Tom Cruise? Harrison Ford? People Are Arguing About Which Actor Had The Best 7-Year Run, And I Can’t Decide Who’s Right

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I’ve noticed something strange happening on Facebook lately – my feed is full of posts from people I don’t even know. I usually just scroll past them, but one really grabbed me. It was a discussion about the greatest actors ever, and specifically, who had the most impressive seven-year stretch of films. They were debating whether it was Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, or another iconic star known for their memorable roles. It got me thinking, who would you pick?

Okay, so a discussion on Facebook got me totally stuck! Everyone had great suggestions, and now I’m not even sure if there is a right answer. But, I started thinking about those leading men from Hollywood who really delivered during the ’80s and ’90s – guys who gave us some truly iconic movies and moments that we’re still quoting and remembering today. It got me making a list of a few of them!

Tom Cruise (1986 – 1993)

  • Top Gun
  • The Color of Money
  • Cocktail
  • Rain Man
  • Born on the Fourth of July
  • Days of Thunder
  • Far and Away
  • A Few Good Men
  • The Firm

Tom Cruise was gaining recognition as an actor when he starred in the 1986 hit Top Gun, but the film truly launched him into superstardom. Over the next seven years, he continued to impress audiences in memorable movies like The Color of Money, Born on the Fourth of July, and A Few Good Men, among others.

Harrison Ford (1977 – 1984)

  • Star Wars
  • Apocalypse Now
  • The Empire Strikes Back
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • Blade Runner
  • Return of the Jedi
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Before Harrison Ford became famous as Han Solo in Star Wars in 1977, he had a few acting credits. But it was his success with that role – and his portrayal of the charming rogue – that launched him into superstardom, making him a major action hero and a sex symbol. While he had a minor role in Apocalypse Now, it was his return as the memorable “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf herder” in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi that truly cemented his status. Around the same time, he also introduced audiences to another of his most famous characters: Indiana Jones.

Eddie Murphy (1982 – 1989)

  • 48 Hrs.
  • Trading Places
  • Best Defense
  • Beverly Hills Cop
  • The Golden Child
  • Beverly Hills Cop II
  • Eddie Murphy Raw
  • Coming To America
  • Harlem Nights

After revitalizing Saturday Night Live, Eddie Murphy quickly became a major movie star with 48 Hrs. The success of this 1982 comedy launched a series of hit films, including beloved classics like Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, and Coming to America, all now considered among the greatest comedies ever made.

Tom Hanks (1992 – 1999)

  • A League of Their Own
  • Sleepless in Seattle
  • Philadelphia
  • Forrest Gump
  • Apollo 13
  • Toy Story
  • That Thing You Do!
  • Saving Private Ryan
  • You’ve Got Mail
  • Toy Story 2
  • The Green Mile

Many believe Tom Hanks had the best acting streak of all time during the 1990s. Throughout that decade, he rose from a popular comedic actor to an acclaimed, Oscar-winning leading man, and became the voice of a hugely influential animated film series.

Samuel L. Jackson (1989 – 1995)

  • Do the Right Thing
  • Goodfellas
  • Jungle Fever
  • Juice
  • Patriot Games
  • Menace II Society
  • Loaded Weapon 1
  • Jurassic Park
  • True Romance
  • Pulp Fiction
  • Die Hard with a Vengeance

It was really hard to narrow down the list – I actually had to cut at least six movies starring Samuel L. Jackson! His success in the late 80s and early 90s was incredible. He was in a timeless sci-fi hit like Jurassic Park, and created one of the most memorable characters ever in Pulp Fiction. And that’s only the beginning of what he’s done.

Jim Carrey (1994 – 2001)

  • Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
  • The Mask
  • Dumb and Dumber
  • Batman Forever
  • Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
  • The Cable Guy
  • Liar Liar
  • The Truman Show
  • Man on the Moon
  • Me, Myself & Irene
  • How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  • The Majestic

Jim Carrey was already a well-known comedian when he started appearing in major films, and 1994 was a truly explosive year for him. He starred in three huge comedies – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber – all in the same year! He continued to deliver hit movies throughout the 90s and early 2000s. While many consider Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind his best work, let’s take a look back at that incredible string of successes…

Brad Pitt (1994 – 2001)

  • Interview with the Vampire
  • Legends of the Fall
  • Seven
  • 12 Monkeys
  • Sleepers
  • The Devil’s Own
  • Seven Years in Tibet
  • Meet Joe Black
  • Fight Club
  • Snatch
  • The Mexican
  • Spy Game
  • Ocean’s Eleven

Let’s talk about how dominant Brad Pitt was in the ’90s and early 2000s. He’s still a fantastic actor now, with some of his best roles coming recently, but he really captured the public’s imagination back then. It’s amazing to think about how many iconic films – like Seven, Fight Club, and Ocean’s Eleven – he starred in within just seven years. Throughout the ’90s, Pitt quickly rose from being a supporting actor to one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Orlando Bloom (2001 – 2008)

  • Black Hawk Down
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • Troy
  • Kingdom of Heaven
  • Elizabethtown
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

You might not immediately think of Orlando Bloom when discussing impressive movie streaks, but his success from the early 2000s was remarkable. He starred in blockbuster franchises like Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, along with a variety of other popular films, making him a consistent hitmaker at the start of the new millennium.

It’s tough to pick the actor with the best seven-year period. Tom Hanks was incredible in the 90s, and Tom Cruise was consistently strong too. Plus, Harrison Ford kept delivering hits, and Samuel L. Jackson was always captivating.

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2025-11-23 02:16