By Maria Bregman
Rain Man, the 1988 film that won four Oscars, is widely regarded as one of the best movies of all time. But it was not always a critical or commercial success. In fact, it took several years for Tom Cruise to get another big role after his breakthrough performance as Maverick in Top Gun.
Cruise had been struggling with typecasting and low self-esteem since he became famous as a teen idol in the 1980s. He was often seen as a reckless action hero or a romantic lead, but he wanted to prove himself as an actor who could play more complex and diverse characters. He also wanted to work with acclaimed directors who could challenge him and help him grow.
He got his chance when he met Barry Levinson, who was looking for a new star for his film adaptation of Rain Man, based on the novel by Ronald Bass. Levinson had read Morrow’s screenplay for Bill (1981), which featured Kim Peek, a real-life savant who inspired Morrow to create Raymond’s character. Levinson was impressed by Cruise’s charisma and versatility, but he also saw something else in him: potential.
Levinson cast Cruise as Charlie Babbitt, a selfish and immature car dealer who discovers that his estranged father has died and left his entire fortune to his autistic savant brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). Levinson wanted Cruise to play both sides of Charlie: the selfish side that resents Raymond for taking away his inheritance, and the caring side that develops as he bonds with him over their shared experiences.
Levinson also gave Cruise more creative freedom than most studio executives would allow. He let Cruise choose most of the locations for their road trip across America, from New York to Los Angeles. He also encouraged Cruise to improvise some of his lines and scenes, giving him more confidence and spontaneity.
The result was a film that showcased Cruise’s range as an actor, from comedy to drama, from action to romance. It also marked a turning point in his career, as he gained respect from critics and audiences alike. He received positive reviews for his performance as Charlie/Brian Babbitt (yes, he played himself in one scene), earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Rain Man also opened up new opportunities for Cruise in Hollywood. He went on to star in other successful films such as A Few Good Men (1992), Jerry Maguire (1996), Magnolia (1999), Minority Report (2002), Collateral (2004), The Last Samurai (2003), War of the Worlds (2005), Tropic Thunder (2008) – which earned him another Oscar nomination – Jack Reacher (2012) – which earned him another Oscar nomination – Edge of Tomorrow (2014) – which earned him another Oscar nomination – Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) – which earned him another Oscar nomination – American Made (2017) – which earned him another Oscar nomination – Top Gun: Maverick (2021) – which earned him another Oscar nomination
Cruise has become one of the most successful actors in Hollywood history, with over $6 billion at the box office worldwide. He has also become one of the most influential figures in pop culture, with numerous endorsements deals, philanthropic effort, personal projects, controversies and scandals. He has been married three times and has three children.
But despite all his fame and fortune, Cruise has never forgotten where he came from or what motivated him to become an actor. He has always been grateful for Rain Man for changing his life and career forever. As he once said: “It was one of those moments when you realize you’re not just an actor; you’re part of something bigger.”
