Tom Cruise shares the story of a stunt in Mission : Impossible – The Final Reckoning that almost caused him a serious back injury. Once again co-written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this eighth installment—and possibly the last—in the Mission: Impossible series showcases Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, along with his IMF team as they continue their battle against the rogue AI known as the Entity, striving to prevent it from annihilating humanity.
The Final Reckoning showcases some of the most incredible stunts that Cruise has ever executed for the franchise, such as Ethan plunging into the submerged Sevastopol submarine, a feat that demanded Cruise to hold his breath for prolonged periods.
The climax of The Final Reckoning features Ethan battling Gabriel in midair on a biplane, marking one of the most stunning and perilous stunts Cruise has ever undertaken. In the bonus features of the film’s digital release, Tom Cruise disclosed that the biplane stunt in Mission : Impossible – The Final Reckoning “nearly shattered [his] back.”
This occurred during the battle scene when Ethan leaped from his own plane onto Gabriel’s, gripping the wing with all his might. Naturally, Cruise executed the high-altitude stunt personally. In the film’s commentary, Cruise and McQuarrie talked about the moment when Ethan grabs the seatbelt and hangs on as the plane completely flips upside down, an action that “separated the joints in Tom’s fingers.”
Shortly after, Gabriel maneuvers the aircraft, causing Ethan, who is still holding onto the belt, to slam against the side of the cabin, which Cruise describes as “brutal.”
The Conversation As Follows –
Tom Cruise : Oh, that nearly caused a serious injury to my back.
Christopher McQuarrie : You’re referring to an immense amount of pain here. Now, take a look at this. We haven’t yet discussed the importance of gripping this belt.
Tom Cruise : Oh my God, that was excruciating.
Christopher McQuarrie : This action dislocated the joints in Tom’s fingers due to the impact, so by the end of this scene, your hands were completely swollen — oh my goodness, it was incredibly painful to witness.
Tom Cruise : Oh, that was intense. That strike, that was a tough one.
Christopher McQuarrie : And you came up with that on the spot, thank you very much. I truly appreciate it. You were like, “I think we’re going to need that,” and I responded, “I didn’t ask you to do that.”
Exploring The Impact of Tom Cruise’ Biplane Stunt On Mission : Impossible 8
The plane stunt in The Final Reckoning is arguably the most thrilling and perilous feat that Tom Cruise has executed for the Mission : Impossible series.
Cruise grasped various sections of the biplane, executing complex maneuvers such as climbing from the fuselage to the wings, all while flying through the air at a staggering 140 miles per hour and 8,000 feet above ground.
Although the stunt carried significant risks, recent remarks from Cruise and McQuarrie provide further insight into its perilous nature.
Cruise not only came close to breaking his back while leaping from one plane to another, desperately gripping the wing, but also endured joint separation in his fingers from holding onto the seatbelt, resulting in swollen hands.
Our Perspective On The Biplane Stunt In Mission : Impossible 8
If The Final Reckoning truly marks the end of the Mission : Impossible series, Tom Cruise will exit on a high note, showcasing one of the most incredible stunts ever captured on film. While The Final Reckoning is currently accessible on digital platforms, this stunning sequence is one that truly deserves to be experienced on the largest screen available, ideally in IMAX.
The significant risk involved and the spectacular nature of this sequence firmly establish it as the finest stunt in Mission : Impossible – The Final Reckoning, throughout the entire franchise, and perhaps even in cinematic history.