Unbelievable! The Top 5 Most Insane Stunts in Mission: Impossible History!

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Over a span of 27 years, the “Mission: Impossible” series, starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, has produced seven movies, earning over $4 billion globally. On May 23rd, the eighth film in the franchise, titled “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning“, is set to hit theatres, marking its conclusion. Known for the death-defying stunts performed by Cruise, these movies have revolutionized the action genre and blockbuster films. Unlike most Hollywood productions relying on computer-generated imagery (CGI) and green screens, the “Mission: Impossible” series has opted for breathtaking real-life stunts. Working with several directors over the years, Cruise has collaborated with Christopher McQuarrie for four films now, pushing the limits of filmmaking through daring practical effects. Notably, Cruise has spent decades challenging gravity, reason, and common sense to provide audiences with heart-pounding and exhilarating sequences.

In every movie, the action sequences become increasingly thrilling and more elaborate. Tom Cruise has astonished us by hanging onto an airplane’s wing and jumping from a towering 4,000-foot cliff. Clearly, it takes immense effort and hours of preparation to pull off these death-defying stunts, and with each film, Cruise manages to outdo himself, setting the bar even higher. Here are the top 5 most daring stunts in the Mission: Impossible series to date, ranked.

In this version, I’ve aimed to use simpler language and a more conversational tone, making it easier for readers to understand and enjoy the text.

5) Free Solo Cliff Climb in Mission: Impossible 2

Instead of saying “Compared to the other explosive stunts in the films, the free solo cliff climbing stunt Cruise performed is more exhilarating than explosive,” you could rephrase it as “The free solo cliff climbing stunt that Cruise did is far more thrilling compared to other film’s explosive stunts.”

In the paragraph, you can simplify it by saying:

– The character Ethan Hunt is shown climbing a cliff without any equipment or safety measures.
– Tom Cruise personally performed this stunt with minimal safety, using only a harness and thin wire to make it appear more realistic.
– Although he had a harness and a thin wire, the stunt was still dangerous as Cruise was suspended 2,000 feet in the air and suffered a shoulder injury during filming.

In breathtaking visuals, the movie presents the vast, inhospitable terrain where Hunt is situated. This scene, now iconic within the series, plays a vital role as it initiates the storyline and introduces us to Hunt. It aptly depicts his character – a man tough and daring enough to scale a cliff with no assistance but his own strength. Furthermore, it foreshadows the intensity of the film, suggesting that the action and stunts will only intensify from here onwards.

4) Burj Khalifa Climb in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol 

In the fourth installment, Ethan Hunt confronts the world’s highest structure, the Burj Khalifa. On-site filming was conducted in Dubai, where Cruise dared to hang 17,000 feet above the earth’s surface. This sequence wasn’t limited to simply hanging from the building; instead, Cruise ran across the glass windows while executing risky stunts. To ensure the building’s glass could handle his weight without shattering, the production team reinforced it. They also had to consider the extreme heat of Dubai during filming.

Despite encountering numerous challenges during filming – including using custom camera rigs to capture the awe-inspiring scene – there were still significant risks, such as powerful and erratic winds that threatened potential catastrophe. Yet, just as expected, Cruise and his team excelled, particularly in the sequence where Hunt freefalls down the building’s side. This death-defying stunt further solidified Cruise’s fame, demonstrating his dedication to taking risks for the audience’s enjoyment.

3) Plane Stunt in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation  

In the movie, Hunt (Tom Cruise) had an exhilarating experience by holding onto the exterior of a military aircraft as it took flight. Unlike other films that use digital effects, this stunt was performed for real, high above the ground. Secured only by a harness, he had to withstand speeds of 260 mph and a height of 1,000 feet. To put it simply, it was Tom Cruise dangling from a plane without any green screens or computer-generated imagery. This scene was one of the most perilous stunts Tom Cruise had ever attempted before making this film. Despite being attached to a safety harness, the risks associated with hanging onto the side of the plane were countless.

Tom Cruise underwent intense training to withstand powerful wind resistance and vibrations from the plane, facing hazards such as debris hitting him and gusty winds disrupting control. Filming this scene was incredibly dangerous. The main challenge for Cruise during filming was keeping his eyes open due to the extreme speeds involved. To shield his eyes, he donned custom-made contact lenses. Despite taking eight attempts to capture the scene, Tom Cruise and his team persevered through it all to bring another remarkable stunt to life on screen.

2) HALO Jump in Mission: Impossible – Fallout

In this daring feat, Tom Cruise executed one of the riskiest stunts ever filmed – the High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) jump. This military technique involves leaping from an aircraft at an extraordinary height and delaying parachute deployment until just before landing. Cruise was the first actor to perform a HALO jump on screen, despite it appearing as a routine parachute dive. However, HALO jumps are far from safe due to factors like high altitude; jumping from 25,000 feet or higher means reduced oxygen levels and lower air pressure. To minimize these risks during the filming, the production team designed an oxygen-supplying helmet for Cruise, and he had to breathe pure oxygen for 20 minutes prior to each jump.

One potential rephrasing could be: The risk lies in the incredible speeds of approximately 120 mph, where even a small mistake can prove deadly. Moreover, the parachute is deployed at a minimal height above the ground, reducing the time available to open it before impact. This daring stunt stands out as a single, uninterrupted shot that required more than 100 attempts and was meticulously planned for over a year. Cruise pushed the boundaries of the action genre with this iconic high-risk maneuver.

1) Motorcycle Cliff Jump in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

In the latest installment of the series, Tom Cruise surpassed expectations yet again by performing a daring stunt involving a motorcycle leap from a cliff followed by a controlled descent via parachute. The crew constructed a real ramp on the side of a Norwegian cliff and a smaller training ramp for practicing over 13,000 motocross jumps. They also created digital models of various ramps at different angles to ensure safety and precision. The stunt required extensive planning that spanned multiple years and months of preparation. Cruise had to master both riding a motorcycle at extreme speeds and executing the perfect angle and timing for the shot.

In this daring stunt, Cruise is seen soaring off a cliff on a motorbike, plummeting about 4,000 feet amidst towering rocks, all while trusting solely in a parachute for his escape. Notably absent were any safety harnesses or nets during this breathtaking feat. Cruise had to ride the bike and deploy his parachute without any safety equipment, relying purely on his training and expertise to pull it off. Remarkably, no CGI was used in capturing this stunt, only drones and helicopter cameras. After countless hours of grueling work, Cruise and his team have once again proven their mettle, leaving us eagerly anticipating how they’ll outdo themselves in the next movie.

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2025-02-13 06:43