Tom Cruise Nearly Broke His Back Filming Final ‘Mission: Impossible’ Stunt

Tom Cruise has built his career on pushing himself to the limit, but even the most fearless stunts can come at a painful cost. While filming one of the most dangerous action sequences in Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the actor nearly broke his back after leaping onto a plane midair.

According to Fox News, the intense moment unfolded during a biplane battle between Ethan Hunt and Gabriel, played by Esai Morales. Cruise, determined to deliver a jaw-dropping performance, clung to the side of the aircraft while it flipped upside down, leaving him battered and bruised in the process.

The Brutal Midair Stunt

In behind-the-scenes commentary, Cruise admitted, “Oh, this almost broke my back,” while recalling the exhausting shoot. Director Christopher McQuarrie added that the force of the stunt separated the joints in Cruise’s fingers, leaving his hands painfully swollen. Viewers could see the toll it took as Cruise fought to hold on during the sequence, gripping a seat belt as the plane spun wildly.

The most punishing moment came when Cruise’s character crashed into the side of the plane, a move he improvised on the spot. McQuarrie, both shocked and impressed, joked that he never asked Cruise to go that far. Still, the actor endured the agony, proving once again his dedication to performing his own stunts.

Cruise’s Dedication To Action Films

Even with the risk of serious injury, Cruise has no plans to slow down. At 62, he revealed that he intends to continue making action films well into his later years, much like Harrison Ford with Indiana Jones. At the premiere of Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise said, “I will never stop. I will never stop doing action, I will never stop doing drama, comedy films – I’m excited.”

For Cruise, this final chapter in the franchise marks the end of an era. Since debuting as Ethan Hunt in 1996, he has carried the Mission: Impossible series through nearly three decades of thrilling spy adventures. With Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise is saying goodbye to the role that has defined so much of his career.