The Movie That Launched Tom Cruise’s Career

Tom landed his breakthrough role as appealing high school student Joel Goodsen in the 1983 film “Risky Business.” Directed by Paul Brickman. His memorable performance as an ambitious teenager overcoming a series of misadventures and his ability to command the screen with charm helped the movie succeed.

“Risky Business” was a critical and commercial success. The film’s famous scene, in which Tom slides across the floor in his underclothes to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll,” has quickly become a classic. This landmark role helped mark the beginning of Tom’s celebrated career and forever immortalized his name in Hollywood history.