17 times Tom Cruise proved he is not just an action hero, but probably the best one

While many actors have dabbled in the genre of action movies, Tom Cruise has been consistently redefining boundaries. His dedication to performing his own stunts with incredibly difficult scenes has been coupled with his on-screen presence. From hanging off airplanes to jumping from skyscrapers, Tom Cruise has done it all. So, in this list, we will talk about 17 times Tom Cruise proved he is not just an action hero but probably the best one.

1) Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol climbing Burj khalifa

Tom Cruise, in the movie Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, performed a stunt by climbing the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The stunt included running and jumping across the glass panels as well. Most other actors would consider using a stunt double for such a dangerous stunt, but Tom Cruise showed his physical prowess by doing it himself.

2) Rock Climbing in Mission Impossible 2

We know rock climbing is a strenuous task. It requires a lot of practice and physical strength. So, in the movie Mission: Impossible 2, where we see Ethan Hunt, aka Tom Cruise, climbing a cliff, we think it is his stunt double. However, Tom Cruise relied solely on his skill and climbed himself without any stunt double. He had wires and a harness attached to him for safety purposes. However, even with safety precautions, it is a difficult task.

3) Halo Jumping in Mission Impossible Fallout

Tom Cruise is the first actor to do a HALO jump on camera. The stunt involved a lot of risk. High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) requires extensive training and coordination from the skydivers. However, Tom Cruise did the stunt by himself. The stunt involved freefalling from a height of 25000 feet and then deploying the parachute at a low altitude. Despite the risks, Tom’s proactiveness in taking on such an extensive stunt shows he is one of the best action heroes.

4) Hanging on to a plane during take-off

Tom Cruise had to hang on to a plane while it accelerated down a runway and took off. He experienced the full force of the wind while being strapped to the Airbus A400M’s door during the plane’s increasing speed. Despite the potential danger of being struck by debris, extreme wind pressure, or even falling off because of the risk of the straps failing, Tom Cruise did the stunt himself.

5) Piloting P51

Tom Cruise is not only a great actor but also a licensed pilot. The P51 that we see in the movie has been owned by him since 2001. He flew the plane by himself in Top Gun: Maverick. He is known for his commitment to doing his own stunts, and this was no different. Seeing Tom Cruise flying his own plane has been a visual treat for the viewers.

6) Hanging and falling off a helicopter

In the movie Mission: Impossible-Fallout, we see Tom Cruise dangling from the helicopter in the mountainous terrain is a visual treat. Even after safety measures, taking on such a difficult scene shows Tom Cruise’s willingness to put himself in harm’s way. The fact that Tom Cruise did the stunt himself adds more to the excitement of the scene, according to the viewers.

7) Car Surfing

When June is taken away in the movie Knight And Day, we see Tom Cruise’s Roy Miller save her. Tom Cruise did the stunt himself, where we see him on the hood of the car trying to maneuver and save June. The scene required skill and coordination, which Tom Cruise completed with bravery and the viewers appraised.

8) Cable suspension

As we see Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) being lowered by a cable into the vault to steal, we understand the danger of the situation. Tom Cruise performed this stunt himself. The subtle movements required, along with the mental composure needed for doing such a stunt, are testaments to Tom Cruise’s dedication.

9) His screen presence

There is no doubt that to make a movie, especially an action movie worth, watching, several factors are required. The actor's screen presence is the main driving factor in this scenario. Tom Cruise has proven his command on the screen with his movies. He not only performs the stunts but embodies the characters as well.

10) His physique

Tom Cruise’s physique plays a significant role in solidifying his position as a great action hero. His physique makes it believable that the stunts can be performed by him. He not only plays the part but looks great as well. This visual is needed while embodying the characters that he portrays.

11) Nearly losing his head while filming The Last Samurai

While filming the movie The Last Samurai, in a scene where Tom Cruise and his co-star Hiroyuki Sanada were shooting a scene, a mechanical horse malfunctioned, and Tom Cruise nearly lost his head. Even after that, Tom continued to perform his stunts and willingly accepted the risks that came while creating compelling action sequences.

12) His agility

The dangerous stunts that Tom Cruise takes in his movies require mental fortitude and agility. Hence, many actors resort to stunt doubles because achieving a professional level of agility is difficult. However, Cruise’s agility and nimbleness come in handy when he takes on the action roles.

13) Water tank explosion

In the movie Mission Impossible, we see a scene where a fish tank blows up and creates a diversion and an escape route. This stunt was done by Tom Cruise himself. Even though this stunt was not as dangerous as his other stunts, it still posed some dangers. He was determined to pull the stunt off himself and did so in a thrilling manner.

14) Mission Impossible-Dead Reckoning

This was one of the most dangerous stunts that Tom Cruise performed. As he rides his motorcycle at a high speed off a cliff, launching himself into freefall, he has to engage his parachute. Cruise underwent extensive training for this dangerous stunt. This is a perfect example of why Tom Cruise is considered one of the greatest action stars.

15) Holding his breath underwater

A testament to Tom Cruise’s dedication to his movies can be seen when he performs the stunt underwater in the movie Rogue Nation. The scene was shot in one continuous take, and Tom Cruise held his breath for over 6 minutes. This shows Tom Cruise’s commitment to pushing his limits.

16) Shanghai Bungee Jump from Mission Impossible 3

The scene where Tom Cruise jumps off from Sanghai’s Bank of China tower was performed by Tom Cruise himself. Jumping off a skyscraper is inherently dangerous, and it involves a significant height. Although safety measures were present, the dangers could not be fully overlooked by the viewers who have appreciated Tom's dedication.

17) Knife near eye scene

In the movie Mission Impossible 2, we see Tom Cruise having hand-to-hand combat, followed by a scene where a knife is put close to his eye. The stunt required precision and accuracy to avoid hitting Tom’s eye. This scene is incredibly tense and shows Tom Cruise’s impressive way of pushing boundaries.