Hi everyone! Checking back in with news from our friends at Access Hollywood, who put together a list of the Top 10 Tom Cruise scenes over the course of his career! Must have been hard to narrow it down to 10 scenes! Make it five movies, then maybe. But in all the classics Tom’s done? Tough call!
We won’t ruin the fun of reading their report, but needless to say, a certain motor-mouthed producer seen in the picture above makes one of the entries. Take a look below at the countdown to see if your favorite Tom Cruise scene made the list!
10. Tom’s bartending scene from Cocktail
Here’s a moment of Tom showing a little bit of charm and swagger – taking claim of the New York high life with choreographed bottle flipping and drink pouring aside co-star Bryan Brown in this late 80s gem. Tom’s fans caught both his playful and serious sides in this performance – providing a nearly pitch perfect slice of the time it was filmed in.
9. Tom’s casino scene from Rain Man
One of the most recognizable moments from Tom’s dramatic performance alongside Oscar-winning co-star Dustin Hoffman, this action-packed sequence provides the basis for a later turning point in the film. This scene shows Tom’s character, Charlie Babbitt, pulling in stacks of casino chips with the help of his autistic, but brilliant, brother Raymond (Hoffman). Following this scene, Charlie comes to realize his love and affection for his autistic brother overrides his selfish desire for money.
8. Tom’s motivational speech from Magnolia
Tom took an artistic risk with this part in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 ensemble drama, stretching to play the misogynistic self-help guru Frank Mackey. Tom’s high-energy delivery during this scene set at a seminar on how to pick up dates sets the tone for the character, heightening the character’s later emotional vulnerability in one of the movie’s climactic scenes. For his inspired performance, Tom earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
7. Tom jumps car-to-car in Minority Report
In a Steven Spielberg-directed film replete with stunning images and even more mind-bending action, Tom’s mid-air leap from flying cars stood out to the Access Hollywood editors. While the futuristic setting may have been novel, the stakes for Tom’s character were deadly familiar. If he doesn’t make this jump, he’s history! We had to watch this one between our fingers. 
6. “You Can’t Handle the Truth” from A Few Good Men
One of Tom’s signature performances, he goes toe-to-toe with Hollywood’s heaviest of heavyweights in this exchange with Jack Nicholson. Playing Naval attorney Daniel Kaffee, Tom slowly coaxes the honest facts from Col. Jessup (Nicholson) – that Jessep himself ordered the fatal beating of a Marine under his command on Guantanamo Bay. The scene climaxes with Nicholson roaring, “You can’t handle the truth!” defiantly into Tom’s face. We still think Tom’s resolve under pressure during the argument was awesome!
5. Tom hangs upside down during Mission: Impossible break-in scene
Another of the most iconic images from Tom’s career, we’re introduced to the preternatural calm of Tom’s Mission: Impossible alter ego: Special Agent Ethan Hunt. In one of the defining moments for the Hunt, he deftly stays inches above a pressure sensitive floor in order to avoid capture as he breaks into CIA headquarters in Langley, Virgina! With the fourth installment of the series heading into production, it’s safe to say this type of scene is something fans can’t get enough of.
4. “Show Me The Money!” from Jerry Maguire
For his performance as the on-the-edge sports agent, Tom received one of his two Oscar nominations for best actor in a leading role. In this legendary scene – from which sprang the universal catch-phrase “Show me the money!” – Tom assures his last remaining client, Rod Tidwell, of his allegiance to him. Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his depiction of Tidwell in the Cameron Crowe directed movie.
3. Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder
Now in talks to star in a comedy revolving around the hyper-aggressive and ruthless movie producer, Les Grossman, Tom’s take on the stereotypically pushy and lewd earned some of the biggest laughs in this 2008 film. Nearly always screaming a profanity or making a comment that would cut to the bone, audiences couldn’t get enough of Tom playing against type as this overbearing – and overweight – producer.
2. “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” duet with Anthony Edwards in Top Gun
While music nearly always makes an impact through Tom’s movies, he’s not known to be the one to sing it. However, this musical moment alongside co-star Anthony Edwards in Top Gun cements Tom’s romance with Kelly McGillis’ character Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, and secured his reputation as a romantic leading man.
1. Tom’s Dance Scene from Risky Business
Here’s the scene that allowed Tom to burst into the national consciousness and marked the emergence of a new star! Sliding across the hardwood to the strains of Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘N’ Roll,” Tom slide into the hearts of movie fans the world over.
One of the only things missing from this story is an entry from the new Tom Cruise summer movie, Knight and Day. Check it out – you may find your new favorite Tom Cruise movie moment!
What’s your favorite scene from Tom’s films? Something funny? Something action-packed? Or maybe something more serious? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to continue the conversation with us on the official TomCruise.com Facebook profile or follow us @tomcruise through the official Twitter feed!
Also, take a second to sign up for the official Tom Cruise newsletter to keep up on all the freshest news.
Keep in touch! We love to hear back from all the fans.
