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Tom Cruise top 10: What movies make the cut?

This weekend Tom Cruise leaps back into theatres with Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, the latest film in the very popular action franchise. While the Mission: Impossible series is a highlight of Cruise's career, he has a vast and diverse filmography.

Cruise has put out many great films over the years, with some classics not even making our list. The classic teen comedy Risky Business put him on the map, and 1986's Top Gun was one of the best action films of the generation, cementing his star power. Modern films that served as close calls include the romantic drama Jerry Maguire, the action mystery Jack Reacher, the sci-fi adventure Oblivion, Steven Spielberg's gritty retelling of War of the Worlds, the Japanese epic The Last Samurai, as well as the other respective installments in the Mission: Impossible series.

But if I had to choose only 10 Cruise movies as his best, it would be these:

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Valkyrie

In a rare period piece, Cruise stars as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a German military leader who leads an opposition towards Adolf Hitler. The film is an interesting exploration of a different side of the World War II conflict, and while Cruise plays a pivotal role, he works well amongst the ensemble cast.

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It's a testament to Cruise's acting ability that such a well-known actor is able to completely transform into a historical figure and carry the film throughout its intense final moments.

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Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow is an entertaining action blockbuster that wisely doesn't take itself too seriously, and has an original plot that is interesting and engaging to figure out. Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt deliver good performances, and the actors have great on screen chemistry that helps sell some of the aspects of the plot.

This is very much an action film with outstanding sequences that are very entertaining, if not a little eccentric. Cruise's character represents the audience; he experiences everything for the first time as we do, and his performance is a great bridge from the audience to the characters.

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The Firm

The Firm serves as a great departure from traditional Hollywood action fare, with a much more conspiracy based plot revolving around corruption of the judiciary system and mob connections. Cruise gives a dynamic performance as Mitch McDeere, a hotshot lawyer caught in over his head, with Cruise's acting ranging from naivety to intense. At 154 minutes, The Firm never drags, and both exercises and builds upon Cruise's star power.

Born on the Fourth of July

In Born on the Fourth of July, Cruise provides what is perhaps his edgiest and most powerful performance to date as Ron Kovic, a former war veteran turned anti-war political activist. In working with director Oliver Stone, Cruise works with the film's political agenda, giving a haunting and moving portrayal of post-war stress. The film serves as both a powerhouse performance for Cruise, as well as a gripping story about the reality of the American dream.

Minority Report

In his first collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, Cruise stars in an incredibly cerebral sci-fi action thriller that draws parallels to the modern world, as well as serves as a departure from the standard Hollywood formula. Though the plot (which revolves around a program that predicts crimes before they occur) is definitely the film's highlight, the backstory behind Cruise's character John Anderton helps to develop an interesting character. Minority Report is a very rare film, as it is a combination of both best of blockbuster entertainment and powerful storytelling.

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Tropic Thunder

In a very different and equally edgy performance, Tom Cruise steals the film Tropic Thunder as the notoriously wicked film producer Les Grossman. The film itself is a clever and cunning satire of the film industry, and Tom Cruise fits in perfectly within the film's parodic sense of humor, featuring some brilliant comedy with great comedic timing. Cruise's edgy role elevates the film to a new level of comedy, serving as one of Cruise's most unique films.

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Collateral

In contrast to the over the top silliness of Tropic Thunder, Collateral provides Cruise with his darkest and most disturbing performance yet in this Michael Mann film. Cruise plays a completely believable sociopath that sheds his Hollywood superstar persona, and plays well into the film's suspenseful undertones, as well as having great chemistry with his co-star Jamie Foxx. The film is a powerful thriller, and Tom Cruise's performance gives some interesting insight into the mind of a killer.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Perhaps Cruise's most iconic role is that of Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible series, and 2011's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol stands as the franchise's best installment [Editor's note: At least before the latest one]. As well as featuring the best action, plot and dialogue of the series, the fourth installment does a great job at developing the character of Ethan Hunt, providing Cruise's best performance as the character. The film avoids the stereotypical plot of the action films and perfectly handles the mix of intrigue, suspense and action.

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A Few Good Men

A Few Good Men is a powerful legal drama that perfectly captures the thrills and suspense of the courtroom film with an outstanding cast of actors. Cruise gives a powerful performance that captures the nuances of law, and perfectly handles the script's exploration of the American military and government. Though the supporting cast of Jack Nicholson, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Bacon are all memorable, Cruise's relatable and emotional performance is the highlight of the great film.

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Rain Man

Though Tom Cruise's career is a long and extensive one, his finest film is his early role in Rain Man. The film's story, which revolves around Cruise's character of Charlie Babbitt and his relationship with his brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), allows for some real emotional moments as well as some of the best onscreen chemistry ever seen on screen. It's an actor's piece, and Cruise's dynamic performance adds an emotional weight to the film.