Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.
No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good? Good.
Here’s an improved version of your text, tightened for clarity, flow, and impact while preserving the original structure:
This weekend, Tom Cruise concludes the Mission: Impossible saga with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, one of summer’s most anticipated films. To celebrate, we’re revisiting Cruise’s illustrious career and ranking his top ten films.
Spanning five decades, Cruise’s career ignited with his breakout role in Risky Business (1983). Renowned for performing his own daring stunts, he’s a box office titan and one of Hollywood’s last true movie stars. Beyond action-packed blockbusters like the Mission: Impossible series, Cruise has earned critical acclaim for dramatic roles in Rain Man (1988), Jerry Maguire (1996), and Magnolia (1999), securing Academy Award nominations for each. His intense charisma, physical dedication, and emotional versatility captivate audiences, contributing to his films’ global earnings of over $10 billion. Notably, his dynamic presence in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) is credited with reviving theatrical attendance post-COVID.
Join us in celebrating Tom Cruise’s legendary career as we rank his top ten films, building anticipation for the epic finale of the Mission: Impossible series.

10. Collateral (2004)
9. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

8. Minority Report (2002)

7. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

6. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

5. Rain Man (1988)

4. Magnolia (1999)

3. Jerry Maguire (1996)

2. A Few Good Men (1992)

1. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)