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Jack Reacher Film Series : All Jack Reacher Movies in Order

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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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All Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer

Top Gun: Maverick is back in theaters for Rotten Tomatoes’ 25th anniversary screening series at AMC — get tickets now !

From his teen idol days in the early ’80s to his status as a marquee-lighting leading man today, Tom Cruise has consistently done it all for decades — he’s completed impossible missions, learned about Wapner time in Rain Man , driven the highway to the danger zone in Top Gun , and done wonders for Bob Seger’s royalty statements in Risky Business , to offer just a few examples. Mr. Cruise is one of the few honest-to-goodness film stars left in the Hollywood firmament, so whether you’re a hardcore fan or just interested in a refresher course on his filmography, we’re here to take a fond look back at a truly impressive career and rank all Tom Cruise movies.

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Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) 97%

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Top Gun: Maverick (2022) 96%

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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) 96%

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Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015) 94%

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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 93%

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Risky Business (1983) 92%

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Edge of Tomorrow (2014) 91%

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Minority Report (2002) 89%

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Rain Man (1988) 88%

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The Color of Money (1986) 88%

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Collateral (2004) 86%

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Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 84%

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American Made (2017) 85%

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A Few Good Men (1992) 84%

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Jerry Maguire (1996) 84%

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Magnolia (1999) 82%

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Tropic Thunder (2008) 82%

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Eyes Wide Shut (1999) 75%

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The Firm (1993) 76%

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War of the Worlds (2005) 76%

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Mission: Impossible III (2006) 71%

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The Outsiders (1983) 70%

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Taps (1981) 68%

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Mission: Impossible (1996) 66%

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The Last Samurai (2003) 66%

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Interview With the Vampire (1994) 63%

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Jack Reacher (2012) 64%

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All the Right Moves (1983) 61%

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Valkyrie (2008) 62%

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Top Gun (1986) 57%

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Mission: Impossible II (2000) 56%

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Oblivion (2013) 54%

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Knight and Day (2010) 52%

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Far and Away (1992) 50%

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Rock of Ages (2012) 42%

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Vanilla Sky (2001) 43%

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Legend (1985) 41%

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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) 38%

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Days of Thunder (1990) 38%

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Lions for Lambs (2007) 27%

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Losin' It (1982) 18%

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The Mummy (2017) 15%

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Cocktail (1988) 9%

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Jack Reacher

Where to watch.

Watch Jack Reacher with a subscription on Paramount+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Jack Reacher is an above-average crime thriller with a smoothly charismatic performance from Tom Cruise.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Christopher McQuarrie

Rosamund Pike

Helen Rodin

Robert Duvall

Richard Jenkins

Werner Herzog

Movie Clips

More like this, movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

The Ending Of Jack Reacher Explained

Jack Reacher looks into the distance

In the 2012 film "Jack Reacher," a horrible crime is committed in Pittsburgh: five people are coldly executed by a sniper. The case seems open and shut when the police discover a man named James Barr (Joseph Sikora), a former U.S. Army sniper with damning evidence in his home and his van. The authorities make a simple offer to Barr: a full confession and life in prison, or a guaranteed death sentence in court. Barr doesn't say a word, but takes a pen and a notepad and writes three words: "Get Jack Reacher."

Reacher ( Tom Cruise ) arrives in Pittsburgh after hearing of Barr's arrest for the murder. Reacher is a wandering drifter and former Army police officer who knows full well what Barr is capable of, but doubts he committed the actual crime. Joining forces with Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike), Barr's defense attorney, the two realize that the killing spree is actually part of a far more insidious plot.

The full confession of an innocent man

In "Jack Reacher's" final scene, Barr had been attacked in prison and left in a coma, one he awakens from with no memory. However, he believes that he must be guilty of the shootings. While innocent of the crime he was framed for, he talks about how he would have committed the crime exactly as Reacher himself described it during his investigation. Barr then demands to face his punishment. He is eager to own up to this crime because of his previous encounter with Reacher years before, where he had gone on a killing spree during his tour in Iraq but wasn't prosecuted for the crime because his victims were suspected of multiple instances of sexual assault.

As Barr confesses, he breaks down in tears, not of remorse or regret for his crimes, but for the fact that Reacher knows where he is, and if he gets away with this, he will find him and kill him. After all, Reacher doesn't care about the law — he only cares about what's right. As the film ends, we see a man verbally and physically threatening his wife on a bus, and Reacher quietly rises from his seat and starts moving toward him, further reinforcing his personal principles.

The deconstruction of the Action Hero

In "Jack Reacher," we see a take on the implacable, unstoppable action hero that's quite different from other examples within the genre. Cruise's Reacher isn't quick with quips like John McClane or a nearly indestructible powerhouse like Dom Toretto , but a quiet and determined operator who will absolutely, positively kill you dead if you're outside of his definition of right or wrong. The world of "Jack Reacher" isn't one where a person can fly into the windshield of a speeding car and walk it off: the violence is quick, lean, and brutal. Jack Reacher isn't a maverick cop or a charming rogue, but a trained killer who is very, very good at administering pain and executing his opponents quickly and efficiently.

The film illustrates that a man like Reacher, someone so close to what we conceive of as the archetypal action hero, one operating by his own code and acting as the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, would be a terrifying figure even if he's ostensibly the "good guy."

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Jack Reacher – review

T here have been a number of cases over the years when consideration for public opinion has led distributors to postpone the release of movies. In the last weeks of the second world war the morale-boosting Hollywood picture Objective Burma! was withdrawn from British cinemas shortly after it opened (and shelved for seven years) because of protests against the slighting of our "Forgotten Army" in Burma. In 1963 Dr Strangelove was postponed due to the Kennedy assassination, and a jokey reference to Dallas was changed to Vegas, thus puzzling lip-readers. The 1992 Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of Rodney King's assailants led to Walter Hill's Looters being cancelled; it appeared later, renamed Trespass . Many movies were anxiously re-edited after 9/11, and more recently the British release of Ben Affleck's kidnapping thriller Gone Baby Gone was delayed because of the continuing search for Madeleine McCann.

Something similar happened earlier this month in the States with the postponement of the national release of Jack Reacher after the Newtown massacre. It was at the behest of its producers (one of them Tom Cruise), who naturally felt concern for the sensitivities of the victims' families as well as a reluctance to attract censorious attention to a thriller that opens with an assassin coolly picking off apparently random targets in a provincial city.

The deranged mass murderer has of course been a regular figure in American cinema for nearly 50 years, ever since Peter Bogdanovich's 1967 directorial debut, Targets , a low-budget film inspired by the appalling incident on the University of Texas's Austin campus the previous year. A deranged ex-student, Charles Whitman, murdered his wife and mother and then shot 44 people from the university tower, killing 14 of them before being brought down himself. Although made for Roger Corman's exploitation studio, Bogdanovich's picture was sensitive and responsible, though not something you'd pay to see in the wake of a similar spree. But then who'd want to see Gus Van Sant's Elephant or Lynne Ramsay's We Need to Talk About Kevin this month anywhere?

The riveting opening 15 minutes is what makes Jack Reacher worth seeing. A killer drives into a multi-storey car park in midtown Pittsburgh, sets himself up – looking across the river to a path alongside the Pittsburgh Pirates stadium – and proceeds to observe potential targets, several of them children, through the crosshairs of a sniper's rifle. It's a guiltily involving point of view.

He kills five people then makes his getaway. Here we see the hand of writer-director (and former private detective) Christopher McQuarrie. He won an Oscar as screenwriter on The Usual Suspects , which opens in similar lapel-grabbing fashion, though this film soon reveals itself as belonging in an inferior class. The assassin is rapidly identified as Iraq veteran James Barr by a smart homicide cop (David Oyelowo) and brought before the local DA (Richard Jenkins), who wants a quick confession to complete his 100% record. The man has obviously been framed. But how, by whom and for what purpose?

This brings us to the title and the film's chef attraction. The former British TV producer Jim Grant (20-odd years with Granada) has been publishing hard-boiled crime novels about Jack Reacher annually since 1997 under the pseudonym Lee Child . This film is based on the 2005 One Shot , written in a sawn-off post-Hemingway style that dispenses with verbs wherever possible. Reacher is a reclusive ex-military police officer, a graduate of West Point with a brilliant forensic intelligence, a control freak and possibly borderline psychopath.

He's 6ft 5in and built like a brick White House. This makes Tom Cruise , who's as short as Alan Ladd, unlikely casting. Though not bad in the right role, he's more cocky and devious than mysterious and unassailable. In his defence, however, Child has gallantly said: "With another actor you might get 100% of the height but only 90% of Reacher. With Tom you'll get 100% of Reacher with 90% of the height."

Reacher turns up from nowhere to needle the DA and the homicide cops and collaborate with the DA's estranged daughter (Rosamund Pike), a top attorney charged with defending Barr. He reveals that the suspect was trained as a sniper in Iraq and murdered some US contractors who turned out to be bad guys. But he didn't do this job.

Who actually was responsible is inadequately explained and explored in McQuarrie's slick, shallow film. Cruise makes little impression, and when at the end he appears to be driving off in search of a sequel, one wonders if he has the making of a Bourne-again serial hero. He seems more overreacher than Reacher, while the dependable Jenkins and the seductive Pike drift through the action with nothing to get a purchase on. Sadly, McQuarrie provides little of the cool wit and none of the dramatic fibre he brought to The Usual Suspects or his other film as director, the bizarre The Way of the Gun .

There are, however, certain fringe benefits, most involving Werner Herzog and Robert Duvall. Playing a sadistic, one-eyed Russian mafioso, Herzog is as frighteningly crazy as Klaus Kinski. He's a tough-as-tundra survivor of the Gulag and known simply as the Zec (Soviet slang for jailbird). Not the kind of person in whose presence you'd risk saying: "No zecs please, we're British."

Duvall is characteristically excellent, bringing pawky humour and ill-concealed menace to the role of an ex-army gunnery sergeant. A sort of Colonel Kilgore in civvies, he runs a rural rifle range as big as a civil war battlefield. That really does bring us into the creepy world of American gun culture.

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The 10 Best Tom Cruise Action Movies, Ranked

Is there a stunt he won't do?

The movie trailers always show him running, and he's seemingly unwilling to slow down: Tom Cruise is continually at the top of his game. With a career spanning over four decades , this action icon goes all in for every role and production. Oscar-nominated for leading dramatic roles in Jerry Maguire and Born on the Fourth of July , famous for his quotable exchange with Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men —"I want the truth!" "You can't handle the truth!"—, and recognized for his blockbuster franchise epics, Cruise is by definition a true movie star.

As one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood , Cruise's action credits include some of the top-grossing movies of all time, long-standing franchises, and page-to-screen adaptations. With stunt work that leaves audiences gasping and skillful acting range that elevates a scene to more, Cruise's filmography includes some of the best in the entire action genre.

10 'Jack Reacher' (2012)

Directed by christopher mcquarrie.

Translating the famous action novel series to the big screen was a challenge fit for a star like Cruise and seasoned collaborating director Christopher McQuarrie . The titular character, Jack (Cruise), is a former military investigator who is called to a murder case involving an ex-sniper. There, he works closely with the suspect's defense attorney, Helen Rodin ( Rosamund Pike ), and the case takes a twist as Reacher dives deeper into the evidence.

This page-to-screen adaptation landed well with viewers and critics; however, Cruise's second outing as Jack Reacher in a sequel was unanimously rotten to the point where he did not reprise the role again in future movies or the current Amazon series. Jack Reacher is an action film that's better than you thought it'd be, but still remains seemingly lackluster compared to other entries in Cruise's illustrious career.

Jack Reacher

Watch on Paramount+

9 'American Made' (2017)

Directed by doug liman.

Certainly, a morally gray character in his character canon, Cruise is charismatic as Barry Seal. The action comedy is based on a true story about an American pilot who becomes in charge of a covert CIA operation where he becomes a drug runner in the 1980s. The feature would not be the first time Cruise and director Doug Liman have teamed up, but American Made is the polar opposite of their previous action work together.

American Made focuses more on complex character development versus the usual explosions, running, and sweaty-palm stunts Cruise fans are used to; however, accidents on the set loomed over the production. It's more comedy than action, but with Cruise's star power and all the complete ingredients, it's a suitable non-franchise feature.

American Made

Watch on Apple TV

8 'War of the Worlds' (2005)

Directed by steven spielberg.

This would be the second time in which Steven Spielberg and Cruise would work together to bring a sci-fi adaptation to the screen. Based on the classic H.G. Wells novel, War of the Worlds finds humanity under alien attack. The fight for survival is told through the perspective of blue-collar father Ray Ferrier (Cruise) and his children ( Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin ).

When audiences think of action stars, they think: Cruise. When they think of blockbuster directors, they think: Spielberg . The pair presented a sci-fi action installment that both terrified and thrilled audiences while respecting the notoriety of the original acclaimed feature and source material. War of the Worlds remains one of their best entries because not only did it deliver its action promise, it provoked a deeper inner dialogue with viewers about the traumas and experiences post-9/11 .

War of The Worlds (2005)

In a gripping adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, Earth faces an unprecedented threat when extraterrestrial tripods descend to wreak havoc, leading to humanity's desperate fight for survival. The story follows a divorced father striving to protect his children amidst the chaos.

7 'The Last Samurai' (2003)

Directed by edward zwick.

The 90s and 2000s were home to a genre of period action dramas led by powerhouse actors like Mel Gibson in Braveheart and The Patriot , Daniel Day-Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans , Kevin Coster in Dances with Wolves , and Russell Crowe in Gladiator . The Last Samurai is Tom Cruise's entry in that genre of action as Captain Nathan Algren, an officer in the post-Civil War American military, sent to Japan at the request of the Emperor ( Shichinosuke Nakamura ) to train their army in modern warfare tactics.

Despite some initial controversy (i.e. the title paired with Cruise's image), The Last Samurai holds its own , especially when it comes to production value. Edward Zwick and the writers crafted an epic narrative focused on tradition and redemption against the backdrop of grand battle scenes and world-building. The film earned four Oscar nominations, two of which were for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration.

The Last Samurai

An American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.

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6 'Minority Report' (2002)

Two legendary cinematic icons collaborated to bring to the big screen an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's famous sci-fi novella "Minority Report." Cruise stars as Chief John Anderton of the Pre-crime Division, a police unit that uses the psychic abilities of the PreCogs to arrest and convict criminals before they commit their crimes. John's world and purpose change drastically when he is predicted to murder a man he's never met.

A dark feature for both industry titans, Spielberg's Minority Report is an action thriller that remains relevant and an excellent repeat watch today. From Cruise's complex performance to Spielberg's masterful world-building, the questions of surveillance and privacy in an advancing age of technology elevate the film some twenty years later.

Minority Report

5 'collateral' (2004), directed by michael mann.

Michael Mann flips the action script for Cruise, this time the action legend starring as the villain. Opposite Jamie Foxx , Collateral features Cruise as Vincent, a contract killer, who uses Max (Foxx), a cab driver, to deliver him to each of his hits throughout one night in Los Angeles. Foxx's performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film's second Oscar nomination was for Best Film Editing.

The signature styling of Michael Mann paired well with a one-off villainous performance by Cruise . Instead of relying on high-stakes sequences and jaw-dropping stunts, Collateral brings out the acting in Cruise instead of forcing audiences to rely on the usual action suspects.

Watch on Hulu

4 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)

Directed by joseph kosinski.

The highly-anticipated sequel demolished any potential of falling victim to the drawn-out sequel/remake curse . With 30 years of Naval service to his name, Maverick returns to the Top Gun Academy to train a new group of recruits for a highly specialized mission with maneuvers that have never been successfully executed before. To complicate matters, one of the top graduates is Lt. Bradley Bradshaw ( Miles Teller ), the son of Maverick's deceased best friend Goose.

Top Gun: Maverick roared into theaters, becoming the highest-grossing feature for Cruise and breaking multiple records along the way with its $1.4 billion run . The action feat took all the successful elements of the original and capitalized on the potential of modern resources, including star power.

Top Gun: Maverick

3 'edge of tomorrow' (2014).

Originally titled "Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow," what ultimately became the feature's tagline sums up the premise. As aliens wreak havoc on the world , Major William Cage (Cruise) is sent into combat on a suicide mission. Having never seen combat, Cage is killed almost instantly; however, he's thrust into a time loop of the same battle that leads to his death. As he lives through and dies in the loop over and over again, his combat experience improves, teaming up with comrade, Rita ( Emily Blunt ), in their attempts to kill the aliens.

This is an action film that drew audiences in with all the right elements—Cruise, Blunt, sci-fi action, and a corny, but accurate tagline—and produced a blockbuster hit. Edge of Tomorrow steers clear of the action genre's pitfalls of poor storylines and writing for the sake of action. Co-written by Christopher McQuarrie , Jez Butterworth , and John-Henry Butterworth , the script and Cage's character set Cruise up for success to carry yet another one-off action hit.

Edge of Tomorrow

2 'top gun' (1986), directed by tony scott.

A blockbuster turned cult classic, Top Gun is the second franchise that is synonymous with the name Tom Cruise. He stars as the iconic Maverick, a hot-shot pilot competing for the bragging rights of best in the class at the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons school. He's enrolled alongside his close friend and co-pilot Goose ( Anthony Edwards ), the pair antagonizing their top competitor, Iceman ( Val Kilmer ).

The film is formulaic action with its cocky, but talented leading role, a quick tragedy to humble him, a kick-ass theme song, that beach volleyball scene , and heart-dropping action sequences. Top Gun is a foundational 80s action film that, despite a lackluster outing with critics, earned four technical Oscar nominations, winning for Best Original Song .

1 'Mission: Impossible' Franchise (1996-)

Directed by brian de palma, john woo, j.j. abrams, brad bird, and christopher mcquarrie.

In this iconic franchise , every installment truly gets better and better as they consistently up the action ante. A career-defining character, Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, an Impossible Missions Force agent. The first installment, Mission: Impossible , finds Ethan at the beginning of his IMF career. The series follows Ethan's adventurous career, each chapter an individual instance in the larger scheme of IMF and the forces working against it.

As each Mission Impossible increases in size and action magnitude, Cruise is at the forefront of pushing the limits. He's known for never shying away from a death-defying stunt , allowing the franchise to pack in the authenticity of the great action film for audiences. Cruise's investment in this franchise, from production to stunts and the acting performances in between, make it truly his best action work.

Mission Impossible 3

NEXT: The 'Mission: Impossible' Oscar Nominations Were a Long Time Coming

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Movie Review

Might Makes Him Mr. Right

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By A.O. Scott

  • Dec. 20, 2012

“Who are you, Mister?” a young woman asks Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise), and it’s a question that recurs, not always quite so politely, throughout the movie that bears Reacher’s name. He may be an elusive individual with a sketchy background — ex-military, no fixed address, a single shirt to his name — but as an archetype he is easy enough to recognize. He is a cousin of Shane and Caine (from the old “Kung Fu” television series) and Clint Eastwood’s Man With No Name: a paladin without portfolio who travels from town to town, dispensing righteous violence and hard-boiled aphorisms.

“It’s just what guys like me do,” Reacher says wearily at one point, though he could say it at just about any point.

Guys like him are mythical creatures, fantasy figures who dispense rough justice when civic institutions fail. Part comic-book superhero, part Old West vigilante and wholly preposterous, Reacher is far less enigmatic than he or anyone else in the movie thinks he is. And also less interesting.

Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie and adapted from “One Shot,” the ninth in Lee Child’s series of macho best sellers, “Jack Reacher” brings its hero to Pittsburgh, where a sniper has just shot down five innocent people, including a nanny accompanying a small child, in broad daylight. The suspected shooter (Joseph Sikora) lies in a coma — after scrawling “Get Jack Reacher” on a pad in lieu of a confession — with a seemingly airtight case against him. Shell casings, fingerprints at the scene, security-camera video, all the usual stuff that disciplined television crime-show viewers will recognize as solid circumstantial evidence.

But the man’s lawyer, Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike), hires Reacher anyway, possibly because she thinks he might keep her client off death row, and possibly because she, like every other woman in (and presumably beyond) the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is made weak in the knees by Reacher’s off-the-charts sexual magnetism.

Helen also has some daddy issues, mainly that her daddy (Richard Jenkins) is the district attorney prosecuting the presumed killer. He and the lead detective on the case (David Oyelowo) are obviously too sure of themselves to be trusted, and even before we meet a character known as the Zec (Werner Herzog, whose casting raises a brief film-geek frisson ) we know that the poor fellow in the coma is a patsy. We also know, just because of the kind of guy Jack Reacher is, that the body count is sure to rise.

And so “Jack Reacher” lumbers through a series of beatings, shootings and bludgeonings on its way to a climactic, not terribly surprising showdown. There is a pretty good car chase and a lot of very bad dialogue. Mr. McQuarrie, on his second outing as a director (his screenplays include “The Usual Suspects” and “Valkyrie”), seems more suited to action scenes than to the ostensibly simpler task of filming people talking. Nearly every conversation is stilted and lame, laden with the kind of repartee that might strike you as witty if you had no sense of humor.

The self-confident, supercompetent Reacher is a character Mr. Cruise could play in his sleep, which is pretty much what he does. Ms. Pike seems a bit more agitated, perhaps because she is too refined an actress for the kind of pulpy sincerity the movie requires. She tries very hard to make sense of Helen’s emotions and motives, which is a hopeless task, since the character is an inexplicable collage of empathy, ambition and neediness, on hand to awaken Reacher’s chivalrous impulses and to quiver with confused desire whenever he is in the room.

Apart from the car chase, the only real fun in “Jack Reacher” comes from Mr. Herzog and Robert Duvall, called in near the end for some marvelously gratuitous scenery chewing as a gruff former Marine. They enliven the movie’s atmosphere of weary brutality for a few moments, but they also call attention to the dullness of their dramatic surroundings.

“Jack Reacher” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Violence and some swearing.

Watch A. O. Scott on “The Sweet Spot” with David Carr, on culture and criticism, at nytimes.com.

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Jack reacher, common sense media reviewers.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Serviceable but forgettable Cruise thriller is very violent.

Jack Reacher Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Bad guys get what's coming to them, courtesy of Ja

Reacher doesn't hesitate to break the law to achie

Plenty of violence right from the start, when a lo

One scene shows a woman in her underwear getting d

Relatively infrequent swearing includes a couple u

Several car brands are mentioned and/or get promin

One scene takes place in a bar where plenty of peo

Parents need to know that Tom Cruise stars as the title character in Jack Reacher , an adaptation of Lee Child's novel One Shot . Reacher is a former military police offer who's enlisted to find a sniper who fired six shots into a crowd, killing five people. This thriller is violent, and vigilante…

Positive Messages

Bad guys get what's coming to them, courtesy of Jack Reacher, a loner/vigilante who dispenses his own brand of justice, which mostly bypasses the legal system. That said, there's also the message that it's worth looking beyond appearances to find out the truth.

Positive Role Models

Reacher doesn't hesitate to break the law to achieve his goals -- he participates in assault, auto theft, coercion, intimidation, and outright murder -- but all of his victims have it coming to them. (Well, mostly.) He uses smarts and intuition in many cases (in addition to his more violent methods). Helen is able to separate her emotions from her job.

Violence & Scariness

Plenty of violence right from the start, when a lone gunman shoots five people with a sniper rifle (a scene that's revisited later in the movie). Jack Reacher, the main character, is a former soldier, highly trained with guns and in hand-to-hand combat, and the film finds plenty of chances to showcase his abilities. He takes on a group of toughs in a few street brawls, leaving them bloodied and sometimes with broken bones. Other scenes feature execution-style killings, allusions to torture, and men beating up women. Few of these scenes actually show blood or gore, but they do make it clear that bodies are taking serious damage and the people are in pain, and a few shots may be hard to watch. There's also a high-speed chase through city streets that damages plenty of cars.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

One scene shows a woman in her underwear getting dressed; Reacher is shirtless in another. Some sexual tension between the two main characters never leads to anything. One scene has some flirty banter when a woman comes on to Reacher, though he's clearly not interested.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Relatively infrequent swearing includes a couple uses of "f--k," plus "p---y," "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," "prick," "damn," "hell," "ass," "goddamn," and more.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Several car brands are mentioned and/or get prominent screen time. Helen drives a Mercedes, and the bad guys spend a lot of time trailing Reacher in an Audi. Another character drives a Cadillac, which is referred to by name. Some of the characters drink Budweiser when relaxing, and Bud signage is visible in the background in a bar.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

One scene takes place in a bar where plenty of people in the background are drinking, though Reacher sticks to coffee. He later shares a beer with Helen when they're relaxing in a motel room. References to meth use; drug paraphernalia is shown.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Tom Cruise stars as the title character in Jack Reacher , an adaptation of Lee Child's novel One Shot . Reacher is a former military police offer who's enlisted to find a sniper who fired six shots into a crowd, killing five people. This thriller is violent, and vigilante Reacher shows no qualms breaking the law to make sure justice is done -- at least his version of justice. There's some swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t") and a bit of sexual tension between Reacher and co-star Rosamund Pike , but no actual sex and very little drinking. Still, there are allusions to torture, and the fight scenes are sometimes brutal; a few are very tough to stomach. Even though there's little blood or gore on screen, the film is more appropriate for older teens and up. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

  • Parents say (15)
  • Kids say (44)

Based on 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After a lone gunman shoots five people in a random spree of terror, all the evidence points to a former Army sniper, but the suspect makes one request: "Get JACK REACHER." Who's Reacher? A retired soldier, weapons expert, and martial artist who lives off the grid -- no car, no mobile phone, no credit card, no known address. The star of a popular series of novels by author Lee Childs, Reacher ( Tom Cruise ) travels from town to town, always managing to get himself involved in some kind of adventure. Here, he sets out to make sure the accused gets what he deserves, but soon begins to suspect he may actually be innocent. Working with a defense attorney ( Rosamund Pike ), Reacher uncovers a dangerous conspiracy run by violent thugs who are eager to shut him up, permanently. Robert Duvall and Richard Jenkins co-star.

Is It Any Good?

This movie is muscley but ultimately forgettable entertainment. The story in Jack Reacher has enough twists to keep viewers interested, and Cruise playing stoic, confident, and extremely competent is always watchable. Plus, there are a few set pieces that are good fun. (Watch as Cruise, weary and wary, takes on five punks after warning them they're in for more than they expect -- no spoiler, he wasn't lying.)

But the film lacks momentum. It moves quickly through the action sequences and then too slowly as Cruise and Pike knit together the clues. The villains, led by a shadowy Russian, are generically evil, yet their motivation is unclear. Pike in particular has little to do other than look anxious in her damsel-in-distress role. And the movie seems indulgently violent. Besides the extended opening sequence of one murder after another, there are plenty of other sequences that leave both men and women battered, bloody, and broken. In short, Jack Reacher works as a serviceable thriller, but a masterpiece of the genre? Now that's a reach.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what makes Jack Reacher , which is rate PG-13, different from R-rated films. Is the violence less graphic or upsetting? Why or why not? What impact does seeing this kind of violence have on teens ?

What do you think about Jack Reacher's vigilante actions? Is it right for one man to dispense justice to people who are clearly villains?

Why does Jack Reacher live the way he does? How do his actions in this film show what he wants out of life?

Movie Details

  • In theaters : December 21, 2012
  • On DVD or streaming : May 7, 2013
  • Cast : Robert Duvall , Rosamund Pike , Tom Cruise
  • Director : Christopher McQuarrie
  • Inclusion Information : Female actors
  • Studio : Paramount Pictures
  • Genre : Thriller
  • Topics : Book Characters
  • Run time : 130 minutes
  • MPAA rating : PG-13
  • MPAA explanation : violence, language and some drug material
  • Last updated : November 7, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

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Jack Reacher (2012)

Jack Reacher is a 2012 thriller directed by Christopher McQuarrie ( The Way of the Gun , Mission: Impossible - Fallout ). The feature film is an adaptation of the novel One Shot by Lee Child (the author who appears in a cameo in the film as an officer), who created a series of novels featuring the title character. Tom Cruise stars as Jack Reacher, a former US Army investigator living off the grid who emerges after being called upon by a former Army sniper who is accused of a seemingly random shooting of five people in Pittsburgh. The film also co-stars Rosamund Pike , Jai Courtney , David Oyelowo , Robert Duvall and director Werner Herzog in a rare acting role. The film was followed in 2016 with the sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and 2022 with Reacher , an Amazon Prime original series with Alan Ritchson in the role of Reacher.

The following weapons were used in the film Jack Reacher (2012) :

  • 1.1 Glock 19
  • 1.2 M1911A1
  • 1.3 Colt Government Model
  • 1.4 Ruger 22/45 Lite
  • 1.5 Smith & Wesson Model 442
  • 2.1 M4A1 Carbine
  • 2.3 SIG P556 SWAT / SG 550 hybrid
  • 2.4 Springfield Armory M1A
  • 2.5 Remington 700
  • 2.6 PWS MK216
  • 3.1 Cash's Shooting Range

SPOILERS.jpg

Detective Emerson ( David Oyelowo ) uses a Gen 4 Glock 19 as his sidearm. He carries it in an IWB (Inside the Waistband) holster. Helen Rodin ( Rosamund Pike ) also briefly handles the gun in the film, when she hands it to Jack Reacher ( Tom Cruise ).

tom cruise movie with sniper

A distraught father of one of the shooting victims has a M1911A1 with Rampant Colt grips sitting on his table when he speaks with Helen Rodin ( Rosamund Pike ). Close inspection reveals the standard spur hammer has been replaced with a Commander-style ring hammer.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Colt Government Model

A thug tries to shoot Jack Reacher with a slightly customized Colt Government Model with a skeleton hammer before being disarmed by him.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Ruger 22/45 Lite

Charlie ( Jai Courtney ) uses a Ruger 22/45 Lite pistol in the film.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Smith & Wesson Model 442

Detective Emerson ( David Oyelowo ) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 442 as his backup gun.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Rifles / Carbines

M4a1 carbine.

Pittsburgh PD SWAT officers use M4A1 carbines with various attachments in the film. Private Military Contractors in a flashback to Iraq are also seen with M4A1 carbines. Charlie ( Jai Courtney ) also uses a heavily customized M4A1 fitted with a Magpul buttstock, pistol grip, angled fore grip, MBUS and PMAG. He also has a low power scope, offset red dot sight, free float quad rail, tactical flashlight, extended charging handle latch and a laser designator on his back-up rifle during the climax. Jack Reacher ( Tom Cruise ) also uses this rifle at a later point. Reacher takes off the scope before entering a close-quarters situation, having no use for it.

tom cruise movie with sniper

One of the Pittsburgh PD SWAT officers uses an M16A4 fitted with a bipod and a scope when responding to the shooting.

tom cruise movie with sniper

SIG P556 SWAT / SG 550 hybrid

All of the henchmen employed by the Zec (Werner Herzog) use SIG P556 SWAT hybrid rifles during the finale. Jack Reacher ( Tom Cruise ) uses one with an Aimpoint CompM2 sight after taking out a henchman with a rock. The rifle used by Reacher has been previously seen in the film Salt , and is a custom rifle that has a SIG SG 550 series lower receiver not seen on the actual P556.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Springfield Armory M1A

The Springfield Armory M1A is the main rifle seen in the film. An M1A in a woodland camouflage scheme is used in the shootings in Pittsburgh, and is handled in various scenes by James Barr ( Joseph Sikora ), Charlie ( Jai Courtney ), Jack Reacher ( Tom Cruise ) and Detective Emerson ( David Oyelowo ). U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, and gun range owner Cash ( Robert Duvall ) uses an M1A with a wooden stock to provide covering fire for Reacher in the finale. Every M1A in the film is an actual M1A and not an M21/M25 SWS because they all lack the fire selector even though 2 of the rifles seen have cutouts for it in the stock. James Barr is also seen using an M1A in desert camouflage and a makeshift suppressor in a flashback to his experiences as an Army sniper in Iraq, which is strange because the US Army stopped using the M21/M25 SWS in 1988 when the bolt action M24 was introduced. In the book that the film is based on, Barr served as an infantry sniper during the Gulf War(1990-1991). Even though many M21/M25 variants came back into favor in the Iraq and Afghan wars in the 2000s, it is not clear in the movie if Barr served in the Gulf War or the Iraq War(2003-2011).

tom cruise movie with sniper

Remington 700

Cash ( Robert Duvall ) challenges Jack Reacher ( Tom Cruise ) to shoot three rounds into the center of a target at 700 yards with a Remington 700 before speaking with him about James Barr.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Charlie ( Jai Courtney ) uses what appears to be a PWS MK216 during the final confrontation with Reacher.

tom cruise movie with sniper

Cash's Shooting Range

Former USMC Gunnery Sergeant Cash ( Robert Duvall ) has several handguns on display at his shooting range store. Several hunting rifles can also be seen on the upper left corner, and pictures of Remington shotguns next to them. A crossbow is also visible when Reacher first visits Cash's store.

JRXDGuns.jpg

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Scope Out The Best Sniper Movies Ever Made

Alex Alvarez

You don't need a spotter to find good movies about snipers and sharpshooters because we've ranked them from best to worst using votes from Rankers like you. It makes sense that films about marksmen hitting targets from a distance are great subject matter for thrillers like Phone Booth and Grand Piano . There are also a few war drama films on the list like American Sniper, Enemy at the Gates, and Battle for Sevastopol. But if straight action is what you're looking for, be sure to check out Tom Berenger in the Sniper franchise or Mark Wahlberg in Shooter. No matter what you choose to watch, you'll either know what it's like to see a target through a scope or find out what it feels like to be in the crosshairs. With so many good sniper movies, it will be hard to determine the top ten best sniper movies, not to mention which one belongs in the number one spot.

Vote up your favorite films about marksmen and markswomen so other fans will know what to watch next. Also, don't hesitate to vote down the sniper movies you wish you hadn't seen to keep them from going to the top of the list. Lastly, look for the Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Apple TV+ buttons below each film to stream them whenever you want.

Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates is a movie about one of history's most legendary snipers, Vassili Zaitsev. The film follows him as he works tirelessly to defend Stalingrad from Nazi forces during World War II. It does a remarkable job showing how his skill and accuracy with a rifle were key to the battle, but more importantly, it emphasizes the human cost of war in a powerful way. Enemy at the Gates is an excellent historical drama with suspenseful action sequences.

  • # 11 of 264 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
  • # 15 of 113 on The Best Movies Of 2001
  • # 11 of 13 on Photos Of Ron Perlman's Most Dramatic Transformations

Shooter

Shooter is an action-packed movie about a former military sniper, Bob Lee Swagger. It tells the story of how he is framed for murder and must fight to clear his name. The film does an excellent job of showing the skill and expertise required to be a good marksman, as well as highlighting the moral dilemma faced by soldiers who have to make life-or-death decisions in their line of work.

  • # 73 of 190 on The Best Movies For Men
  • # 39 of 139 on The Best Movies Of 2007
  • # 35 of 66 on The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time

American Sniper

American Sniper

American Sniper is a powerful movie about a Navy SEAL sniper, Chris Kyle. The film follows his story from enlisting in the military to being deployed for four tours and eventually returning home with PTSD. It's an honest portrayal of what war does to soldiers, as well as their families, and shows just how difficult it is for them to readjust back into civilian life.

  • Dig Deeper... Historical Inaccuracies In ‘American Sniper’
  • And Deeper... 29 Things Most People Don't Know About 'American Sniper'
  • # 16 of 264 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time

Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan

Captain John Miller is tasked with retrieving Private James Ryan from behind enemy lines during WW II. This film makes the list because of Barry Pepper as Private Daniel Jackson, a gifted marksman who participates in one of the most memorable scenes involving snipers ever in a war film.

  • Dig Deeper... This Virginia Town’s Massive Single-Day Loss During WWII Inspired 'Saving Private Ryan'
  • # 9 of 50 on The Biggest Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
  • # 1 of 264 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time

Sniper

Sniper , released in 1993 and starring Tom Berenger and Billy Zane, is a great movie about the life of a sniper. The film follows the story of Thomas Beckett (Berenger) as he attempts to complete one final mission before retiring from his career as an expert marksman. It's a gripping tale that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until its thrilling conclusion. With realistic battle scenes and excellent performances by both lead actors, Sniper is sure to please fans who are looking for an entertaining movie about snipers.

  • # 84 of 166 on The Best Military Movies Ever Made
  • # 45 of 157 on The Best TriStar Pictures Movies List
  • # 57 of 77 on The 75+ Best Black Ops Films

Sniper: The White Raven

Sniper: The White Raven

The Jackal

  • # 50 of 99 on The Best 1990s Action Movies
  • # 36 of 95 on The 100+ Best Movies Of 1997
  • # 66 of 105 on The Best Movies About A Cat And Mouse Game

The Wall

The Wall is an intense and captivating movie about a sniper, set in the backdrop of a war-torn Middle East. The film follows two soldiers who are trying to survive after one of them is shot by an unseen enemy sniper. While under constant threat, they must use their wits and courage in order to make it out alive. It's an incredibly thrilling experience that will keep you on edge throughout its entirety.

  • # 41 of 54 on The Best Amazon Studios Movies
  • # 151 of 166 on The Best Military Movies Ever Made
  • # 17 of 43 on The 40+ Best Iraq War Movies

Battle for Sevastopol

Battle for Sevastopol

The Battle for Sevastopol is a 2015 Russian war film based on the real-life story of Ukrainian sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko. The movie follows Pavlichenko's journey as she fights to defend her homeland and become one of the deadliest snipers in history. From intense action sequences to psychological drama, this movie will keep you on your toes.

Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher

The action thriller movie Jack Reacher , starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, is a good action-mystery movie about a sniper. The film follows former military police officer Jack Reacher as he investigates an assassin who shot five random victims in Pittsburgh. With gripping suspense and intense fight scenes , this movie keeps you on your toes as you follow Jack's journey to uncover the truth behind the shootings.

  • Dig Deeper... All the Jack Reacher Books, Ranked Best to Worst
  • # 672 of 772 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
  • # 21 of 44 on The 40+ Best Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Fans

Hyena Road

Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry is an iconic movie from 1971 starring Clint Eastwood. It follows a San Francisco detective, Dirty Harry Callahan, who uses his sharp wit and deadly accuracy with a .44 Magnum to take down criminals in the city. He must track down a vicious sniper before a kidnapped girl pays the ultimate price, but due to Harry's overzealousness, the sniper is back on the street and takes a school bus hostage. It's up to Dirty Harry to stop him for good this time.

  • # 419 of 772 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
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Targets

Sniper: Reloaded

Sniper: Reloaded is a good movie about a sniper, released in 2011. It follows the story of a sniper, Brandon Beckett, who is tasked with preventing rebel forces from overthrowing the government. The action sequences are intense and dramatic, making them exciting to watch. The soundtrack also adds to the overall effect by adding suspenseful music at key moments throughout the film. Sniper: Reloaded is definitely worth watching for anyone interested in snipers or military-style movies.

Sniper 2

Sniper 2 is a thrilling movie about a sniper, Thomas Beckett. It has plenty of thrilling moments and intense action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story follows Beckett and his spotter as they are sent to assassinate a general responsible for ethnic cleansing attacks.

Phone Booth

Phone Booth

Phone Booth is a suspenseful movie about a sniper who traps an unsuspecting man in a phone booth. The movie follows the man as he desperately tries to escape from his captor while also trying to save himself and innocent bystanders. It stars Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Katie Holmes, and Forest Whitaker. This tense thriller has great performances all around and keeps viewers glued to the screen until the very end. It is an excellent example of a good movie involving a sniper that leaves viewers with plenty of questions and excitement.

  • # 80 of 253 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
  • # 20 of 152 on The Best Movies of 2002
  • # 32 of 152 on The Best Movies Of 2003, Ranked

Sniper: Assassin's End

Sniper: Assassin's End

Jarhead

Jarhead is a gripping war drama that follows the story of sniper Anthony Swofford, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie does an excellent job of delving into the psychological effects of being in combat and conveying how difficult it can be to make decisions in such high-stakes situations. It also realistically captures what life is like for those serving in the military, from small moments between comrades to big battles on foreign soil. All in all,   Jarhead  provides viewers with a unique look at war through its thrilling action scenes as well as its thought-provoking narrative.

  • # 1 of 10 on The Best Movies About the Gulf War
  • # 161 of 264 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
  • # 40 of 143 on The Best Movies of 2005

The Sniper

The Sniper (2009) is an intense, action-packed movie about the top snipers in the Hong Kong Police Force. The majority of the drama is derived from relationships on the elite Special Duties Unit Sniper Team. Get ready for combating egos and wild cards in this action thriller.

The Virtuoso

The Virtuoso

The Virtuoso is an action-packed and thrilling movie about a professional sniper who must complete a difficult mission in return for his freedom. It stars the talented Anthony Hopkins, and his performance will leave you captivated from start to finish. With intense action sequences, unexpected twists, and turns, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety.

Assassins

Assassins is a movie about a skilled sniper, portraying the story of his life and all he has gone through to become an expert in his craft. It depicts how someone who obeys orders can question what is right and wrong. The film uses stunning cinematography to capture the tension between the protagonist’s moral choices and his devotion to duty, making it an enthralling watch for any viewer.

  • # 49 of 54 on The Most Unrealistic Action Films
  • # 41 of 74 on The 70+ Best Romance Action Movies, Ranked
  • # 47 of 98 on The 80+ Best R-Rated Action And Thriller Movies

Silent Trigger

Silent Trigger

Silent Trigger is an action-packed movie about a soon-to-be-retired sniper, Waxman. Not only does Silent Trigger provide suspenseful entertainment but it also paints a picture of the emotional toll being a sniper can take on someone. It gives us insight into what soldiers go through in high-stakes situations and provides viewers with thought-provoking reflections on morality and justice.

The American

The American

  • # 441 of 675 on The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
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Two-Minute Warning

Two-Minute Warning

Two-Minute Warning is a 1976 thriller directed by Larry Peerce that follows the story of a sniper who takes hostages at a crowded football stadium. It's an intense, suspenseful movie with plenty of twists and turns. All in all, Two-Minute Warning is an excellent film about a sniper that should be seen by anyone interested in thrillers or crime dramas.

The Ravine

The Ravine is a gripping war drama about a special ops sniper on the front lines of battle. It follows his journey as he works to complete his mission and defend his country from the enemy forces. Despite being a movie about warfare, it has many aspects that people can relate to in their own lives, making it an emotionally engaging film with great performances from its cast. The beautiful visuals and intense action sequences make this movie engrossing to watch.

Sniper 3

Sniper 3 is a great movie about the life of an expert military sniper. Although it is action-packed, there are also many intense emotional moments that show us how tough and stressful being a sniper can be. It follows the story of Major Beckett as he battles both his enemies abroad and personal demons at home.

D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear

D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear

D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear is a gripping movie that follows the real-life story of two men responsible for a serial killing spree in 2002, which left ten people dead and three others injured throughout the Washington D.C. area over three weeks. The film does an excellent job of highlighting the fear and tension felt by residents as they lived in constant worry of becoming victims to these snipers during this time while delving into the complex psychological profiles of both shooters.

Assassination Games

Assassination Games

Assassination Games is a great movie about a sniper and his unique skills. It follows the story of two assassins, each with their own motivations but both of them seeking revenge on the same target. The sniper's character arc is especially interesting as he begins to question why he does what he does and how far will he take it in order to get his revenge. The movie has some intense action sequences that really show off the power of a skilled shooter.

Mine

Downrange is a 2018 suspenseful thriller about six college students who are stranded on the side of the road after their car tire gets punctured. What starts off as an innocent roadside stop quickly turns into a nightmare when they realize that they have become targets for a mysterious sniper. This movie does a good job of painting the picture of what it's like to be in the shoes of someone being hunted by a trained marksman.

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1. 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: 97,560 | Gross: $25.60M

2. 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: 99,871 | Gross: $63.50M

3. 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: 20,397 | Gross: $17.23M

4. 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: 72,497 | Gross: $15.50M

5. 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: 502,740 | Gross: $179.80M

6. 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: 93,279 | Gross: $52.29M

7. 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: 546,714 | Gross: $178.80M

8. 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: 91,885 | Gross: $78.22M

9. 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: 115,984 | Gross: $70.00M

10. 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: 96,425 | Gross: $82.67M

11. 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: 68,334 | Gross: $58.88M

12. 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: 287,409 | Gross: $141.34M

13. 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: 147,731 | Gross: $158.35M

14. 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: 347,560 | Gross: $105.26M

15. 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: 287,082 | Gross: $153.95M

16. 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: 470,380 | Gross: $180.98M

17. 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: 328,547 | Gross: $22.46M

18. 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: 375,194 | Gross: $55.69M

19. 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: 377,774 | Gross: $215.41M

20. 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: 285,736 | Gross: $100.61M

21. 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: 584,463 | Gross: $132.07M

22. 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: 471,215 | Gross: $111.11M

23. 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: 475,336 | Gross: $234.28M

24. 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: 390,809 | Gross: $134.03M

25. 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: 52,715 | Gross: $15.00M

26. 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: 448,168 | Gross: $110.52M

27. 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: 259,304 | Gross: $83.08M

28. 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: 210,344 | Gross: $76.42M

29. 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: 528,508 | Gross: $209.40M

30. 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: 81,674 | Gross: $38.52M

31. 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: 365,108 | Gross: $80.07M

32. 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: 433,214 | Gross: $101.01M

33. 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: 737,089 | Gross: $100.21M

34. 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: 411,013 | Gross: $195.04M

35. 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: 175,340 | Gross: $58.70M

36. 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: 208,259 | Gross: $51.34M

37. 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: 378,217 | Gross: $220.16M

38. 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: 206,274 | Gross: $80.10M

39. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

PG-13 | 163 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise , Hayley Atwell , Ving Rhames , Simon Pegg

Votes: 247,121 | Gross: $172.14M

40. 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: 697,175 | Gross: $718.73M

41. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two (2025)

Action, Adventure, Thriller | Post-production

The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Katy O'Brian , Tom Cruise , Hannah Waddingham , Vanessa Kirby

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Special Ops Expert Reveals What Tom Cruise’s Scenes With Rebecca Ferguson In Mission: Impossible (Maybe) Didn’t Get Right About Shooting Sniper Rifles

Just how good a sniper is Ethan Hunt? A real sniper weighs in.

 The Mission: Impossible franchise exists mainly so that Tom Cruise can risk his life doing insane stunts. Most of the things that we see Ethan Hunt do on screen, like scale sheer buildings and riding motorcycles off of cliffs , are things we’d never really see real people do, but some of the character's activities are, by comparison, quite normal, so there are people who can judge just how good a sniper Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson actually are. 

In a new video for Insider a professionally trained Army Ranger sniper, Nicolas Irving, took a look at several scenes of snipers from media to judge how close to reality they actually got. One scene he takes a look at is the opera house sniper sequence from Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. The scene sees Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, Rebecca Fergusoon’s Ilsa, and a third person, all working at cross purposes with sniper rifles. 

Irving takes issue with a few of the elements from the sequence. Ethan Hunt’s sniper rifle is designed to resemble a flute, which Irving isn’t sure would work, as sniper rifles are designed as they are for a specific reason. One area where the scene is at least potentially accurate is the area of the rifle’s noise output, as it is apparently possible to make even sniper rifles fairly quiet. Irving explains…

You’re still gonna hear a noise. It sounds like a clap, a loud clap, or if you took a ruler and smacked it on a desk. Unless you used subsonic [ammunition] rounds, which he may be using in this instance, where I can see nobody else really hear anything.

Another part of the sequence, which rides the line of plausibility, is where Ilsa begins shooting out lights inside the opera house. While wanting to do that makes sense, and it was something snipers were asked to do in his experience, it seems that actually doing it is a lot harder than it looks. Irving continued…   

Shooting lights are actually extremely hard to do. That was one of our things oversees sometimes, when an assault team is going up on a building, they want the lights shot out for them — to make it dark. It’s actually pretty tough because it blurs out everything and it’s hard to find out exactly, I guess, where the middle is at.

In the end, the professional sniper gives the Rogue Nation scene a five out of ten as a score, saying that while what we see there is certainly all possible, he finds the setup a bit too unrealistic to score it any higher. That may be true, but there’s no arguing that it’s a lot of fun to watch.

Rebecca Ferguson got to play sniper again in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. Perhaps in a future video, we'll learn what the professional sniper thinks of that scene.  The Mission: Impossible franchise is currently on hold with Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two set to resume filming once the actor's strike is resolved. 

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Dirk Libbey

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.

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tom cruise movie with sniper

tom cruise movie with sniper

Tom Cruise Doesn't Really Do Sequels Very Often, But There's Apparently One Movie His Co-Star Was Shocked Didn't Get A Follow-up

U nless we are talking about Mission: Impossible – M:I 8 is currently filming or the long-delayed Top Gun: Maverick –Tom Cruise isn’t known for making very many sequels to his flicks. But, according to one former cast member, there is one film in his oeuvre that he is shocked never got a follow-up. The former cast member in question is Christian Slater, who co-starred along with Cruise and Brad Pitt in one of the best films of the 90s , the film adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel Interview With The Vampire . According to the Heathers alum, he’s shocked that he and the Risky Business star never got a second bite at the neck, playing a vampire in a sequel.

Christian Slater Reflects on The Missed Sequel Opportunity

It's hard to believe it's been nearly three decades–the movie turns 30 this year–since we were first mesmerized by one of the most iconic vampire performances on screen. In an interview shared on Comicbook.com’s Chris Killian’s Instagram , Christian Slater discussed how he and Cruise were reflecting on the project. The pair expressed a mutual astonishment over the movie's lack of a sequel despite their roles becoming fan favorites. He recounted:

Tom Cruise and I were both surprised that Interview With The Vampire didn’t get a sequel. You know, that would have been fun. Uh, I mean, he did bite me at the end of that thing.

For my money, even three decades since its release, Interview With The Vampire is still one of the best vampire movies ever committed to celluloid. Upon release, it was a critical and financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated horror films of 1994, and grew to become a goth cult favorite. Not to mention, it introduced the broader world to actress Kirsten Dunst, a role Cruise helped the young actress secure thanks to some very practical advice.

The Enduring Legacy of 'Interview With the Vampire'

Tom Cruise's electrifying turn as the vampire Lestat was central to the film’s success. Initially, Anne Rice, the source material's author, hated Cruise’s casting in the role. However, his performance won her over and helped cement the film's place in cinematic history. Despite this success and the buzz around it, plans to continue Lestat's story with Cruise in a sequel never came to fruition. While the potential for a direct follow-up to this beloved film sparked plenty of discussions, ultimately, those plans remained just out of reach, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.

There was anticipation over a sequel starring the Top Gun A-lister, yet various factors, including rights issues, changes in production companies, and creative decisions, led to a different path for the book to screen adaptations of Rice's novels.

The next film in the series, Queen of the Damned, starring the late singer and actress Aaliyah , was released in 2002, but it did not involve Tom Cruise. Instead, Stuart Townsend took over the role of Lestat. The film combined elements from the second and third books of Rice's series, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned . Still, it diverged significantly from the source material and did not continue directly from where Interview left off.

Interview With The Vampire is enjoying a second adaptation and return to screens as a television series, which is gearing up for its second season on AMC .

The Possibility Of A Sequel With Cruise

The ending of Interview with the Vampire set the stage perfectly for a sequel. It left audiences reeling from its final twist and introduced a new narrative thread with Daniel, the San Francisco reporter who becomes enthralled with Louis's tale of the undead. As Christian Slater hinted in the recent interview, the setup was ideal for a follow-up. Yet, despite the ripe storytelling potential, a direct continuation wasn't in the cards. Could a sequel with Cruise still happen? As the interviewers and Slater point out, Tom Cruise barely looks like he's aged since the last time he put on the Vampire Lestat's fangs. So, never say never.

Christian Slater's most recent work, another book adaptation, the series The Spiderwick Chronicles , is available now for free on The Roku Channel . Be sure to check out our 2024 movie schedule to see what upcoming horror movies are heading to a screen near you.

 Tom Cruise Doesn't Really Do Sequels Very Often, But There's Apparently One Movie His Co-Star Was Shocked Didn't Get A Follow-up

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