20 times actors performed their own stunts and left us shocked 

In Hollywood, stunts have often dominated the limelight. But credits for these always go to the professionals known as stunt doubles. Yet some of these actors risk everything and actually perform some incredible stunts for themselves. It makes the scene all the more thrilling, crossing over from the realms of fiction to reality. From death-defying leaps to intricate fight choreography, these stars have proved they are just as fearless off the screen as they are on. Here are 20 times actors shocked us by performing their own stunts and showcasing an extraordinary commitment to authenticity.

1. Tom Cruise – Mission: Impossible Franchise

Tom Cruise is the gold standard for actors performing stunts: pushing boundaries on what's humanly possible. Whether hanging off the side of a flying airplane in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation or executing that jaw-dropping HALO jump in Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Tom Cruise has raised his commitment to the art to an unparalleled level. To create an action scene for the upcoming Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), he rode a motorcycle off a cliff and skydived—an act he did several times to get the perfect shot.

2. Jackie Chan – Police Story (1985)

Jackie Chan is perhaps the undisputed master of doing his own stunts, with Police Story (1985) being one of his most iconic showcases. The creativity and fearlessness that characterized Chan were very evident when he slid down a pole covered in lights, shattering glass all the way down. The sequence left him severely burned and injured, but it became legendary in action cinema. Chan's philosophy of comedy blended with high-risk stunts has inspired numerous actors, thus making him one of the greatest action stars in history.

3. Keanu Reeves – John Wick Series

Keanu Reeves' portrayal of the killer legend John Wick was nothing if not phenomenal. To make all the fight scenes and gun battle sequences look real, Reeves trained hard for months in martial arts, firearms, and even driving. This time around, in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), Reeves kicked his stunt game up a few notches by doing a fight sequence climbing up a staircase of 222 steps. He drove motorcycles and used hand-to-hand combat with seeming ease. Reeves' humility and dedication to stunt work have made him a fan favorite and an action icon in Hollywood.

4. Harrison Ford – Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford's work as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) is truly legendary because he did a lot of the stunts. He was pulled behind a truck and jumped from a truck on rough terrain while Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, for example, but this authenticity came at the cost of ligament tears during filming. His hands-on approach set a standard for action stars and helped solidify Indiana Jones as one of cinema's most beloved adventurers.

5. Daniel Craig – Casino Royale

Daniel Craig made his entry as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006) with a harder, physically engaged 007. Daniel Craig actually did many of his stunts, including a famous chase on construction sites and crane parks. He trained highly for the raw physicality, risking injuries for filming; during filming, he lost two teeth. Craig's commitment to the role gave Bond a raw intensity, making the action scenes feel more visceral and grounded. His commitment to doing stunts himself helped redefine the franchise for a modern audience.

6. Scarlett Johansson – Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson went all-out for her role as Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow, performing several stunts for the sake of realism. She prepared by training in extensive combat, which was especially for those nasty hand-to-hand fight scenes with Florence Pugh. One particularly memorable scene was when she slid down a falling air duct-she did this stunt herself with precision. While choreography alone wasn't her end, Johansson trained in martial arts, such as judo and Wushu, to perfect the fighting style for Natasha.

7. Christian Bale – The Dark Knight Trilogy

Christian Bale is not the person who simply wears the cape and cowl in Batman. This actor had actually agreed to perform several stunts in The Dark Knight Trilogy, which involved practicing combat techniques in the form of Keysi Fighting Method, for about months. Fans were shocked to find out that he had done the iconic scene in The Dark Knight Rises when Bruce Wayne climbs out of the prison pit without a stunt double. Bale also trained rigorously to handle the Batpod, a high-speed, unwieldy vehicle he rode in The Dark Knight.

8. Charlize Theron – Atomic Blonde

Charlize Theron was a spy in Atomic Blonde (2017), and she dedicated herself to the role with a vengeance. She trained for months in judo, Krav Maga, and boxing and performed most of the fight sequences in the film. One memorable scene—a single-take stairwell fight—required Theron to execute intricate choreography while sustaining injuries, including cracked teeth. Her commitment to doing stunts infused a visceral sense of realism to the brutal action sequences of this film, thereby making her the most celebrated and powerful female action star in Hollywood.

9. Angelina Jolie – Salt

Angelina Jolie's part in Salt (2010) featured her executing a series of high-stakes, intense stunts that established her physical capabilities. From hair-raising car chases around Washington, D.C. streets to rooftop pursuits, Jolie performed most of the stunts herself. More specifically, audiences and critics were impressed by her skills in navigating tight spaces and executing fight scenes with speed and precision. Jolie's commitment to realism and her extensive training in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry ensured that her portrayal of CIA agent Evelyn Salt felt both gritty and exhilarating.

10. Jason Statham – The Transporter

Jason Statham established himself as an actor in action movies as he performed almost all his stunts in The Transporter. Even for sophisticated hand-to-hand fighting up to high-octane car chases, Statham was at his best. He had been a trained diver and martial artist, hence insisting on authenticity, even performing the thrilling oil fight scene himself, where his character fights several attackers while drenched in slippery oil. He has also driven most of the stunt cars in the film, performing most sharp maneuvers at high speeds.

11. Zoe Bell – Death Proof

Zoë Bell made audiences gasp in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof when she performed her own death-defying stunts in the film. Cast as herself, Bell climbs onto the hood of a speeding Dodge Challenger during the film's iconic "Ship's Mast" scene. Unharnessed and un-CGIed, she balances atop the car while it speeds around corners, avoiding obstacles and pulling through abrupt turns. Bell was a professional stuntwoman, with work for Lucy Lawless and Uma Thurman. She prepared for the very intense physical requirements.

12. Michelle Yeoh – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Michelle Yeoh was at her best in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), displaying her impressive martial arts and stunt choreography skills. She performed most of her stunts, including the breathtaking wirework and gravity-defying swordplay. In one memorable scene, Yeoh's character fights atop a bamboo forest while performing highly complex choreography. She had a natural ability for martial arts and rigorous training in both kung fu and tai chi adding a silky smooth yet brutally strong energy that added to a beautiful film for one of her generation's finest action stars.

13. Chris Hemsworth – Extraction

Chris Hemsworth went head-first into a world of brutal action in Extraction (2020) and delivered by doing many of his own stunts. From high-speed car chases to intense hand-to-hand combat, Hemsworth was front and center in the film's action sequences. One of the most memorable scenes in Extraction is the long one-shot action where Hemsworth has to move through dangerous, high-stakes environments, fending off attackers along the way. His martial arts and weaponry training, coupled with his physical commitment, really made the fight scenes in Extraction some of the most intense and thrilling ones on screen.

14. Matt Damon – The Bourne Ultimatum

In The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), a film where the actor performed quite a few stunts himself, Matt Damon embodied the character Jason Bourne fully. For it, he underwent tough training in mastering close-quarters combat, precision driving, and parkour while executing the trademarks of frenzied action sequences under the franchise's banner. One of the most memorable scenes in the film is when Damon runs a heart-pounding rooftop chase across the streets of Tangier, with most of the high-speed stunts done by the actor himself. Commitment to authenticity made the Bourne series one of the most adrenaline-pumping action franchises ever.

15. Emily Blunt – Edge of Tomorrow

Emily Blunt was intense and strong in Edge of Tomorrow (2014), performing many of her own stunts alongside co-star Tom Cruise. She is known for transforming into a fierce soldier, training in weapons handling, tactical movements, and hand-to-hand combat. Her dedication to realism is especially apparent in the film's action sequences, such as a brutal close-combat training scene. Blunt's brutal, no-frills Rita Vrataski, along with her on-the-set stuntwork, was instrumental in taking this film to new heights and establishing her as one of the best female action stars of the 2010s.

16. Dwayne Johnson – Fast Five

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson came in, packing all of his trademark muscle and charm, into Fast & Furious films, including the performing of most of his own stunts in Fast Five (2011) and following movies. Dwayne's introduction into the series as Luke Hobbs started off with some jaw-dropping action sequences involving high-octane car chases and hand-to-hand combat. With all the natural athleticism he possessed along with years of wrestling experience, Dwayne could carry out many of these stunts himself. His physicality combined with authentic acting made him just right for the world of Fast & Furious and has established him as one of the largest stars in the genre.

17. Viggo Mortensen – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Viggo Mortensen became the embodiment of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He was devoted to the point of refusing stunt doubles, which meant he trained so hard in sword fighting, horseback riding, and archery that he performed most of his action scenes himself. While shooting the battle of Helm's Deep, he broke two toes by kicking the helmet but remained in character and let the scream of pain be part of the final cut. Mortensen insisted on using a real steel sword rather than the lighter prop to truly get into character.

18. Sylvester Stallone – Rambo: First Blood Part II

In Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Sylvester Stallone went all out to produce one of the most iconic action heroes in film history. Stallone performed most of his stunts, including helicopter escapes and fighting off foes in extreme combat sequences. The jungle environments in the film proved particularly grueling, with Stallone doing most of his own climbing, running, and combat stunts. In terms of physicality, this film really made it stand out in the action genre, because there was this iconic Rambo character who was going through an unbelievable series of extreme feats, and he actually made Stallone become a legitimate top action star.

19. Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes

In Sherlock Holmes (2009), Robert Downey Jr. demonstrated that his talent is not just in playing a quirky detective. Downey did most of his stunts himself in the film, including complicated fight scenes and daring chase sequences. His Holmes was not only sharp-witted but also physically agile. Downey's commitment to doing his stunts brought a raw, dynamic quality to the film, and that version of Sherlock Holmes was more of an active and action-oriented hero. His commitment brought a newfound energy to the character.

20. Margot Robbie – Birds of Prey

Margot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey (2020) has shown her fearlessness in action. She did her own roller-skating stunts during high-speed chases, which gave a quirky yet dangerous edge to the character. She also trained hard in gymnastics and martial arts to handle the intricate fight sequences in the film, including a memorable scene in an evidence room filled with confetti and smoke bombs. Robbie's love for stunt work brought an air of authenticity to Harley's wild and unpredictable nature, making her one of the standout action performers.