Tom Cruise's Best Performances Since 'Top Gun'

Tom Cruise is one of the most popular actors in the world. Despite an iffy public life, no amount of couch jumping can diminish the quality of work Cruise has done over the years. While it wasn't his first starring role it was 1986's "Top Gun" that proved he had what it took to keep headlining movies. This year marks the 25th anniversary of "Top Gun" and in that time Cruise has given some remarkable performances. Here's a look at the five best performances that Cruise has done since "Top Gun."

Charlie Babbit - "Rainman"
This story of long lost brothers won the hearts of critics and audiences when it was released in 1988. Cruise played a selfish yuppie who learned that his estranged father passed away and left everything to a brother that he didn't even know he had. Dustin Hoffman, playing Charlie's brother Raymond, garnered most of the attention it all would have been for naught if Cruise's performance hadn't been up to par. Cruise was able to bring audiences along for Charlie's journey in which he discovered his own humanity through Raymond. Taking such a selfish character and giving him a credible arc where he ultimately is somebody audiences love is no small feat.

Lt. Daniel Kaffee - "A Few Good Men"
It takes a strong performer to go toe to toe with Jack Nicholson, and Cruise was able to do just that in this 1992 legal drama. Playing a lazy military lawyer saddled with a case that most people want to just disappear, Cruise brought his natural swagger in full force to this part. Kaffee is a character who would have been impossible to root for if he wasn't played with sufficient charisma. Cruise was able to bring that to the screen and even give Kaffee serious drive in his newfound quest for truth.

Lestat - "Interview with the Vampire"
This was a role that nobody thought Cruise could do. Anne Rice, author of the novel, publicly expressed her concern at his casting. When she finally saw this 1994 horror film she wrote a formal letter of apology and praised Cruise openly. Cast against type as a ruthless vampire with virtually no redeeming qualities, Cruise showed a true viciousness that audiences were unprepared for. His natural charm still showed through but there was never any doubt that Lestat was genuinely dangerous and had no interest in retaining any part of his humanity. Characters like this quickly become generic "evil" cliches but Cruise created a fully rounded yet despicable villain.

Frank Mackey - "Magnolia"
Cruise was one of many characters in this 1999 drama of overlapping stories, but he came out as the most memorable. Cruise took a big risk in playing a complete misogynist of a motivational speaker who taught classes on how to use women. The intensity of the performance was astounding, and earned Cruise an Oscar nomination. While audiences were never outright asked to sympathize for Mackey, Cruise was still able to create a full three dimensional character of surprising depth out of what could have been a completely one note part.

Les Grossman - "Tropic Thunder"
With only a few scenes Cruise stole this entire 2008 film from its comedic stars. He was foul mouthed, high energy and nearly unrecognizable in balding make-up and midriff padding. Cruise made such an impression in this part that he's appeared as the character again several times and there was even talk of a spin-off movie. That talk seems to have died down but that does not diminish this astonishing piece of over the top comedic brilliance.