Tom Cruise Admits Plane Stunt Nearly Broke His Back — And It Wasn’t Even the Most Dangerous Part

Jordan Collins here, your personal guide to celebrity chaos and cinematic carnage — because clearly, you’re not getting this from anywhere else. Let’s cut through the noise: Tom Cruise just admitted that one stunt in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning nearly shattered his spine. Yes, the same man who’s been leaping off buildings, hanging from planes, and defying gravity since 1996 has finally confessed — the physical toll of doing his own stunts is no joke. In a newly released behind-the-scenes commentary for the film’s digital edition, Cruise, now 63, looked back on a harrowing sequence where Ethan Hunt dangles from the wing of a vintage biplane during a mid-air brawl with Gabriel (Esai Morales). “Oh, this almost broke my back,” he said, voice laced with the kind of weary honesty only someone who’s survived a near-death experience can muster.

Director Christopher McQuarrie, ever the co-conspirator in this high-wire act, chimed in: “This separated the joints in Tom’s fingers from the force.” That’s not hyperbole — it’s medical-grade trauma. The scene involved Cruise suspended upside down by a seatbelt while hurtling through the sky at over 120 miles per hour. Imagine the wind tearing at your face, your body screaming for oxygen, and your hands swelling so badly they looked like they’d been dunked in boiling water. “You’re talking about a lot of pain here,” McQuarrie added, as if that wasn’t already obvious.

Cruise didn’t just endure the stunt — he improvised the brutal impact when Ethan slams into the side of the plane. “And you improvised that, thank you very much,” McQuarrie said, clearly both impressed and slightly annoyed. “I didn’t ask you to do that.” Classic Cruise — always one step ahead, even when it means risking permanent injury. This isn’t just acting; it’s performance art with real consequences.

But here’s the kicker: in February, Cruise revealed he actually passed out during filming. “When you stick your face out, going over 120 to 130 miles an hour, you’re not getting oxygen,” he told Empire. “There were times I would pass out physically; I was unable to get back into the cockpit.” So yes, he was literally unconscious mid-stunt. That’s not dedication — that’s borderline insanity. And yet, somehow, he made it through. The film grossed nearly $600 million worldwide, proving audiences still eat up this brand of reckless brilliance.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: why is this called The Final Reckoning? Because Cruise insists — repeatedly — this is it. “It’s the final,” he told The Hollywood Reporter at Cannes. “It’s not called ‘Final’ for nothing.” Whether or not he’ll return to the role remains to be seen, but if this is truly the end, then we’ve witnessed the last great act of one of cinema’s most enduring daredevils.

So next time you see a movie where someone jumps from a helicopter, remember: Tom Cruise didn’t just jump. He trained for it, fought for it, and nearly died for it. And still, he smiled through the pain. Honestly, what more could you ask?

Glad I could clear that up for you.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and Entertainment Weekly, Empire, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Post
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