Tom Cruise has never been one to back down from a challenge, but his latest stunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning takes things to a whole new level.
In a thrilling new interview with Empire, Cruise revealed that a daring sequence involving a 1930s biplane was so extreme, he literally blacked out mid-flight.
Pushing the Limits—Again
In the jaw-dropping stunt, Cruise clings to the outside of a vintage biplane while soaring at speeds of 130 miles per hour. The problem? That kind of wind pressure makes it nearly impossible to breathe.
“I had to train myself how to breathe,” Cruise explained. “There were times I would pass out physically.”
Director Christopher McQuarrie backed up Cruise’s insane commitment, teasing that The Final Reckoning features stunts that will “melt your brain.”
From HALO Jumps to Death-Defying Flights
This isn’t the first time Cruise has risked everything for Mission: Impossible. In Fallout (2018), he performed a HALO jump—a military-grade parachute maneuver from 25,000 feet. The stunt was so dangerous that a custom oxygen helmet had to be designed just to keep him conscious.
Even the Royal Air Force initially refused to approve the jump due to safety concerns, but Cruise insisted on doing it for real. After 100+ takes, they finally nailed the shot.
What’s Next for Mission: Impossible?
With The Final Reckoning set to hit theaters in May, fans can expect even more gravity-defying stunts—and possibly Cruise’s wildest mission yet.
One thing is clear: When it comes to action, no one does it like Tom Cruise.