Hot Shot

Already scoring at the box office, with The Colour Of Money (1986) Cruise proved himself not just an earner but a fiery talent, responding to the challenge of working with legends Newman and Scorsese with brattish confidence, a back-combed barnet that's surely propped up by some form of miniature scaffolding - and that indelible Cruiser smirk.

Cock Of The Walk

By the time Cocktail (1988) was served, The Cruiser owned the ‘80s. How else to explain the runaway success of a flashy yuppie comedy about two guys basically doing the Morecambe and Wise breakfast routine only with more sex and neon? The bit where Tom stands on a nightclub bar reciting poetry ("America, you’re just devoted to every flavour I’ve got!") is the high watermark of the madness.