19 times Tom Cruise left us mind-blown with his own stunts in Hollywood

Modified Feb 03, 2025 13:16 ET

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (Image via Paramount Pictures) — Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (Image via YouTube/Skydance)

14. Knife Fight on Top of a Speeding Train – Mission: Impossible (1996)

Mission: Impossible (Image via Paramount Pictures)

Cruise fought a knife-wielding assassin on top of a moving train for the climax of the first Mission: Impossible. The wind force was so intense that he had to be strapped down for certain shots to keep from being thrown off. He worked with fight choreographers to make sure every move was precise because a mistimed step could have been disastrous. This scene set the tone for the franchise, proving that Cruise wasn’t just another action star—he was willing to put himself in real danger to sell the moment.