tom cruise jack reacher boots

What Boots Does Jack Reacher Wear?

If you’re looking for a tough, no-nonsense boot that can take anything you throw at it, then you need a pair of Red Wing Iron Ranger Muleskinners. These boots are just like the ones worn by Jack Reacher in the popular series of books – they’re tough, durable, and built to last.

So, what boots does jack reacher wear?

The boots that Jack Reacher wears are Red Wing Iron Ranger Muleskinners. These boots are of equal quality and engineering as the Tenterden’s.

Let’s dig into it and see if we can find a solution.

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What Brand Of Shoes Does Jack Reacher Wear?

We all know that Jack Reacher is a man of action. He’s the kind of guy who knows how to get the job done, and he does it with style. So what kind of shoes does this action hero wear?

The answer is: the Tenterden.

This shoe was made famous by its appearance in the Lee Child novel “The Hard Way.” In the book, the Tenterden is described as a brown semi-brogue made of heavy pebbled leather.

The Tenterden is the perfect shoe for a man like Jack Reacher. It’s tough, it’s durable, and it looks good. This shoe can take anything that Jack Reacher throws at it, and it will come out looking better for it.

If you’re looking for a shoe that can keep up with your active lifestyle, then the Tenterden is the perfect choice for you.

As well as that, In the book “The Hard Way,” the character Jack Reacher wore a pair of shoes called the Tenterden. The style of the Tenterden has been updated and is now available to purchase. The shoes are made of heavy pebbled leather and are a Brown semi – brogue.

What Does Jack Reacher Wear?

Jack Reacher is a character who is known for his practicality and his simple clothing choices. In the movie, he is seen wearing a pair of dark indigo blue denim jeans with a straight leg and a zip fly. The jeans are made with a standard five-pocket layout and have brass rivets detailing them. The jeans are seen during the final fight scene at the quarry and appear to have a double set of belt loops on the right side.

Along with, Reacher wears a pair of dark indigo blue denim jeans with a straight leg, zip fly, and brass rivets detailing the standard five-pocket layout. The jeans appear to have a double set of belt loops on the right side.

Who Will Play The New Jack Reacher?

The Tom Cruise movies are great, but the new Jack Reacher series starring Alan Ritchson on Amazon is even better. Alan Ritchson is the perfect choice for the role of Jack Reacher, and he brings the character to life in a way that is true to the spirit of the books.

Additionally, The Tom Cruise movies are one thing, but the new Jack Reacher series starring Alan Ritchson on Amazon stays true to the bulked-up spirit of the books. Alan Ritchson is Jack Reacher in the new Amazon series “Reacher.” The series is based on the books by author Lee Child.

How Does Jack Reacher’S Boots Affect His Walking?

Jack Reacher is a character in a series of novels by British author Lee Child. He is a drifter and former major in the United States Army Military Police Corps.

In the novels, Reacher is described as being extremely tall and muscular, with a military bearing and very long arms. He typically wears scuffed jeans, an old tee shirt, and a denim jacket. His only notable possessions are an expired passport and a folding toothbrush. He carries no money and has no home.

Reacher’s boots are a key part of his character. They are described as being heavy and well-worn, with the soles almost completely worn away. Reacher’s boots are a metaphor for his nomadic lifestyle; they are comfortable and familiar, but offer no stability or roots.

Reacher’s boots also affect the way he walks. Because they are so heavy, they make Reacher’s strides longer and his gait more pronounced. This is one of the reasons why Reacher is often described as “loping” or “lumbering” when he walks.

In addition to the physical effect of Reacher’s boots on his walking, they also symbolize his restless and wandering nature. Reacher is always on the move, never staying in one place for long. His boots are a reminder of this, and of the fact that he is not tied down to any one place.

What Boots Does Jack Reacher Wear 2022?

In 2022, Jack Reacher will continue to wear his signature boots. These are the boots that he has worn for many years and they are comfortable and durable. He likes the way they feel on his feet and they provide good support.

What Kind Of Boots Did Jack Reacher Wear?

Jack Reacher wore a pair of black, lace-up boots. They were likely made of leather and had a tough, rugged sole. The boots were probably comfortable and well-worn, as Reacher is known for being a drifter who doesn’t own much.

What Jacket Does Jack Reacher Wear?

Jack Reacher wears a jacket that is both functional and stylish. The jacket has many pockets to hold all of his belongings, and the fabric is tough enough to withstand any type of weather. The jacket is also a good representation of his military background.

What Type Of Boots Does Jack Reacher Wear In The Desert?

Jack Reacher wears a pair of desert boots in the desert. These boots are made to protect the feet and ankles from the harsh environment of the desert. They are typically made of a sturdy material such as leather or canvas, and they have a thick sole that can withstand the hot temperatures and rough terrain.

What Sound Do Jack Reacher’S Boots Make When He Walks?

Jack Reacher’s boots make a distinct sound when he walks. The sound is a combination of the boots’ heel striking the ground and the boots’ leather creaking. This sound is unique to Jack Reacher and is one of the things that people notice about him when they first meet him.

What Is The Most Important Aspect Of Jack Reacher’S Boots?

The most important aspect of Jack Reacher’s boots is their durability. They are made to withstand a lot of wear and tear, and they will last a long time. Additionally, they are comfortable and provide good support for your feet.

What Would Happen If Jack Reacher Lost His Boots?

If Jack Reacher lost his boots, it would be a serious problem. Without boots, he would be vulnerable to the elements and could not move as quickly or easily. He would also be at a disadvantage in a fight, as his opponent would have the advantage of being able to kick him.

What Would Jack Reacher’S Boots Say If They Could Talk?

If Jack Reacher’s boots could talk, they would say that they’ve been through a lot. They would tell stories of all the places they’ve been and all the people they’ve seen. They would say that they’ve been to the highest mountains and the lowest valleys. They would say that they’ve been through rain, snow, and sunshine. They would say that they’ve been through good times and bad times. But no matter what, they’ve always been there for Jack Reacher.

So there you have it, the answer to the question “what boots does jack reacher wear?” He wears the same boots as the Tenterden’s, the Red Wing Iron Ranger Muleskinners. These are top quality boots, engineered to withstand the rigors of Reacher’s lifestyle. So if you’re looking for a tough, comfortable boot to help you take on the world, look no further than the Red Wing Iron Ranger Muleskinner.

What Is The Brand Of The 8083 Boots?

There is some debate over the brand of the 8083 boots. Some people believe that they are made by Timberland, while others believe that they are made by another company called CAT. However, there is no definitive answer and it is up to the individual to decide which brand they believe to be the 8083 boots.

What Is The Best Way To Clean Cheaney Boots?

To clean Cheaney boots, it is best to use a soft cloth or brush to remove any dirt or debris. If the boots are particularly dirty, a mild soap may be used. It is important to avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners as they can damage the leather. Once the boots are clean, they can be conditioned with a leather conditioner to help keep them looking their best.

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Tom Cruise Shoe Style

Cruise opted for black lace-up dress shoes for the “Edge Of Tomorrow” New York Premiere.

Cruise chose these brown leather, outdoor-inspired moc toe boots for Comic-Con 2013.

Cruise arrived in London for the 2014 Empire awards in black patent dress shoes.

Cruise was seen once again in his favorite pair of boots on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

Cruise chose contrasting black patent lace-ups with his all gray ensemble at the Premiere Of Universal Pictures’ “Oblivion.”

The actor waved to fans in distressed black work boots in Taipei, Taiwan.

Cruise kept it casual in go-to moc toe boots on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” in 2012.

Cruise wore his favorite moc toe boots to the “Jack Reacher” premiere in Spain. 

Cruise was photographed in Manchester, England wearing outdoor-inspired moc toe boots. 

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Jack Reacher

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

• Christopher McQuarrie
• Rosamund Pike
• Richard Jenkins
• 656 User reviews
• 421 Critic reviews
• 50 Metascore
• 1 win & 6 nominations

• Rob Farrior

• Oline Archer

• Chrissie Farrior

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia When Jack Reacher's car crashes into some barrels, the car accidentally stalled upon the impact, but Tom Cruise was luckily able to restart the car before driving off again. Rather than do a retake, Christopher McQuarrie decided to leave it in the film, as he felt it added to the suspense of the scene.
• Goofs When Jack Reacher pulls out the Camaro's registration, it erroneously reads "State of Pennsylvania." Like three other states (KY, MA, and VA), Pennsylvania official designates itself as a "Commonwealth" not a "State."

Jack Reacher : What I mean is, the cheapest woman tends to be the one you pay for.

Sandy : [stands up, angrily] I am *not* a hooker!

Jack Reacher : Well, a hooker would get the joke.

Jeb : [enters with his four buddies] What's this?

Sandy : He called me a whore.

Jeb : Is that true?

Jack Reacher : Well, nobody said whore. She inferred hooker, but I meant slut.

Punk : Hey. That's our sister.

Jack Reacher : Is she a good kisser?

Jeb : Hey. Outside.

Jack Reacher : Pay your check first.

Jeb : I'll pay later.

Jack Reacher : You won't be able to.

Jeb : You think?

Jack Reacher : All the time. You should try it.

Jeb : It's a great joke, but I'm gonna beat your ass. Do you want to do that here or outside?

Jack Reacher : Outside.

Jeb : Stay here, Sandy.

Sandy : I don't mind the sight of blood.

Jack Reacher : [walks by Sandy] When it means you're not pregnant, anyway.

• Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to reduce two moments of violence (a woman being suffocated by a man and a man being hit over the head with a rock) in order to obtain a 12A classification. An uncut 15 classification was available.
• Connections Featured in The Big Review: Fall Trailer Park (2012)
• Soundtracks Jump Around Written by DJ Muggs (as Larry Muggerud) & Erik Schrody Performed by House of Pain Courtesy of Tommy Boy Music By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User reviews 656

• TheLittleSongbird
• Apr 7, 2016
• Who is the actress playing the girl dressing in the first scene with Reacher?
• Why did Emerson work for The Zec? Towards the end of the movie, he mentioned that he did not have a choice but it was never flushed out.
• December 21, 2012 (United States)
• United States
• Strip District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (DeLucas Resturant; 1st fight scene)
• Paramount Pictures
• Skydance Media
• H2L Media "AKA" Mutual Film Company
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $60,000,000 (estimated)
• $80,070,736
• $15,210,156
• Dec 23, 2012
• $218,340,595

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 10 minutes
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Surround 7.1

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Watch CBS News

Tom Cruise says Jack Reacher's shoes fit him fine

December 11, 2012 / 1:43 PM EST / CBS News

A newly divorced Tom Cruise walked the red carpet solo Monday night in London as he defended his role in "Jack Reacher."

Confronting his critics head-on, the five-foot-seven Cruise told Reuters that he felt perfectly conformable in the role, despite being trimmer and shorter than the six-foot-five, 200-plus-pound character from the 17 Lee Child books.

The 50-year-old actor argued that Reacher's size was a "characteristic" rather than a "character" and said he tried to show Reacher's impact as a take-no-prisoners ex-military vigilante.

Cruise he would not have taken the role if Child had been unhappy.

In an interview this fall on "CBS This Morning," Child said, "Tom Cruise is a fantastic Jack Reacher. How? I don't know. He's an actor -- that's what they do."

Child's devoted readers can watch the movie trailer below and come to their own conclusions.

The London premiere also featured appearances by co-stars Robert Duvall and the yellow-clad British actress Rosamund Pike, who said she hoped the movie was the start of a "Jack Reacher" franchise for Paramount Pictures.

The movie, which opens in U.S. theaters Dec. 21, is getting a premiere this week in Pittsburgh, where is was shot, and next week in Los Angeles.

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Movie Reviews

With a second 'jack reacher,' tom cruise finally exceeds his grasp.

Chris Klimek

Tom Cruise plays Jack Reacher (from left), Judd Lormand plays Local Deputy and Jason Douglas plays Sheriff in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. Chiabella James/Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions hide caption

Tom Cruise plays Jack Reacher (from left), Judd Lormand plays Local Deputy and Jason Douglas plays Sheriff in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.

There are 21 novels in British author Lee Child's ongoing Jack Reacher series and they habitually take care to describe their hero as a blond-haired, blue-eyed hulk of an itinerant ex-Army cop, standing 6'5" with a 50-inch chest. Dolph Lundgren might've been perfect for the part, or maybe Anita Ekberg. But producer Tom Cruise was the guy who, after attempts by others, got the Reacher movie franchise going. For the starring role, there was only one name on his list.

It was an inspired choice, frankly. Cruise's mid-career pivot from thrice-Oscar-nominated all-rounder to full-time action star may have been motivated by PR problems and an increasing reliance on international box office, but that doesn't mean he isn't The Best There Is at What He Does. The same unblinking intensity that now makes him impossible to accept playing ordinary, emotionally stable human beings makes him perfect for movies that require him to scale Arabian skyscrapers and cling to the sides of airplanes. And the greatest runner in cinema history has been on an admirable run, what with the latter two Missions: Impossible , Jack Reacher , and Edge of Tomorrow all in the last five years, each a standout specimen of its genre.

Key to all those movies was Christopher McQuarrie, who wrote and directed Reacher and Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation and script-doctored the other two. The presence of a guiding intelligence like McQuarrie howls into the fast-and-furious winds that writing matters , even in action flicks.

It's because of "McQ" that 2012's (barely) franchise-launching Jack Reacher was a gem. It had an enveloping mystery plot, strong location shooting (it was shot in Pittsburgh, and it never looks like it was made in Culver City or Toronto), and a cruel sense of humor. Cruise played the title character as a know-it-all jerk with an infallible memory, which oddly made him more relatable than he's when trying to interface casually with fellow humans. Reacher' s two superb fight scenes, captured in medium shots rather than choppy close-cuts so you could see how hard Cruise trained, were brutal, but also nicely executed bits of slapstick. And its climactic gunfight was the best one since the bank-heist set piece in Heat. (Reacher, naturally, brought a knife.)

Oh, and the movie's final boss, The Zec, was played by Werner Herzog.

Alas, Cruise has retained McQuarrie's services for a rush-ordered sixth Mission, which means that for the lower-profile Reacher follow-up, Never Go Back (they really need to work on the titles of these movies), he had to get who he could. That was Glory director Edward Zwick, an old pro who made The Last Samurai with Cruise . The script is by Zwick, his longtime collaborator Marshall Herskovitz (they created ABC's thirtysomething together, thirty-something years ago), and tough-guy specialist Richard Wenk, whose name was on The Equalizer and the The Magnificent Seven remake.

So: A Zwick and a Wenk for a McQ and a Zec.

It's a lousy trade.

Never Go Back is deeply mediocre, as rote and indistinct as most of the action flicks that've marked Liam Neeson's late-career lull. The offbeat jokes are gone, as is the coterie of interesting character actors and the clean, precise stunt work. There're more chases and fights this time, but they're all underlit and overcut, with none of the snap and polish that McQ and editor Kevin Stitt brought to these confrontations. Never Go Back 's stunt coordinator, Wade Eastwood, also worked on the marvelous Rogue Nation, so the fault must lie with Zwick. (Surely it can't lie with editor Billy Weber, whose credits include Top Gun and The Tree of Life!)

The plot has do with the Reacher drifting his way east to meet Major Susan Turner, commander of his old unit, the 110th Military Police. (They've had a long flirtation-by-payphone—Reacher, like Machete, don't text, or own a cell phone.) He arrives to find her under arrest for treason—and himself accused of being the deadbeat dad of a 15-year-old (Danika Yarosh). Pretty soon he's breaking Turner out of the brig and they're lamming it with Reacher's maybe-kid, trying to avoid the hilariously conspicuous military contractors who want them dead. It's awful thoughtful of these trained covert operatives to dress like Eastern European gangsters, making them much easier to spot in a downtown DC crowd.

DC does not appear to have been allowed to play itself in many scenes, but New Orleans was. That's the site of the Halloween-parade climax that might've been cribbed from any of at least three James Bond flicks, from Thunderball 51 years ago to Spectre last November. The problem isn't that it's familiar. It's that the execution this time is lazy as hell.

One bright spot: Cobie Smulders. She gets more to do in this movie as Maj. Turner than she has in a half-dozen Marvel-universe appearances as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill: Running, kicking ass, showing Yarosh how to disarm someone holding a gun to her back, calling out Reacher on his sexist crap, running some more. As with Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow and Rebecca Ferguson in Rogue Nation , the movie teases a romantic chemistry between Smulders and the 20-years-older Cruise, without daring to push things any further. (There actually was a kiss between Cruise and Rosamund Pike in Jack Reacher — one that McQuarrie and Cruise cut after test audiences balked!)

It makes sense, really. In the final moments of Never Go Back, after they've said their goodbyes, Yarosh runs at Cruise to wrap him in one last teary-eyed bear hug. He doesn't push her away. But he sure does look like he wishes she were the fuselage of an Airbus A400, 5,000 feet above the deck.

Correction Oct. 25, 2016

A previous version of this story mistakenly referred to S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill as Mariah Hill.

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Actor Alan Ritchson talks taking over Jack Reacher role for new Amazon streaming series

By Chase Hutchinson

I n 2012, the first of two Tom Cruise movies came out that saw the actor attempt to embody the famed character Jack Reacher. In the astounding 26 novels from author Lee Child, Reacher stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds. His gargantuan figure is part of his character, something the 5-foot-7 Cruise just couldn't capture.

Now the story is getting a fresh take as part of a new eight-episode show, Reacher, arriving Friday, Feb. 4, on Amazon Prime. The show marks the official un-Cruise-ification of the character and the arrival of the charming — and large — Alan Ritchson in the role.

Speaking to Ritchson, you're struck by how committed he was to taking on this role. The actor, 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, wanted to embody Reacher in any way he could.

"His physicality is definitely a character in and of itself," Ritchson tells the Inlander . "I have a larger frame, but Reacher is a superhero of mythical proportions. I wanted to lean into that so I bulked up a little bit."

Beyond beefing up, Ritchson also sat down to read the Reacher novels. Not just one or two — all of them.

"I picked up the books and, you know, in eight months I'd read them all," Ritchson says. "I'm the biggest Reacher fan of anybody. I'll fight anybody over that title."

If the show is any indication, that pledge shouldn't be taken lightly. Ritchson as Reacher is a machine, able to take down anyone who wrongs him or others. He is a force for justice in a world gone awry who uses his wits and strength in equal measure."

"On a personal level, I just relate to who he is. He's a big dude," Ritchson says. "He's kind of a smartass. He uses all that to sort of almost entertain himself at times. That just makes for a lot of fun, and I wanted to see that come to life."

Part of that involved Ritchson taking on many of his own stunts.

"I wanted to make sure that the fans are getting their money's worth. When you have your stunt person do any of the stunts, it has to be shot in a way where as an audience we kind of realize what is happening. Audiences are far too savvy these days to not know what we're doing when we're hiding somebody's face," Ritchson said. "I like to be able to get in there and show that this is really happening. It keeps us invested. We're never pulled out of the story."

That doesn't come without risks. One stunt where Ritchson had to make a jump wearing Reacher's preferred footwear made things a little dicey.

"If I had sneakers on, the confidence is there. Reacher wears these boots the whole time," Ritchson says. "You got a little bit of a heel that might snag the rail. I feel the shoes that I have are the only thing making me feel nervous."

As for what the character represents in 2022, Ritcher believes Reacher can capture something deeper about our need for a figure who can restore some balance to our world.

"We all crave a Reacher in our life. We live in a world that is so broken. We look around and see so much corruption. There is such a need for that knight errant to come in and help us," Ritchson says. "We get to live vicariously through him in a way that's satisfying. I think that's why it crosses so many international borders. I mean, everybody from all walks of life, women and men, young and old, any country, creed, we can all enjoy Reacher because I think we need him." ♦

The original print version of this article was headlined "The Un-Cruising"

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Jack Reacher Was the Beginning of a Beautiful Blockbuster Friendship

Here are the things you need to know about the character Jack Reacher: He stands at six feet, five inches tall and weighs roughly 250 pounds. He is an ex-military police officer who now drifts across the country, stumbling across small-town problems (an unsolved murder, a kidnapping). Typically he will do what he can to restore order and pursue justice and one time he survived getting shot directly in the chest because he’s so jacked that his muscles stopped the bullet. Jack Reacher is a sparse man with a sparse wardrobe, largely assembled from Goodwills and community thrift stores, picking up what he needs as he finds himself needing it and discarding it when it has outlived its usefulness to him, and in case you skimmed past the prior sentence I’ll say one more time that Jack Reacher is so big that one time his muscles stopped a bullet.

You could be forgiven for reading this description and not immediately thinking of Tom Cruise, a man famously 5’7” on a good day. And yet Cruise took on the role of that beefcake drifter in 2012, garnering vocal outcry from the Jack Reacher fan community (largely comprised of dads, a group who famously refuse to waver in their opinions on the most trivial of matters like, for example, who should play the fictional character Jack Reacher). “He is a terrible match for the character,” Jack Reacher fans insisted. “There is no way Tom Cruise’s chest could stop a bullet fired at point blank range and also he is very short.”

With respect for the Jack Reacher stans, I would posit this: Cruise’s physique is a valid reason to knock his casting but not a valid reason to dismiss the film outright, which holds tremendous merit even if its lead actor doesn’t have pecs dense enough to serve as Kevlar. There are two reasons for this, one being that Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is one of the great movie stars of all time who can bring things to a performance that no 6’5”, 250-pound beefcake who played Aquaman on Smallville can. The second is that Jack Reacher marks the first director-actor collaboration between Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, a collaboration that has yielded what the kids might call “bangers only.”

McQuarrie first rose to fame as the writer of The Usual Suspects , though after his disastrous directorial debut, The Way of the Gun (it’s bad, and not even in a fun way), he was put in what he long referred to as “director jail.” He returned to his work as a screenwriter and first crossed paths with Cruise during the making of the 2008 film Valkyrie . The film is one of the great missteps in Cruise’s career and had a notoriously troubled production , though amid that chaos Cruise and McQuarrie seem to have found in one another kindred collaborative spirits.

Cruise’s production company Cruise/Wagner Productions acquired the film rights to Jack Reacher back in 2005. The project lingered in limbo for a few years, finally getting a kickstart when McQuarrie was hired to revise the script, an adaptation of the ninth Reacher novel, One Shot . It went into production at a pivotal moment in Cruise’s career as well as McQuarrie’s. For Cruise, his star power — which had fallen substantially in the years following his couch-jumping, histrionic 2005 (an all-time bad PR year for any celebrity) — no longer guaranteed a movie would be a hit. Cruise rethought his approach to blockbuster filmmaking accordingly for Jack Reacher . No longer able to approach every project with a blank check, he agreed to a scaled-down production budget of $60 million. The lower budget made the project an enticing get for a studio — a Cruise movie still had the potential to be a massive hit and this one came with substantially lower risk. It also allowed Cruise some more freedom in his producer responsibilities, such as putting the film’s creative team together. He used that leverage to break McQuarrie out of director jail and put him behind the camera once again.

It proved a savvy move. Whatever Cruise’s physique prevents him from bringing to the role of Jack Reacher — though his performance is as locked in as ever, all simmering rage and gritted jaws and rarely ever smiling — McQuarrie’s script and directing make up for in spades. Jack Reacher is a down-the-middle adult thriller directed with a Hitchcockian eye, meticulously composed and paced with an attention to detail rare in this sort of film. Like all great mysteries, every answer to the questions the audience will spend the film asking is present in the opening set piece.

Speaking of which, an entire essay could be dedicated to the first 12 minutes alone. The film’s opening is dialogue free, with nearly ten minutes of relative silence as McQuarrie walks us through the film’s inciting incident: a mass shooting carried out by a sniper played by Jai Courtney, a man studios have been insisting for years is America’s sweetheart (he is, to his credit, doing the best work of his career in this movie). From here we see, in a VERY deliberately staged series of shots, the subsequent police investigation leading to the arrest of a man pointedly not played by Jai Courtney. At the 8:20 mark the first lines of dialogue are recited and one minute and 22 seconds later our protagonist’s presence is first made known.

It begins with a note written by a murder suspect on a legal pad (“GET JACK REACHER,” which is an incredibly rad way to introduce a character named Jack Reacher) followed by the district attorney (Richard Jenkins) and the police detective in charge of the case (David Oyewolo) going over every piece of information they can find on this off-the-grid drifter. By the time Cruise makes his entrance at the film’s 12-minute mark, McQuarrie has so deftly established the legend of Jack Reacher it’s irrelevant that the man who walks through the DA’s office door isn’t 6’5” and 250 pounds; it doesn’t matter because the man who walks through that door is Jack Reacher and the viewer now knows exactly who that is.

To recount the film’s plot from here feels unnecessary (though in case it isn’t, the short of it is that Reacher and James Barr, the man set up to take the fall for the shooting, have a shady history and Reacher is begrudgingly charged with figuring out whether or not Barr is responsible — which Reacher spends most of the movie certain he is). It is a well-plotted mystery thriller but nothing extraordinary on its own. What is extraordinary is everything else about it, from DP Caleb Deschanel’s work behind the camera (the way that he stages the aforementioned shooting through the scope of the sniper’s rifle is inspired) to a stacked cast that includes everyone from Werner Herzog to Robert Duvall. Jack Reacher does everything a movie of its kind is supposed to do, only it does it 10 to 20 percent better than necessary.

A couple of months into Jack Reacher ’s production, Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol hit theaters, proving a smash hit and grossing nearly $700 million worldwide. It began the long process of restoring Cruise’s star status to its former glory and, crucially, gave the franchise a second wind (before McQuarrie’s uncredited rewrites on the script, Cruise’s Ethan Hunt was rumored to be phased out in favor of a new star, Jeremy Renner). With a fifth Cruise-fronted M:I now on the table, McQuarrie stepped in as the franchise’s next director and, in an unprecedented turn of events, stuck around for the next three sequels (2018’s Fallout and Dead Reckoning, Parts One and Two, which are currently in production), making him the only director to have helmed more than one film in the franchise.

Cruise and McQuarrie’s partnership has now been going strong for nearly 15 years. The latter is responsible for some of the best work of Cruise’s late-stage career, and the former got McQuarrie what’s now clearly a much-deserved second chance as a director. Neither would be where they are now without the other, or without a 6’5”, 250-pound ex-military drifter whose pecs are so big they have rendered him immune to bullets.

Jack Reacher is streaming on Amazon Prime Video .

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• DVD & Streaming

Jack Reacher

• Action/Adventure , Drama , Mystery/Suspense

Content Caution

In Theaters

• December 21, 2012
• Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher; Rosamund Pike as Helen; Richard Jenkins as Rodin; David Oyelowo as Emerson; Werner Herzog as The Zec; Jai Courtney as Charlie; Alexia Fast as Sandy; Robert Duvall as Cash

Home Release Date

• May 7, 2013
• Christopher McQuarrie

Distributor

• Paramount Pictures

Movie Review

Five people are gunned down in the middle of the day, shot at random by a single killer. In a matter of minutes, the police examine footprints, recover bullet casings and view surveillance tape of the apparent assailant’s van. They find the quarter the guy used to feed the meter, covered with fingerprints. They belong to James Barr, an Iraq War vet with a problematic past.

He’s quickly apprehended and presented with a choice: Confess now and live, or go through a trial and face execution. But when he’s given a piece of paper, he seems to reject both paths. “Get me Jack Reacher,” he writes.

The movie Jack Reacher is based on the book One Shot , which is the ninth installment in Lee Child’s crime series. It places Reacher in Pittsburgh. And it quickly plops us down in the middle of a problem. Certainly a problem for James Barr. And a problem for his defense attorney too. You see, Jack Reacher is practically, literally, a nobody. Oh, he used to be a talented military cop—a guy with a near photographic memory and a positively frightening left hook. But two years ago, he disappeared. He has no credit cards, no driver’s license, nothing. There’s no possible way anybody can track down this guy.

And then Jack just shows up. He strikes up a conversation with Helen, Barr’s lead attorney, who promptly tries to hire him as her lead investigator.

Maybe that’s not a great idea—even setting aside the fact that it’s probably not the best legal practice to hire a mysterious, homeless drifter—no matter what his presumed past might boast. And here’s another problem for Barr: Jack thinks the guy is guilty. And he knows the vet has killed before.

But Jack’s curious about the case, so he agrees to help. And, as he digs around, he starts to form some questions: How could Barr, just an average marksman in the army, kill so efficiently? Were the victims really as random as they looked? And why on earth would a murderer plug a parking meter before going on a shooting spree? Wouldn’t he have more pressing concerns than a parking ticket?

Positive Elements

“You think I’m a hero?” Jack says. “I’m not.” And as we shall see, Jack is no liar.

The best we can say here is that while he does some bad things (a lot of bad things), he does them for what he thinks are good reasons. He’s all about meting out justice (or at least his version of justice), and he’s determined to make sure the right person pays for the crimes at hand. When Jack realizes that Barr’s not the killer he thinks he is, he sets aside his personal animosity for the guy and pursues the real culprits with the tenacity of a rabid wolverine.

He’s aided in his pursuit by an idealistic defense attorney, who also shows a good dose of righteous gumption and very little quit. Both of them go above and beyond (sometimes waaaaay beyond) the call of duty.

Sexual Content

Sandy, a woman in a midriff-revealing top, makes some moves on Jack in a bar, telling him that perhaps they could go somewhere quieter.

“You’re old enough to drive?” he asks.

“I’m old enough to do a lot of things,” she answers. But when he says he can’t “afford” her, she takes offense and calls her “brothers” over. The words “whore” and “slut” are thrown around before the men usher Jack out of the bar. (She admits to Jack later that it was a setup—that she was told Jack was a pervert and would have his hands all over her.)

Later, we see Sandy again, wearing a different midriff-revealing top. A woman wearing just a pair of black panties puts on her bra. (She’s shown from the back.)

Helen and Jack discuss the case in Jack’s hotel room. He’s walking around shirtless, flustering Helen a bit. And when he tells her she should get some sleep, she takes it as a come-on. Turns out it wasn’t. He sticks her car keys in her hand and leads her to the door. Jack speculates that two of the victims were having an affair.

Violent Content

The conflict outside the bar with Sandy’s “brothers” shows the softer, gentler side of Jack: He only beats three of them senseless. He merely kicks two of them in the crotch, and just comes close to breaking a couple of limbs … even allowing two others to run away.

Later, two thugs make like the Three Stooges as they attack Jack—doing far more damage to an innocent bathroom and each other than to Mr. Reacher. After one thug is knocked out by the other with a baseball bat, Jack takes down the conscious culprit by pounding his face into what little remains of the bathroom tile. He then repeatedly thwacks the bad guys’ heads together and, as a finale, nearly breaks some fingers with a gun—forcing those fingers’ owner to release his car into Jack’s less-than-careful custody.

But these evildoers get off easy. Jack guns down a handful of bad guys—including one at point-blank range, in the face, after the man had pretty much surrendered. He tells another over the phone that he aims to kill him, saying, “I mean to beat you to death and drink your blood from a boot.” And then he apparently does beat the guy to death—breaking his leg and fingers, kneeing him in the face … before pushing his boot down on his head.

“What about bringing them to justice?” Helen gasps.

“I just did,” Jack says.

None of those violent scenes feel quite so visceral or so wrong, though, as the opening sequence in which we see the five innocents gunned down. Little blood is shown (except in crime photos after the fact), but with real-life killings (such as the ones in Newtown, Conn., perpetually fresh in many moviegoers minds, the sight of these civilians falling prey to a killer’s bullets feels especially painful. And we see the carnage twice—once from the shooter’s point of view and then in flashback, watching as they run helplessly from the bullets. A young nanny, for example, runs while carrying her 6-year-old charge to what she hopes will be safety. “We’re going to be OK,” she tells the girl in a breathless mantra. “We’re going to be OK. We’re going to—”

A bullet silences her forever. (The child survives.)

Elsewhere, a bad guy is encouraged to chew off his own fingers in a show of strength and loyalty. When he fails to do so, he’s shot and killed. (The killer takes out a saw, suggesting that the body will be dismembered.) Two thugs kill a woman—one punching her in the back of the head, knocking her out, the other covering her nose and mouth and smothering her. Her body is later found in an alley, and we see her mottled face. Another woman is Tasered.

A detective wishes Barr a long life in prison “with all your teeth knocked out.” Indeed, Barr is brutally beaten by other prisoners, leaving him comatose. (We see part of the attack, as Barr’s face is bloodied, and him in a hospital bed where he’s barely recognizable.) In flashback, Barr guns down four men in Iraq. Though he didn’t know it at the time, the men had just finished what Jack calls a “rape rally,” assaulting women and girls as young as 11.

Crude or Profane Language

One f-word. About 10 s-words. We hear flurries of profanity that include “a‑‑,” “b‑‑ch,” “h‑‑‑,” “p‑‑‑y” and “p‑‑‑ed.” Jesus’ name is abused eight or nine times; God’s is misused two or three (once with “d‑‑n”).

Drug and Alcohol Content

Helen drinks beer. A scene takes place in a crowded bar, where scores of folks are holding and drinking alcohol. We hear that a henchman cooks meth. That man’s mother, sitting on the porch, looks nearly catatonic, drug paraphernalia on the table beside her. References are made to being “wasted.”

Other Negative Elements

Jack either steals or forcibly “borrows” three cars (destroying two of them). He flees from authorities, launching a crash-bang-bombastic car chase. Bystanders help him evade the police.

Folks make reference to passing gas and menstrual cycles.

When Helen asks Jack why he lives as he does, Jack pulls her over to a window and shows her buildings full of cubicles and folks working hard to pay off mortgages and credit cards. “Tell me, which ones are free?” Jack asks.

Jack believes he is the one who lives in almost perfect freedom. He has no debts, no fixed place of residence, no attachments. He comes and goes as he pleases. The guy’s such a free spirit he doesn’t acknowledge anyone or anything that could possibly restrict his freedom—including the laws that he, in his own twisted way, tries to uphold.

“He doesn’t care about the law,” we hear. “He doesn’t care about proof. He just cares about what’s right.” Which, seems to me, would be the mantra of many a lawbreaker—from the woman who runs a stoplight because she’s late to an important meeting, to a man who assaults his girlfriend’s presumed lover with a knife. “Don’t bust me,” they might say to the officers arriving on the scene, “I had reason. I was doing what I thought was right.”

As I already reported, Jack himself says he’s no hero. But within the confines of a movie that practically fawns over his actions (and arriving onscreen in the always charismatic guise of Tom Cruise), Jack might be mistaken for one by a lot of moviegoers.

All of us can confuse justice and vengeance, I think. Given the right circumstances, the right killers, we can all reach Jack’s conclusion: Real justice is cowboy justice, doled out in lead and blood. And watching evildoers pay, as they do here in Jack Reacher, can indeed be satisfying. But that doesn’t make it right.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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Jack Reacher Film Series : All Jack Reacher Movies in Order

Tom Cruise Jack Reacher Movies in Order: Want to enjoy one of the best Crime-Thrilling-Action series based on Lee Child’s novel “One Shot” centering Jack Reacher, a title character and the protagonist of a series, starring Tom Cruise in the lead. After leaving the US Army as a major in its military police at age 36, Reacher roams the United States taking odd jobs and investigating suspicious and frequently dangerous situations. Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever. Cruise gives a riveting performance as Jack Reacher, a nomad with a military past who frequently gets involved in solving crimes.

People are fans of Tom Cruise and if you are one of them and wish to watch this Tom Cruise movie i.e Jack Reacher then here is the best guide for you to watch Tom Cruise Jack Reacher Movies in Order and how many Jack Reacher films are there?

Also See: Mission Impossible Movies in Order

Order to Watch Jack Reacher Film Series Movies

1. jack reacher (2012).

Ex-military investigator Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) leaps off the pages of Lee Child’s bestselling novel and onto the big screen in this explosive thriller. 

In the film, A seemingly purposeless shooting rampage claimed the lives of five people in a typical town one morning. The investigation quickly zeroes in on a single possible suspect, a former military sniper, who is taken into custody without delay. The questioning of the individual results in one statement: Get Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise).

Reacher, a mysterious former Army investigator, is convinced that the authorities have the correct suspect, but he still agrees to work with the sniper’s defense attorney (Rosamund Pike). However, the more Reacher investigates the situation, the less black and white it seems to be.

2. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

Jack Reacher returns to enforce his bold brand of justice in the action-packed sequel based on the 2013 novel Never Go Back by Lee Child.

In the films, Jack Reacher, a former soldier and drifter, completes his mission to dismantle a human trafficking organization, he travels to Washington, DC, to meet with his liaison, Major Susan Turner, for dinner. But instead, he runs into her replacement, Colonel Sam Morgan, who tells him that Major Turner has been arrested on espionage charges.

Jack consults with Colonel Bob Moorcroft, her seasoned attorney, who reveals that Major Turner is also under suspicion for the deaths of two American servicemen in Afghanistan. In addition, he informs Jack that a woman has filed a lawsuit against him, claiming that he is the father of her fifteen-year-old daughter, Samantha.

Jack is thrown in jail after being falsely accused of murdering Moorcroft. He realizes that he and Turner are both in the crosshairs of two assassins and that they have been set up. But he comes to her aid, and they make their escape. It doesn’t take long before they figure out that army personnel and a powerful government contractor/arms dealer are involved in a plot.

Additionally, Jack finds out that Samantha is in danger, and he and Turner end up saving her. While they investigate the source of the conspiracy, they decide to keep her safe from the assassin who is after them. What or who can we put our faith in?

How many Jack Reacher movies are there?

The smooth, charismatic performance by Tom Cruise elevates the average crime thriller Jack Reacher to the next level. There are a total of TWO (2) films in the Jack Reacher film series. The ex-military cop that Jack Reacher is following in this thrilling thriller is investigating a sniper accused of five murders, and Reacher finds himself drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The second half of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back involves Reacher and an Army major who has been falsely accused of espionage going on the run together and uncovering a sinister conspiracy.

All Jack Reacher Movies in Order of Release Date 

Here is the list of Jack Reacher films in order, they were released.

1. Jack Reacher — December 21, 2012

2. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back — October 21, 2016

Where to Watch Jack Reacher Movies?

Want to enjoy one of the best Crime-Thrilling-Action series centering Jack Reacher, a title character and the protagonist of a series. But Where Can I watch Jack Reacher movies in order? You are able to stream Tom Cruise Jack Reacher films in order by renting or purchasing on Amazon Prime because it is pretty much solely available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Are Jack Reacher 1 and 2 connected?

The two Jack Reacher movies with Tom Cruise in the title role are not related, despite sharing the same source material (Lee Child’s crime novel series) and star (Tom Cruise). In the first film, there is a case involving the deaths of five people after a shooting, and there is one clear suspect. When Jack gets involved, however, the investigation takes a more sinister turn, and he learns some unpleasant truths about the underbelly of bureaucracy. In the sequel, Jack and an army major who has been falsely accused of espionage go on the run together and uncover a nefarious government plot. So Jack Reacher 1 and 2 connected are not connected.

Lee Child Jack Reacher Books in Order

Known by his pen name, Lee Child, British author Jim Grant created the character of Jack Reacher for a number of works. Reacher has quit his job as a major in the Military Police and is now working odd jobs across the country. He travels to a new location, helps a stranger in need, eliminates the bad guys, and then leaves on the next bus out of town. Reacher doesn’t actively seek out trouble, but it seems to find him anyway. The Jack Reacher novels are presented here in the order in which they were written, though they can be enjoyed in any order.

Jack Reacher Novels in Order:

• Killing Floor (1997)
• Die Trying (1998)
• Tripwire (1999)
• Running Blind / The Visitor (2000)
• Echo Burning (2001)
• Without Fail (2002)
• Persuader (2003)
• The Enemy (2004)
• One Shot (2005)
• The Hard Way (2006)
• Bad Luck and Trouble (2007)
• Nothing to Lose (2008)
• Gone Tomorrow (2009)
• 61 Hours (2010)
• Worth Dying For (2010)
• The Affair (2011)
• A Wanted Man (2012)
• Never Go Back (2013)
• Personal (2014)
• Make Me (2015)
• Night School (2016)
• The Midnight Line (2017)
• Past Tense (2018)
• Blue Moon (2019)
• The Sentinel (2020)
• Better Off Dead (2021)

Jack Reacher Books in Reading Order(In-story chronology):

Enter the gripping world of Jack Reacher, a wandering ex-military policeman with a penchant for justice and a knack for finding trouble. Follow his adrenaline-fueled adventures in the following reading order, meticulously arranged to delve into his compelling story from the very beginning…

• Second Son (short story, 2011)
• High Heat (novella, 2013)
• Deep Down (short story, 2012)
• Small Wars (short story, 2015)
• James Penney’s New Identity (1999 edited 2006)
• The Visitor – aka Running Blind (2000)
• Guy Walks into a Bar… (2009)
• Knowing you’re Alive (with Morgan Snow) (2011)
• Everyone Talks (2012)
• Not a Drill (2014)
• Good and Valuable Consideration (with Nick Heller) (2014)
• No Room at the Motel (2014)
• The Picture of the Lonely Diner (2015)
• Maybe they Have a Tradition (2016)
• Faking a Murderer (with Temperance Brennan) (2017)
• Too Much Time (2017)
• The Christmas Scorpion (2017)
• The Fourth Man (2018)
• Cleaning the Gold (with Will Trent) (2019)
• Smile (2019)
• The Sentinel (October 2020)
• Better Off Dead (October 2021)

Standing tall amidst the lingering shadows of justice, Jack Reacher, a nomad by choice, continues to roam the highways, seeking redemption and confronting the darkness that lurks in the forgotten corners of society.

Conclusion:

Jack Reacher Movies in Order present a thrilling journey through gripping crime narratives, with Tom Cruise embodying the enigmatic protagonist in a captivating manner. From his debut as the ex-military drifter in “Jack Reacher” to the relentless pursuit of justice in “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” each installment delves deeper into Reacher’s complex world. As fans immerse themselves in his quest to uncover government conspiracies and confront his past, Cruise’s portrayal elevates the tension and excitement with every scene. Whether it’s unraveling mysteries or facing adversaries, the Jack Reacher series delivers pulse-pounding action and intrigue, making it a must-watch for enthusiasts of riveting crime-thrillers.

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Jack reacher never go back – the bracken rodd & gunn cotton canvas jacket.

Before we get to Rodd & Gunn

In the opening scenes of Jack Reacher Never Go Back , Tom Cruise (Reacher) is back in his familiar white and bloodied henley. Although it’s not the same model as the one he wore throughout Jack Reacher .

The original had a button on top of the banded collar and the band itself had a visible open weave. Still both are ribbed, and similar in fit. We don’t see much of this henley again. Only in the following hotel sequence and the end sequence where he hitch hikes. Ultimately bookending the film with both hitch hiking and wearing white henleys.

Unidentified jacket from the first Jack Reacher film

Unlike the first Jack Reacher there are two jackets that Cruise wears in this 2016 sequel. The main one that people will know is this clean-lined harrington jacket by New Zealand brand Rodd & Gunn. See below.

Jacket identified

This jacket, according to the description , is bracken coloured with a distressed shower-repellent cotton canvas. However, it looks a bit shinier on camera in certain scenes because they were custom made for Cruise with a heavier coating.

You’ll also notice the absence of zip pulls and metallic pop studs. See the correspondence from a staff member at Rodd & Gunn below from a forum over at Film Jackets .

The Jack Reacher wardrobe team are required to remove or cover all exposed metal parts of the jacket for health and safety reasons during the stunts. This is why they are not visible on the jacket that Tom Cruise wears in the film.

The Other Jacket

For the final scene where Reacher says goodbye to Samantha in the cafe, played by Danika Yarosh, C ostume Designer Lisa Lovaas has given Cruise a softer look for these tender scenes. His harrington jacket has a contrasting corduroy collar. The jetted pockets are slanted again without any zip pulls.

However, the singular breast pocket that runs horizontal, does have a zip pull. Unsure if this jacket is made by Rodd & Gunn , I have dropped them an email and will update this article with their correspondence.

Further Reading & Research

A quote from costume designer Lisa Lovaas on what it’s like to work with Tom Cruise . She mentions him as “another great guy, who puts in 100% and expects that from others.” – from Chic Spy .

Spotern helped in identifying this jacket also.

Click image to shop some original Jack Reacher Fan Art on our Redbubble page

Shopping List

Update FEB 2022 – I’ve recently uploaded 2 Jack Reacher Fan Art illustrations to our Redbubble page. The above being one of them. Great way to support the blog and get a mention on the podcast!

Jack Reacher Never Go Back is based on the book of the same name by Lee Child and available on Blu Ray . Next on my reading list will be Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton. 

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‘i mean to beat you to death and drink your blood from a boot’ – tom cruise.

Credit: Paramount

“My name is Jack Reacher. No middle name, no address.”

There have been 17 books by British author Lee Child on Jack Reacher, a man described in one review as ‘Part-Robin Hood, part-gorilla’, and each one has made best-seller lists upon publication.

Tom Cruise, on the look-out for a new vehicle go sit alongside the successful Mission Impossible franchise, jumped on the idea of bringing the ex-military cop to the screen.

Borrowing from the book One Shot, the seventh in the series, Reacher arrives in town to fulfill a promise he made to a trigger-happy soldier after a spate of random shootings.

The major leap for fans of Reacher is Cruise, whose Skydance Productions are co-producing the film, playing the lead role and, in the process, diluting the essence of the character.

Cruise’s Reacher may wear heavy boots, flannel shirts and take public transport but he is lacking over a foot in stature.

The 50-year-old actor, it would appear, convinced himself he had the acting chops to make it work but his ego, and a frequently woeful script, gets in the way.

Hot stuff, coming through

As soon as Reacher hits town [Pittsburgh] he is swooned over by every woman he locks eyes with and, within two hours of his arrival, becomes lead investigator on the case of the comatose sniper heading for Death Row.

Within 24 hours he starts to unravel an open and shut case, which really begins to cheese off the District Attorney [Richard 'Six Feet Under' Jenkins].

While sipping on a mug of coffee at a spit and sawdust bar, Reacher is propositioned by a cherry-lipped but clueless teenager called Sandy [Alexia Fast].

He spurns her advances but soon has to break some bones and talk some trash out in the street after her buddies take offence to his middle-aged coffee drinking.

Two patrol cars scream onto the scene with suspicious efficiency and Reacher smiles wryly – he knows he is asking the right questions.

Chuckles and assault rifles

The pace of the film increases as Reacher gets closer to uncovering the real reason by the seemingly random shooting dead of five individuals at a riverside park in Pittsburgh.

The snappiest scene arrives as Reacher tracks down Sandy at an auto-parts warehouse and leaves her hapless manager quivering.

Unintentional comedy litters the film, sparked the moment dead-eyed bad guy Werner Herzog opens his mouth, and continues every time a male character gives Reacher a nod of respect or a female character undresses him with her eyes.

Two moments are significant in turning the story from a who-really-dunnit into a well meaning but misdirected farce.

• Reacher lying prone in a bath-tub as two junkies make six or seven failed attempts to bludgeon him to death.
• When public defender, Helen [Rosamund Pike] is held for randsom, Reacher grabs a payphone and tells her kidnapper, “I mean to beat you to death and drink your blood from a boot.”

Robert Duvall shows up for the final 20 minutes to lend some gravitas to the whole affair but not even some fancy driving in reverse and a decent fight in the rain can save the day when Cruise and Herzog come face to face.

Watch Cruise in Jack Reacher action here:

YouTube credit: joblomovienetwork

A friend of mine told me he would go to see this film regardless of what I thought because he loves mindless action flicks. I’m a fan of the genre – I love 12 Rounds and Eagle Eye .

Nonetheless, Jack Reacher is a by-the-numbers effort that would go straight to DVD if it were not for the big name that is trying to fill the massive shoes of its title character.

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Here's why Tom Cruise was cast as Jack Reacher in the 2012 movie, despite bearing little physical resemblance to the character from the books. The first Jack Reacher novel from author Lee Childs was published in 1997, with The Killing Floor kicking off a series that is still running. The books follow former military policeman Reacher, a hulking nomad who wanders America and helps right wrongs.

The Jack Reacher books kind of read like Murder, She Wrote if the show was fronted by Dolph Lundgren instead of Angela Lansbury. Reacher is a mix of both brains and brawn and isn't afraid to wield either. The popularity of the novels made it inevitable a movie or TV show would adapt the character someday, but Jack Reacher is described as 6-feet-5-inches and weighing over 250 pounds. That made the casting pool somewhat narrow.

Related: Why Dwayne Johnson Was Rejected For Jack Reacher (Despite Being Perfect)

While Dwayne Johnson went after the role for 2012's Jack Reacher - based on the novel One Shot - he was rejected as his movie stardom was in a different place at the time. Tom Cruise might be one of the biggest stars on the planet, but both his height (5-feet-7) and his not exactly muscular physique left many fans of the series perplexed. The Tom Cruise Reacher casting announcement was met with some outright hostility online, and continued to be a source of mild controversy during the release of the movie and its 2016 sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back . However, Cruise's casting was the result of a very long process.

Cruise Fit All The Qualities Of Reacher - Bar One

Speaking with The Washington Post in 2012, author Lee Child explained many different names were thrown around for the role. These included Daniel Craig, Russell Crowe, Will Smith and Jason Statham, but none resembled the character as written. The search to find an actor who fit this bill kept stalling the project, and it was only after it was decided to find a performer who matches the qualities of the character - including intelligence and the ability to be intimidating - that Jack Reacher came together.

This eventually led to Cruise being cast, and Lee Child - who cameoed on Amazon's series - vigorously defended the actor's casting at the time. He claimed those who didn't read the books wouldn't be bothered, but " If you do know Reacher, for the first two or three minutes you’re going to think, ‘This is weird .’ But after the first two or three minutes, you buy into it, it sucks you in, and he convinces you ." Actor Alan Ritchson later inherited the part for Amazon's Reacher , which adapted The Killing Floor . Ritchson was a much better fit for the part, and Child later conceded that the readers were correct and Reacher's size was an important part of the character. Regardless, Cruise's brought a genuine intensity and charisma to the movies and brought out Reacher's unstoppable nature in other forms.

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10 Best 'Jack Reacher' Books, Ranked

• The Jack Reacher series by Lee Child has had mixed success with its adaptations, with Tom Cruise's portrayal receiving criticism.
• The new Reacher series on Prime Video, starring Alan Ritchson, has been a hit and has already been renewed for a third season.
• The below list ranks the top 10 Jack Reacher books, highlighting their compelling plots, character development, and moral dilemmas.

There are 27 books in Lee Child 's ongoing series following the adventures of military investigator turned noble-ish drifter Jack Reacher. Before handing the keys to his Mission: Impossible franchise over to Christopher McQuarrie , Tom Cruise drafted him to write and direct 2012’s Jack Reacher , adapted from Child's ninth book in the series, One Shot . Cruise is no one’s idea of what the six-foot, five-inch, 250-pound Reacher is supposed to look like, but he and McQuarrie turned in a solid action-thriller that accurately caught the book’s tone. The critical drubbing and audience indifference to 2016’s anemic follow-up, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back , effectively killed another Cruise franchise.

Now, Alan Ritchson ( Smallville ’s former Aquaman ) has taken over the role for the latest adaptation of Child's books, Prime Video's Reacher series . The premiere was an undeniable success for the streamer; the show was renewed for a second season only three days after its launch on Prime Video, and a Season 3 renewal soon followed before Season 2 had even premiered. While Season 1 followed the first book in Child's series, The Killing Floor , and Season 2 was based on the events of the eleventh book in the series, Bad Luck and Trouble , it was recently confirmed that Season 3 would adapt Book 7, Persuader .

Whether you're a longtime fan of the books or brand-new to the franchise thanks to the Prime Video series, you might need to know the best place to start. Here are the 10 best Jack Reacher books, ranked.

When retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy full of dirty cops, shady businessmen and scheming politicians. With nothing but his wits, he must figure out what is happening in Margrave, Georgia. The first season of Reacher is based on the international bestseller The Killing Floor by Lee Child.

Cast Willa Fitzgerald, Malcolm Goodwin, Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Serinda Swan, Robert Patrick

Main Genre Action

Genres Drama

In a typically intricate plot, Lee Child’s third book in the series finds Jack Reacher in Florida, digging pools by shovel during the day, while working as a bouncer by night. When a private eye finds him on behalf of someone he’s never met and is gunned down shortly thereafter, Reacher finds himself drawn into the orbit of a deadly black market moneylender. The daughter of his former mentor enlists his help in tracking down a helicopter pilot thought to have died in Vietnam, leading to a ruthless, hook-handed villain and a bullet in Reacher’s chest. Tripwire makes it into the edge of the top 10 thanks to Child’s shading of Reacher’s character. Usually, Reacher is a constant from the beginning to the end. He doesn’t change much, if at all. However, when he is vulnerable and capable of injury, his facade cracks a bit, making him more human and compelling.

Die Trying opens with Reacher stopping to help a total stranger with her dry cleaning. They’re both held at gunpoint, tossed into a van, and driven across the country. He discovers that the woman is FBI agent Holly Johnson, daughter of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and goddaughter of the President of the United States. The third book in Child's series drags Reacher into a dilemma with far-reaching consequences. Most Reacher books deal with more modest, localized crimes and conspiracies, but Die Trying ’s national scale is an outlier. The plot verges on the absurd (as many others do), but it remains an entertaining read thanks to some blockbuster action sequences. Reacher’s unrequited romantic interest in Holly also adds a bit more dimension to him.

Many of the Reacher books start with simple coincidences, which then snowball into wildly complicated situations. Make Me follows this basic premise, as Reacher gets off a bus in the small Midwestern town of Mother’s Rest just because he likes the name. He meets a private detective named Michelle Chang and throws in with her as she investigates her ex-partner’s disappearance. Make Me delves into another small-town conspiracy plot, but is notable for some continued development of its main character. Child doesn’t go too long without a romantic interest for Reacher, but Michelle Chang is no one-night stand. She and Reacher develop a strong bond and end up together by the end of the book. Make Me ’s overall plot is not quite as compelling as some others, but it offers a significant bit of growth for Reacher. No one expects him to settle down anytime soon, but Child hints that he is at least (in theory) open to change.

In the first Jack Reacher book, the main character is six months out of the Army and very bitter toward that particular institution. Lee Child toggles between first and third-person narrations throughout the series, with The Enemy serving as a prequel in the first-person. Rolling back the clock to when Reacher was a military investigator, The Enemy finds him delving into the scandalous death of a major general. He discovers a bigger scheme to prevent the modernization of the American military via the assassination of top military officials. This look at Reacher on the job offers an intriguing contrast with the bulk of the series, where he is a drifter who prefers anonymity. During The Enemy , Reacher’s mother dies in Paris. Between that loss and Reacher’s discovery that the military will cover up any embarrassing scandals like any other bureaucracy, we find a source for the man’s bitterness.

Without Fail

Reacher’s past finds him again as his former Secret Service agent brother’s colleague and old flame, M.E. Froelich, reaches out with an offer: help her plan to assassinate the Vice President. Without Fail nimbly merges a standout thriller plot with some deeply affecting personal stakes for Reacher. He falls into bed with Froelich, but he and the reader learn how much she still loves Reacher’s older brother in a heartbreaking scene near the end. Without Fail delivers a more interesting storyline than many other Reacher books, as Child again drags Reacher into a plot on a scale that could affect the entire country. The book delivers the kind of incremental character growth we’ve come to expect, which dovetails nicely with stakes that become personal for Reacher by the end.

The fourteenth book in the series finds Child upending much of his successful formula for the previous books. Typically prone to wandering the Southern and Midwestern U.S., this time Reacher finds himself in a snowbound small town in South Dakota. The local police are trying to protect the sole witness to a major methamphetamine operation, but they are contractually bound to come running if there is an emergency at the huge local prison. When the cops discover Reacher’s background, they naturally want his help. Things are not exactly as they seem, as Reacher uncovers a conspiracy within the police department related to surplus World War II equipment, including certain stimulating substances meant for bomber pilots. The cops have linked the meth operation to Plato, a Latin American drug lord and little person. The final sequence takes place in small tunnels beneath an old Air Force facility, where Plato’s size gives him a rare advantage over Reacher. Throughout 61 Hours , Reacher is way outside his usual hyper-competent comfort zone. He makes mistakes, is too late to save a key character, and needs help. 61 Hours introduces Major Susan Turner, Reacher’s replacement in his old division, and their hint of romance carries over through the next few books.

Gone Tomorrow

Gone Tomorrow begins with one of Child’s most ingenious setups. On a New York City subway, Reacher suspects a fellow passenger might be a suicide bomber. Narrated in the first person, Reacher runs down all the tell-tale signs. When he attempts to help her out of the situation, she shoots herself in front of him. Driven by a need to know what happened — and guilt over her suicide — Reacher investigates and promptly drops down a disturbing rabbit hole. The bomber, Susan Mark, was a pawn in a bigger plan involving the dark secrets of a crooked congressman, undercover terrorists, and federal agents willing to neutralize Reacher to keep things covered up. Published in 2009, Gone Tomorrow examines a morally gray post-9/11 world. In different hands, Reacher’s clear moral throughline could come off as jingoistic or insincere. Child keeps us grounded in Reacher’s calm fury as he penetrates layer after layer of lies and betrayal. Reacher usually wipes out the corrupt, hidden garbage people behind the shadowy plot, but Gone Tomorrow ’s ambiguous ending reflects the morally complex world around him.

Worth Dying For

The basic premise of the Jack Reacher books parallels any number of American Westerns: a capable stranger wanders into town, sniffs out some trouble, and mops the floor with the bad guys by the end. Lee Child often takes pains to steer his installments away from obvious Western territory, but in Worth Dying For , he leans right into it. Usually, Reacher is content to mostly stay out of trouble until he can’t, but this time he goes looking for it. Reacher overhears a drunk doctor in a remote Nebraska bar blow off a call from a patient. He drives the doctor to the house of a man named Seth Duncan, whose father and uncles run the county, and who clearly beats his wife. Reacher gives Duncan a piece of his mind (and fist), and becomes embroiled in a conflict with the entire Duncan clan. Reacher is in classic hero mode in Worth Dying For , which contains some of Child’s richest prose and sharply drawn supporting characters. Reacher ably dispatches wave after wave of would-be hitmen, which could become tedious if not for Child’s skillful handling. In Worth Dying For , the Duncans are such odious creatures that keeping Reacher in a superior position makes for a ripping good read.

The 2012 Jack Reacher movie adapted One Shot as a kickoff to the would-be franchise, which was a wise decision. McQuarrie and Cruise stay quite faithful to the source novel, which arguably features Child’s most engaging plot. A shooter seemingly kills five random people with six shots. One missed shot conveniently leaves a bullet behind. This evidence leads directly to a former Army sniper named James Barr, who will only tell the police that he’s the wrong guy, and to find Jack Reacher. They don’t have to, since Reacher sees a CNN report about the killings and immediately heads that way. He’s not there to defend Barr, but to help put him away. Barr is counting on Reacher’s clear moral purpose, but he’s beaten so badly that he can’t remember anything about the day of the shootings. Reacher must piece together what happened, and in the process picks apart the prosecution’s case. One Shot presents one of the best moral dilemmas for Reacher. While in the Army, Barr committed an unsanctioned mass murder at long range. Army politics allowed Barr to walk free, but Reacher promised that if he ever stepped out of line, he’d be there to bury the sniper in prison. One Shot gives Reacher perhaps the closest thing to a Bond villain he’s ever faced in the sinister Russian mob boss known only as the Zec, played by the unforgettable Werner Herzog in the film. One Shot presents Child’s writing at his peak, gradually tightening the Swiss watch of a plot as Reacher balances his hatred of Barr with the morality of railroading an “innocent” man.

Killing Floor

The Reacher series started at the beginning , adapting Child’s first Reacher book, Killing Floor . While Child would go on to craft more sophisticated action-mystery plots for Jack Reacher to unravel, this character’s debut is unmissable for the fresh approach Child brings to this genre. Written in the first person, Killing Floor remains his most compelling adventure as it introduces readers to this remarkable character, who is both an unstoppable force and an immovable object. Six months out of the Army after 13 years of service, Reacher drifts across the United States. He finds himself in Margrave, Georgia, simply because his brother once told him that blues legend Blind Blake somehow died there. The opening chapter tells us everything we need to know about Reacher. As the local police herd him out of a diner with shotguns, he narrates calmly, assesses the situation, and decides not to break their arms and take their guns. We understand that he absolutely can, but chooses not to, even though he’s done nothing wrong. As he is clearly railroaded for a murder he couldn’t possibly have committed, Reacher uncovers the first of many small-town conspiracies he will come across. This Reacher is bitter, rather cold-hearted, and has a much bigger chip on his shoulder than he will in later installments. In a morally gray universe, Reacher’s unflagging sense of justice is already fully formed in Killing Floor .

Both seasons of Reacher are currently available to watch on Prime Video in the U.S., with Season 3 to premiere at a date yet to be announced.

Watch on Prime Video

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