The editors at Yahoo! have looked into the Tom Cruise filmography to choose their picks for the actor’s Top 5 movies – with some of the picks that may surprise and delight cinema fans. Sure, obvious classics are represented. A certain iconic film about the trials and tribulations of U.S. Naval aviators is included. Thankfully, some of the criminally undermentioned films in Tom’s filmography are shown some love. With so many awesome movies in his oeuvre, it’s cool to see these films get further recognition.
In matters of taste, there is no correct answer! Some of these movies have line-ups of Oscar-caliber heavyweights. Others are fantastical genre films that recall some of the greatest stories and characters of the last 20 years. All of them have the signature craftsmanship and detailed attention to performance that marks Tom’s work. We’ve included video clips from each of the selected movies to help you better understand the choices. Who knows, you may need to watch them again after checking out the action 
.
Take a look below at the list compiled by Yahoo! to see if your favorite Tom Cruise movies got selected:
5. Valkyrie
Starting the list is Tom’s performance as Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, the German military officer who spearheaded the plot to assassinate Hitler as depicted in the 2008 movie, Valkyrie. The cabal of German officers conspired to eliminate the German dictator, but through a series of unforeseeable mishaps, failed in their attempt. The syndicate – inspired to overthrow the tyrannical insanity of their leader – wound up paying the ultimate price.
Yahoo! looks with great favor on the message of the movie and Tom’s performance, calling it an epic World War II tale, “only surpassed by Schindler’s List.”
For fans who want to catch up on this intense story, you may consider ordering the Valkyrie DVD. Find the details below:
4. Vanilla Sky
Tom Cruise collaborated with director Cameron Crowe for a second time with his performance in Vanilla Sky, a remake of the mind-bending Spanish film Open Your Eyes. The psychological thriller places Tom in a world where nothing is as it appears, his character David Aames trying to make sense of his life following what he believes to be a terrible car accident. It marked the first time Tom played opposite Cameron Diaz, who he re-united with on his latest film, Knight and Day!
Vanilla Sky followed Tom’s pairing with Crowe for an Oscar-nominated performance in Jerry Maguire. He co-starred in the film with Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and My Name Is Earl star Jason Lee.
Trying to wrap your head around the awesomeness of Vanilla Sky takes a couple screenings, so you may want to spare yourself the rental fees and pick up a copy of Vanilla Sky on DVD instead. Check out the details below.
3. Top Gun
Obviously one of the classics, Top Gun is the movie that launched Tom from a well-regarded lead with a few great roles under his belt, to become a legitimate movie star he remains to this day. The Tony Scott film examines the lives of Naval Aviation at the prestigious Top Gun fighter pilot training school, previously located in Southern California. Tom plays Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a highly-skilled and arrogant Navy pilot who has to overcome family issues and a sudden tragedy to step up in a life-or-death situation in combat.
Tom’s most visible co-stars in Top Gun were Val Kilmer as his training nemesis, “Iceman,” Kelly McGillis as instructor and love interest, “Charlie,” and Anthony Edwards as his navigator and flying partner, “Goose.” Kilmer went on to fame in films like “The Doors,” while Edwards became a founding series regular on the hit television show, “E.R.”
But Top Gun also came with skilled acting in small parts from actors that went on to great careers. Tim Robbins, starring as one of Tom’s replacement navigators, went on from Top Gun to earn an Academy Award as the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work on Mystic River, along with a Best Director nomination for work behind the camera on Dead Man Walking. Clarence Gilyard Jr., also a replacement navigator with Tom’s Maverick, co-starred in eight seasons of the hit television program, Walker, Texas Ranger. That’s talent, if only in small doses.
To see all these amazing actors, and many more, at their high-flying best, you will likely want to pick up a copy of the Top Gun DVD. Take a look below at the details below for details.
While clocking in as his only film truly embedded in the horror genre, Tom’s work as Lestat de Lioncourt in the film adaptation of Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, is often overlooked for the intensity he brought to the incarnation of the chillingly charismatic antagonist. Acting opposite Brad Pitt and a very young Kirsten Dunst, Tom reveals the motivations behind the life of a the eternal creatures of the night in the cinematic interpretation of the epic novel series penned by best-selling author Anne Rice. The gothic charm of Tom’s Lestat spans centuries as we follow his dark deeds through different eras.
Directed by Oscar-nominated director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), Tom’s performance as Lestat is among his few turns as the villain.
For fans of the darker sort who enjoy the thrills and chills of a good scary movie, Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles ranks as a classic. Turn the lights off and fire up the Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles DVD to get creepy. Check out the details below:
Heading the list, The Last Samurai gets recognition as the best of Tom’s films from the Yahoo! editors. It’s a somewhat surprising pick at first glance, but upon closer examination The Last Samurai holds up fine as a critical darling with its portrayal of the cultural divide and reconciliation between East and West. While the final fight pits the sword-wielding Samurai warriors against the technology and power of the Western equipped Meiji army, Tom’s character sides with the ancient Asian warriors in a display of bravery and loyalty.
It’s easy to see why the Yahoo! editors liked it so much! There’s an electric charge to the final scenes of samurai galloping into battle hopelessly outmatched if only to save the one thing not yet taken from them: their honor.
The Last Samurai also introduced the wider world to the fine acting of Japanese star, Ken Wantanabe – who has gone on to acclaim in blockbusters such as Inception.
If you want to experience the true power of The Last Samurai, we highly recommend picking up a copy of the DVD. Take a look at the details below:
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That’s a wrap for the Yahoo! list of Tom Cruise’s top five movies. Do you agree with the editor’s picks for the list? Did your favorite Tom Cruise movie make the cut? Anything missing here!? Let us know in the comments section.
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