Americans must really hate Tom Cruise.

Case in point: A movie about cancer crushed the latest Cruise blockbuster, "Edge of Tomorrow" at the box office last weekend.

Of course it isn't that simplistic - "The Fault in Our Stars" is based on a YA novel with a huge following, and "Edge of Tomorrow" has still managed to collect $150 million at the worldwide box office - most of which came from international audiences who love Cruise the way Americans loved him before "Oprah Couch Gate."

You can read all about the recent box office troubles of Mr. Scientology from a million other sources. And his Wikipedia page will do a good job of reminding you of all his annoying public antics.

In response I offer this: I still really like Tom Cruise, and you should too.

"Edge of Tomorrow" is easily the best movie of the summer so far, delivering action, humor and a compelling story in a season where most movies only attempt one of the three.

Much of the success can be credited to Cruise, who goes against his superman/"Mission: Impossible" archetype to play a cowardly PR officer forced to endure an alien battlefield over and over again until he gets it right. There isn't an actor anywhere who can deliver the movie star performance that Cruise gives "Edge of Tomorrow" - he's equal parts charming, smarmy and relatable. In many ways, the performance works better for all those Americans who apparently hate him.

You've heard the movie described as "Groundhog Day" crossed with the experience of playing a first-person shooter video game, but that doesn't sell the movie's primary selling point - it's an entertaining original story that isn't about superheroes or fairy tale characters.

For all his public scrutiny, Cruise has been remarkably good at choosing projects. Last year's sci-fi adventure "Oblivion" was an original property too, and it is 10 times better than say, "Man of Steel." It made about a 10th at the box office.

In 2012, he made "Jack Reacher," based on a popular book character, but the movie was almost old-fashioned in its construction - minimal CGI, tension-building without explosions, etc. Before the superhero boom in the 2000s, we used to get a lot of these adult-targeted espionage thrillers. Nowadays, they are welcome bits of nostalgia, especially when crafted as sharply as "Jack Reacher."

In all fairness, Cruise also made "Rock of Ages" in 2012, which is easily the worst musical in a few decades. Cruise, at least, gave the movie's most compelling performance.

Just forget that and remember 2011's "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," a smart and thrilling franchise entry that basically restored my faith in the movie sequel.

Say whatever you want about his private life, Tom Cruise still knows how to pick projects and deliver a memorable theater experience. Even his sequels and franchise properties have been carefully crafted for maximum value.

Part of his success has been taking chances on unproven directors in recent years. Before "Ghost Protes" (what us cool kids call "M:I IV"), director Brad Bird only had experience in animation ("The Incredibles"), and Cruise still believed in "Oblivion" director Joseph Kosinski" after the whole "Tron: Legacy" debacle. And it's been a long time since anyone cared about a movie from "Edge of Tomorrow" director Doug Liman ("The Bourne Identity").

If other Hollywood stars chose projects as thoughtfully as Cruise, we'd be looking at a mighty different cinema landscape. Imagine a world where movies were made with the intention of being good instead of making money. Because his star power has waned in the states, Cruise's strategy for his blockbusters has been - make it good and people will see it.

In short, the man is trying hard to win you back, and you should give him a chance.

As long as he doesn't go on some racist verbal rampage (come on, Riggs!), I will continue to be a Tom Cruise fan. I don't even need his entire filmography, or even more than one "Mission: Impossible" to defend him.

Winning Tom Cruise movies on Netflix Instant:

"Jack Reacher"

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protes"

"Valkyrie"

"Mission: Impossible III"

"Vanilla Sky" - Yep, I like this one.

"Days of Thunder" and "Mission: Impossible II" - OK, these two aren't very good.

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.