The 15 Hottest Women in Tom Cruise Movies

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Regardless of his famously erratic reputation in real life, if there's one thing we can count on Tom Cruise for, it's that each of his films will feature an extremely hot leading lady. Ever since the '80s, Tom's had countless women to boost his typically testosterone-fueled films and add the sex appeal we need to keep us wholly interested. With Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol out this weekend, Tom continues to live up to that career promise with stunning co-star and Complex cover girl Paula Patton. Remind yourself why you should never hate on this guy and check out The 15 Hottest Women in Tom Cruise Movies.

Kelly McGillis

15. KELLY MCGILLIS

Movie: Top Gun (1986)
It’s no wonder that she became a sex symbol as Charlie in Top Gun. Besides being gorgeous and charming, she made us feel more comfortable after watching Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer oil up for that volleyball scene.

Mia Sara

14. MIA SARA

Movie: Legend (1985)
In her first starring role, Mia plays Princess Lily opposite Tom Cruise's young recluse, Jack O’The Green. In the fantasy film, Cruise tries to win over the princess by showing her that unicorns exist. We believe that's his current, real-life seduction tactic, as well.

Nicole Kidman

13. NICOLE KIDMAN

Movie: Days of Thunder (1990), Far and Away (1992), Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Tom Cruise definitely married up when he pulled Nicole Kidman. We’re not talking about status, just height. The couple played each other's love interests in three movies in '90s.

Elisabeth Shue

12. ELISABETH SHUE

Movie: Cocktail (1988)
Tom Cruise woos the pants off independent artist Jordan (Shue) as a self-centered, ambitious bartender in Cocktail. Naturally, she becomes the only hottie to change his womanizing ways.

Demi Moore

11. DEMI MOORE

Movie: A Few Good Men (1992)
Aaron Sorkin once admitted that producers wanted Demi Moore’s character to be rewritten for a man. Luckily, Sorkin got his way and the gorgeous actress got to showcase her talent as Naval investigator and lawyer, Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway.

Rebecca De Mornay

10. REBECCA DE MORNAY

Movie: Risky Business (1983)
De Mornay plays Lana, a prostitute whom the teenage Tom Cruise calls to enjoy his newfound freedom with. Nevermind Cruise sliding across his living room floor in a white button-up, the part that sticks with us is his famous sex scene with Lana on the train.

Julianne Moore

9. JULIANNE MOORE

Movie: Magnolia (1999)
While Tom Cruise stars as Frank, a guy who writes a self-help book and gives inspiring speeches to young men on how to pick up women, Moore's story is a little darker. As Linda, she has to deal with her older husband’s terminal cancer and the guilt over her infidelity.

Keri Russell

8. KERI RUSSELL

Movie: Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Russell’s cute though cunning character, Lindsey Farris, becomes the catalyst for Hunt and the rest of his IMF agents’ mission. With Lindsey in captivity, the crew must rescue the protégé from the hands of a ruthless black market dealer.

Cameron Diaz

7. CAMERON DIAZ

Movie: Vanilla Sky (2001), Knight and Day (2010)
After first working together on Vanilla Sky, in which Cameron plays the perfect “crazy ex girlfriend,” Diaz and Cruise reunited in 2010 for the action/comedy Knight and Day. This time, Diaz played a sexy car restorer mistook as an accomplice to spy-on-the-run, Cruise.

Maggie Q

6. MAGGIE Q

Movie: Mission: Impossible III (2006)
In true M:I fashion, Hunt had yet another hot girl on his team in the third installment of the franchise. As Zhen Lei, Maggie Q couples her exotic looks with her powers of stealth and seduction to take down an infamous black market dealer.

Michelle Monaghan

5. MICHELLE MONAGHAN

Movie: Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Despite his perpetual bachelor-like ways in the first two movies, Hunt begins the third chapter of the franchise set to wed his fiancée, Julia (Monaghan), who is unaware of his past and profession. With her girl-next-door looks, there’s arguably no girl better for a restless spy to settle down with.

Thandie Newton

4. THANDIE NEWTON

Movie: Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Audiences were introduced to Thandie when she starred in Mission: Impossible 2 as Nyah, a professional thief and new member of Hunt’s (Cruise) team. With her gun slinging skills and ability to expertly maneuver a car, inadvertently seducing Hunt was a guarantee for her character.

Emmanuelle Beart

3. EMMANUELLE BEART

Movie: Mission: Impossible (1996)
Beart perfected an English accent for her Mission: Impossible role as Claire, but the rise to fame was too much for her. The French native moved back to Paris after promoting the film with Cruise, who she said was very professional, but she couldn’t deal with the media attention.

Paula Patton

2. PAULA PATTON

Movie: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
For the fourth installment of the spy series, producers recruited Paula Patton to play the irresistibly sexy member of Ethan Hunt’s new team. Not only does she add sex appeal to the male-dominated film, but she proves to be a worthy member of the IMF with her ballsy fighting skills.

Penelope Cruz

1. PENELOPE CRUZ

Movie: Vanilla Sky (2001)
In what's considered Penelope Cruz’s breakthrough role, she plays Sofia, Tom Cruise’s love interest, and was met with praise for her charming portrayal and on-screen chemistry with Cruise. It’s not surprising that the two became romantically linked after shooting.