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)

16. Driving a Car Backward at High Speeds – Jack Reacher (2012)

Jack Reacher (Image via Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros.)

Tom Cruise handled his own stunt driving in Jack Reacher. He trained to control a muscle car at high speeds and performed the entire chase himself. One of the hardest scenes had him reversing at full speed while keeping the car steady. Professional stunt drivers usually handle this, but Cruise wanted it real. There was no CGI, no faking it. The scene became one of the film’s highlights because it looked and felt real.