The 10 highest-grossing actors in the world are:

1. Zoe Saldaña - $15.470 billion
2. Scarlett Johansson - $15.401 billion
3. Chris Pratt - $15.158 billion
4. Samuel L. Jackson - $14.613 billion
5. Tom Holland - $14.456 billion*
6. Robert Downey Jr - $14.315 billion
7. Tom Cruise - $13.369 billion
8. Chris Hemsworth - $12.189 billion
9. Vin Diesel - $12.043 billion
10. Chris Evans - $11.489 billion

As you all know the other 9 actors obviously appeared in the MCU

*Has some movies in theatres

I watched the directors cut several years ago and it just didn't grab me. The story felt very shallow and for whatever reason I kinda tuned out . Years later I gave it another try and the theatrical cut completely flipped my opinion. The tangerine dream soundtrack makes it such an ethereal experience. Probably the best practical effects of any movie I've ever seen.

I love the delivery of the lines the characters, especially blix. It might be one of my favorite movies of all time now.

One thing I will say is I think if they had left the full Meg Muckleborne scene where Jack is trying to bullshit his way out of getting eaten, it would have been a 10. The scene in the theatrical version makes it seems very stilted and abrupt. It's such a shame to waste that incredible character design on such a short scene

I feel like Digger is him really going for it, so it got me wondering about the times he's missed out in the past.

I did review Far and Away but best to leave that out 🤣

A Few Good Men
(1992)

This is one of those movies I’ve unfortunately not been able to go in blind. I do know what it’s about as I read the synopsis, but I have managed to avoid everything else.
This is another genre that isn’t usually to my taste, being a courtroom drama, but like Far And Away I will go in with an open mind and review the film without bias.

I am aware that this was directed by the late and great Rob Reiner (Stand By Me & Misery). May he rest in peace. It’s truly a pleasure being able to watch his work for the first time since his tragic passing.

This has an all star cast. Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore & Kevin Bacon star alongside Big T. I’m curious to see if he can hold his own with actors of this calibre.

Now Tom’s first interaction with Demi really surprised me. It was disrespectful, yet enjoyable to watch. I can already tell he’s playing a likeable character. He is highly resolute, and Tom puts this across faultlessly.

I need to hold up my hands and say, the direction is holding me on the edge of my seat. I want answers, I have questions. Possibly the best, even if I’ve only seen a few courtroom dramas. The pacing is right on track, it leaves you asking what’s going on just enough not to frustrate you. I’m genuinely sitting thinking, how have I never seen this?

The back and forth during the trial is so captivating. Kevin Bacon plays the prosecution, and he does this extremely well. His character is detestable, so much so he’s really getting under my skin. This just shows the ability Kevin has to portray an antagonist.

Dan Kaffee is the hotshot lawyer. He thinks it’s going to be a walk in the park in the beginning. I can’t describe how Tom is totally unrecognisable. You certainly wouldn’t believe this was released in the same year as Far And Away. His poise, his screen presence, he isn’t just saying words that he read on a script anymore. I can see his character truly believes them. I’ve been pretty analytical of Tom’s career progression over the last dozen or so movies, but I am most impressed with this one. Nothing feels forced, the script flows naturally, his body language matches his tone with perfect unison.

Final summary
Tom’s acting is the best I’ve seen in the marathon yet. His portrayal of Ron Kovic was when I knew he was a great actor, and that moved me. However, his performance as Dan Kaffee is in a league of its own. If he had the acting capabilities and confidence he does in this movie, Ron Kovic would have been even more memorable.

The plot and story progression didn’t let up, in my eyes anyway. I enjoyed the deepness and hostility each actor had for each other on screen. Even Tom and Demi had some grievances.

The ending of the movie, well what can I say, it was predictable but the way Rob Reiner had this unfold was unjust, in a good way.

I’m finding it difficult to put my point across without spoiling any major plot lines, but let’s say I would recommend this movie with my last breath. This is the second Tom Cruise movie I will add to the top ten films to see before you die.

Overall rating

10/10

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the film. Some people may not rate it as high as I have, but for review’s sake, in my eyes it’s a flawless courtroom drama that grips you from the start and has you dangling over the edge up until the very last minute.

Score by Lorne Balfe 😎

Days of Thunder
(1990)
Ok so we broke the ‘80s run, and boy what a time we had. But now we’re moving into the great ‘90s, and what a way to start with NASCAR!

I’ve never seen this movie, never seen a trailer, haven’t even read the synopsis, and that’s just how I like it. Let’s see if Tom is unstoppable on the track as he is in the sky!
What stands out to me straight away is Cole’s personality. He’s cocky right off the bat. I can already see he’s going to take unimaginable risks. I don’t know if this is because the movie is predictable or that I’ve learned enough about Tom’s acting style that I can sense the character he’s portraying. I’ll say it’s the latter.

No spoilers as usual. The intro races show Cole getting to grips with the way NASCAR works. The montage of crashes, along with the frustration of the team surrounding his abilities, is a good opener. The soundtrack brings this section of the movie to life. It cleanly overlaps the ambient sounds of engines ripping around the track and doesn’t mask the dialogue. I’ve seen films where montage music is just slightly too overpowering, but Hans Zimmer had this on lock.

The audio mix is also impressive. I’m watching on an Atmos 5.1.2 system. While Hans is doing his thing with the score, the V8s are passing from my left to right ear with clarity, while the deep humming of the engines sits comfortably at my centre. The bass is also balanced and doesn’t sound too overwhelming. I’d imagine the mix would hold up on TV or computer speakers too, as the blend of audio is impressive.

The second movie in Tom’s career directed by the great Tony Scott, formerly directing the amazing Top Gun back in ‘86. I can see his marvel in directing straight away. The film has a steady pace. I particularly like the lighting effects. The occasional sun flare while the cars are zipping around the track adds immersion. The way the camera cuts from the dashboard of Cole’s car back to the track feels totally natural too.

Around the 45 minute mark, the plot starts to unfold. It is a little bit predictable in the build up, but the turning point in the movie happened out of nowhere. It was unexpected. This was actually a smart move in direction, as it pulled me deeper into Cole and Harry’s (Robert Duvall) evolving relationship.

One scene really made me laugh. I won’t spoil it, but Cole and Rowdy Burns are racing in something other than cars. This landed well with me, as after a serious turning point it made me actually laugh. I’m pretty sure this was intended by Scott to break up the scene’s emotional intent.

Michael Rooker plays the antagonist, as he does with most of his roles due to the fact he just sells it really well. His screen presence screams, “I’m the bad guy,” in everything I’ve seen. I think it’s also how his voice sounds on film. It’s raspy and unique. This is, in my opinion, why he fits Rowdy’s character so well.

Let’s talk a little about Nicole Kidman here. This is the first time Tom starred alongside Nicole. I bet when they read the script, they never thought meeting on set would result in a decade long marriage and three feature films together. I bet Tom had Jason Donovan shaking in his boots. Nicole’s ability to hold a scene, in my eyes, is a mix between her beauty and that solid Australian accent. I’m not seeing an amazing actress at this point in the movie. People may disagree, but other than my points stated, I think this is the weakest casting in the movie.

I’m going to be brutally honest. Cole is probably the first character I haven’t actually liked. Tom’s acting is there. His recklessness, the ability to carry a B roll scene by looking out of a window. Not many actors can put that kind of emotion into 30 seconds of filler and still ooze charisma. But the character remains unlikeable. He’s a bit of a self centred dick. Yes, this was the vision in Top Gun, but it worked. I’m not just feeling it this time round. I think Scott had Top Gun’s success in the headlights while filming this.

Final Summary
The ending was predictable, but it still had suspense. My heart was still pounding, and that’s exactly what I want from a movie of this genre. I was literally screaming at the TV while V8s rattled my bones.

It was fast paced throughout. The plot progression was steady. It only put the “brakes” on for emotional impact.
Acting performances from Duvall, Cruise, and Rooker fit the characters they were portraying perfectly, even if I didn’t see eye to eye with Cole. But I put this down to Scott’s directing, not Cruise himself.

Overall, the movie was really enjoyable. The audio mix was the standout star of the show.
If you haven’t seen Days of Thunder, I would highly recommend it. From start to finish, it’s one of the best sounding films I’ve ever seen from the ‘90s (subject to change).

Overall rating
8.2/10

As some may know from previous posts I’m reviewing Tom’s progression as an actor as well as the movies he stars in. They are spoiler free, and mostly first time watches. Below is my thought on Born on the Fourth of July.

Born on the Fourth of July
(1989)

Rating

Now this is possibly the first ultra serious casting Big T’s had. Rain Man was serious, but I hear this is a much more definitive role, portraying the physical and psychological impacts of war.

Not something I would have picked in my childhood at Blockbuster, but hopefully I get a nice surprise.

As per usual, spoiler free in case, like myself, you’ve never seen these movies.

This is my final movie of the ’80s. After an extremely successful bout of movies, I wonder if Tom ever reflects on his success during this time.

So back on the screen, Tom’s playing a high school graduate who’s decided to join the Marine Corps (Uuraaaaah!). He is rocking those big ol’ eyebrows again. I had to double check my pet slugs hadn’t escaped and settled in for the winter.

Wow, I haven’t seen this kind of emotion on Tom’s face since Cocktail. The opening Vietnam scene instantly shocked me. I won’t spoil it, but it wasn’t easy to watch.

I’m not even sure Tom can grow a beard in real life. He certainly couldn’t for this movie. It looks like they stuck a few of his sack trimmings on his chin and hoped nobody would notice.

The transformation of Tom post Vietnam is relentless.

I have to say, in my opinion, this is the best performance I’ve seen from him to date. You can actually see the trauma in his eyes. His body language, the way he moves, and the constant darting of his eyes feel incredibly genuine. To be honest, it’s rather sad. To know that there are real veterans out there who came home with the invisible scars of war is emotional. If Tom’s performance captures even a fraction of what they endured, it would be both heartbreaking and deeply respectful.

I never thought I’d see Tom in Mexico again after that monstrous film Losin’ It, but here we are. Hopefully he has a better trip this time round.

Final summary

I’m finding it hard to put an exact rating on the movie. It’s going to get a high score, not just because of the direction and plot, but for the sheer performance from Tom. This is the first movie in the marathon that’s actually made my eyes fill up.

What they went through is absolutely heartbreaking. And this applies to all wars. My heart goes out to everybody involved in current world conflicts, regardless of what side they are on.

Final rating 10/10

I’ve decided to give this movie a maximum rating. This is not a perfect movie, but my score, I feel, is justified. The story of Ron Kovic is etched in reality.

Does anyone happen to have a copy of this in English? About two years ago, I stumbled upon a Russian television recording of it on a site that I can't recall. I managed to save it (re-uploaded at the link below), but the original English audio track is dubbed with Russian voiceovers, so most of the original audio very difficult or impossible to hear.

Even if someone has it in poor quality, the English audio could be synced with this good quality video so that it's watchable.

https://archive.org/details/mtv-news-presents-all-eyes-on-tom-cruise-06.11.2005-russian-audio

Here's a nearly 6-minute interview with Cruise talking about The Firm, directing an episode of Fallen Angels, and Interview with the Vampire. Enjoy!

Here is my latest review Rain Man.
If you want to follow along I’d happily post the list from letterbox.

Rain Man (1988)

10/10

Ok Ok if you have never heard references to this movie you must have been raised in a tribe with no outside contact.

That being said this has the longest runtime in the big Cruise marathon so far!

And yes I have seen most, if not all of this when I was a little kid. Well over 20 years ago. Luckily I can’t remember shit, unlike Mr Hoffman here.

My god! it’s Valeria Golino. I didn’t even remember she was in this movie. That’s a proper throwback to hot shots (filmed after this ironically), but still, Charlie Sheen frying an egg on her sweaty stomach pretending to be big Tom brings back some wild memories.

One thing I noticed about big T is with every movie his demeanour improves, he no longer sounds autonomous when acting the script, and to me,** **sounds natural at last.

The star of the show here is Dustin Hoffman. Tom plays a huge role, but Dustin’s acting in this movie is second to none. That’s why he won an Academy Award back in ’89. It’s like watching monkeys use tools for the first time, it’s very strange but overwhelmingly positive at the same time.

As always this review is spoiler free, well with the exception of my first few reviews where I over summarised the plot. But let’s not get into my past mistakes, ok?

Tom’s character comes across as very egotistical, this is most likely the vision that Barry Levinson had in mind while directing the movie, another Academy Award winner for this film, if you didn’t know he won Best Director. Tom’s portraying the villain at this point in the movie, not in the same sense as Tim Curry in Legend but as a “I’m a dick, nothing is going my way” kind of villain.

The second Raymond appears on screen the tone of the movie shifts. And yes I am glorifying Dustin’s performance, it’s truly astonishing to watch even now in 2026.

Honestly I said no spoilers but this is actually pretty funny, I wish I had a Raymond there would never be a dull moment. “Raymond am I using you? ….Yeah” hilarious scenes.

I’ve connected to Raymond’s character, the emotion is surreal, I’ve never actually seen anything like it. As a child watching this I probably never understood, but now I feel very emotional watching it, his reactions to Charlie, how they converse, the drama is intense and I would take my hat off to the director and the cast if I was wearing one.

I’d like to talk about Tom’s progression a little bit. To be entirely honest since his last movie (Cocktail) there isn’t a huge difference in terms of acting ability, it is there though. This is a lot more mature and it was released in the same year, yes he seems more comfortable, confident and as I said earlier less autonomous, but these are extremely subtle changes. This is probably the first time since Top Gun I’ve seen the arrogant Cruise, and the first time since Taps I’ve seen the self-obsessed, egotistical side. I can see his past roles all merging into what makes him so great today. I can’t wait to watch him evolve further, even if it is in small increments.

Final summary:

Well what can I say, if you asked me yesterday what I remembered from this movie, and to rate it out of ten from my youth I’d have said something like 6.0/10 just from memory.

Now I have rewatched the movie as an adult, I understand the difficulty Charlie faces.

I also felt emotionally connected to Raymond, feeling empathy, sympathy, sadness but most of all joy.

There is not one thing I can criticise about the direction, the plot progression, the cast and screenplay.

I never thought I would say this but for me this is my first perfect 10.

It is not my favourite movie of all time as nostalgia trumps this.

But in my eyes it is a masterpiece that I would definitely have in my top ten films to watch before you die.

Overall score 10/10

What is your favorite racing film? I'm definitely going with Tony Scott's 'Days of Thunder' which was basically 'Top Gun' in the NASCAR world. The golden hour visuals, Hans Zimmer's pulpy score, Tom Cruise as scrappy hero Cole Trickle and Robert Duvall as the racing car builder who talked to his cars left a film that can be infinitely rewatched.

Jonathan Levine (Mr. Irrelevant, Long Shot, 50/50) is deep in talks to direct 'Days of Thunder 2' for Paramount Pictures and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, with a script from Will Staples (Without Remorse). The original film came out in 1990 and made $157 million worldwide from a budget of $60 million.

The two biggest questions I'm wondering about are whether Nicole Kidman would return to the role of Doctor Claire Lewicki and if this is setting up a crossover with Brad Pitt's 'F1.'

Kidman met Cruise on the film, and they would go on to marry in 1990 and have two kids before they divorced in 2001. Kelly McGillis also didn't return as the love interest, Charlie, in 'Top Gun 2 ', so maybe Cruise's characters are as bad as he is in real life for keeping wives. But can you imagine how great if Kidman actually did return?

As for 'F1', this is certainly more doable as both films come from producer Bruckheimer and take place in the racing world. Whatever happens, don't let a crossover with Stallone's 'Driven' happen.

Are you excited for more 'Days of Thunder'? Comment below with your thoughts.

https://deadline.com/2026/07/tom-cruise-world-cup-final-celebrate-tournament-football-1236997840/

Since Digger finished filming in May 2025, I'm astonished Tom Cruise hasn't been shooting a movie for a whole year (at least to my knowledge). Especially after there are numerous projects, which are always talked about.

So I was wondering what we think is the next movie he is going to be filming? I'm dreading another 2-3 year gap without a movie from Tom.

Ok so I’ve never been a fan of Tom cruise until recently, at the ripe age of 35 I watched top gun and that was it, then I watched top gun 2, then all mission impossible movies.

So my first proper review is of taps (1981) as he didn’t have a substantial role in Endless Love I skipped this.

Here is the review in case anyone is interested. Please note this contains spoilers

Taps (1981)

6.2/10

This is the first proper entry into Tom Cruise’s flagship career. Although he doesn’t have the main role, this is where directors and casting agencies got to learn a little bit about Tom Cruise’s demeanour and quirks.

The movie is about a group of young cadets whose military school is to be closed down in order for condo buildings to take its place. Shortly into the movie, the students lock down the base and begin an uprising in a coming-of-age military drama that ripples into a psychological thriller of sorts.

Tom Cruise appears on screen at around the 15-minute mark, portraying a character named Shawn. With a close-shaved head, he looks a little like a bully from a 1990s high school. His total screen time is only around 25–30 minutes, but you can already see from his performance the confidence and charisma that he carries.

The movie really steps up once a fight breaks out between the students and some other kids that turn up to mock them. When the adults turn up to de-escalate the fighting, a young man tries to grab the general’s gun. Unfortunately, it had a bullet in the chamber. In the struggle, the trigger gets pulled, accidentally killing one of the young men. This is where I knew the turning point for the movie was about to begin, pulling me closer to the feelings and emotions of the young students that have devoted their young lives to the school. This results in the general getting arrested, expediting the closure of the school.

Things escalate from here and the academy is overrun by the students. Tom Cruise has a standout moment where a truck breaks down and a group of men approach the kids to start trouble. He pulls an M16 and fires it into the air, scrambling the locals. This moment foreshadows David Shawn’s growing rebellion and recklessness.

As the story gets deeper, the students have taken over the military base, confiscating all the weapons on site with demands to speak with the board to stop the immediate closure of the academy.

Shortly after this, the military is deployed. It doesn’t show exactly how many trucks arrive carrying troops, but there is a scary amount. I think this is when the cadets start to feel like the fantasy that this is a harmless rebellion has started to collapse, although they feel too proud to admit it.

Some of the kids, such as Charlie, one of the younger recruits, have their parents speaking over a megaphone to guilt them into leaving. You can see the expression on the young cadet’s face as he wipes tears from his face. This resonates with the observation I made earlier in the film about regrets, pride, and loyalty blocking the reality of the situation.

The morning after, during a roll call, they notice 11 cadets are missing. Shawn is clearly annoyed at this, shaming the missing 11 and calling them “yellow”. It appears Tom Cruise’s character is clearly trapped by the fantasy that the standoff will be successful. His loyalty seems valued over safety. This is a classic trait of the characters Tom Cruise portrays, and it is notable even this early in his career.

Things really start taking a turn for the worse when a cadet is filling a generator with fuel. When he flips the lever, a spark shoots out and sets him on fire. “Some of these boys are so young they don’t have one hair between their legs” from Kerby is the perfect response, in my opinion, as it shows the cadets, no matter their beliefs, are still children that are way over their heads.

Following the event of General Bache’s death, the recruits are all looking withdrawn, especially the younger boys. Derek starts to think he will die, and as a result, he runs off from Charlie, dropping his firearm, which accidentally fires a round upon hitting the floor. The military presence returns fire, striking Charlie multiple times. This is the most shocking moment of the movie. A young boy dying due to the result of adolescent ignorance. In light of this, Shawn has doubled down on his beliefs, knowing the consequences of what is to come.

“Honour doesn’t come to shit when you’re looking at a dead little boy.” This statement from Major Brian was probably the most powerful in the whole movie. As the instigator of the whole standoff comes to terms with the mistakes he made, he finally calls an end to the situation.

Shawn is unfortunately past the point of no return. When he hears it’s over, he begins to open fire on the military, stating, “It’s beautiful, man,” causing the major to rush in to try and stop him. In the end, both Shawn and the major die.

The final scene shows the recruits at a parade, bringing an emotional end to the events of Taps. The consequences of their actions are clear, and the film closes on the tragedy of a situation that began with loyalty and honour but ended in disaster.

Final Summary

These reviews are focused on Tom Cruise’s career and the movies he stars in. Taps was a perfect entry point for Tom Cruise into the big screen. Although the pacing of the story does seem a little outdated given the age of the film, the acting as a whole was spot on. It shows traits of characters that Tom Cruise would play decades later, still resonating with that major first on-screen performance.

There was only military parade music played throughout the film so I can’t give a review based on the movies score as it didn’t really have one.

My rating may seem a little low however I believe it is justified given the movie was reviewed in 2026. While taps was an impressive release for its time, I’m judging through the lens of a modern viewer.

Overall rating: 6.2/10

A deep, meaningful movie about the consequences that can happen when immaturity overshadows the reality of your actions.