This month marks the anniversaries of two of Tom Cruise‘s most memorable roles: There’s the one that made him a bona fide movie star—as Maverick in the flight school drama Top Gun, released on May 16, 1986—and the one that cemented his place at the center of a billion-dollar action franchise—as Ethan Hunt in the original Mission Impossible, released on May 22, 1996. But the 53-year-old actor has had enough iconic roles to populate a small village of characters, from a vampire to a brash Hollywood studio exec to a sports agent completed by Renée Zellweger. As Cruise prepares for a slew of potential hits—a sixth Mission Impossible, a reboot of The Mummy and possibly even a Top Gun sequel—here’s a look back at his most iconic roles.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com