To start off, this isn’t an indictment on anyone’s height. In fact you can make a good case that there are a lot more men across the globe who are under 6’0 than over. So take this for what it is – a meaningless but fun Phenomenal 5. And it’s more about how Hollywood has framed them in their movies versus reality.

It’s funny, whenever this conversation pops up, Tom Cruise at 5’7 is often first mentioned. For that reason I’m leaving him off this list. Instead I’m looking at five other actors whose height may surprise you! Cruise may be the poster boy (and occasional punching bag) for shorter actors, but the five I’m listing are solid on screen and are known movie tough guys to boot. Now there are plenty of actors that fall into this category so this isn’t the definitive list. But these are five pretty phenomenal choices.

#5 – JASON STATHAM (5’9)

Jason Statham has steadily grown as an actor. And he’s probably the baddest buttkicker on this list. But it may surprise you to find that he’s shorter than some think standing at 5’9. But don’t let that fool you. Throughout his movie catalog, Statham has shown that height isn’t everything. In fact, I would call this martial arts guru one of the most charismatic and exciting action movie stars to come along in ages. He jumps, he kicks, he punches, he flips. And think about this – he does it all while only two inches taller than the singled out Mr. Cruise.

#4 – JEREMY RENNER (5’8)

Now I have heard a couple of references to Jeremy Renner’s height but overall it goes unnoticed. In fact, hearing that he’s only 5’8 may surprise some people especially considering the many tough roles he has taken on. He’s played a U.S. soldier teetering on the edge, a Marvel superhero, a tough as nails Boston criminal, and an on-the-run hitman. Yet you would never recognize his smaller size in any of his performances. Renner is someone who often flies under the radar, but I’m drawn to anything he’s in.

#3 – JAVIER BARDEM (5’11)

Perhaps my biggest surprise in putting this list together came when I found out that Javier Bardem is 5 foot and 11 inches tall. Again, that’s not what I would call “short”. But when you look at him on screen he’s usually depicted as a looming presence. In “No Country for Old Men” his creepy, brutal Anton Chigurh character came across as a large and menacing force. And in his role as a psychotic James Bond villain his smaller size is never hinted at. Who knew?

#2 – TOM HARDY (5’9)

Tom Hardy is one of my favorite current-day actors so his shorter size was well known to me. But some may not realize that the man who played the huge hulking DC Comics villain Bane is only 5’9. But his tough guy roles don’t stop there. He’s also played a hard-nosed Prohibition era bootlegger and a brutish mixed martial arts fighter. When Hardy bulks up for a role he really bulks up and his muscle mass does a lot to conceal his smaller frame. But the main thing to me is that he remains a phenomenal actor.

#1 – AL PACINO (5’6)

Al Pacino has been around long enough that his height may not surprise many. But he’s still a prime example of how a tough guy actor’s size can go completely unnoticed. And Al Pacino certainly qualifies as a tough guy. From mob boss to drug lord to police detective, Pacino has played each role with a realistic toughness that few others can bring. And regardless of the role, his stature is lost due to his fantastic performances and larger than life characters. So if you think about it, Cruise shares the same height with a true screen legend and an unquestionable tough guy. So maybe Tom isn’t so short after all.

So there they are. What do you think of the list? Do you know of another great actor who would fall into the “short” category? Please take time to share your comments below.

Okay, let me get this out of the way. I am a huge Star Wars geek. I grew up as a kid loving the movies. I saw them in the theater. I had the action figures, vehicles, storybooks, blasters, etc. etc. etc. Star Wars played a HUGE role in my childhood and over the years my love for it hasn’t waned. Heck, I even like episode 1 thru 3 although I fully acknowledge their inferiority to the originals. So I’m going to let my inner geek out and start sprinkling in a few Star Wars related Phenomenal 5 lists starting with the super cool villains. Star Wars has a number of great villains so I’m listing five of the coolest. Now obviously Darth Vader would top any list so I’m leaving him out. There are still many great ones in the Star Wars universe so I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But I think you’ll agree that these five Star Wars villains are nothing short of phenomenal.

#5 – TUSKEN RAIDERS (Sand People)

I just can’t help it. I’ve always loved the Sand People. These nomadic desert savages live in the wastelands of Tatooine and will attack anyone. Armed with clubs, longshot rifles, and a distinct honking cry, the Tusken Raiders first appear in the original Star Wars when they attack Luke Skywalker. They get a brief but awesome cameo in Episode 1 as they shoot at passing pod racers. But perhaps their biggest contribution was in Episode 2 where by capturing and torturing Anakin’s mother they set the young Jedi into a rage – our first real sense of the darkness inside of him. Sure the Tusken Raiders aren’t big players in the Star Wars universe but I still love them.

#4 – CHANCELLOR PALPATINE (The Emperor)

Star Wars was known for a lot of things but brilliant acting was usually not what people thought of first. But there were those performances that always stood out to me. One is the work of Ian McDiarmid is the manipulative and conniving Palpatine who gains political power, triggers a war, and forms the galactic empire which he rules as the evil Emperor. But the root of who he is was shrouded in deception. While posing as a politician he hides his true identity as a Sith Lord with evil intentions guiding him. In the first three episodes we watch Palpatine’s rise to power and see how he became the pale, scarred Emperor. But his most memorable moments will always be in “Return of the Jedi”. He’s devious, arrogant, and powerful. He also has to be on any list like this.

#3 – STORMTROOPERS

I want you to notice that I chose Stormtroopers and not Clone Troopers. Now don’t misunderstand me, I have no problems with the Clone Troopers of Episodes 2 and 3. But they can’t hold a candle to the greatness of the classic Stormtroopers from the original trilogy. At risk of exposing how much of a Star Wars geek I am, I grew up as a kid wishing I had a set of Stormtrooper armor. I thought they were so cool. The bright white color, the full body armor, the super cool helmets. There was never a certain Stormtrooper that stood out or that had a significant role. They were simply soldiers of the Empire but they were ever so distinctive. There were Snowtroopers, Tie-Fighter Pilots, and Biker Scouts and they were all great. But it’s the classic Stormtroopers that still bring a smile to my face to this very day.

#2 – BOBA FETT

You have no idea how hard it was to put Boba Fett at #2 on this list. I absolutely love this character. Young Boba appears in Episode 2 but it’s in “The Empire Strikes Back” where he really leaves his mark. We first see him along with a group of fellow bounty hunters hired to find Luke Skywalker and his friends. We find out he’s also been hired by Jabba the Hutt to capture Han Solo. He tracks them to Cloud City and eventually takes the carbon frozen Solo away to Tatooine and his bounty. That takes us to “Return of the Jedi” and the showdown in that fabulous opening sequence. Sadly Boba Fett doesn’t last long in the final film but in that short time he is awesome. I’m still not crazy about young Boba and his angle, but grown up Boba will always be super cool to me.

#1 – DARTH MAUL

It would take someone extremely cool to knock Boba Fett out of the top spot on this list. Darth Maul was extremely cool. Appearing in only one film, Darth Maul was hands down the best thing about Episode 1. We first see the shrouded Sith apprentice in action during a brief failed attempt to capture Princess Padme. But the real showcase comes at the film’s end when Darth Maul throws down with Jedi Master Qui-Gin Jinn and apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. The fight is spectacular – beautifully choreographed and intense all while John Williams’ brilliant “Duel of Fates” plays in the background. The great movie martial artist Ray Park played Darth Maul which is a key reason the showdown is so incredible. With a menacing look, a double-bladed lightsaber, and a butt-kicking fighting style, Darth Maul stole every scene he was in and in a short time was forever etched in Star Wars history as a truly great villain.

So there they are. What are your thoughts? Are you a Star Wars fan? Agree or disagree with my choices? I’d love to hear who would’ve made your list. Please take time to share your thoughts below.