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Far and Away: Everything to Know About Tom Cruise’s Only Western Movie

Famously known as a leading man in action movies, the Tom Cruise Western Far and Away movie is the only time the actor has worked in the genre . The 1992 epic Western romantic drama was directed by Ron Howard . Like Tom Cruise, Far and Away was Howard’s first Western project. However, unlike Cruise, Howard later directed two movies ( The Missing and Solo: A Star Wars Story ) in the genre.

Ron Howard and Canadian screenwriter and filmmaker Bob Dolman developed Far and Away ‘s story and screenplay. Although the film enjoyed relative success, it’s more famous for being Tom Cruise’s only credit in a Western film. Here’s everything to know about Tom Cruise’s only Western movie, Far and Away .

What Is the Plot of Far and Away?

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in Far and Away

Ron Howard’s Far and Away is set in the late 1800s, with the plot taking place sometime between 1892 and 1893. Far and Away began in Ireland when wealthy English landowners contractually gave land to tenant farmers to work on and pay high rents. At the time, these Irish tenants were never allowed to own these lands. Far and Away centered around its protagonist, Joseph Donnelly ( Tom Cruise ), who, being the son of a tenant farmer, dreamed of owning a land someday. The movie’s plot is set in motion after the death of Joseph’s father and the burning of their home by their landlord over unpaid rent.

While attempting to kill the landlord, Daniel Christie ( Robert Prosky ), in revenge, Joseph inadvertently injures himself when the gun backfires. Daniel Christie’s wife, Nora ( Barbara Babcock ), and daughter, Shannon Christie ( Nicole Kidman ), nurses Joseph back to health so he can be hanged for attempted murder. However, Shannon is immediately smitten by Joseph’s boldness and tells him of her plans to go to America. She tells Joseph that they give lands for free in America and convinces him to run away with her to America.

Although Shannon took some silver spoons to cover their expenses in Oklahoma, they faced a major setback after they were robbed. Stuck in Boston, Joseph and Shannon take up odd jobs as a bare-knuckle boxer and burlesque dancing. After Shannon is shot, Joseph takes her to her family, who are now in Boston, to properly nurse her. Joseph and Shannon later reunite in Oklahoma during the Land Run of 1893. As Joseph runs in the race to claim his land, he gets in a fight with Stephen Chase ( Thomas Gibson ), which leads to his death after his head is hit on a rock by Stephen’s falling horse. Joseph reawakens to a sobbing Shannon, and together, they stake their claim on a land.

Far and Away Was Based On A Historical Event

Besides the romantic plot in Far and Away , the movie’s central plot was Shannon and Joseph going to America to claim land for free. As Mr. McGuire confirms on the ship bound for America, the Land Run of 1893 shown in Far and Away is based on facts . In the late 1800s, lands were offered for free, allowing several immigrants to claim land in Oklahoma. The Land Run of 1893, shown in the movie, was the fourth and largest land run. Historically, an estimated 100,000 people participated in the race, hoping to claim part of the 6 million acres being offered. These lands were formerly Cherokee grazing lands.

Director Ron Howard ‘s great-grandparents actually took part in the real Land Run of 1893. It was a story his grandmother had often told him as a child. However, although the race is historically accurate, the characters and romantic story in Far and Away are entirely fictional . For dramatic purposes, Joseph Donnelly and Shannon Christie’s characters and love story are all works of fiction. However, tenant farming and owning of Irish lands by English landowners are historical facts. Although Far and Away ends on a happily-ever-after note for Joseph and Shannon, not all land claimants had successful stories. By the end of the year, several of these new landowners abandoned the land because they were unsuitable for farming.

Far and Away: Behind the Scenes Details

The Land Run race depicted in the film was actually filmed in Billings, Montana. Nonetheless, the Oklahoma Historical Society was consulted at every stage of production. The studio used working titles such as An Irish Story and The Irish Story during the Far and Away production. To effectively recreate the Land Run race as shown in Far and Away , production hired an estimated 800 riders and extras. The set used was about a quarter mile wide and used 900 horses, mules, oxen, and 200 wagons.

In the scene where Nicole Kidman ‘s character raises the bowl covering Tom Cruise’s crotch, director Ron wasn’t initially impressed with Kidman’s reaction. Without informing the actress, Howard told Cruise to remove his pants and expose his penis. Nicole Kidman’s expression in the film was entirely natural as she wasn’t expecting to see Cruise’s penis.

Production hired dialect coach Tim Monich to help with the movie’s Irish accent. Monich taught most of the cast to speak in an Irish accent. However, although Far and Away became a cult classic in Ireland, it is laughed at for the bad Irish accents used. Historically, Nicole Kidman’s character isn’t supposed to speak in an Irish accent. As the daughter of a wealthy English landowner, the character should have had an English accent. However, it was decided she should use an Irish accent to avoid confusing viewers with too many accents in the film. Additionally, legendary composer John Williams composed the film score for Far and Away .

Far and Away’s Reception and Box Office Numbers

Tom Cruise’s first Western movie, Far and Away, attracted a lot of attention after its release on May 22, 1992. However, after its release, it was received with mixed to average reviews. Over 30 years since its release, Far and Away holds a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes . Far and Away was produced on a $60 million budget , with hopes of a successful theatrical run.

In its opening weekend, it earned $13 million at the Box Office. However, by the end of its theatrical run in the United States and Canada, it grossed only $58 million without being able to break even. Although it was a bomb at the American Box Office, it grossed an additional $79 million internationally. At the end of its worldwide theatrical run, Far and Away grossed $137.8 million .

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman Were Already Married Before Its Release

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Far and Away

Watch Far and Away on Apple TV+

Onyinye Izundu

Onyinye Izundu (He/Him) is a writer at TVOvermind. With a particular interest in fantasy, including popular shows like House of the Dragon, The Rings of Power, and Games of Thrones, Onyinye enjoys watching movies and TV shows of various genres. Some of his all-time favorite films include Armageddon, Independence Day (starring Will Smith), Gladiator, and the movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 1-4 (still trying to wrap his head around the multiverse of Phase 5).

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Far and Away

Where to watch.

Rent Far and Away on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Handsome and simplistic, Far and Away has the beauty of an American epic without the breadth.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Joseph Donnelly

Nicole Kidman

Shannon Christie

Thomas Gibson

Stephen Chase

Robert Prosky

Daniel Christie

Barbara Babcock

Nora Christie

Movie Clips

Once Upon a Time in a Western

Far and away (1992).

Spurred on by Danty Duff, an old friend of his father’s, Joseph sets out to even the score with landlord Daniel Christie (Robert Prosky). Duff even provides Joseph with an antique rifle.

But the first member of the Christie family Joseph meets is the landlord’s daughter Shannon Christie (Nicole Kidman). Spooked by his presence in their stables, Shannon stabs Joseph with a pitchfork, then rushes to her father for help.

When Joseph staggers out of the stable, still intent on killing Daniel Christie, the gun explodes in his face. Instead of assassin, he winds up being a patient in the Christie home, a commoner to be mended so he can hang later.

But Shannon, bored with the life of an upper class young woman, yearning for “modern” America, decides Joseph could be useful. She’s planning to run away to America, where land is going to be given away for free in the Oklahoma Land Rush.

But she can’t without a male escort. Joseph, she decides, could be her escort and her servant boy.

So off they go. They land in Boston, and quickly learn their destination is still 1,000 miles away and getting there won’t be easy.

Posing as brother and sister, they grow closer and finds their roles reversed. Joseph begins to make decent money as a prize-fighter. Shannon winds up plucking chickens for pennies in a factory.

A tragic turn causes them to part. Shannon winds up back with her parents, who have traveled to Boston to find her. Stephen Chase (Thomas Gibson) has also followed Shannon to America, planning to refindle a union arranged back in Ireland.

Joseph and Shannon are still determined to make it to Oklahoma Territory. Joseph, even more than Shannon, wants the freedom that comes with owning land of his own.

Tom Cruise as Joseph Donnelly, being convinced to avenge his father in Far and Away (1992)

Nicole Kidman as Shannon Christie, armed with a pitchfork and ready to use it in Far and Away (1992)

More adventure and romance than Western, considering our characters don’t land in the West until the final 40 minutes of the movie. But there’s an impressive recreation of the 1893 land rush, filmed with the help of 800 extras, 200 horses and 100 wagons.

And the film itself is more impressive than the mixed reviews it received at the time. How can you not find yourself rooting for Joseph Donnelly and Shannon Christie to suceed in their dreams? And to do so together?

Cruise and Kidman are front and center for the entire film. Little is required from the rest of the cast. Kidman also seems to be the focus in all the most memorable scenes.

There’s the pitchfork scene. There’s a scene in which the antique silver spoons she planned to use to finance her trip to Oklahoma are stolen. And there’s a delightful scene in which her mother, having undressed Joseph to mend his wounds, places a bowl over his crotch to protect her daughter’s innocence.

Curious, Shannon steals a peek under that bowl as soon as her mother leaves the room. Intrigued by what she’s seen, she can’t help but lift the bowl a second time. At which point, Joseph begins to stir. Horrified at the thought of being caught peeking, Shannon quickly tells him he’s dreaming.

Cruise and Kidman were husband and wife when this film was made. They had two children together before divorcing in 2001.

Thomas Gibson as Stephen Chase, learning Shannon has fled to America in Far and Away (1992)

Colm Meaney as Mike Kelly, making money of Joseph Donnelly’s boxing ability in Far and Away (1992)

Directed by: Ron Howard

Cast: Tom Cruise … Joseph Donnelly Nicole Kidman … Shannon Christie Thomas Gibson … Stephen Chase Robert Prosky … Daniel Christie Barbara Babcock… Nora Christie Cyril Cusack … Danty Duff Eileen Pollock … Molly Kay Colm Meaney … Kelly Douglas Gillison … Dermody Michelle Johnson … Grace Wayne Grace … Bourke Niall Toibin … Joe Barry McGovern … McGuire Gary Lee Davis … Gordon Jared Harris … Paddy Steve O’Donnell … Colm

Runtime: 140 min.

Robert Prosky as Daniel Christie, reacting when Joseph Donnelly shows up at his home, intent on vengeance in Far and Away (1992)

Barbara Babcock as Nora Christie, distraught over the loss of her home and daughter in Far and Away (1992)

Memorable lines:

Joseph Donnelly: “I’ve only killed chickens and pigs until now.” Danty Duff: “He’s a pig and a chicken all in one, Daniel Christie. Here, now, give him a proper taste of death.”

Shannon Christie, running to her father for help after stabbing Joseph with a pitchfork: “Help, help. I’ve been almost raped. Almost slaughtered. In the stables. It’s the devil himself.”

Shannon Christie, of Joseph Donnelly: “If he’s so worthless, then why are you bothering to dress his wounds.” Nora Christie, her mother: “It’s our duty to restore him to full health, so he can hear his own neck crack when he dangles from the hangman’s noose.”

Shannon Christie: “Boy, you said you wanted land. If that’s what you want, then come with me. … You’re brave. You shoot men. You step on their necks. When I saw that, I realized you could be very useful to me.” Joseph Donnelly: “Useful to you?” Shannon: “Yes, you could be my serving boy.”

Shannon Christie: “Joseph, am I beautiful at all?” Joseph Donnelly: “I’ve never seen anything like you in all my living life.” Shannon: “Good.”

Shannon Christie, of Grace, out of jealousy: “If she goes in the confession box, she’ll never come out, the little tramp.”

Daniel Christie, as Nora tries to curb his rebelious side: “The wild west suits me, Nora. There’s no telling what I might do.”

Nicole Kidman as Shannon Christie, humored by Joseph’s instructions on how to wash clothes in Far and Away (1992)

Tom Cruise as Joseph Donnelly, struggling to get Shannon to acknowledge his accomplishments in Far and Away (1992)

Michelle Johnson as Grace, the dancer who spurs Shannon’s sense of jealousy in Far and Away (1992)

Cyriul Cusack as Danty Duff, urging Joseph Donnelly to even the score with Daniel Christie in Far and Away (1992)

Tom Cruise as Joseph Donnelly explaining to Shannon Christie (Nicole Kidman) why they need to pretend to be brother and sister in Far and Away (1992)

Nicole Kidman as Shannon Christie, wondering if she’s ‘beautiful at all’ in Far and Away (1992)

Tom Cruise as Joseph Donnelly, finding Shannon again in Oklahomas in Far and Away (1992)

Tom Cruise as Joseph Donnelly, finding Shannon again in Oklahoma in Far and Away (1992)

Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Black Fox: Good Men and Bad (1995)

Cherokee Kid (1996)

Far and Away

Cast & crew.

Nicole Kidman

Thomas Gibson

Robert Prosky

Barbara Babcock

Nora Christie

Intense and melodramatic Cruise-Kidman immigrant epic.

Average 5.2

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4253 global ratings

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Whatever Happened to Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon’s Rodeo Romance?

We were this close to a Western love story with Witherspoon and Cruise.

The Big Picture

Tom Cruise's career took a different turn in 2011, as his attempts at branching out into non-action roles were largely unsuccessful.
Cruise's interest in a romantic Western comedy called Paper Wings suggests a different path his stardom could have taken.
Cruise's past successes in romantic and comedic roles, such as in Risky Business and Jerry Maguire , highlight his versatility and talent beyond the action genre.

Any discussions about Tom Cruise being “past his prime” are completely ridiculous, as Cruise has proven time and time again why he’s the biggest movie star on the planet. The combined critical and box office success of Top Gun: Maverick and the last few installments within the Mission: Impossible franchise have proven that Cruise is still an immediate box office draw for audiences across the globe. However, Cruise’s career was in a far different place a decade earlier, as his efforts to branch out into non-action roles had been largely unsuccessful. During this brief period of uncertainty, Cruise nearly signed up for a Western romance film that he would have co-starred in with Reese Witherspoon . Although the project never took off, it suggests a very different path that Cruise’s stardom could have taken under different circumstances.

Tom Cruise's Career in 2011 Was Very Different

In early 2011, Game of Thrones director Brian Kirk was reportedly circling a romantic Western comedy that was tentatively titled Paper Wings . The premise felt like a strange cross between Urban Cowboy and Rhinestone , as it followed a rough and tough rodeo star that fell in love with a country singer. The script had been developed by Twilight writer Marty Bohen , and was first sent to New Line Cinema in 2006. Witherspoon first got involved with the project when The Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino was attached to helm it. Cruise was reportedly seriously interested in taking on the project. While it now seems unbelievable that Cruise would ever pop up in a Western romance , his career was in a much different state back in 2011.

It had been a rough few years for Cruise. In the aftermath of Mission: Impossible III , Cruise attempted to reestablish himself as a dramatic actor with Robert Redford ’s political drama Lions and Lambs and Bryan Singer ’s World War II thriller Valkyrie . Both films fell flat, indicating that Cruise didn’t quite have the capability to break into any serious award season conversations at this time. Although he scored a surprising Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Tropic Thunder alongside his co-star, Robert Downey Jr. , Downey’s performance was the only one that received any recognition from the Oscars. Cruise tried to trek back into familiar territory in 2010 with James Mangold ’s action comedy Knight and Day , but it became one of the rare critical and financial disasters of his career.

Unfortunately, Paper Wings remained in development hell as Cruise, Witherspoon, and Kirk all began working on other projects. Witherspoon would end up earning a well-deserved Academy award nomination for her performance in Jean-Marc Vallee ’s Wild . She soon became just as popular on television as she was in film thanks to the success of The Morning Show , Big Little Lies , and Little Fires Everywhere . Kirk continued to work in television, directing episodes of Lucifer , Boardwalk Empire , and Dexter . He later made the leap to the big screen when he directed the late, great, Chadwick Boseman in one of his last movies , the 2019 crime thriller 21 Bridges .

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Was a Box Office Hit

Given that Cruise had failed in just about every genre, signing up for an exciting script alongside a star like Witherspoon would have been a great way for him to show off his versatility. However, no one could anticipate just how successful Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol would be when it hit theaters in December. Cruise proved why Ethan Hunt was still the definitive action hero of a generation, and managed to remain at the center of the franchise, even when it was suggested that Jeremy Renner could take over as its new lead . Within the next few years, it became more clear than ever that Ethan Hunt was the only character that Cruise could rely on.

While it appeared like Cruise might have been able to kickstart another franchise in 2012 with Jack Reacher , the film’s disastrous 2016 sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back killed any potential for the franchise. (The character would later be rebooted in the television series Reacher on Amazon Prime Video with Alan Ritchson .) Cruise’s other critical failures included his first musical ( Rock of Ages ), a middling science fiction adventure ( Oblivion ), and his attempt to take part in a cinematic universe (2017’s The Mummy ). Their collective failures indicated that Cruise was best when he was working with familiar material. Perhaps this inspired him to take a nostalgia-heavy look back at one of his most iconic roles with legacy sequel Top Gun: Maverick .

Tom Cruise Needs To Do More Movies Like 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Risky Business'

The failure of Paper Wings to move forward is disappointing, as Cruise is rarely given enough credit for how romantic and funny he could be. Even though he’s now almost exclusively associated with the action genre, it's easy to forget that Cruise’s breakout role was in 1983 with the coming-of-age romantic dramedy Risky Business . The sensitivity and earnestness that Cruise showed at such a young age is largely responsible for the success that he received thereafter. He would also give one of his best performances ever in 1996 with the romantic comedy Jerry Maguire . It was one of the biggest hits of Cruise’s career and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, even though the role was originally written for Tom Hanks .

Cruise also took chances on many different types of romantic films. Vanilla Sky took the rom-com formula into science fiction territory, and Cruise showed a more sensitive version of masculinity with his performances in the arthouse dramas Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia . Unfortunately, these sorts of projects now seem few and far between for Cruise. 2017’s American Made was the last time that he appeared in a non-action film, and its dismal reviews may have inspired Cruise to narrow his focus on blockbusters even further. The Mission: Impossible franchise is one of the best franchises that is currently running (no pun intended). However, Cruise can only push his physical limits for so long before he is forced to retire from the action genre. Perhaps when Ethan Hunt’s story finally comes to an end, Cruise will circle back to work on something like Paper Wings again. Who doesn’t want to see Cruise play a cowboy?

Tom Cruise and a Meta Cinematic Universe? Tarantino's Scrapped Final Film Was a Wild One: Report

W hen news first broke that film auteur Quentin Tarantino was abandoning his largely materialized 10th and final film, tentatively titled "The Movie Critic," Hollywood-watchers were both surprised and not surprised at all.

To the ones who weren't surprised: Tarantino is an oddball, and that's probably an understatement.

Creative genius? Absolutely. Hardheaded , almost to a fault? Indeed.

Additionally, abandoning an anticipated project isn't something new for Tarantino, given that "Star Trek" fans are still waiting for that R-rated film .

The one who were surprised: Tarantino, for as quirky and weird as he is, clearly still put a lot of thought and passion into "The Movie Critic."

To just up and abandon it seemed like a move out of left field.

Surprised or not, however, a new report from The Hollywood Reporter is shedding some light on just how deep the rabbit hole went when it came to " The Movie Critic ."

(For the unaware, Tarantino has vocally expressed his fear of becoming stale and out-of-touch, so he set his 10th feature film to be his last, though he still plans to stay in the industry, whether with television or plays.)

First, according to THR, "The Movie Critic" went through extensive revisions from Tarantino, but the film was still expected to begin production this year, with proper filming in 2025.

That alone should give you a clue as to just how close Tarantino was.

Second, THR divulged some potential plot details for the film that seemed far beyond the scope of what Tarantino typically does (telling hyper-stylized, self-contained stories).

"The film’s exact story details are not known, but sources familiar with the project dropped a couple intriguing ideas to THR that Tarantino was toying with," the outlet noted. "One was that the Hollywood-set tale could serve as a Tarantino goodbye meta-verse with the director’s earlier movies existing in the same era of The Movie Critic (which could work, given that his films have a ’70s vibe).

"That way, Tarantino could bring back some of the stars of his earlier work to reprise their iconic characters in 'movie within a movie' moments, or to play fictional versions of themselves as the actors who played those characters."

Another round for Samuel L. Jackson as Jules and John Travolta as Vincent? Uma Thurman reprising The Bride once more? Mr. Blonde, Mr. Orange and Mr. Pink again?

How could any Tarantino fan not salivate at the thought of that meta story?

Third, THR also pointed out the litany of big-star names that were attached to the project at various points. Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Jamie Foxx were all rumored to be attached to Tarantino's grand finale.

The biggest name in all the rumors was Tom Cruise.

"Cruise, in Tarantino lore, was first eyed for Pitt’s Once Upon a Time role, but scheduling forced him to bow out," The Hollywood Reported noted. "Fans were shipping a Cruise-Tarantino pairing, but The Movie Critic wasn’t actually going to bring them together. According to sources, Cruise hadn’t even met with the filmmaker for a role."

That's a whole lot of time, effort, and big names circling "The Movie Critic," a film that will never be made, apparently.

Ultimately, THR painted Tarantino's rejection of "The Movie Critic" as being akin to a child losing interest in old toys when Christmas brings new ones.

"Those who know Tarantino (who had no comment for this story) aren’t saying precisely why he shelved the film, only that he had grown more excited by other ideas," THR reports.

Additionally, an unnamed source told the outlet that Tarantino "has a lot of scripts that he’s thrown away."

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Tom Cruise Film List

Movies or TV
IMDb Rating
In Theaters
Release Year

1. Taps (I) (1981)

PG | 126 min | Drama

Military cadets take extreme measures to ensure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers.

Director: Harold Becker | Stars: George C. Scott , Timothy Hutton , Ronny Cox , Sean Penn

Votes: 20,093 | Gross: $35.86M

2. Endless Love (1981)

R | 116 min | Drama, Romance

Parental disapproval of a passionate romance between two teenagers leads to arguments, circumstance, insanity and tragedy.

Director: Franco Zeffirelli | Stars: Brooke Shields , Martin Hewitt , Shirley Knight , Don Murray

Votes: 9,575 | Gross: $31.18M

3. The Outsiders (1983)

PG | 91 min | Crime, Drama

In a small Oklahoma town in 1964, the rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, heats up when one gang member accidentally kills a member of the other.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: C. Thomas Howell , Matt Dillon , Ralph Macchio , Patrick Swayze

Votes: 97,535 | Gross: $25.60M

4. Risky Business (1983)

R | 99 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

A Chicago teenager is looking for fun at home while his parents are away, but the situation quickly gets out of hand.

Director: Paul Brickman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Rebecca De Mornay , Joe Pantoliano , Richard Masur

Votes: 99,842 | Gross: $63.50M

5. Losin' It (1982)

R | 100 min | Comedy, Drama

Set in 1965, four rowdy teenage guys travel to Tijuana, Mexico for a night of partying when they are joined by a heartbroken housewife who is in town seeking a quick divorce.

Director: Curtis Hanson | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jackie Earle Haley , John Stockwell , John P. Navin Jr.

Votes: 5,229 | Gross: $1.25M

6. All the Right Moves (1983)

R | 91 min | Drama, Romance, Sport

An ambitious young football star is trapped in a dying mill town--unless his gridiron skills can win him a way out.

Director: Michael Chapman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Lea Thompson , Craig T. Nelson , Charles Cioffi

Votes: 20,396 | Gross: $17.23M

7. Legend (1985)

PG | 94 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Romance

A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Mia Sara , Tim Curry , David Bennent

Votes: 72,480 | Gross: $15.50M

8. Top Gun (1986)

PG | 109 min | Action, Drama

As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Tim Robbins , Kelly McGillis , Val Kilmer

Votes: 502,595 | Gross: $179.80M

9. The Color of Money (1986)

R | 119 min | Drama, Sport

Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Paul Newman , Tom Cruise , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Helen Shaver

Votes: 93,265 | Gross: $52.29M

10. Rain Man (1988)

R | 133 min | Drama

After a selfish L.A. yuppie learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother in Ohio that he didn't know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.

Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Dustin Hoffman , Tom Cruise , Valeria Golino , Gerald R. Molen

Votes: 546,599 | Gross: $178.80M

11. Cocktail (1988)

R | 104 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A talented New York City bartender takes a job at a bar in Jamaica and falls in love.

Director: Roger Donaldson | Stars: Tom Cruise , Bryan Brown , Elisabeth Shue , Lisa Banes

Votes: 91,863 | Gross: $78.22M

12. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

R | 145 min | Biography, Drama, War

The biography of Ron Kovic . Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country for which he fought.

Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Tom Cruise , Bryan Larkin , Raymond J. Barry , Caroline Kava

Votes: 115,945 | Gross: $70.00M

13. Days of Thunder (1990)

PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Drama, Sport

A young hot-shot stock car driver gets his chance to compete at the top level.

Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Nicole Kidman , Robert Duvall , Randy Quaid

Votes: 96,410 | Gross: $82.67M

14. Far and Away (1992)

PG-13 | 140 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

A young Irish couple flee to the States, but subsequently struggle to obtain land and prosper freely.

Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Tom Cruise , Nicole Kidman , Thomas Gibson , Robert Prosky

Votes: 68,325 | Gross: $58.88M

15. A Few Good Men (1992)

R | 138 min | Drama, Thriller

Military lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee defends Marines accused of murder. They contend they were acting under orders.

Director: Rob Reiner | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jack Nicholson , Demi Moore , Kevin Bacon

Votes: 287,333 | Gross: $141.34M

16. The Firm (1993)

R | 154 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller

A young lawyer joins a prestigious law firm only to discover that it has a sinister dark side.

Director: Sydney Pollack | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Gene Hackman , Hal Holbrook

Votes: 147,697 | Gross: $158.35M

17. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

R | 123 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror

A vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.

Director: Neil Jordan | Stars: Brad Pitt , Tom Cruise , Antonio Banderas , Kirsten Dunst

Votes: 347,474 | Gross: $105.26M

18. Mission: Impossible (1996)

PG-13 | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.

Director: Brian De Palma | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jon Voight , Emmanuelle Béart , Henry Czerny

Votes: 470,295 | Gross: $180.98M

19. Jerry Maguire (1996)

R | 139 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.

Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Tom Cruise , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Renée Zellweger , Kelly Preston

Votes: 287,030 | Gross: $153.95M

20. Magnolia (1999)

R | 188 min | Drama

An epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of love, forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jason Robards , Julianne Moore , Philip Seymour Hoffman

Votes: 328,485 | Gross: $22.46M

21. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

R | 159 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller

A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing.

Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Tom Cruise , Nicole Kidman , Todd Field , Sydney Pollack

Votes: 375,108 | Gross: $55.69M

22. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

PG-13 | 123 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

IMF agent Ethan Hunt is sent to Sydney to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called "Chimera".

Director: John Woo | Stars: Tom Cruise , Dougray Scott , Thandiwe Newton , Ving Rhames

Votes: 377,694 | Gross: $215.41M

23. Vanilla Sky (2001)

R | 136 min | Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

A self-indulgent and vain publishing magnate finds his privileged life upended after a vehicular accident with a resentful lover.

Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Tom Cruise , Penélope Cruz , Cameron Diaz , Kurt Russell

Votes: 285,698 | Gross: $100.61M

24. Minority Report (2002)

PG-13 | 145 min | Action, Crime, Mystery

John works with the PreCrime police which stop crimes before they take place, with the help of three 'PreCogs' who can foresee crimes. Events ensue when John finds himself framed for a future murder.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tom Cruise , Colin Farrell , Samantha Morton , Max von Sydow

Votes: 584,339 | Gross: $132.07M

25. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

PG-13 | 94 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

Upon learning that his father has been kidnapped, Austin Powers must travel to 1975 and defeat the aptly named villain Goldmember, who is working with Dr. Evil.

Director: Jay Roach | Stars: Mike Myers , Beyoncé , Seth Green , Michael York

Votes: 222,904 | Gross: $213.31M

26. The Last Samurai (2003)

R | 154 min | Action, Drama

Nathan Algren, a US army veteran, is hired by the Japanese emperor to train his army in the modern warfare techniques. Nathan finds himself trapped in a struggle between two eras and two worlds.

Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Tom Cruise , Ken Watanabe , Billy Connolly , William Atherton

Votes: 471,098 | Gross: $111.11M

27. Collateral (2004)

R | 120 min | Action, Crime, Drama

A cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.

Director: Michael Mann | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jamie Foxx , Jada Pinkett Smith , Mark Ruffalo

Votes: 433,140 | Gross: $101.01M

28. War of the Worlds (2005)

PG-13 | 116 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

An alien invasion threatens the future of humanity. The catastrophic nightmare is depicted through the eyes of one American family fighting for survival.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tom Cruise , Dakota Fanning , Tim Robbins , Miranda Otto

Votes: 475,232 | Gross: $234.28M

29. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

IMF agent Ethan Hunt comes into conflict with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer who threatens his life and his fiancée in response.

Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Tom Cruise , Michelle Monaghan , Ving Rhames , Philip Seymour Hoffman

Votes: 390,733 | Gross: $134.03M

30. Lions for Lambs (2007)

R | 92 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Injuries sustained by two Army rangers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a congressman, a journalist and a professor.

Director: Robert Redford | Stars: Tom Cruise , Meryl Streep , Robert Redford , Michael Peña

Votes: 52,706 | Gross: $15.00M

31. Valkyrie (2008)

PG-13 | 121 min | Drama, History, Thriller

A dramatization of the July 20, 1944 assassination and political coup plot by desperate renegade German Army officers against Adolf Hitler during World War II.

Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Tom Cruise , Bill Nighy , Carice van Houten , Kenneth Branagh

Votes: 259,253 | Gross: $83.08M

32. Tropic Thunder (2008)

R | 107 min | Action, Comedy, War

Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller , Jack Black , Robert Downey Jr. , Jeff Kahn

Votes: 448,051 | Gross: $110.52M

33. Knight and Day (2010)

PG-13 | 109 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

A young woman gets mixed up with a disgraced spy who is trying to clear his name.

Director: James Mangold | Stars: Tom Cruise , Cameron Diaz , Peter Sarsgaard , Jordi Mollà

Votes: 210,320 | Gross: $76.42M

34. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.

Director: Brad Bird | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jeremy Renner , Simon Pegg , Paula Patton

Votes: 528,433 | Gross: $209.40M

35. Rock of Ages (2012)

PG-13 | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical

A small-town girl and a city boy meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.

Director: Adam Shankman | Stars: Julianne Hough , Diego Boneta , Tom Cruise , Alec Baldwin

Votes: 81,668 | Gross: $38.52M

36. Jack Reacher (2012)

PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller

A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper responsible for a mass shooting.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise , Rosamund Pike , Richard Jenkins , Werner Herzog

Votes: 365,047 | Gross: $80.07M

37. Oblivion (I) (2013)

PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.

Director: Joseph Kosinski | Stars: Tom Cruise , Morgan Freeman , Andrea Riseborough , Olga Kurylenko

Votes: 553,132 | Gross: $89.02M

38. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

PG-13 | 113 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

A soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.

Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Emily Blunt , Bill Paxton , Brendan Gleeson

Votes: 736,858 | Gross: $100.21M

39. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

PG-13 | 131 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

Ethan and his team take on their most impossible mission yet when they have to eradicate an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are and committed to destroying the IMF.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise , Rebecca Ferguson , Jeremy Renner , Simon Pegg

Votes: 410,936 | Gross: $195.04M

40. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

PG-13 | 118 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name while on the run as a fugitive from the law.

Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Tom Cruise , Cobie Smulders , Aldis Hodge , Robert Knepper

Votes: 175,302 | Gross: $58.70M

41. The Mummy (2017)

PG-13 | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

An ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.

Director: Alex Kurtzman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Sofia Boutella , Annabelle Wallis , Russell Crowe

Votes: 206,220 | Gross: $80.10M

42. American Made (2017)

R | 115 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

The story of Barry Seal, an American pilot who became a drug-runner for the CIA in the 1980s in a clandestine operation that would be exposed as the Iran-Contra Affair.

Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Tom Cruise , Domhnall Gleeson , Sarah Wright , Jesse Plemons

Votes: 208,187 | Gross: $51.34M

43. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

PG-13 | 147 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise , Henry Cavill , Ving Rhames , Simon Pegg

Votes: 378,137 | Gross: $220.16M

44. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Drama

After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

Director: Joseph Kosinski | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jennifer Connelly , Miles Teller , Val Kilmer

Votes: 696,729 | Gross: $718.73M

45. Methuselah

Short, Action, Adventure | Filming

An action/adventure story centered on a 1,000-year-old man who has used his time on the planet to develop an unparalleled set of survival skills.

Director: Danny Boyle

46. Luna Park (I)

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | Announced

A group of renegade employees who venture to the moon to steal an energy source.

Director: Doug Liman

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Far and Away: Everything to Know About Tom Cruise’s Only Western Movie

What Is the Plot of Far and Away?

Far and Away Was Based On A Historical Event

Far and Away: Behind the Scenes Details

Far and Away’s Reception and Box Office Numbers

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman Were Already Married Before Its Release

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Far and Away

Information

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Cast and Crew

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The Big Picture

Tom Cruise's Career in 2011 Was Very Different

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Was a Box Office Hit

Tom Cruise Needs To Do More Movies Like 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Risky Business'

Tom Cruise and a Meta Cinematic Universe? Tarantino's Scrapped Final Film Was a Wild One: Report

Tom Cruise Film List

1. Taps (I) (1981)

2. Endless Love (1981)

3. The Outsiders (1983)

4. Risky Business (1983)

5. Losin' It (1982)

6. All the Right Moves (1983)

7. Legend (1985)

8. Top Gun (1986)

9. The Color of Money (1986)

10. Rain Man (1988)

11. Cocktail (1988)

12. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

13. Days of Thunder (1990)

14. Far and Away (1992)

15. A Few Good Men (1992)

16. The Firm (1993)

17. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

18. Mission: Impossible (1996)

19. Jerry Maguire (1996)

20. Magnolia (1999)

21. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

22. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

23. Vanilla Sky (2001)

24. Minority Report (2002)

25. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

26. The Last Samurai (2003)

27. Collateral (2004)

28. War of the Worlds (2005)

29. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

30. Lions for Lambs (2007)

31. Valkyrie (2008)

32. Tropic Thunder (2008)

33. Knight and Day (2010)

34. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

35. Rock of Ages (2012)

36. Jack Reacher (2012)

37. Oblivion (I) (2013)

38. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

39. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

40. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

41. The Mummy (2017)

42. American Made (2017)

43. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

44. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

45. Methuselah

46. Luna Park (I)

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