Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning!Tom Cruise is known for his death-defying stunts, andMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’s plane stunt is the latest example. Over nearly three decades, theMission: Impossiblefranchise has raised the stakes with each installment, primarily thanks to Cruise’s dedication to performing his own stunts. Whether he’s climbing the Burj Khalifa or hanging off the side of a biplane, Cruise consistently pushes the limits of movie spectacle. His commitment to the craft has not only defined Ethan Hunt as a character but also elevated the franchise into one of the most thrilling and immersive action sagas of all time.
InThe Final Reckoning,Cruise raises the bar yet again with a jaw-dropping action sequence that sees Ethan chasing down and fighting Gabriel, all while they’re midair on a biplane. It’s an impressive moment that ranks as one of themost dangerous stunts Cruise has performedin his career. As usual for Cruise, the scene was made with no green screen or body doubles involved. The dangerous aerial stunt is a standout intheMission: Impossiblefranchise, and the behind-the-scenes story proves just how dedicated and how far Cruise is willing to go for the sake of movie magic.
Yes, Tom Cruise Really Did Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’s Plane Stunt
Another Impressive Feat Added To The List
The showstopping biplane sequence inThe Final Reckoningis just another marvel when it comes to practical effects and stunt work. To no surprise,Cruise performed the death-defying stunt himself, clinging to the wing of a vintage biplane as it soared through the sky at 140 miles per hour and at 8,000 feet. No green screen, body doubles, or tricks, just Cruise, the sky, and a whole lot of risk. Director Christopher McQuarrie confirmed thatCruise experienced extreme wind pressure and minimal oxygenwhile strapped to the aircraft.
Cruise wasn’t just standing on the plane either, he was actively performing complex moves in the air, including climbing from the fuselage to the wings. The scene demanded precise timing, major strength, and unshakable nerves. According to the director, Cruise would begin to lose strength at the 12-minute mark due to physical exertion and the lack of oxygen. Production built custom camera rigs to capture the moment from multiple angles, ensuring the audience could fully appreciate the danger and scale.
In an age dominated by CGI, the only VFX work done here is digitally removing the safety cables that ensured Cruise would remain attached to the plane. But make no mistake, he is the one holding himself in place. The cables are necessary precautions to ensure the franchise star wouldn’t fall to his death if something went wrong. Cruise’s insistence on authenticity makes this stunt one of the most impressive inMission: Impossiblehistory.
Image via Paramount Pictures
Stunts like this don’t happen overnight. In a recent appearance onThe Tonight Show,Cruise revealed thatfiguring out how to execute the stunt properly took decades to figure out.Once they did that, it took him about a year and a half of training for wing walking, which is the practice of going out on the wing of an airplane while it’s flying. The training included flight simulations, wind tunnel testing, strength conditioning, and dozens of practice flights to learn how to balance on the aircraft under extreme conditions.
Cruise also explained that the only reasonhe was able to perform the stunt was because of his previous experienceand knowledge of flying and aerial stunts, which he perfected over the years inprojects likeTop GunandFallout. Everything had to be done with precise accuracy, as eventhe slightest miscalculation in altitude, speed, or body movement could’ve resulted in disaster. In a behind-the-scenes clip, McQuarrie revealed that they couldn’t communicate verbally while Cruise was performing the stunt, and instead, they used hand signals.
Cruise has long been recognized for his dedication, but even by his standards, this was a massive undertaking that tested him both physically and mentally.
What Tom Cruise Has Said About Filming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s Plane Stunt
It Made Him Feel Like A Little Kid
Cruised called the stunt a “dream come true” and explained that he’d always wanted to do something of the sort. He was first inspired by early black-and-white footage of wing walking he saw when he was a kid. Cruise’s dedication to storytelling through physical performance is evident in how thoroughly he planned this stunt. For the 62-year-old actor, the goal was never just spectacle; he wanted to make the audience feel like they were on the edge with him.
Cruise has said he views these stunts as an essential part of Ethan Hunt’s evolution and the franchise’s overall tone. The biplane scene, in his eyes, was not just about the wow factor but about maintaining the immersive thrill thatMission: Impossiblehas always delivered. With stunts like the ones inMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Cruise continuously cements his place as one of the last true action stars who still does it all for real.
