Tom Cruise has built a reputation as Hollywood’s ultimate daredevil, pulling off jaw-dropping stunts in the Mission: Impossible series that most actors wouldn’t dream of attempting. But during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show on May 19, 2025, the 62-year-old star revealed that one stunt in the upcoming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning pushed him to his limits in a way he didn’t see coming—he literally couldn’t breathe. Here’s the lowdown on Cruise’s latest heart-stopping feat and why it’s got everyone talking.
The stunt in question involves Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, clinging to the wing of a 1940s-era biplane during a high-speed aerial battle, soaring over South Africa’s Drakensberg mountains at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour. Cruise told host Jimmy Fallon, “I didn’t realize, like, that amount of force of air, I can’t breathe,” describing how the intense wind pressure made it nearly impossible to get oxygen. Fallon, visibly freaked out by the details, had a mini-meltdown, marveling at how Cruise even survived the ordeal. Cruise explained that the stunt required months of preparation, including wind and speed simulations, to figure out if it was even possible. “You’re limited by the physics of how fast the aircraft is traveling and the force of the wind—it was utterly brutal,” he said at a Tokyo press conference.
This wasn’t just a one-and-done deal. Cruise, who’s known for doing his own stunts without relying on CGI or doubles, performed the biplane sequence multiple times to nail the perfect shot. Director Christopher McQuarrie, who’s been with the franchise since Rogue Nation, called it one of the most challenging stunts they’ve ever attempted. At Cannes 2025, McQuarrie shared that he had to direct Cruise via hand signals from a helicopter, stepping onto the skid himself to communicate because Cruise had no radio while wing-walking at 10,000 feet. “There was a moment where Tom was so physically exhausted he couldn’t get back up off the wing, and we couldn’t tell if he was conscious,” McQuarrie said, adding that the plane had just three minutes of fuel left, making every second critical.
The trailer for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning teases this insane sequence, showing Cruise battling 140-mph winds while hanging off the plane, his face barely holding it together. Behind-the-scenes footage shared by IGN captures him gasping for air, cheeks flapping, and eyes squinting against the force.
This isn’t the first time Cruise has flirted with danger. He’s scaled the Burj Khalifa, held his breath for six minutes underwater in Rogue Nation, and ridden a motorcycle off a cliff in Dead Reckoning Part One. But the biplane stunt stood out because experts initially told Cruise and McQuarrie it couldn’t be done—not just by him, but by anyone. Cruise, never one to back down, replaced the naysaying wing-walkers with a new team and made it happen, proving why he’s the face of the franchise’s “impossible” ethos.
The film also features another grueling stunt: an underwater sequence in a massive 8.5-million-liter tank designed to mimic a rotating submarine. Cruise wore a special mask to show his face clearly, breathing his own carbon dioxide, which he said built up in his muscles and made the scene “physically punishing.” He told Empire, “You have to overcome all of that and be present,” highlighting the mental focus required.
Set to premiere at Cannes from May 13-24, 2025, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning might be Cruise’s last go as Ethan Hunt, wrapping up a 30-year franchise. McQuarrie teased that the stunts “will melt your brain,” and early screenings have left audiences gasping, with one viewer saying they “almost had a heart attack” watching. Whether it’s the biplane chaos or the submarine madness, Cruise’s dedication to practical, real-deal action is why fans keep coming back.