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Unbelievable Real Stunts: 5 Mind-Blowing Moments From the Mission: Impossible Franchise
The Mission: Impossible franchise has long been synonymous with high-octane action, heart-pounding thrills, and one man who refuses to be outdone by his own insane stunts — Tom Cruise. Since the first movie hit theaters in 1996, the series has consistently pushed the boundaries of action filmmaking, with daring, real-life stunts that leave audiences on the edge of their seats. While Hollywood is filled with special effects and CGI magic, Tom Cruise and the Mission: Impossible crew prefer to do things the old-fashioned way — using practical stunts that put both the actor and the production team at risk.
As Cruise promises even more death-defying action in the upcoming Mission: Impossible installments, let’s revisit some of the most unforgettable, real stunts from the franchise that will leave you gasping for breath.
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1. The Burj Khalifa Climb – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
If there’s one stunt in the Mission: Impossible series that will forever be etched in fans’ memories, it’s the heart-stopping scene where Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) climbs the world’s tallest building — the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Standing at a jaw-dropping 2,717 feet, the Burj Khalifa has become synonymous with the ultimate test of bravery, and Cruise’s climb up its exterior was anything but ordinary.
Filmed without the use of CGI, Cruise completed the stunt with only a harness and the guidance of expert climbers. The scene was as nerve-wracking to film as it was to watch, with Cruise scaling the sheer glass walls of the skyscraper, performing heart-pounding maneuvers and barely avoiding deadly falls. The iconic sequence proved that Cruise wasn’t just acting when he said he’d do his own stunts — he was truly putting his life on the line.
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2. The A400 Plane Skydiving Scene – Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
In Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, we witness one of the most jaw-dropping, gravity-defying stunts ever captured on film — Tom Cruise jumping out of a moving airplane. But here’s the kicker: This stunt was not performed using CGI or trick photography. Cruise actually hung onto the side of a Boeing A400M military cargo plane while it soared thousands of feet above the ground.
The stunt required precision, planning, and — of course — nerves of steel. After spending hours training with skydiving professionals, Cruise filmed the sequence with a camera strapped to him as he clung to the side of the plane as it reached speeds of over 100 mph. The raw footage, combined with a few carefully placed wires for safety, left audiences awestruck, knowing that Cruise was truly risking his life for this unforgettable moment. It was another demonstration of his commitment to doing the impossible.
3. The Motorcycle Chase – Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
If you’ve ever seen a motorcycle chase in an action film, it’s likely to be one of the most thrilling moments of the movie. But Tom Cruise took that thrill to a whole new level in Mission: Impossible – Fallout with an explosive motorcycle chase through the streets of Paris. While movie chases are often filmed with stunt doubles or CGI, Cruise insisted on doing it himself — even if it meant breaking a few bones.
The chase scene involved Cruise weaving through traffic at high speeds, navigating tight corners, and performing hair-raising stunts — all while the cameras rolled. Cruise even took a spill while filming the sequence, breaking his ankle in the process. Yet, undeterred, he continued to push himself and perform his own stunts, much to the amazement of the crew. The motorcycle chase became one of the franchise’s standout moments and showed just how far Cruise is willing to go for the sake of authenticity.
4. Helicopter Chase – Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Another pulse-pounding stunt from Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the helicopter chase scene, where Cruise piloted a helicopter through dangerous terrain in the Swiss Alps. In an unprecedented move, Cruise, who is a certified helicopter pilot, actually took the controls himself for this breathtaking sequence.
This chase, involving tight maneuvering and thrilling aerial combat, required Cruise to perform intricate and difficult piloting moves while avoiding obstacles like rocky mountains and narrow valleys. The entire sequence was captured without CGI — meaning every stunt and every dramatic twist in the air was a result of Cruise’s expert flying skills.
The level of precision required to fly at such high speeds and navigate through the mountains makes this stunt truly mind-blowing. With cameras mounted on the helicopter and a highly skilled crew, Cruise pulled off one of the most intense aerial sequences ever to be filmed.
5. The High-Speed Helicopter Chase – Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
It would be remiss to not mention the mind-boggling helicopter chase in Fallout again — but this time, focusing on one of the most intense sequences within the chase. Ethan Hunt finds himself in a high-speed pursuit in the skies, battling a deadly foe in a rival helicopter. The scene is packed with thrills, close calls, and sharp turns that will make your heart race.
What sets this apart is Cruise’s dedication to authenticity. Unlike many other action films where actors are replaced by doubles for the flying scenes, Cruise was front and center, performing nearly every stunt himself. In fact, he performed all of the stunts in the helicopter, even flying through mountains and barely avoiding deadly crashes. The danger was so real that the film’s producers had a special camera rig built to keep the action up close, capturing the extreme intensity of the chase.
A Legacy of Daring Feats
Tom Cruise’s dedication to performing his own stunts has made the Mission: Impossible series an enduring legacy of jaw-dropping, heart-stopping action. Each film in the franchise seems to outdo the last, with Cruise constantly seeking new ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible. From scaling skyscrapers to piloting helicopters, Cruise proves time and time again that he’s willing to risk everything to deliver authentic thrills.
As the series continues to evolve, it’s clear that Cruise isn’t backing down. He’s not just making movies — he’s redefining what’s possible in the world of action cinema. Fans can only wait in anticipation for the next installment, where we can be sure that Cruise will once again risk life and limb to bring audiences the ultimate in practical stunt work.
So, the next time you watch Mission: Impossible, remember: what you see on screen is as real as it gets. And Tom Cruise? Well, he’s probably out there preparing for his next insane stunt — because for him, the impossible is just the beginning.
