Tom Cruise has earned a Guinness World Record for performing 16 burning parachute jumps while filming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” The 62-year-old actor took 16 leaps out of a helicopter with a burning parachute, the most ever by an individual in a film. Craig Glenday, a representative from Guinness World Records, praised Cruise’s dedication and fearlessness. “Tom doesn’t just play action heroes—he is an action hero!” Glenday stated.
“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.”
The stunt was filmed in Drakensberg, South Africa, and involved weeks of planning. For each jump, Cruise had to cut away the burning, fuel-soaked chute in seconds and land safely with his backup chute. Some takes even had the actor carrying a 50-pound camera rig.
Cruise sets parachute jump record
Cruise also holds another Guinness World Record for the actor with the most consecutive $ 100 million-grossing films, spanning 11 movies from 2012’s “Jack Reacher” to the latest “Mission: Impossible” movie. The burning parachute stunt is part of a climactic plane sequence in “The Final Reckoning,” which is billed as Cruise’s final outing as Ethan Hunt in the 29-year-old franchise.
Paramount Pictures released a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the aerial stunt and the actor’s commitment to performing his own stunts. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” opened over Memorial Day Weekend and has grossed $360 million worldwide so far, setting a franchise record for the biggest opening in the series. Cruise expressed his gratitude for the film’s success, thanking the filmmakers, crew members, studios, and audiences for their support.
To everyone who 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,” he said.
