Lately, my husband and I have been rewatching all the Mission: Impossible movies in order, once the kids are finally asleep . We’ve also worked in a few other Tom Cruise flicks like Top Gun, Edge of Tomorrow, The Mummy, and Minority Report. And something keeps standing out: Tom Cruise doesn’t just love a big movie moment, he knows how to chase one.
He has this uncanny ability to spot whatever genre or theme is trending in Hollywood and jump in with his own version. But the surprising part? His movies never feel like straight knockoffs. They’re more like the Costco version of blockbuster hits, massive, a little familiar, but done reallyyy well.
Take The Mummy (2017)- Universal’s attempt to launch a shared universe like Marvel. Cruise was the face of that push, clearly trying to ride that superhero-cinematic-universe wave. Edge of Tomorrow dropped in 2014 when time-loop and mind-bending sci-fi films were everywhere, Looper (2012), Source Code (2011), even Inception (2010) paved the way. Oblivion, another Cruise project, came out the same year as Elysium, and right after Prometheus and After Earth, all dealing with lonely, post-apocalyptic vibes and sleek future tech. Minority Report (2002) showed up at the height of early 2000s dystopian-techno thrillers like The Matrix Reloaded (2003), I, Robot (2004), and Equilibrium (2002). Even War of the Worlds (2005) hit theaters right as alien invasion movies were having a moment again, alongside Signs (2002) and Cloverfield (2008). I think I am going to get a list going to really highlight these similarities.
The guy sees a wave coming and rides it with full commitment. WE GOT A RIDERRR.
And honestly, that commitment is what makes these movies so fun to watch. I’ve always believed that great action is like a chemistry experiment: the right timing, choreography, pacing, emotional stakes,it all has to click. Cruise gets that. I could go on and on and on about what makes great action movies and my fav actors. Whether it’s the death-defying stunts (which he actually does himself), the globe spanning set pieces, or the fact that he goes all in on every role, the results are entertaining and just so well-executed. If you are going to do something, do it with your chest.
He does his own stunts, leans into the drama, and somehow makes every scene feel like a ride. It’s fun to watch, even if I’m half-watching with a snack in one hand and a baby monitor in the other.
Please find a list of his movies and the others that give the same vibe.
Top Gun (1986)
Similar films before it:
- An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) – Romantic military drama
- The Right Stuff (1983) – Heroic pilots and test flights
Trend: Patriotic military dramas, love stories with uniforms, Cold War thrill
Days of Thunder (1990)
Similar films:
- Top Gun (literally – it’s Top Gun with race cars)
- Le Mans (1971), Grand Prix (1966) – Race-focused storytelling
Trend: 80s-90s adrenaline sports with testosterone-fueled rivalries
Mission: Impossible (1996 -ongoing)
Similar spy/action predecessors:
- James Bond series (especially Pierce Brosnan’s 90s run) I also firmly believe Tom Cruise loved 007 and was like LETS MAKE IT AMERICAN and he really did that. I will also say huge parts are emulated but in no way is Hunt even trying to be LIKE 007. Very different vibe.
- The Fugitive (1993) – wrongfully accused man on the run
- True Lies (1994) – tech-heavy spy-action
Trend: Slick spy thrillers, gadgets, identity twists
Minority Report (2002)
Similar films:
- The Matrix (1999) – dystopian future + philosophical sci-fi- NEW action sequences that we haven’t seen before.
- Blade Runner (1982) – same author (Philip K. Dick), same vibe
Trend: Neo-noir tech dystopia + human vs. system themes
War of the Worlds (2005)
Similar films:
- Independence Day (1996) – alien invasion + family survival
- Signs (2002) – personal scale alien horror ( This movie personally terrified me so bad lol)
Trend: Post-9/11 fear-driven disaster films with a human lens
Jack Reacher (2012, 2016)
Similar films:
- The Bourne Identity (2002) – mysterious lone operator
- Taken (2008) – calm, calculated men with “a particular set of skills”
Trend: Gritty, grounded action heroes who operate outside the system
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Similar films:
- Source Code (2011) – time loop thriller
- District 9 (2009), Starship Troopers (1997) could be a reach, but my husband brings this movie up all the time.. anyways
Trend: Sci-fi with real stakes, looping timelines, video game vibes
American Made (2017)
Similar films:
- Blow (2001), The Infiltrator (2016) – drug-smuggling true crime
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – chaotic white-collar crime spiral
Trend: Charismatic antiheroes in real-life criminal schemes
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Similar films:
- Creed (2015), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – “legacy sequels”
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) – aging hero still at his peak
Trend: 80s revival + nostalgia reboots done with real heart and spectacle
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023)
Similar films:
- John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) – stylish action, intense stunts
- No Time to Die (2021) – globe-trotting spy epics with emotional stakes. I think Daniel’s Craig amped up 007 ( which I could go on and write even more things about. Daniel Craig IS THE BEST BOND) And that really made alot of other movies level up in the hand to hand combat and overall bad ass-ness of similar characters. Trend: Prestige action films with real stunt work and deep lore
AshleyTheTyrant 