Tom Cruise is a phenomenon in Hollywood. Apart from boasting a long list of blockbusters praised by fans, critics and box office numbers, the actor also owns a specific list that most others cannot. The man is both a director's delight and nightmare as he goes over the top and beyond with stunts.

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Throughout his career, the man has done great things, putting his mind and body on the line. But it was with the Mission Impossible franchise the actor transitioned from being a human playing his acting cards to what some like to call "The Man, The Myth, The Legend".

7 Building Jump - Fallout

Mission Impossible Fallout Leg Break Tom Cruise in action

Starting with the least talked about stunt from Tom Cruise's stunt list, the parkour jumping in Fallout is something the actor would want to forget. In a scene, while chasing fellow co-star Henry Cavil (as per the script, and not literally), Tom Cruise was all set to leap to an adjacent building.

The actor had a couple of safety wires attached to him to help him cover the distance between the buildings. However, the stunt failed miserably, as the actor's velocity was not fast enough to get a precise landing. Tom ended up banging foot first on the building wall, twisting his ankle at the most awkward positions. He was immediately rushed to medical treatment. The actor can be seen retelling the events in Graham Norton's show with utmost detail.

6 Knife To The Eye - Mission Impossible

Mission Impossible Knife Eye Tom Cruise

Four years after the world was introduced to Ethan Hunt, the franchise hit back with the second installment of the series, and it was no dud. By the time MI2 was released, fans were made aware of the daredevil stunts that Tom had performed in the first movie and was really not over it yet.

Ethan Hunt's character needed a grand reentry. The actor wanted to take up the mantle himself, climbing atop of a cliff without the need for a stunt double. However, just like the first movie, the BTS footage of MI2 showed that Tom Cruise partook in the famous "Knife to the eye" shot with actual blades and without a stuntman. Although it doesn't sound grandeur or high octane, the very possibility that the actor put his eye on the line for the movie is as equal to a death-defying stunt.

5 Halo Jump - Fallout

Mission Impossible Fallout Halo Jump Tom Cruise

By the time Fallout was filmed, the movie industry was undergoing a major technological shift where scenes involving high risks, time and production budget effortlessly used CGI to make things easier. However, Fallout was not just another movie. It was a Tom Cruise movie.

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The Halo jump had the daredevil jump off from 25,000 Ft into the sky from a high altitude. At such heights, it was advised that the lack of oxygen can numb the brain's functions, sending even the experts into disorientation. In simple words, one can fail(to remember) to pull the parachutes! Apart from that, even the slightest mistake would result in the scene being re-shot only the following day. Such were the stakes, and Tom pulled it off just as he would!

4 Helicopter Chase - Fallout

MI Fallout Helicopter Chase Tom Cruise Stunt

Just when the audience were recovering from all those insane stunts in the movie, Tom does one more, a final act in the film that he would have liked to call his Prestige. The script called for a Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill chase once again, but it was with helicopters this time.

Halfway through the list, it would be no surprise to anyone who thought Tom wanted to do it by himself again. Cruise took on training lessons putting in double time, and got his license in as many as three days. After getting his license, he had this training for maneuvers from the stunt coordinator for a week before doing it all himself.

3 The Underwater Vault - Rogue Nation

The Underwater Vault - Rogue Nation

Tom Cruise held his breath underwater for Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. It doesn't sound much of a sound when there isn't much-added context, but the story behind the scene is heart-stopping. The underwater heist was filmed on a set with Tom wanting to do the stunt by himself.

The average untrained human can hold their breath for 30 seconds. Keeping those stats in mind, Tom Cruise was trained by experts to slow down his heart rate, cutting down the body's need for optimal oxygen. While doing so, the daredevil could hold his breath for 6 long minutes! What makes it better is that he could focus on his acting and work out the scene while holding his breath for an intense 6 minutes. Later in an episode of the Graham Norton Show, Tom said that it took a while to shake off the training as he would sometimes realize he wasn't breathing.

2 The Burj Khalifa - Ghost Protocol

The Burj Khalifa - Ghost Protocol

To say that Tom Cruise is one of the most marketable actors in Hollywood would be an understatement. News about the actor climbing atop the tallest building in the world made Ghost Protocol the most talked about movie of the year! Remember, there were no trailers released, nor were there promos. Instead, fans took to the internet debating about the possibilities of the stunt, which invariably was free promotions.

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The daredevil was strapped onto a safety harness and later removed by CGI during the scene. However, that does not take anything away from the pure awesomeness. At around 2000ft high, the glass windows on the building were blazing hot, and wind speeds were so high that the in-scene dials were added in post-production. It was hard to coordinate between the stunt choreographer and the actor with such challenges, yet Tom managed to pull it off without a scratch!

1 The Plane Ride - Rogue Nation

The Plane Ride Mission Impossible Rogue Nation Tom Cruise

This one tops all the charts. Yes, Tom Cruise was tied to a safety harness just like any other of the other stunts that would have had him killed. But before one could get judgemental over his efforts, one must understand the context entirely.

The plane took off at 100knots, and at such speed, one could barely see things, let alone put a reaction on his face. Of course, there were protective contacts to avoid any debris falling into his eyes, but the sheer discomfort cannot be spoken but experienced. If there were to have a minor mistake in his safety measures, it would take at least a couple of minutes (before take-off) to stop the plane entirely, wherein a tiny slip could have done more than just end his career!

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