The inherent problem with writing a piece on Tom Cruise's best and worst films stems from the realization that there are very few bad movies in his repertoire. In fact, he is one of the few actors in which his name defines the movie as opposed to the movie defining him.

For example, when people see a movie starring Tom Cruise they often say, "We are going to see the new Tom Cruise movie." How many times has the statement been overheard, "I am going to see the new Daniel Day-Lewis movie?" And that guy just won an Oscar.

When developing a ranking of the best and worst movies of His career (has he officially reached deity status yet? That is a topic for another time, but we will leave it capitalized just in case), the key is comparing "A Tom Cruise Movie" to that of a movie that he happened to act in. When looked at in that context, here are the best "Tom Cruise movies." (Unfortunately, this disqualifies perhaps his greatest performance as Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia, certainly not a "Tom Cruise movie.")

The Best

5. Mission: Impossible
At the beginning the viewer is lead to believe that this is going to be an ensemble cast featuring the Impossible Missions Force led by Cruise's Ethan Hunt. Since this is a "Tom Cruise movie," predictably almost his entire team is killed in the first 15 minutes (sorry Emilio Estevez), leaving Tom Cruise alone as a rogue agent not knowing whom to trust.

This is exactly why this movie works so well - at least it is explained that at one time he did have a team, which of course is the entire premise of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Compare that with Mission: Impossible II when it was assumed no one would notice that there wasn't a team because Tom was riding a badass motorcycle (in slow motion) and had long hair (also in slow motion).

4. Minority Report
Tom Cruise runs a lot in his movies, but in no movie does he look cooler running than in "Minority Report."

3. Days of Thunder
With the explosion of NASCAR, how big would this movie be today? It also captures the point in time that Cruise met Nicole Kidman. The future power couple would go on to make two more movies together, proving this star pairing was a team to beat at the box office. (Not really, see two of the five worst Tom Cruise movies below.)

2. Top Gun
Just like Michael Jackson on the cover of the Thriller album, this is the Tom Cruise we prefer to remember as opposed to the one we have today. There is no other way to put it: Tom Cruise became "Tom Cruise" because of this movie. We can't talk about "Top Gun" without mentioning the steamy love scene between Cruise and Kelly McGillis while "Take my Breath Away" plays in the background. And, of course, we must point out the "Playing with the Boys" volleyball game.

1. Cocktail
Why is this the best Tom Cruise movie? Jesus, how could it not be? Just the sheer fact that Cruise chose this project after coming off of his heralded role in The Color of Money. This shows the guts he has not to "sell out" and do more than one critically acclaimed role in a row. Was there a even a need for the convoluted plot? In the pitch all that needed to be said was "Tom Cruise. Jamaica. Hot shot bartender." If the plot was scrapped and it was 104 minutes of Brian Flanagan bartending, this might be considered the best overall movie of all time. Plus, Bartlett and his Book of Quotations added a chapter for all the new "laws" attributed to Douglas Coughlin.

The Worst

5. The Firm and Born on the Fourth of July (tie)
Tom Cruise runs a lot in his movies, but in no movie does he look more un-cool running than in "The Firm." In "Born on the Fourth of July" Tom can't walk, let alone break out into a sprint. What good is the movie???

4. Risky Business
We want to like this movie. In fact, it is rumored for an immigrant to become a citizen of the United States a "yes" answer is required on the standardized test question, "Is 'Risky Business' a cool movie?" Other than the famous dancing in his underwear scene, and the fact his co-star is the future Mr. Balki Bartokomous, what is so great about it? It is slow, it plods along, and there are only so many times one can watch Cruise put on sunglasses in slow motion (Actually, this may be a positive. We might want to rethink this).

3. Far and Away
Cruise and Kidman should have stuck to movies about racing cars. Before this was released the worst Irish accent on film was Michael J. Fox as Seamus McFly in Back to the Future Part III. If only Cruise's accent was as good as that.

2. Eyes Wide Shut
Cruise and Kidman should have stuck to movies about the Great Land Rush.

1. Vanilla Sky
Other than the opening sequence that ends in an empty Times Square, is there anything redeemable about this movie? This in fact is the anti "Cocktail." Let's see, we have Tom Cruise as our lead. What should we do with him? Oh I know, have him barhopping in some weird white mask for half of the movie. Then again, if Brian Flanagan were serving him...well that would have been a movie.

Story by Mike Ryan
Starpulse contributing writer