Tom Cruise is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and acclaimed actors in Hollywood, and it's not hard to see why. Throughout his career, Cruise has proven capable of taking on all sorts of roles, from intense dramas to romantic comedies, and always with a level of dedication and delivery enviable. But if there's one thing Cruise is especially known for, it's his skills in action scenes .

Over the years, Cruise has been involved in some of the most impressive action sequences in movie history, many of which he has pulled off himself without the aid of stuntmen. From climbing skyscrapers to flying fighter planes , Cruise has shown that he's willing to do whatever it takes to get the perfect shot. And while this has led to some injuries in the past, it has also allowed Cruise to become a true icon of action movies.

Tom Cruise's career began in the late 1970s, with small roles in films like "Endless Love" and "Taps." But it wasn't until the 1980s that Cruise became a true star, thanks to movies like "Top Gun" and "Risky Business." Throughout the '90s, Cruise continued to build his career with movies like "Interview with the Vampire" and "Jerry Maguire," and in the 2000s he became one of Hollywood's most popular actors with hits like "Mission Impossible" and "Minority Report".

But while Cruise is known for his acting career, he also has a number of curiosities that make him stand out as a unique figure in the film industry. For example, despite his success, Cruise has been known to be extremely protective of his image and his private life, and has been famous for his association with the Church of Scientology >. Additionally, Cruise has been very vocal in wanting him to pull off his own stunts, even in potentially dangerous situations.

This has led to some injuries in the past, such as when Cruise broke his ankle during a scene in "Mission Impossible: Fallout." But despite these risks, Cruise remains committed to his work and his desire to offer his audiences the best experience possible. This has led to some of the most impressive action scenes ever seen on film, including the famous scene where Cruise climbs the Burj Khalifa building in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol."

What are the best action scenes performed by Tom Cruise?

The motorcycle chase in "Mission: Impossible 2" (2000)

This particular scene from "Mission: Impossible 2" was highly highlighted by fans of Tom Cruise and action movies in general due to its intensity and spectacularity. In the scene, Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, an IMF agent, whochases a villain on a motorcycle through a dangerous road full of curves and cliffs. The chase reaches its climax when Cruise jumps from his bike onto his enemy's bike, managing to disarm and knock him off his feet.

The scene was highly praised for Cruise's motorcycle riding skills, which allowed him to perform many of the dangerous stunts in the scene without the need for a stunt double. Also notable was the cinematography of the scene, which used a combination of close-up shots and long-distance shots to showcase both Cruise's skill and the natural beauty of the scenery. The scene has been considered by many to be one of the best motorcycle chase scenes in action movie history.

The bathroom showdown in "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" (2015)

In it, Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, who finds himself in a dangerous situation while trying to recover valuable information in a public bathroom.

Enemies reveal themselves and an intense fight in a small space ensues, adding to the tension and excitement of the scene. Cruise demonstrates his skill in martial arts and fight choreography , while he defends himself and attacks with objects he finds in the bathroom, such as towels, doors and mirrors.

Also, the lighting and music in this scene create a more dramatic and exciting environment for the viewer. This scene is undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments and exciting from the movie.

The building jump in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" (2011)

That scene in particular is one of the most iconic in Tom Cruise's career. In it, his character Ethan Hunt must infiltrate a skyscraper in Dubai to steal classified information.

To achieve this, Hunt decides to scale the imposing structure from the outside and jump from the 130th floor to a window on the 123rd floor. The scene was filmed with Cruise performing the jump himself and defying the height and danger.

Cruise actually did multiple jumps in different takes in order to capture the different perspectives needed for the film. The scene has been widely praised for its level of tension and the actor's bravery in performing the high-altitude stunt.

The car chase in "Jack Reacher" (2012)

In "Jack Reacher," Tom Cruise plays a former military police officer investigating a murder case. In one of the key scenes of the film, Cruise is chased by the police while driving a speeding car in a thrilling car chase through the streets of Pittsburgh.  ;

The scene is known for its intensity and realism, as Cruise, a known lover of adrenaline and action scenes, decided to do most of the driving maneuvers himself, without the help of stuntmen. . The scene also features some impressive mid-air flips and flips as Cruise evades his pursuers.

The helicopter flight in "Mission Impossible: Fallout" (2018)

This scene is also considered one of the most impressive in Tom Cruise's career. In the film, Cruise not only piloted the helicopter, but also performed dangerous aerial maneuvers, including flying through a narrow gorge.

The sequence was the result of intense training and months of meticulous planning. Cruise worked closely with pilots and aviation experts to make sure the sequence was as realistic as possible.

The plane scene in "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" (2015)

This is one of the most iconic action scenes in the "Mission Impossible" saga . In it, Tom Cruise performed an impressive feat by hanging from the side of an Airbus A400M as it took off at a speed of over 200 km/h.

The scene was filmed on an airstrip in the UK and Tom Cruise performed the stunt without using stuntmen or special effects. For the scene, a special platform was built on top of the plane so that the actor could hang on safely. The sequence shows Tom Cruise fighting villains while he's suspended in the air and it really feels like an incredibly risky feat.

Flying real planes in "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022)

In this film, Tom Cruise pilots real fighter planes in a series of action scenes that seek to capture the adrenaline and excitement of military aviation.

Cruise plays the character of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, who is now a seasoned flight instructor in the United States Navy and is teaching a new generation of pilots.

The film features a series of incredibly complex aerial maneuvers, including dogfights and low-altitude flights, all performed by Cruise in actual aircraft.

To prepare for the role, Cruise underwent rigorous flight training and spent extensive time with United States Navy pilots to fully understand the technical and emotional aspects of flying a military mission.

The car chase in "Days of thunder" (1990)

In "Days of Thunder," Tom Cruise stars as Cole Trickle, a rookie racing driver competing in NASCAR.

The film features several car racing scenes, including a thrilling car chase in which Trickle takes on other racers in an illegal street race.

The scene is known for its high speeds and dramatic twists, making it one of the most memorable action scenes in the film. Cruise's performance as a racing driver earned him critical acclaim and helped establish him as a versatile actor capable of playing a variety of roles.

Motorcycle jump scene in "Mission Impossible: Deadly Judgment" (2023)

In this scene you can see Tom Cruise, in his mythical role as Ethan Hunt, jumping from a motorcycle off the cliff.

This scene in which Tom Cruise launches himself with a motocross bike off a ramp into a rocky precipice thousands of feet high, although it only lasts a few seconds on the big screen, has taken years of preparation.

This preparation led to more than 13,000 jumps over months, along with another 30 parachute jumps per day, where the actor made a total of 500 jumps to practice the scene.

The train scene in "Mission Impossible" (1996)

In this scene, Tom Cruise, playing Ethan Hunt, hangs from the roof of a moving train to prevent a package of important information from falling into the wrong hands.

Cruise performed most of the stunts in the scene himself, including the moment he jumps off the train into a helicopter mid-air. The sequence was very well received by the public and became one of the most iconic in the "Mission Impossible" franchise.