‘Mission: Impossible 2’ Is the Only Time Tom Cruise Had This Box Office Win

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As a longtime fan of Tom Cruise’s cinematic adventures, I must say that his journey through Hollywood is nothing short of breathtaking. From his breakout roles in the ’80s to his current status as an action superstar, he has consistently proven his versatility and enduring appeal.

Legendary actor Tom Cruise is renowned for his captivating performances on the big screen, making him one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men and an undisputed action star. Over four decades, he has delivered numerous box office hits, leaving a lasting impression on audiences worldwide. In 1996, he demonstrated his bravery and dedication as an actor by taking on the role of super spy Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible series, wowing viewers with his death-defying stunts and unwavering commitment to his acting career.

In the 2000s, “Mission: Impossible II” turned out to be a significant victory for Tom Cruise. This exhilarating sequel ruled the box office and surpassed its rivals, ultimately earning over $546 million and being crowned the top-grossing film of the year. Additionally, it fortified Cruise’s reputation as cinema’s most daring action star. Although he has since appeared in numerous successful movies such as “Collateral,” “War of the Worlds,” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” Tom Cruise hasn’t managed to replicate that box office triumph achieved nearly 24 years ago.

Tom Cruise’s Blockbuster Action Spy Franchise

1996 saw Tom Cruise, a renowned Hollywood star, skillfully morph into one of cinema’s most thrilling action heroes by playing Ethan Hunt, the secret agent for the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), in the exhilarating action-spy series. The franchise’s debut film, Mission: Impossible, left audiences globally spellbound with its high-stakes missions carried out by Hunt and his reliable teammates, such as Luther Stickell, a masterful computer hacker (Ving Rhames), and Benji Dunn, a versatile agent and tech expert (Simon Pegg).

Building on the 1966 television series featuring Steven Hill and Peter Graves, Mission: Impossible enthralled cinema-goers with its heart-stopping action scenes and Tom Cruise’s daring willingness to perform death-defying stunts, earning over $457 million during its theater run. The extraordinary commercial success and enthusiastic audience response laid the foundation for one of the longest-lasting and exhilarating franchises in the entertainment world. This franchise has produced six sequels (with another planned for 2025) and amassed over $4.14 billion globally.

‘Mission: Impossible 2‘ Dominates the 2000 Box Office

Four years following the exceptional debut in ’96, Tom Cruise once again embodied Ethan Hunt and graced our screens in Mission: Impossible 2 of 2000. This time around, the skilled agent found himself partnering with Nyah Nordoff-Hall, a proficient thief portrayed by Thandiwe Newton. Together, they pursued the rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), who held in his possession a dangerous biological weapon capable of causing global chaos and loss of life.

Just like in every installment of the thrilling franchise, Cruise was adamant about performing his own stunts and was unwilling to omit the opening scene where his character Craft is free solo climbing at Dead Horse Point State Park. Facing resistance from the studio, Cruise filmed the nerve-wracking sequence wearing only a harness and thin wire, with no safety net for protection. Cruise’s commitment to his role and enhancing the risk factor became more evident in each sequel, and his determination once again proved successful as Mission: Impossible 2 became a box office hit when it was released on May 24, 2000.

In the same year, Mission: Impossible 2 found itself going head-to-head with a number of impressive films such as Gladiator, Cast Away, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. However, it was the action movie that ultimately took center stage at the box office, raking in an impressive $546.3 million. This surpassed Ridley Scott’s historical epic, which grossed $465.5 million. While critics had mixed feelings about the sequel, feeling it leaned more towards style than substance, Mission: Impossible 2 marked the last time Tom Cruise held the title of the highest-grossing film of the year (though he came very close again in 2022).

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Helped Cruise Come Close Yet Again

Tom Cruise is well-versed in delivering stellar performances across a wide range of genres, having excelled in both dramatic and comedic roles over his illustrious 40-year career. The legendary figure of Hollywood found incredible success in the ’80s with iconic characters from films like The Outsiders, Risky Business, Top Gun, and Rain Man, and continued his dominance in the following decade with blockbuster movies such as A Few Good Men, Interview with the Vampire, and Jerry Maguire.

Tom Cruise, who has received numerous awards such as four Golden Globe Awards, an Honorary Palme d’Or, and four Oscar nominations, and is a consistent figure in Hollywood, has also found success beyond the Mission: Impossible series. He showcased his versatility in movies like Minority Report, Collateral, The War of the Worlds, and Edge of Tomorrow. In 2022, he came very close to repeating his 2000 cinematic achievement by reprising his role as Captain Peter “Maverick” Mitchell in the highly-acclaimed and blockbuster hit Top Gun: Maverick.

In the much-awaited continuation of the 1986 hit film, Top Gun: Maverick, we find our fearless test pilot, Maverick, training a fresh batch of Top Gun graduates. He must confront the errors of his past while doing so, as this edge-of-your-seat movie showcases the acting prowess of Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, and Glen Powell. Maverick received six Academy Award nominations (winning one), and was honored as the Best Film by the American Film Institute. However, despite its impressive performance, it ended up being the second-highest grossing film of the year with a box office take of $1.496 billion, trailing behind Avatar: The Way of Water, which raked in an astounding $2.32 billion in earnings.

Stream Mission: Impossible 2 on Paramount+.

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2024-12-25 01:02