Tom Cruise at his best

In honor of Top Gun: Maverick being released this weekend, let's rank Tom's best performances. Start the countdown:

#10 - Risky Business (Rating - 7 out of 10) - This was one of Tom's very first roles and he was electric as a high schooler who solicits a prostitute when his parents go out of town and things do not go well. This was the film that started it all for Tom and his performance was fresh and funny.

#9 - Top Gun (Rating - 6.5 out of 10) - This performance is what truly cemented Tom as a bon-a-fide movie star. While the film has some truly cringe-worthy moments (volleyball anyone?), Tom nailed the constantly smiling, cocky jackass who gets his comeuppance. Iceman was actually the hero of the film.

#8 - The Color of Money (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Right before Top Gun arrived, Tom gave a great performance as the constantly smiling, cocky jackass (hey, is there a pattern going on here?) to Paul Newman's poolhall master. This is a very fun performance in a fun film about poolhall grifters.

#7 - Born on the Fourth of July (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Oliver Stone's film was a bit over-the-top and obvious, but Tom nails his first, intense drama role. His Ron Kovic performance is riveting and moving. His Best Actor nomination was well-deserved.

#6 - Tropic Thunder (Rating - 7 out of 10) - While the film was scattershot funny, Tom's brief cameo role as a rotund, overbearing and very angry studio executive was absolutely hilarious. Tom proved without any doubt that he could actually do comedy and do it very well.

#5 - Edge of Tomorrow (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - In what is still an underrated gem of a sci-fi action tentpole, Tom (and Emily Blunt) are equally terrific. Intense and engaging but also tinted with a great sense of comedic timing, Tom's performance was one of his very best. If you haven't seen this one, seek it out.

#4 - Magnolia (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A truly magnetic and fantastic supporting turn by Cruise that should have won him the Oscar. The film was heady and interesting but it was Tom's performance that left the biggest mark.

#3 - Collateral (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A great villainous turn by Cruise in this terrific action thriller lifted the whole endeavor from something good to something great. This film shows the promise of future Cruise roles where he may chose to be the bad guy.

#2 - The Mission Impossible franchise (Rating - 8.5 out of 10 as a franchise) - This is one of those instances that does not occur that often where an actor and a role truly become one. Tom was born to play Ethan Hunt and I couldn't imagine any other actor in that role. Straight action roles never see Oscar glory, but if that were to ever happen, it should be Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. Maybe for the final one?

#1 - Rain Man (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Playing flashy supporting roles (where the character has some physical condition or a severe mental issue) always seems to get the attention - especially from the Academy. Doing the straight lead man against that type of performance is usually forgotten and ignored. Cruise did such a phenomenal job as the "straight man" in this, he should have been nominated for an Oscar. Watching this again, I was floored by how great he was in this.