The Burj Khalifa stunt in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is an important moment for the franchise, although viewers question whether Tom Cruise rises the Burj Khalifa in reality.
Among a plethora of perilous stunts in his repertoire, ascending the exterior of Burj Khalifa in the fourth chapter of the Mission Impossible franchise stands as one of Cruise’s most renowned acts of bravery.
Since then, Cruise has persistently evaded peril in numerous films, exemplified by the HALO jump in Mission Impossible: Fallout. The Burj Khalifa stunt has become as a cinematic landmark.
In Ghost Protocol, Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt travels to Dubai to retrieve nuclear launch codes following the theft of a catastrophic weapon by Kurt Hendricks, also known as Cobalt (Michael Nyquist).
It is evident that Hunt consistently avoids the straightforward path. Ethan must ascend to the 130th floor of the 2,722-foot building, opting to forgo the elevator in favor of dubious suction gloves.
Commencing the ascent of 123 storeys is the uncomplicated segment, as he subsequently descends the edifice via rappelling and executes a leap of faith. The action was not only visually breathtaking but also remarkable in its behind-the-scenes execution.
How Did Tom Cruise Climb the Burj Khalifa?
For Tom Cruise’s Burj Khalifa stunt, the actor was fitted with a harness carefully secured to specific locations on the skyscraper, requiring the studio get special permits for drilling into the floors and walls, and the Mission: Impossible 4 crew shattered 35 windows.
Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) collaborated with several experts, including engineers, professional climbers, and stunt performers, to guarantee the safety of the filming process. Cruise contemplated employing a specialized stuntman; nevertheless, like he has throughout most of his career, he performed his own stunts in Mission: Impossible 4.
Cruise was unaware that the constricting harness would impede his circulation, necessitating the completion of the shoot with utmost efficiency and speed. Otherwise, he might begin to experience numbness in his lower body.
The helicopters engaged in firing operations had a flying duration constraint of 30 minutes per sortie, necessitating that the crew maximize the efficacy of each engagement. The sequence was filmed in IMAX, resulting in rapid depletion of film in the cameras.
The footage needed to be transported back to Los Angeles, and Bird was unable to verify its quality until the film was processed.
The preparation for the Burj Khalifa stunt was exceptionally meticulous and methodical. The crew constructed a glass wall to replicate the building’s facade and had Cruise ascend and descend multiple times to acclimate him to the discomfort of the harness and the physical strain of the climb.
They heated the wall with artificial lighting to replicate the temperature of the windows of the Burj Khalifa. The stunt presented a logistical challenge, although the meticulous planning proved successful.
Why Tom Cruise’s Stunt on Burj Khalifa is the Best Stunt of Mission Impossible?
Tom Cruise regularly performs his own stunts in the Mission: Impossible series, which include dangling from an aircraft, holding his breath for six minutes to execute an underwater heist, and completing 109 HALO jumps to achieve the ideal shot.
Among all these cinematic stunts, the legendary Burj Khalifa sequence exemplifies the actor’s commitment to his art. The moment from Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is the most suspenseful for viewers, yet it was exceedingly perilous, taxing, and likely frightening for Cruise himself.
Nonetheless, the outcomes are remarkable; Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol features some of the finest stunt sequences seen on film. Successfully ascending the world’s tallest structure confers perpetual franchise prestige for any esteemed action series.
The stunt unfolds akin to a live-action scenario from The Incredibles, with a multifaceted blend of action and comedy, exemplified by the suction gloves exhibiting autonomy. The Burj Khalifa stunt offers a unique combination of exhilarating suspense and comedic elements, a rarity among other Mission: Impossible stunts.
Was the Burj Khalifa Stunt Did by Tom Cruise His Most Dangerous?
After the Tom Cruise’s Burj Khalifa stunt, the actor performed other stunts of similar danger. In Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Cruise hung to the outside of an aircraft during its ascent.
The actor maintained his breath underwater for a record-setting duration of 6 minutes, until the record was surpassed by Kate Winslet in Avatar: The Way of Water. Subsequently, Cruise pledged to perform a HALO leap for Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
The HALO leap was deemed so perilous that Henry Cavill was prohibited from participating, as it would have jeopardized Cruise’s safety (via AutoEvolution).
Nonetheless, the motorbike leap in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 constituted the actor’s most perilous stunt to date. It would have been unfeasible to predict the bike’s landing position upon Cruise’s release, and numerous other factors eluded adequate planning by the construction team.
The meticulous execution of a risk assessment at the scene likely constituted the most exasperating aspect of the film’s production. The indeterminate physics, coupled with mid-air vehicle control and proximity to cliffside rocks, renders Cruise’s motorbike jump the most perilous stunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Nevertheless, it is amusing to juxtapose the stunt from Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol with the motorcycle-parachute stunt, as neither should be attempted by anyone. Nonetheless, Cruise is in competition with himself, and Mission: Impossible 8 may showcase his two most perilous feats to date.
Mission: Impossible 8 has a water stunt in which Cruise may reclaim his breath-holding record from Winslet. The forthcoming film includes an additional aerial stunt, but this time it is not a takeoff; rather, it occurs at high altitude.
The stunts in Mission: Impossible are nearly equally perilous, and Cruise willingly jeopardizes his life for the audience’s amusement.
What Are the Public Reactions to Tom Cruise’s Burj Khalifa Stunt?
The Burj Khalifa stunt in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol continues to be a topic of discussion over a decade after its execution, underscoring its significant influence. The sequence is exhilarating to observe in the film and enhances the narrative compellingly; but, once its conclusion, the audience seeks to understand the intricacies of its creation.
Tom Cruise disclosed in a behind-the-scenes documentary that he regarded this as the apex of his prior stunt endeavors:
Throughout my years of performing stunts and producing films, it required all that expertise to achieve not only my contributions but also what we collectively accomplished with the Burj.
Although the entire routine is exhilarating, there was one point during the production that stunt coordinator Gregg Smrz said was very anxiety-inducing. The instant arrives when Hunt’s apparatus fails, causing him to plummet from the edifice. Cruise executed the scene in a single take, as stated by Smrz (via Yahoo):
“That was likely the most suspenseful day of the event.” Someone inquired, ‘What if the cable fails?’ I stated, ‘That is not a viable choice.’ We calculated that there was sufficient time during free fall for him to send me an SMS, which I subsequently received.
Other performers have expressed astonishment at the entire affair, with Matt Damon disclosing that Cruise shared some behind-the-scenes insights regarding the production of the segment during a dinner together:
He stated, ‘I have contemplated this picture for 15 years!’ And I respond, ‘Indeed, is it so?’ He stated, “I approached the safety officer and presented all the details.” The safety officer stated, “That is not permissible.” It is excessively perilous; you must refrain from undertaking such action. I am acquiring a new safety officer.
Damon said that the refusal of a safety personnel to endorse the stunt would have been sufficient for him to withdraw. Nevertheless, Cruise consistently demonstrates that there are few boundaries he will not transcend to provide an indelible experience for spectators.
Tom Cruise’s legendary Burj Khalifa feat in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a cinematic success. Intrigued by the underlying subtleties and associated risks? Understand the intricate details of the creation of this exhilarating sequence and other elements. Visit our website for the complete narrative and exclusive insights into his most daring accomplishments!
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