Movies

Tom Cruise’s Most Underrated Stunt: The Shanghai Leap That Changed Everything!

BBG News

Tom Cruise has built an extraordinary reputation for executing death-defying stunts without equal in the Mission: Impossible film series, often doing them live on set and eschewing stunt doubles. Feats such as scaling the Burj Khalifa or leaping from a motorbike off a cliff have been thrilling highlights of each movie. These daring stunts are what truly set the Mission: Impossible films apart, earning Tom Cruise legendary acclaim. Yet, one breathtaking stunt he performed in a less-acknowledged film from the series has failed to receive the recognition it deserved and remains the most underappreciated stunt within the franchise.

In “Mission: Impossible III,” the film which revitalized the franchise following a less-than-satisfying second installment, Tom Cruise performs one of his most underappreciated stunts across the entire series. During a nerve-wracking scene, Ethan Hunt examines all potential entry points within a building guarding a lethal device known as the Rabbit’s Foot. Eventually, Hunt is compelled to gain access through the roof, leading him to leap from the pinnacle of a Shanghai skyscraper, some 80 feet above ground. This death-defying stunt should be acknowledged among the top stunts featured in the “Mission: Impossible” films.

Mission: Impossible III’s Shanghai Leap Of Faith Is The Franchise’s Most Underrated Stunt

It set a precedent for Cruise and the franchise

For Tom Cruise’s stunts in Mission: Impossible, minimal VFX is utilized nowadays, however, this wasn’t always true. The Shanghai leap in Mission: Impossible III employed CGI as well, but in a unique manner to preserve the excitement. This sequence shows Ethan Hunt swinging from a cable and making a loud impact on the skyscraper before gliding for quite some distance and halting his descent by grasping onto a rod. This scene was filmed in a hangar for Cruise’s safety, but he executed an impressive 65-foot drop, ending up just inches from the ground.

In the mountain climbing sequence from Mission: Impossible II, there’s a touch of whimsy with the music and Tom Cruise’s movements. On the contrary, the underrated Shanghai jump in Mission: Impossible III carries an underlying tension as it underscores the imminent danger Ethan Hunt faces if anything goes wrong. This daring leap also set the precedent for Tom Cruise performing death-defying stunts from great heights throughout the franchise. After filming the Shanghai jump indoors, Cruise was motivated to capture the action on location, which eventually led to the iconic Burj Khalifa scene in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Mission: Impossible III Permanently Transformed Tom Cruise’s Franchise

It gave the franchise its current tone and shape

Re-viewing the Mission: Impossible series from scratch highlights the fact that Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character in Mission: Impossible III is arguably the franchise’s most formidable villain. He isn’t merely a relentless adversary who meddles with Tom Cruise’s personal affairs, but he is also exceptionally cruel and shows no remorse when it comes to inflicting severe pain and hardship on those obstructing him. Unlike other Mission: Impossible installments, the danger levels for Ethan Hunt have never been as extreme as in Mission: Impossible III until its release.

Throughout the entirety of the Mission: Impossible series, Ethan Hunt’s character maintains a grave demeanor, even after successfully completing his missions. The films often find him teetering on the brink of death and losing his wife, a recurring theme that adds a touch of realism to this action-packed franchise. Although humor is present in each movie, none of them shy away from portraying the harshness of Hunt’s world – a quality that was hinted at in the 1996 Mission: Impossible film as well. In Mission: Impossible III, Hunt’s character development was further explored, demonstrating his extreme determination to protect those he loves and make morally sound decisions.

Read More

2025-05-20 19:09

Previous post Stellar Blade Developer Confirms Sequel Plans
Next post Netflix Games launches The World of Peppa Pig on mobile, while Sesame Street arrives later this year