During the digital release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie exposed the extreme physical toll behind one of the film’s most harrowing sequences. In the climactic scene where Cruise dangles from the side of a biplane, the actor endured such immense force that the joints in his fingers separated as he gripped a seat belt strap, highlighting the dangers behind the stunt.
Details of the Painful Plane Sequence
As the plane flipped upside down, Cruise was shown in the film holding tightly to the seatbelt, a feat that caused tremendous strain. Reflecting on the experience, Cruise admitted in the commentary,
“Oh, this almost broke my back,”
while director McQuarrie added,
“You’re talking about a lot of pain here.”
McQuarrie further emphasized the challenge, saying,
“Now watch this: The thing we haven’t talked about, holding on to this belt,”
as Cruise recalled,
Oh God, that was brutal.
The physical impact was so severe that Cruise’s hands were swollen by the end of the shoot. McQuarrie described the injury in detail:
This separated the joints in Tom’s fingers from the force, so by the time we finished this sequence, your hands were absolutely swollen — oh my God, it was so painful to watch,
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s Success and Reception
The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival before its wide release in May, marking what was promoted as Cruise’s final mission in the beloved franchise. The film opened to remarkable box office results, earning $200 million worldwide during its initial run, the biggest opening of the series.
Celebrating the milestone, Cruise expressed gratitude, saying,
“This weekend was one for the history books!”
He also added,
“Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, every artist, every crew member and every single person who works at the studios. To every theater and every employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you. To everyone that works at Paramount Pictures and Skydance, thank you for your many years of partnership and unwavering support. And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere for whom we all serve and for whom we all LOVE to entertain. Sincerely, Tom.”
Following its theatrical run, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has grossed $596 million globally, demonstrating the franchise‘s enduring appeal.
Uncertainty Surrounding Tom Cruise’s Future in the Franchise
Despite this film being promoted as the conclusion to Cruise’s role as Ethan Hunt, the actor has not definitively confirmed whether this is his final appearance in the series. When questioned about returning, Cruise responded thoughtfully:
“I’d rather just people see it and enjoy and we’ve had an amazing time doing it and it’s been a lot of fun and I just want you all to enjoy it,”
adding,
“Enjoy this and know everything is the culmination has come to this moment right now.”
Availability for Home Viewing
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is now accessible for home viewing on premium video on demand platforms, with physical copies including 4K Ultra HD, DVD, and Blu-ray set to be released on October 14. Fans can experience the thrilling plane stunt injury and the film’s final chapters from the comfort of their homes.
