop the bad guys from getting nukes. 100mph from start to finish, but still a well-told story.
1. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) — $1.4B
I’m going to start this final entry with an admission: if we’re adjusting for inflation, many of Cruise’s other films would have made this list, including the original Top Gun. That iconic action movie made just over $350M in 1986, which today would be just under a billion. Yet, its sequel (and biggest box office success of Cruise’s money-filled career), Top Gun: Maverick managed to achieve $1.4B in ticket sales, which is a truly phenomenal number, placing it just outside the top-10 grossing films of all time. Maverick sees the titular character training a group of Top Gun graduates, including the deceased Goose’s son. In the process, he confronts his past. A wildly entertaining, rollicking sequel that was well worth the three decades of planning.
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