Tom Cruise, the legendary actor known for pulling off heart-stopping stunts in his blockbuster films, has finally spilled the beans on how he gears up for the jaw-dropping aerial feats. The 62-year-old star said that he always eats a “massive breakfast” prior to doing any life-threatening stunts. Hollywood icon Tom Cruise is still going all out, as he once held onto a flying military plane in the opening of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation and has done plenty of sky-high stunts as fearless agent Ethan Hunt.
In an interview with PEOPLE magazine's special issue dedicated to the Mission: Impossible franchise, Cruise shared, "I actually eat a massive breakfast. The amount of energy it takes - I train so hard for that wing-walking. I’ll eat, like, sausage and almost a dozen eggs and bacon and toast and coffee and fluids. Oh, I’m eating! Picture: It’s cold up there. We’re at high altitude. My body is burning a lot.”
Despite the risks, Cruise has a passion for performing stunts that dates back to his childhood. He recalled, “I remember seeing old footage of wing-walking. Those aircraft were only traveling at, I don’t know, 40, 50 miles an hour. This aircraft is up to over 120 miles an hour. Going out there, I was realizing that it takes your breath away.”
In the eighth installment of the critically acclaimed series, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, set for release on May 23, 2025, Cruise experienced an intense stunt that involved tumbling around a giant water tank built to replicate the interior of a flooded submarine. The tank was designed to tilt and rotate 360 degrees, creating a dizzying experience for the actor.
“You’re not going to feel as connected with the character if I went with a regular mask and a thing in my mouth to breathe,” Cruise explained, noting that he chose to breathe his own carbon dioxide to keep his face unobstructed on camera. “Luckily when you’re flying jets you train for hypoxia and for carbon dioxide build-up. You start to be able to perceive your body and how it’s reacting so that I knew when to stop.”
Christopher McQuarrie, who directed and co-wrote the last three Mission: Impossible films, emphasized Cruise's dedication, stating, “Anytime you see Tom in the plane, he’s at the controls. He’s basically a one-man film crew: operating the camera, acting and flying.”
Stunt coordinator Wade Eastwood added, “Everyone will think we did some on green screen on the ground. I guarantee there was not one single shot that was not on a plane flying for real.”
Despite the high stakes, Cruise has no regrets about his daring career. Reflecting on his experiences, he said, “On Mission, if it was easy, I guess we wouldn’t want to do it.”
His late mother, Mary Pfeiffer, was unaware of the risks he took until she saw footage of the military plane stunt. She expressed her relief, saying, “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you didn’t fill me in on that one beforehand.”
As the Mission: Impossible franchise continues to push boundaries, it has grossed over $4 billion worldwide, solidifying its place in cinematic history. Cruise has been at the helm since the franchise's inception in 1996, constantly seeking new challenges and skills to incorporate into his roles.
Beyond his stunt work, Cruise is also dedicated to personal growth. He stated, “I will learn a skill, and I know eventually I’m going to use it in a movie.” This includes not only flying planes but also dancing and playing the piano. He remarked, “I wouldn’t say ‘play.’ I enjoy hitting the keys… I find it relaxing.”
As the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning approaches, anticipation builds among fans eager to witness Cruise's latest exploits. The film is set to premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 14 before hitting theaters nationwide.
With each new installment, Tom Cruise continues to redefine what it means to be a leading man in Hollywood, combining his love for film with a relentless pursuit of adrenaline-fueled adventure. “I love making movies. It’s not what I do. It’s who I am,” he affirmed, capturing the essence of his enduring passion for cinema.
