Tom Cruise

AGE 40

WHY HIM Nobody opens a movie more reliably than Cruise -- even last year's muddle ''Vanilla Sky'' ended up grossing $101 million domestically. This year's ''Minority Report'' was a modest success by his standards -- the Cruise/Spielberg collaboration netted just $130 million -- but big numbers are anticipated for 2003's ''The Last Samurai.'' More impressive is what Cruise can do for a film he isn't even in: He was so wowed after screening the indie cop drama ''Narc'' he decided to stick his name on the credits as a producer. Suddenly, Paramount picked it up for a December release and its director (the previously obscure Joe Carnahan) is talking deals all over town. Now, that's power.

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