In anticipation for his newest actioner Jack Reacher, hitting theaters today, we have decided to reflect on one of movie star Tom Cruise‘s most iconic assets: his run. Yes, there are those pearly whites which compliment that matinee smile, but you’d be lying if you didn’t at least think about that hyper-extended running style Cruise brings to nearly every single one of his characters, no matter the genre or decade. At age 50, the actor has not lost a step, providing perhaps his best run yet just last year in the incomparable Ghotocol.

Below are the five best, with videos where available, traversing the career of the Cruise and the runs that have come to define him:

The Most Important Run: Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Because it’s one of his character’s last. Ron Kovic (Cruise) is just finishing high school as a champion wrestler and a beloved son, days away from leaving for the war in Vietnam. In the photo above, the young man has just sprinted across town in the pouring rain to the local school gala to ask his crush (Kyra Sedgwick) to dance. Few other Oliver Stone characters garner as much pathos as Kovic, thanks in large part to the young love he builds, then tears down.

The Most Romantic Run: Jerry Maguire (1996)

In which Tom shows us what running while in love looks like. Hushed to the always-beautiful Cameron Crowe soundtrack, Cruise’s titular character runs from a packed sports arena to tell his estranged wife (Renee Zellweger) that he loves her. It’s an iconic build-up to an iconic scene.

The Most Subconscious Run: Vanilla Sky (2000)

While most Cruise runs and the reasons behind them can be deciphered quite quickly, this dream run from Cameron Crowe (working with the actor again) had us all on the edge of our seat from the start. We’re introduced to one of the world’s most iconic, busiest locations with not a soul to be found except Cruise himself. The unnerving feeling is over soon after, but we have to hand it to Cruise’s most subconscious run for setting the perfect tone right off the bat.

The Most Other-Worldly Run: War of the Worlds (2005)

As evidence in this feature, there have been many reasons why Tom Cruise puts one foot in front of the other, but it was this under-appreciated Steven Spielberg blockbuster that has perhaps the best reason anyone could ever have for running. If Cruise stayed still he would have literally turned into dust in mere seconds, but to protect his family he went from 0 to 60 faster than Nicolas Cage.

The Most IMAX-Y Run: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Returning to his spy roots, Tom Cruise does perhaps the most running he’s ever done over a two-hour span here — and it’s never looked more beautiful. While he takes off many times during this Brad Bird tentpole, we’ve singled out the above scene. Soon after he traverses the tallest building on earth in one of the best action scenes of his career, we’re right in front of Cruise as Bird employs his IMAX cameras to great effect. Sure, the A-list star has run from baddies, aliens and other things, but few are more terrifying than an engulfing sandstorm and well, you know what he does next.

What are your favorite Tom Cruise runs and why?

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