Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 18. Also available in HD

Based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, this chilling 1994 thriller sees a young reporter (Christian Slater, Mr Robot) interview – yep, you’ve guessed it – a vampire. The vampire in question is 200-year-old Louis, played by Brad Pitt, one of few 90s hearthrobs who can pull off eating rats while maintaining an air of desirability. Cruise portrays the debauched vampire Lestat, who is responsible for introducing Louis to the dark side. Rice was initially unhappy with the “bizarre” casting of Cruise as Lestat, but after Cruise nailed his performance she was compelled to eat some humble pie. It’s also undoubtedly Cruise’s greatest hair performance to date, with tresses that Farrah Fawcett would be proud of.

2. Valkyrie  

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 12. Also available in HD

Rocking an eyepatch like only he and singer/songwriter Gabrielle can, Cruise plays Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a real-life Germany army Colonel who switched sides to join the German resistance movement. This 2008 war epic sees Cruise share a screen with British stars Kenneth Branagh (Dunkirk), Bill Nighy (Ordeal By Innocence) and comedian Eddie Izzard. It’s based on the true story of Operation Valykrie, an attempted assassination and political coup against Hitler devised by German army officers during World War II.

3. The Firm

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 18. Also available in HD

Cruise learns a valuable life lesson in this 1993 film, based on the John Grisham novel of the same name – if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He plays Mitch McDeere, a Harvard Law graduate who joins a small Memphis firm after they give him a job offer he can’t refuse. Mafia, blackmail and money laundering – it’s a recipe for disaster for McDeere, but great entertainment for us.

4. Collateral

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15. Also available in HD

While Cruise is normally cast as a hero taking down bad guys, this 2004 neo-noir thriller sees him reversing the stereotype as Vincent, a silver fox, Phillip Schofield-lookalike hitman. Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained) plays a taxi driver who’s forced to drive Vincent around all night while he completes his hits. Talk about a tough day at the office.

5. Born On The Fourth Of July

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15. Also available in HD

This one’s more of a tearjerker than we’re accustomed to with Cruise. In this 1989 film the star plays Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic, who became paralysed while fighting and struggles to piece his life back together on his return. Inspired by the real-life Kovic’s autobiography, the film earned Cruise his first Oscar nomination. While he didn’t win, the film did garner two trophies for Best Director (Oliver Stone) and Best Film Editing (David Brenner and Joe Hutshing).

6. Taps

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert PG. Also available in HD

A 19-year-old Cruise plays volatile Cadet Captain David Shawn in his second film, released shortly after his small role in Endless Love. Military cadets take matters into their own hands when their academy is threatened by local developers in this 1981 drama. Think Lord Of The Flies meets A Few Good Men. And look out for the big-screen debuts of the likes of Sean Penn (The Gunman), Evan Handler (Sex And The City) and Giancarlo Espacito (Breaking Bad).

Sky Cinema Tom Cruise, available in Sky Cinema on demand and on Sky Cinema Greats/HD (CH 434/404) from Friday 13 July until Sunday 29 July. Also available in HD
 

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