Tom Cruise is notorious for pushing the limits of his body and acting skills in his films, often performing dangerous stunts himself. Since his breakthrough role in 1986’s Top Gun, Cruise has continuously challenged himself and taken on death-defying stunts in his movies, including the Mission: Impossible series, The Last Samurai, and Jack Reacher. His most recent film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, showcased several daring stunts, such as speed-flying down a mountainside, driving a motorcycle off a cliff, and parachuting to safety.
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Cruise revealed that he has been performing stunts since he was a child and that he continues to do it to enhance the storytelling in his films. He believes that by physically and emotionally immersing himself in a character, he is able to bring more depth to the story. His extensive training and experience in performing stunts also allow filmmakers to capture shots from unique angles that would not be possible with a stuntman.
Cruise’s dedication to performing his own stunts despite the danger was highlighted during a conversation at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. He compared his love for doing stunts to Gene Kelly’s passion for dancing, stating that no one questions why Kelly danced or why Cruise does his own stunts. Both activities contribute to the art of storytelling.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Cruise has been involved in numerous wild stunts, some of which were extremely dangerous. In the first installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, he refused to use a stunt double in a scene where he blows up a giant aquarium. Another person was sent flying through a glass panel due to the explosive, while Cruise ran with 16 gallons of water closely following him.
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In Mission: Impossible II, Cruise can be seen climbing and hanging off giant rocks on the side of a cliff with only a safety cable to soften any impact. Director John Woo admitted to sweating throughout the sequence due to its danger.
During the filming of Top Gun, Cruise nearly drowned when water built up in his parachute while lifting up his co-pilot’s body from the ocean. Luckily, the issue was caught early enough to save him. It was also reported that a veteran fighter pilot lost his life while shooting aerial footage for the movie.
In The Last Samurai, Cruise narrowly avoided a tragic accident when a real samurai sword swung inches away from his neck during a fight sequence. The horse he was riding on didn’t stop as intended, leading to a close call.
While filming Collateral, Cruise experienced a freak accident when co-star Jamie Foxx crashed into his Mercedes-Benz during a car chase sequence. Although Cruise was tossed around in the car, he escaped without serious injury.
In Edge of Tomorrow, Cruise’s luck was tested once again when Emily Blunt accidentally drove them into a tree during a fast-paced action sequence. Fortunately, Cruise emerged unharmed and even found humor in the situation.
For Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Cruise scaled Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at the time. While suspended from a wire, he climbed, swung, and ran up and down the skyscraper, showcasing his fearlessness.
In Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Cruise clung to the outside of an Airbus 400 as it took off. He was secured with a full body harness and carefully wired to the plane, ensuring his safety during the sequence.
In the same film, Cruise also undertook a challenging underwater breathing scene. He underwent training to hold his breath underwater for six minutes, a skill that even professional divers find difficult. Despite some tense moments during the filming process, Cruise successfully completed the scene.
One of Cruise’s most renowned stunts occurred in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, where he performed a building jump. He leaped from one building to another, relying on rigorous training and precision to execute the stunt flawlessly.
Tom Cruise’s commitment to performing his own stunts has become a hallmark of his career. He consistently pushes his physical and emotional boundaries to enhance the storytelling in his films. While his dedication to realistic and thrilling action sequences may put him at risk, it also solidifies his status as an exemplary actor willing to go the extra mile for his craft.
