Tom Cruise earns Guinness world record for burning parachute stunt in 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning'

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Tom Cruise jumping out of a helicopter with a fiery parachute!
The Academy Award-nominated actor is now also a two-time Guinness World Records title holder, earning a new title this week for a jaw-dropping stunt performed in his newest movie, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.
Cruise, 62, set the record for 'most burning parachute jumps by an individual' on Wednesday. While filming, the actor leapt out of a helicopter 16 times while strapped to a parachute presoaked in fuel and then lit it on fire. Cruise then had seconds to cut himself out of the remnants of the first parachute, before deploying a backup to break his landing.
No other actor or stunt person has come close to that number of drops with a lit parachute, according to Guinness World Records. It's not clear whether Cruise, who is famous for doing his own stunts, is the first to receive the title for this particular stunt.
'Tom doesn't just play action heroes — he is an action hero!' Craig Glenday, the editor in chief of Guinness World Records, said in a statement. 'A large part of his success can be chalked up to his absolute focus on authenticity and pushing the boundaries of what a leading man can do. It's an honour to be able to recognize his utter fearlessness with this new Guinness World Records title.'
This is Cruise's second Guinness World Records title. In 2024, he was deemed the actor with the 'most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies.'
On Thursday, the studio behind the Mission: Impossible franchise released a behind-the-scenes video of the filming of the lit parachute stunt, which includes clips from Cruise's body camera.
While filming the scene in Drakensberg, South Africa, last year, the team spent weeks planning and preparing the sequence, Guinness World Records explained. The helicopter would take Cruise up to an altitude of at least 7,500 feet before he would jump out, lighting the fuel-soaked parachute on fire and then cutting himself out of it.
'If [the parachute] is twisted while it's burning, I'm going to be spinning and burning,' Cruise says in the video released by Paramount. 'I have to kick it out of the twist and then ignite within 10 seconds.'
The stunt was filmed 16 times, and during some of the jumps, Cruise wore a 50-pound camera rig on his body to capture the fall up close. In the behind-the-scenes video, Cruise consults with the director, Christopher McQuarrie, about which shots to get while wearing the camera.
'We're going to be real smart,' Cruise tells the crew while sitting on the helicopter in the clip. 'I'm not saying be risky. We don't take risks, obviously.'
It's certainly not the first time Cruise has performed a daring stunt. In 2011's Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, he hung off the side of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building. In 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, he trained to fly his own P-51 Mustang. (Despite being a licensed pilot, Cruise could not fly the F-18 in the movie because of restrictions from the Navy.)
'I feel that [when] acting, you're bringing everything, you know, physically and emotionally, to a character in a story,' Cruise told Graham Norton in an interview in 2014. 'I've trained for 30 years doing [stunts] that it allows us to put cameras in places where you normally are not able to.'
Mission: Impossible -—The Final Reckoning was released in theaters throughout the United States on May 23. It has since become the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2025.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Upturn

7 hours ago

• Business Upturn

Is ‘North Shore' returning for season 2? Everything we know so far

North Shore , the Aussie crime show, grabbed viewers with its juicy murder plot and sweet Sydney Harbour scenery. You've got Joanne Froggatt as Abigail Crawford, a tough UK Trade Minister, and John Bradley as Detective Max Drummond, a Brit cop teaming up with an Aussie partner to crack the case of Abigail's daughter Sophie's death. Since it dropped on Network 10 in Australia in May 2023 and hit ITVX in the UK in December 2024, fans are dying to know: Is Season 2 happening? Here's everything we know so far. Is North Shore Season 2 Happening? As of June 2025, Network 10 and Paramount+ haven't said yes or no to North Shore Season 2. There's a glimmer of hope, though. Back in August 2023, the Nilsen Report claimed filming was set to start in Sydney that October, with Beach Road Pictures, ITV Studios, and Screen Australia in the mix. But no one's followed up with hard news, so we're left hanging, wondering if it's a go or a bust. Season 1 pulled a 6.8/10 on IMDb, and fans loved Froggatt and Bradley's chemistry, plus the crime-meets-drama vibe. Some weren't stoked about slow pacing or side characters who didn't shine, which might weigh on the decision. Until we hear more, it's all guesswork. North Shore Season 2 Potential Release Date No Season 2 confirmation means no release date yet. If that October 2023 filming rumor panned out, they might've wrapped by early 2024. Going by how long Season 1 took, we could see new episodes by late 2025 or early 2026. North Shore Season 2 Potential Plot Season 1 dug into Sophie's murder, with Max and Aussie cop Meg Driscoll (Kirsty Sturgess) unraveling political dirt and dark secrets. It tied up the main case but left some questions. No official plot for Season 2 yet, but here's what might go down: New Case, Same Duo: Max and Meg, with their Brit-Aussie banter, could tackle another Sydney murder, maybe tied to some shady international deal. Old Clues: Season 1 dropped hints about dodgy businessman Lloyd Macklin and a mystery caller tipping off Max and Abigail. Those could spark a new mess. Real Feelings: Abigail's still hurting from her loss, and Max's got issues with his partner, Anna, which could add depth to a fresh case. Mike Bullen, who made Cold Feet , knows how to blend grit and heart, so expect any new season to pack a punch. Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Yahoo

9 hours ago

• Yahoo

Film Academy Taps Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas for Honorary Oscars, Dolly Parton for Hersholt Award

The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted to present actor/producer Tom Cruise, actress/producer/choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas with Honorary Awards, and actress/singer-songwriter Dolly Parton with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 16th annual Governors Awards, the organization announced Tuesday. The honorees — whose selection was the final decision made by the 55 governors who served on the Academy's board during the 2024-2025 term, including the likes of Pam Abdy, Jason Blum, Ruth E. Carter, Ava DuVernay, Marlee Matlin, Jason Reitman and Eric Roth — will be fêted at a black-tie ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 16. More from The Hollywood Reporter Viola Davis and Walter Murch to Receive Honorary Degrees at AFI Conservatory Commencement Making of 'Paradise': How a White Lie and a Far-Fetched Apocalyptic Natural Disaster Birthed the Thriller Emmy Predictions via Feinberg Forecast: Scott Updates His Picks Midway Through Nominations Voting 'This year's Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,' outgoing Academy president Janet Yang said in a statement. 'The Academy's board of governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists. Debbie Allen is a trailblazing choreographer and actor, whose work has captivated generations and crossed genres. Tom Cruise's incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community has inspired us all. Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts. And production designer Wynn Thomas has brought some of the most enduring films to life through a visionary eye and mastery of his craft.' The board annually bestows Honorary Awards for lifetime achievement. (Previous recipients include Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Louis B. Mayer, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Federico Fellini, Sidney Poitier, Steve Martin, Gena Rowlands and, last year, Quincy Jones.) On occasion, it also chooses to present the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which recognizes the achievements of a creative producer and/or executive (honorees have included Darryl F. Zanuck, David O. Selznick, Jack Warner, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall and, last year, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson) and/or the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, celebrating remarkable service to others (honorees have included Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah Winfrey and, last year, Richard Curtis). Each of these honors now comes in the form of an Oscar statuette. * * * Cruise, 62, who is often described as 'the last movie star,' has consistently been a top box-office draw for longer than anyone else in history. His popularity — built on the back of his all-American, boy-next-door smile and swagger, as well as real acting chops and tireless boosterism of his own projects — has spanned 1983's Risky Business through 2025's Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, a period of 42 years, with two chart-topping Top Gun movies, 36 years apart, inbetween, the latter of which, in the view of no less an authority than Steven Spielberg, 'saved Hollywood's ass' in the wake of the global pandemic. Cruise spent the first half of his career working mostly in filmmaker-driven projects. He was directed by Barry Levinson (1988's Rain Man, which won the best picture Oscar), Francis Ford Coppola (1983's The Outsiders), Martin Scorsese (1986's The Color of Money), Oliver Stone (1989's Born on the Fourth of July, for which he received the first of his four Oscar noms), Rob Reiner (1992's A Few Good Men), Sydney Pollack (1993's The Firm), Cameron Crowe (1996's Jerry Maguire, Oscar nom #2, and 2001's Vanilla Sky), Stanley Kubrick (1999's Eyes Wide Shut), Paul Thomas Anderson (1999's Magnolia, Oscar nom #3), Spielberg (2002's Minority Report) and Michael Mann (2004's Collateral). He has spent the second half working mostly in action-oriented flicks of varying quality, but fairly unwavering popularity, in which he famously does many of his own stunts. Among them: eight Mission: Impossible films (1996, 2000, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023 and 2025), the first of which also marked his debut producing credit (he also has produced every subsequent installment), plus The Last Samurai (2003), The War of the Worlds (2005), Jack Reacher (2012, also a producer), Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016, also a producer) and Top Gun: Maverick (also a producer, resulting in Oscar nom #4). With few exceptions, the most notable being 2008's Tropic Thunder, Cruise has, over the last 20 years, consistently played a version of Cruise, or at least his well-established screen persona, which audiences still love. Unlike other A-listers, you won't see him playing a superhero in a comic book adaptation — he turned down Tony Stark — because in his movies he, not the character he plays, is the star; and you won't see him on a streaming service or on TV, because he is a movie star, which is why he also ferociously defends the theatrical experience. * * * Allen, 75, is not only a trailblazing artist, but also a champion of arts education — on screen (her most famous role is dance teacher Lydia Grant in the 1980 film Fame and its television adaptation that ran from 1982 through 1987, which she also choreographed) and off (through her Debbie Allen Dance Academy in LA and other activities). Her stage and TV credits are extensive — she has been nominated for two Tonys and 21 Primetime Emmys, winning five of the latter, and the TV Academy presented her with a Governors Award in 2021 and inducted her into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2022. Her standout work in film has been more limited — beyond Fame, she also acted in 1981's Ragtime; produced 1997's Amistad with Steven Spielberg; and choreographed 2024's The Six Triple Eight. Allen, who also choreographed seven Oscars telecasts, previously has been the recipient of the National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor and many other major prizes. * * * Thomas, who got his start in the New York theater, is a revered production designer who is best known for his extensive collaboration with Spike Lee, which encompasses 11 films over 35 years, spanning Lee's feature directorial debut, 1986's She's Gotta Have It, through 2020's Da 5 Bloods, and also includes Lee's most celebrated films, 1989's Do the Right Thing and 1992's Malcolm X. Thomas has worked with numerous other A-list filmmakers including Francis Ford Coppola (on 1984's The Cotton Club), Robert De Niro (1993's A Bronx Tale), Ron Howard (on 2001 best picture Oscar winner A Beautiful Mind and 2005's Cinderella Man), Barry Levinson (1997's Wag the Dog) and Tim Burton (1996's Mars Attacks!), and on hit films such as 1999's Analyze This, 2016's Hidden Figures and 2021's King Richard. The first African American production designer to join the Art Directors Guild, he won two ADG Awards (for Hidden Figures and Da 5 Bloods) and was the recipient of the ADG's lifetime achievement award in 2024. The ADG declared at the time, 'Thomas has significantly shaped the landscape of filmmaking, and his diverse body of work reflects his innovative approach and commitment to storytelling. Beyond his artistic achievements, Thomas is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of designers. Thomas has not only broken barriers but also paved the way for future generations.' Thomas also served on the Academy's board of governors from 2017 through 2023, and was its vice president and chair of its education and outreach committee from 2020 through 2023. * * * Parton, 79, one of the most popular country music stars of all time, made her mark on the movies as an actress (most memorably in 1980's 9 to 5 and 1982's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, for which she received Golden Globe noms) and as a singer/songwriter (garnering best original song Oscar noms for 'Nine to Five' from 9 to 5 and 'Travelin' Thru' from 2005's Transamerica). But her greatest legacy may be her philanthropy. Indeed, the daughter of a man who never learned to read has spent millions of dollars to give away more than 285 million books to children, aiming to inspire a lifelong love of reading. It's all done through her Dollywood Foundation, which she created in 1988 with the aim of helping to educate kids from her home state of Tennessee, and the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which launched in 1995. 30 years later, Parton's organization mails millions of free books every month to pre-schoolers in all fifty states, as well as in Canada, the UK, Ausralia and Ireland. Beyond that, she has also been an outspoken ally of the LGBTQ community and a pivotal supporter of medical research — as in, $2 million in donations to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center — that helped to fund the critical early stages of development of the Moderna vaccine that saved an untold number of lives during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. * * * On June 9, THR published a piece suggesting 100 worthy candidates for Governors Awards. It included Parton (#3) and Cruise (#16). Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now

Yahoo

9 hours ago

• Yahoo

The Oscars Finally Fell in Love With Tom Cruise. It's About Time

Congratulations are clearly in order. After decades of being overlooked, underestimated and sometimes just flat-out ignored, a Hollywood mainstay is finally getting some richly deserved recognition. Bravo! No, not to Tom Cruise for that honorary Oscar — to the Academy for making sure the world's last remaining movie star will turn up for its next broadcast. More from The Hollywood Reporter Film Academy Taps Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas for Honorary Oscars, Dolly Parton for Hersholt Award Box Office: 'How to Train Your Dragon' Roars to Record $84M U.S. Opening, $198M Globally Natalie Portman-Produced French Animated Film 'Arco' Wins Annecy Let's face it, at this point the Oscars need Cruise more than Cruise needs an Oscar, particularly an honorary one, which frequently go to stars of more mature vintage (Mel Brooks got one last year, at 97). In recent times, the show's numbers — to say nothing of its cultural relevance — have been on the same spiraling trajectory as that biplane Cruise dangled from in the latest Mission: Impossible movie. Viewership has fallen some 66 percent since the Oscars' peak in 1998 (Titanic year), with only about 20 million tuning in these days, about the same audience that turns out for a run-of-the-mill midseason NFL game. Meanwhile, Cruise, at 62, continues to draw arena-size crowds to his tentpoles. The most recent Mission: Impossible – the Final Reckoning, grossed $500 million worldwide last month, while Dead Reckoning Part 1 grossed $550 million in 2023. And then there's 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, the film that proved the pandemic hadn't entirely crushed the theatrical business. It grossed a stratospheric $1.5 billion, Cruise's personal best. The dramatic flip here is almost as jaw-dropping as one of Ethan Hunt's mask-pulling reveals. For decades, the Academy seemed to keep Cruise at a vaguely disdainful distance, dismissing him as more of an action figure than a serious ack-TOOR. Sure, they'd occasionally toss him a polite nomination — in 1989 for Born on the Fourth of July, in 1996 for Jerry Maguire and in 1999 for Magnolia — but they never invited him up to the podium to collect a statuette. He'd always remain stuck in the audience with the other losers, gamely flashing that famous 500-watt smile for the reaction shot. Honestly, the honorary Oscar announced this week feels like too little, too late. Because over the years, when he wasn't climbing Burj Khalifa or jumping motorcycles off cliffs, Cruise has turned in some truly nuanced, brave and definitely Oscar-worthy performances. And we're not just talking about the roles the Academy deigned to nominate — at least one of which, by the way, probably should have won (how Michael Caine's largely unremarkable performance in Cider House Rules beat Cruise's unforgettable turn as the toxically masculine 'respect the cock' motivational speaker in Paul Thomas Anderson's underrated 1998 drama Magnolia is a mystery for the ages). There were also Cruise's unnominated but award-worthy performances in Rain Man (opposite Dustin Hoffman), in Interview With a Vampire (opposite Brad Pitt) and in the late Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut (opposite some actress named Nicole Kidman). A reasonable argument could even be made that Cruise's fat-suited, Diet Coke-swilling, profanity-spouting studio exec in Tropic Thunder — the scene-stealing Les Grossman — was a performance worthy of some sort of award (at least the Golden Globes gave it a nom). As for why it's taken the Oscars so long to pay Cruise his due, one can only speculate. Perhaps it's all that gleaming charisma — he's always been too smooth, too slick, too commercial for the Academy's insular voters. Maybe it was Cruise's unabashed embrace of movie stardom over methody self-flagellation. Or maybe the Academy just couldn't bring itself to hand a gold statue to someone who once made a movie called Cocktail. Whatever the reason, the Oscars can no longer afford the luxury of snobbery. Because at this point, Cruise doesn't need an Oscar to cement his legacy. But the Oscars might just need him to save theirs. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Harvey Weinstein's "Jane Doe 1" Victim Reveals Identity: "I'm Tired of Hiding" 'Awards Chatter' Podcast: 'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Finally Reveals What Happened to Tony (Exclusive)