As franchises’ importance has grown in terms of attracting large audiences, it is much harder for actors today to be categorized as movie stars. However, a select few actors continue to be world-renowned icons. One such actor is Tom Cruise, who has been a fixture in Hollywood since the early 1980s.
The eminent performer and Hollywood icon is well known for his commanding presence on screen. After making his debut in the 1981 film Endless Love, Cruise shot to fame with the films Risky Business and Top Gun. Did you know, however, that each and every word this famous actor says in his films is worth an astounding $7,000? He does, in fact, deserve that.
Here is a list that ranks Cruise’s seven highest-grossing movies that sincerely paid him a sweet paycheck.
1. War of the Worlds — $100 Million
The Steven Spielberg movie was also a box office hit, earning more than $603 million globally, ranking it as the fourth most popular movie of 2005. By the time Tom Cruise and Spielberg worked together on War of the Worlds, the actor’s going rate was reportedly $20 million per movie. But instead of getting paid upfront for this film, he chose to cut off ticket sales.
The film earned more than $600 million at international box offices, and Cruise made off with a tidy $100 million.
War of the Worlds is streaming on Netflix.
2. The Last Samurai – $25 million
The Last Samurai, an exhilarating action drama that launched Tom Cruise’s illustrious 2000s filmography, featured an American captain who transformed into a fierce samurai in 1876 Japan. The actor reportedly earned a total of $25 million from his salary in 2003, and the movie was a smash with both critics and audiences. Its worldwide gross was $455 million against $140 million budget.
Stream The Last Samurai on Paramount Plus.
3. Mission: Impossible – $70 million + Film’s Profit Percentage
It has been almost thirty years since Tom Cruise made his debut as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible in 1996. The film followed a group of mostly new characters, some of whom went on to play pivotal roles in the wildly popular franchise that came after.
Despite receiving mixed critical reviews, Mission: Impossible was a resounding commercial success, grossing over $450 million at the global box office. According to reports, Cruise earned $70 million in salaries and profit margins.
Mission: Impossible is available on Netflix.
4. Days of Thunder – $9 million
Tom Cruise gave himself a significant raise for 1990’s Days of Thunder, reportedly making $9 million. His income increased for virtually every other film he produced in that time period, in part because of his acting salary as well as the box office points he received in relation to overall box office receipts.
Critics gave Days of Thunder mixed reviews, praising its racing sequences, Hans Zimmer’s score, and Cruise and Robert Duvall’s acting. The movie brought in $157.9 million at the box office.
Days of Thunder can be streamed on Paramount Plus.
5. Mission: Impossible 2 – $75 million + Film’s Profit Percentage
The sequel to the popular Mission: Impossible film series, Mission: Impossible 2, brought in $546 million worldwide. The popularity of the series increased, and Tom Cruise’s reputation as a top action star was cemented by this movie.
The actor successfully made $75 million from salary and profit percentage points ($125 million total budget, $546 million total gross).
Watch Mission: Impossible 2 on Netflix.
6. Rain Man— $3 Million + Film’s Profit Percentage
Alongside Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise played a pivotal role in the critically acclaimed drama Rain Man, turning in a standout performance that netted him an Oscar nomination. The latter negotiated a $3 million salary for the Barry Levinson-helmed film, but it was not a flat $3 million. He based his salary on a percentage of the movie’s box office receipts, and when it brought in over $354 million on a $25 million budget, Cruise received a sweet check.
Rain Man is available on Amazon Prime Video.
7. Jerry Maguire —$20 Million
Tom Cruise gave a flawless performance as a sports agent in Cameron Crowe’s moving sports drama. With a worldwide gross of over $273 million, Jerry Maguire had a remarkable box office run. It became a film in his career that audiences will never forget thanks to the actor’s portrayal of a struggling but determined person.
Plus, he reportedly earned $20 million for his performance.
Jerry Maguire is streaming on DIRECTV.
Tom Cruise’s capacity to draw large audiences and generate billions of dollars is proof of his enduring appeal and influence in the entertainment industry.
