I was thinking this the other day, can anybody say which decade was Cruise’s PRIME? I don’t I can pinpoint his peak. Dude has equally dominated every decade since the 80’s.
80’s - rain man, top gun, risky business, born on the 4th of July. all iconic and could be considered his prime.
90’s- few good men, mission impossible, the firm, Jerry McGuire, interview with a vampire, eyes wide shut. All iconic, legendary quotes and all. Could be considered his prime.
2000’s- more mission impossibles but also BLOCKBUSTERS like minority report, war of the worlds. Critically acclaimed hits like vanilla sky, collateral, last samurai. This is when no actor on the planet could compete with his box office numbers. Could be considered his prime yes?
2010’s- more of the same from the previous decade, but even bigger box office numbers. MI fallout, rogue nation, and ghost protocol. Edge of tomorrow?
Then you start to think he’s done for, too old. Mans hits the 2020’s and releases the highest grossing film of his career in Top Gun Maverick; $1.5 BILLY!! HAS THIS MAN EVEN HIT HIS PEAK YET???
LeBron of movies.
If they stick one last Mission Impossible and he does Top Gun 3, he's easily solidified five full decades.
I think 90's is probably his peak run tho. Few Good Men, Jerry, Vampire, Firm and first MI is elite variety + Oscar level + action star + Franchise start.