tom cruise foto dubai

Did Tom Cruise Sit Atop the Burj Khalifa Without a Harness?

The skyscraper is more than a half-mile tall., published june 10, 2021.

About this rating

This is a genuine photograph of Tom Cruise sitting on top of the Burj Khalifa, but he is almost certainly wearing a harness.

A practically unbelievable photograph of actor Tom Cruise sitting on top of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at a height of more than a half mile, is frequently shared online along with the claim that the actor wasn't wearing a harness during the stunt:

This photograph was taken in 2011, during the filming of the fourth installment in the "Mission Impossible" series. Cruise did a number of stunts in that movie that took place inside (and outside) the building. Here's a behind-the-scenes clip showing some of these stunts:

At one point during filming, Cruise and the stunt team decided to take a helicopter to the top of the building to get a few photographs. Cruise talked about this experience during an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show."

While the picture is real, there's plenty of reasons to doubt the claim that Cruise was without a harness during this stunt. For one, when Cruise filmed these stunts (as seen in the behind-the-scenes clip above) he is wearing a harness. In fact, Tom Peitzman, the visual effects producer for the movie, said in 2011 that everyone involved in filming these stunts (even those who were inside while Cruise was hanging on the outside of the building) were also wearing a harnesses.

"Special mounts had to be made for the 65-millmeter Imax cameras, special safety had to be put in place, because in a building that's 800 meteres tall [it's 2,723 feet] you couldn't run the risk of anything falling. Even all of us who are working inside the building, we all had to harness ourselves because the window was open." 

With all of the safety precautions that went into filming these stunts, it seems highly improbable that Cruise would be allowed to sit on the top of this building without a harness. 

It should also be noted that while there are pictures of Cruise sitting on the Burj Khalifa and of the helicopter near the Burj Khalifa, there are no photographs of Cruise getting in or out of the helicopter. While it seems likely Cruise simply hopped out of the helicopter for a quick pic, there was likely a little more involved (such as hooking up some sort of security cable.)

It's also worth noting that helicopter is not the only way to access the top of this spire. This column is actually hollow and can be accessed via an internal ladder. This is how maintenance crews would access this area. In 2013, photographer Joe McNally was allowed to access this area to take some images.

It seems likely that someone was waiting for Cruise as he transitioned from the helicopter to the spire, and then helped him attach a safety harness. 

Correction [June 14, 2021]: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to photographer Joe McNally as John McNally.

By Dan Evon

Dan Evon is a former writer for Snopes.

Article Tags

Screen Rant

Mission impossible 4: how tom cruise did the burj khalifa stunt.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Tom Cruise's 14 Mission: Impossible Stunts Ranked By Most Dangerous

Mission impossible movies ranked - from the 1996 original to dead reckoning part 1, mission: impossible 8 - release date, story & everything we know about dead reckoning part 2.

• Cruise's Burj Khalifa stunt in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is a defining, heart-stopping moment for the franchise.
• With dangerous stunts like the HALO jump in Fallout, the Burj Khalifa climb remains Cruise's most famous feat.
• From carefully fixing harnesses to rigorous training, the Burj Khalifa stunt was a logistical nightmare that paid off well.

The Burj Khalifa stunt in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is a defining moment for the franchise, but audiences wonder if Tom Cruise climbs the Burj Khalifa in real life. With a growing list of extremely dangerous stunts on his resume, scaling Burj Khalifa's exterior in the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise is one of Cruise's most famous feats of courage. Since then, Cruise has continued to defy death in multiple movies with stunts like Mission Impossible: Fallout 's HALO jump. Still, the Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt has become a cinema landmark.

Ghost Protocol takes Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt to Dubai in search of nuclear launch codes after Kurt Hendricks, a.k.a. Cobalt (Michael Nyquist), steals a devastating weapon. It's obvious by now that Hunt never takes the easy route. Ethan must reach the 130th floor of the 2,722 ft skyscraper and ditch the elevator in favor of a pair of questionable suction gloves. Starting the climb 123 floors up is the easy part as he then rappels down the building and makes a jump of faith. The Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt is one of the most intense and thrilling scenes ever.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+

Tom Cruise continues to perform his own dangerous stunts for the Mission: Impossible movies, each death-defying sequence upstaging the last.

Tom Cruise's Burj Khalifa Stunt Explained

The actor was equipped with a harness that was fixed to strategic points on the building.

For the Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt, the actor had to be equipped with a harness that was carefully fixed to strategic points in the building , which required that the studio get special permits to drill on the floors and walls, and the Mission: Impossible 4 crew broke 35 windows . Director Brad Bird ( The Incredible s) consulted with multiple professionals from different areas like engineers, pro climbers, and stuntmen to ensure the safety of the shoot. He even considered using a dedicated stuntman, but, as he's done for the majority of his career, Cruise did his own Mission: Impossible 4 stunts.

Tom Cruise didn't know that the tight harness would cut off his circulation, so the shoot had to be completed as efficiently and quickly as possible. Otherwise, his lower body would start feeling numb. The helicopters that were shooting had a flight limit of 30 minutes at a time too, so the crew had to make every take count. The sequence was also shot in IMAX, which meant that the cameras would run out of film fast. The footage had to be flown back to Los Angeles, and Bird couldn't check if everything was perfect until the film was developed.

The training for the Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt was also extremely thorough and calculated. The crew built a wall of glass to simulate the exterior of the real building and had Tom Cruise climb up and down several times to get him familiarized with the discomfort of the harness and the physical toll of the climb. They went so far as to heat up the wall with artificial lights to simulate the temperature of the windows of the Burj Khalifa. The stunt was a logistical nightmare, but the planning all paid off.

Mission: Impossible is one of the most consistent movie franchises out there, but we've accepted the nearly-impossible task of ranking them.

Why Tom Cruise On Burj Khalifa Is The Best Mission Impossible Stunt

The stunt is like a live-action incredibles scene.

Tom Cruise always does his own Mission: Impossible stunts , including hanging off a plane, holding his breath for six minutes to perform an underwater heist, and conducting 109 HALO jumps to get the perfect shot. But of all these movie stunts, the iconic Burj Khalifa sequence is the best proof of the actor's dedication to his craft. The Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol scene is the most nail-biting sequence for audiences, and it was extremely dangerous, exhausting, and probably terrifying for Cruise himself.

Nevertheless, the results are impressive, to say the least; Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has one of the best stunt scenes caught on camera. Having scaled the side of the world's tallest building – for real – grants eternal franchise bragging rights for any self-respecting action series. The stunt plays out like a live-action Incredibles scene too, as the sequence is layered with clever action comedy, such as the suction gloves having a mind of their own. The Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt has an equal balance of edge-of-your-seat thrills and laugh-out-loud comedy, which few other Mission: Impossible stunts have.

The Mission: Impossible 8 release date is set for 2025, and there's intense speculation on what's next for Ethan Hunt after Dead Reckoning Part One.

Was The Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa Stunt His Most Dangerous?

The motorcycle jump in mission: impossible - dead reckoning as arguably more dangerous.

Following the Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa stunt, the actor performed more stunts that were just as dangerous. In Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation , Cruise hung onto the side of a plane as it took off. The actor also held his breath underwater for a record-breaking 6 minutes (that's until the record was broken by Kate Winslet in Avatar: The Way of Water ). Following that, Cruise committed to a HALO jump for Mission: Impossible - Fallout . The HALO jump was so dangerous that Henry Cavill wasn't allowed to take part because it would have put Cruise's life at risk (via AutoEvolution ).

However, the motorcycle jump in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 was the actor's most dangerous stunt yet . It would have been impossible to foresee where the bike would land when Cruise let go, and so many other things that the production couldn't properly plan for. Accurately conducting a risk assessment of the scene must have been the most frustrating part of the movie's development. The impossible-to-determine physics, along with controlling a vehicle in mid-air and being dangerously close to rocks on a cliff edge, makes Cruise's motorcycle jump the most dangerous stunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Tom Cruise has injured himself a number of times due to his commitment to performing his own stunts (via MovieWeb ).

However, it's comical to compare the Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol stunt and the motorcycle-parachute stunt, as neither are things that anybody should ever attempt. Nevertheless, Cruise competes with himself, and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 2 could feature his two most dangerous stunts yet. Mission: Impossible 8 features a water stunt in which Cruise could claim back his breath-holding record from Winslet. The upcoming movie also features another airplane stunt, only this time it isn't taking off but is sky-high. Either way, Mission: Impossible's stunts are almost equally dangerous, and Cruise is happily risking his life for the audience's entertainment.

Sources: AutoEvolution , MovieWeb

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

*Availability in US

Not available

The fourth film in the franchise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, is an action-thriller film set years after the events of Mission: Impossible 3. It sees Ethan Hunt and the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) see themselves falsely accused of a crime. Following a terrorist attack on the Kremlin, the IMF is implicated in the attack, forcing the government to disavow knowledge of them. To clear their names and find the true culprit, the United States initiates the "Ghost Protocol," forcing them all to go off the grid with no support to solve the case.

• City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
• Dubai 04:00 05:25 12:19 15:41 19:08 20:33

• Economy and Finance
• Gold and Currency
• Stock Market
• Real Estate

What Tom Cruise saw in Dubai: Ultimate 360-degree view from top of Burj Khalifa

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA Only Tom Cruise has enjoyed this view.

That was when he was perched right on top of the world’s tallest building - Burj Khalifa filming for ‘Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol’.

Now, you can enjoy it too.

This 360-degree panoramic view is composed from over 70 individual photos taken from the very top of Burj Khalifa.

Released by Emaar Properties the image shows the view across the city of Dubai from 828-metres above sea level captured in high resolution using some of the most advanced techniques in digital photography.

The image has been released to celebrate the second Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Photography Award (HIPA), which will take place in Dubai in March. The award, the world’s richest photography award, will see prizes totalling $389,000 and attracts entrants from 121 countries. The grand prize awarded by HIPA is $120,000.

“This is an extraordinary image taken from an extraordinary location. It reflects the goals of HIPA, to extend the boundaries of photography and celebrate images of unusual beauty and quality that are truly outstanding,” said Ali bin Thalith, the General Secretary of the award.

Dubai based photographer Gerald Donovan created the shot using a mechanised panoramic tripod head to take a series of 48 panoramic images, each shot at a resolution of 80 megapixels.

These were then stitched together with manually shot images to ‘fill-in’ gaps caused by equipment installed at the top of the tower such as the lightning conductor and aircraft beacons.   The result is an image that can be zoomed, tilted and rotated, giving viewers a sense of how it must feel to sit atop the world’s highest building.

The top of the Burj Khalifa is more than 200 metres above the highest point reached by the building’s elevators, which reach the 160th floor at speeds of some 10 metres per second.

The tower’s public observation deck, At the top, Burj Khalifa is on the 124th floor.   The journey to the pinnacle involves a steep ladder climb within the 200-metre spire that crowns the building.

Check the interactive image HERE

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince sits by roadside with ‘lost’ school-girl till dad comes to pick her up

The Film Bandit

How tom cruise pulled off the burj khalifa stunt in ‘ghost protocol’.

When moviegoers think of the unforgettable action scenes from the Mission Impossible movies, the Burj Khalifa stunt from Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol inevitably comes to mind. The incredible stunt features actor Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt) scaling the world’s tallest building in Dubai. We take a behind-the-scenes look at what went into filming the stunt, one of the craziest scenes in Mission Impossible history.

Setting the Scene: Burj Khalifa in Dubai

Burj Khalifa , the 2,722-foot skyscraper and engineering marvel in Dubai, boasts 163 floors, including the 130th floor where the shoot for this jaw-dropping scene occurred. Not only is the Burj Khalifa an architectural landmark, but it’s also the backdrop for the fourth installment of Mission Impossible .

Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is on the prowl for Kurt Hendricks, played by Michael Nyqvist , in search of some nuclear launch codes. This will prevent a devastating weapon from falling into the wrong hands.

The Planning Phase

Creating the stunt began with an initial concept from director Brad Bird , who directed both Ratatouille and The Incredibles . Ghost Protocol was Bird’s directorial debut in live-action cinema, and his vision for the Burj Khalifa sequence was ambitious: Tom Cruise had to climb the exterior of the skyscraper. As a filmmaker, Bird wanted to film the scene in real time, with IMAX cameras capturing every jolt of every slipped hand for maximum viewer impact.

Cruise insisted on performing his own stunts, a hallmark of his work across the Mission Impossible franchise, so he took on the challenging Burj Khalifa stunt, forgoing the easy route of using a dedicated stuntman or doubles. As one of the biggest movie stars in the world, Cruise has performed a growing list of extremely dangerous stunts for the majority of his career, often pushing the limits of what an actor will do, from free climbing to a high-speed helicopter chase in Fallout .

Given the height and potential safety concerns involved, the safety of the shoot was extremely important. To ensure the scene could be filmed without a hitch, a comprehensive and coordinated effort was needed from the production team. Dubai Studio City , the city’s official film authority, helmed by Jamal Al Sharif , worked closely with the studio to manage a myriad of logistics. This process involved obtaining special permits, coordinating with the architects and full-time engineers of Burj Khalifa, ensuring that all safety codes were met.

The logistics of shooting on the Burj Khalifa’s exterior required innovative expertise. To begin, the production team had to build a glass wall around the area of the building where the shot would be taken. Professional climbers were employed to identify strategic points on the building where the rigging could be attached. To protect the Burj Khalifa’s facade, they had to find a way to break windows for rigging, without causing damage to other parts of the building.

Once the areas of the building were identified and the glass wall was erected, the team faced the next obstacle: rigging up the harnesses and cables that would keep Cruise safe. The actor was attached to a safety harness, which was then fastened to the side of the building itself. A variety of tools were used in the process, including a thin wire, a piece of cable, and a pair of suction gloves. Every component of the setup was meticulously brake-tested and inspected for any potential faults before Cruise was attached.

Beyond the physical setup, the shot required careful planning and coordination. This required a multitude of repetitions to make the stunt appear as smooth and natural as possible on the big screen. It required substantial training and preparation, even for a Hollywood star like Tom Cruise.

Training and Preparation

Before the shot was taken, Cruise underwent extensive training with stuntman, Gregg Smrz . This training involved Cruise learning how to perform an Australian rappel , a descent technique used by climbers, and learning how to maintain his grip on the glass finger holds.

In terms of mental preparation, Cruise employed a sort of Zen mindset, focusing on the task at hand, making sure his mind remained clear during the stunt. The ultimate goal was to allow Cruise to remain calm under pressure. Given the stakes, any minor mistake could have resulted in a grim call, so the stunt required his unwavering focus.

Shooting the Scene

The day of shooting brought with it the tension relief that the scene was finally underway. All the careful planning and rigorous training was about to be put to the test. Director Brad Bird and his crew were faced with numerous challenges during the shoot. One was to ensure that the live-action scene felt authentic. To do this, they employed real-time filming, using IMAX cameras to capture the action as it unfolded.

The scene, captured by the legendary cinematographer Robert Elswit , shows Cruise using a pair of special suction gloves to climb the building, holding on for dear life as he fights crosswinds and the relentless sun. Every frame of the sequence, from the wide shots showing the real dimensions of Burj Khalifa, to the close-ups that reveal the strain on Cruise’s face, adds to the impact of the scene.

One of the difficulties that arose during the shoot was the potential threat of a sandstorm. Given Dubai’s desert climate, a sandstorm could have disrupted the shooting schedule. Worse, it could pose a risk to Cruise and the rest of the crew working on the 130th floor of the skyscraper. However, with careful monitoring of weather conditions, they managed to work around this challenge and shoot the scene successfully.

Incorporating humor into this intense scene provided a touch of tension relief. Simon Pegg , who plays Benji Dunn in the movie, delivers a really funny line just before Cruise takes his jump of faith. This juxtaposition of humor and high-stakes action is a signature part of the Mission Impossible franchise.

Post-Production

After the scene was shot, the production team had to replace the windows that were broken during the shoot, making sure the Burj Khalifa returned to its original state. In the end, the sequence required the breaking and subsequent replacement of several windows. This was carefully managed to prevent any lasting damage to the architectural landmark.

Once the film was in post-production, the beauty of Dubai as a shooting location was enhanced through the use of high-quality sound and editing. The inclusion of the Burj Khalifa sequence in Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol not only boosted the film’s advertisement but also highlighted the city of Dubai and the skyscraper itself.

The Impact and Legacy of the Tom Cruise Burj Khalifa Stunt

In the end, the shoot was beneficial for Dubai, putting the city and the Burj Khalifa on the map for many international viewers. With its pivotal role in Ghost Protocol , the skyscraper has become an iconic part of cinematic history.

Lastly, Tom Cruise’s commitment to performing his own stunts, combined with the willingness of the Mission Impossible team to push boundaries, resulted in an action sequence that is unforgettable, even now. The Burj Khalifa stunt is definitely one of Cruise’s most famous feats.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like Behind Tom Cruise’s Insane Rogue Nation Airplane Stunt.

Type your email…

LATEST POSTS

• The True Story Behind The Blind Side: Success and Controversy
• Behind the Scenes of Stranger Things: Hawkins Hidden Gems!
• A How-To Guide: Syncing The Wizard of Oz with Pink Floyd
• Let em’ Dance!: The True Story that Inspired the Movie ‘Footloose’
• The Mystical Ending of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Explained

Discover more from The Film Bandit

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

• Environment
• Road to Net Zero
• Art & Design
• Film & TV
• Music & On-stage
• Pop Culture
• Fashion & Beauty
• Home & Garden
• Things to do
• Combat Sports
• Horse Racing
• Beyond the Headlines
• Trending Middle East
• Business Extra
• Culture Bites
• Year of Elections
• Pocketful of Dirhams
• Books of My Life
• Iraq: 20 Years On

Tom Cruise hails fans in the UAE at the premiere of Mission: Impossible in Abu Dhabi

The hollywood star signed film posters and posed for selfies on the red carpet.

Tom Cruise speaks during the premiere of Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Tom Cruise took to the red carpet at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on Monday for the Middle East premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One .

The lavish venue was decked out with Mission: Impossible branding for the premiere which involved a band performing a Middle Eastern variation of the famous theme song ahead of the screening. A Fiat 500, which features heavily in the film, was also displayed near the red carpet.

Cruise was joined by other cast members from the film for the regional premiere, including Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, and Pom Klementieff, as well as director Christopher McQuarrie.

The 60-year-old actor appeared on the red carpet to adoring cheers as fans yelled, “We love Tom”. He also took time to sign film posters and pose for selfies with fans.

Tom Cruise on the red carpet in Abu Dhabi

Cruise told The National that he looks forward to his visits to Abu Dhabi.

He said that filming in the UAE capital was always memorable, particularly for its photogenic locations and the professionalism of the local crew.

“It’s great to be back,” he said. “The people are amazing. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to come film here. Now I have so many friends [here]. Also, the film crew that we had here, that we worked together with, it was a wonderful experience.”

"The people are amazing." Tom Cruise gushes about filming #MissionImpossible7 - Dead Reckoning Part One in Abu Dhabi as he attends the Middle East premiere in front of adoring crowds in the capital's Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental hotel pic.twitter.com/lBwKgK4kM4 — The National (@TheNationalNews) June 26, 2023

McQuarrie echoed the sentiment, saying that Abu Dhabi was unique for its “one-of-a-kind” locations. The filmmaker said that working “with people here is really extraordinary,” and that “the Empty Quarter and airport locations are one-of-a-kind.”

Having directed a handful of Mission: Impossible titles, McQuarrie said he wanted the latest instalment of the franchise to be an epic one, bigger than any of its predecessors, hence he decided to split the film into two parts.

“I wanted to make it more emotional,” he said. “And with that, we were going to end up with a much bigger movie. With Mission: Impossible – Fallout , we were really struggling to get that movie’s running time down. Because of the character emotion that we added to the action, we decided to make a bigger movie and cut it in half.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh instalment of the franchise.

It will make its way to cinemas in the UAE earlier than in other parts of the world. Vox Cinemas has confirmed the film will be released on July 9, three days before it is scheduled to be released in the US.

Following its Middle East premiere in Abu Dhabi, the cast and crew will travel to Seoul on June 29, Sydney on July 3, New York on July 10 and Tokyo on July 17.

Tom Cruise thanks Abu Dhabi leaders at Mission Impossible premiere

The Arts Edit

A guide to arts and culture, from a Middle Eastern perspective

Paula Patton

Paula Patton is all smiles at the Dubai premiere. Patton plays female lead Jane, an operative who works for Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt, in Mission: Impossible.

Star Tom Cruise gets out of a sleek silver car at the Dubai premiere of his latest Mission: Impossible actioner. While promoting the film, Cruise said that if he was ever asked to do a Bollywood film, he "would never say no."

Tom Cruise with fans

Tom Cruise takes a moment to pose with fans. Over the weekend, Cruise and co-star Anil Kapoor visited the Taj Mahal, fulfilling a dream of Cruise's. "I wanted to come to India my whole life, so I am very excited," he said .

Simon Pegg posing for picture

Simon Pegg poses for a picture with a fan. Pegg has a slew of movies coming out in December, including Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin.

Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor waves to onlookers on Wednesday. Kapoor plays Brij Nath, whom he told THR has "an element of fun and innocence in his character."

Tom Cruise with Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Tom Cruise and Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attend the premiere of Mission: Impossible. A report surfaced that around 200 extras were given approximately 150 rupees a piece (or about $3) and lunch to look excited outside the premiere, but Paramount called the rumor silly.

Paula Patton meets a group of young girls on the carpet at the premiere. Paramount released a fight scene between Patton and Lea Seydoux showcasing their physical prowess.

Tom Cruise walks the carpet with some new friends on the first day of the Dubai International Film Festival at teh Madinat Jumeriah Complex on Wednesday.

Anil Kapoor, director Brad Bird, Tom Cruise, Paula Patton and Simon Pegg take a group shot on the carpet for Ghost Protocol.

British actor Simon Pegg , mingling with the fans, returns to the franchise as techie Benji. Ghost Protol was directed by Brad Bird ( The Incredibles, Ratatouille ) and was written by Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum.

Tom Cruise greeting fans

Tom Cruise greets a crowd of fans as he gets ready to promote the followup to Mission: Impossible III, released in 2006.

Paula Patton signs some autogrpahs for awaiting fans. The actress next stars in 2012's Disconnect with Alexander Skarsgard and Jason Bateman.

Fans at the Premiere

Excited fans hold up photos of Tom Cruise at the premiere of the fourth film in the Mission: Impossible franchise in Dubai. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is set to open in U.S. theaters Dec. 16.V

VIDEO: Scenes From Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Tom Cruise: Mission Impossible director shares death-defying stunt photo for actor’s 60th birthday

Cruise is famous for doing most of the dangerous movie stunts himself, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey

Get our the life cinematic email for free, thanks for signing up to the the life cinematic email.

Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie has shared a previously unseen stunt photo of Tom Cruise to celebrate the Hollywood star’s 60th birthday.

In the image, Cruise can be seen dangling from an airborne red biplane.

According to multiple reports, the photo was most likely taken during the filming of the forthcoming seventh Mission: Impossible movie, Dead Reckoning Part One , the penultimate film in the franchise.

Cruise is famous for doing most dangerous movie stunts himself.

During a live Q&A event at Cannes Film Festival this year, when French journalist Didier Allouch asked the Top Gun: Maverick star: “You are a family man with children! Why do [the stunts yourself]?”

Cruise replied: “Would you ask Gene Kelly why he does his own dancing?”

Last year, Cruise was spotted filming one of the stunts for Mission: Impossible 8 . He was photographed climbing out of a plane’s cockpit and onto its wing while 2,000 feet in the air.

For his most recent film Top Gun: Maverick – in which Cruise is reprising his role as naval aviator Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell more than 30 years after the original iconic 1986 film – the actor was determined to make the flying sequences as real as possible, meaning he was actually filmed inside F-18 fighter jets, while literally piloting them.

In 2017, Cruise also famously broke his ankle while jumping from one building to another in Mission: Impossible – Fallout , after which he got up and finished the scene.

For Mission: Impossible 7 , Cruise reportedly trained for an entire year to perfect one of the stunts where he performs a motorbike jump off a cliff into a valley in Norway.

In the lead up to the stunt, Cruise had 500 skydiving sessions and did 13,000 motorbike jumps. The shot itself was captured on the first day of filming.

Speaking in the featurette, Cruise said: “This is far and away the most dangerous thing I’ve attempted. We’ve been working on this for years. I wanted to do it since I was a little kid.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Director Christopher McQuarrie added: “The only thing that scares me more is what we’ve got planned for Mission 8 .”

In the franchise’s previous installments, Cruise has climbed cliffs in Australia with his bare hands, clung to a moving plane and climbed the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is scheduled for a 2023 release.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

• Latest News
• Emergencies
• Ask the Law
• GN Fun Drive
• Visa+Immigration
• Phone+Internet
• Reader Queries
• Safety+Security
• Banking & Insurance
• Dubai Airshow
• Corporate Tax
• Top Destinations
• Corporate News
• Electronics
• Home and Kitchen
• Consumables
• Saving and Investment
• Budget Living
• Expert Columns
• Community Tips
• Cryptocurrency
• Cooking and Cuisines
• Guide to Cooking
• Art & People
• Friday Partner
• Daily Crossword
• Word Search
• Philippines
• Australia-New Zealand
• Corrections
• Special Reports
• Pregnancy & Baby
• Learning & Play
• Child Health
• For Mums & Dads
• UAE Success Stories
• Live the Luxury
• Culture and History
• Staying Connected

Entertainment

• Live Scores
• Point Table
• Top Scorers
• Photos & Videos
• Course Reviews
• Learn to Play
• South Indian
• Arab Celebs
• Health+Fitness
• Gitex Global 2023
• Best Of Bollywood
• Special Features
• Investing in the Future
• Know Plan Go
• Gratuity Calculator
• Notifications
• Prayer Times

Tom Cruise caught on film in Dubai

Gulf News exclusively brings you video footage of Tom Cruise abseiling down the Burj Khalifa

The view on a clear day from the top of the world’s tallest building is always pretty impressive.

Throw in Tom Cruise dangling mid-air outside the window and impressive just got bumped to extraordinary.

Mathew, who has lived in the city for 16 years, looked out from behind the camera and did a double take before telling his wife, Caroline, and two children Luke, 6, and Eva, 4.

The 48-year-old Hollywood star, suspended by several safety wires, was filming a stunt for Mission Impossible IV.

The scene sees him chasing another actor around the outside of the 2,717ft Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai.

“I wanted to show my sister Caitlin something new and unique in Dubai as she has visited many times before,” said Mathew. “Mission accomplished I think.

“We stepped on the observation deck and a man appeared. I assumed it was a brave window cleaner. But then I recognised Tom and he waved. I continued to film as he descended down the building.

“Luke had a soft toy from school which the children take to unique places and take snaps of to show the class on Sunday morning. Luke has a picture of Kimberley the teddy with Tom Cruise. Don’t think she’ll get a better outing snap this year.

Stunned onlookers on the observation deck on the tower’s 124th floor told Gulf News they were amazed to see the star, who is famous for doing his own death-defying stunts, descend in front of them and abseil down the front of the building.

MI 4, starring Tom Cruise, is being filmed in Dubai for the next three weeks at various locations including the Burj Khalifa, Dubai International Financial Centre and the custom-built set at IMPZ.

Tom Cruise enjoyed a meal at Segretto at Jumeirah’s Al Qasr Hotel on Tuesday night.

Diners spotted him walking around the restaurant in shorts and trainers.  Tweet Tweet

We tweeted and he replied. Obviously happy to be in Dubai Tom (or his people) sent a message in Arabic for his Arabic-speaking fans in the region.

Roughly translated it said: Thanks to all Twitter users in Dubai who have sent us the greatest of messages – which we appreciate very much

Just a day before Gulf News sent an Arabic message to the star. It said: Welcome Tom Cruise in Dubai. What about your audience in the UAE and your fans in the Arab world? What do you have to say to them?

Keep in touch Tom. Click here to read more stories about Tom Cruise in Dubai.

Have you seen Tom Cruise in action in Dubai? Take pictures and videos and send it to us at [email protected]  or [email protected] . Include your mobile number (for our references only)

You can also upload your pictures here

More From Entertainment

Inside Bollywood's top designer Manish Malhotra's mind

Anora, All We Imagine as Light win top honors at Cannes

Trump vows to sue over explosive biopic

Film director Rasoulof fled Iran on foot: Report

Shah Rukh Khan celebrates KKR's win with heartfelt post

Watch: Vikrant Massey and Mouni Roy shine in 'Blackout'

Watch: George Clooney and Brad Pitt live it up in Wolfs

Three ‘Love Island’ suicides raise concerns about show

Rapper Drake may have a daughter

Review: is 'mr & mrs mahi' on a sticky wicket, know the teams at the icc men’s cricket world cup 2024, saudi traffic police stop car in high-speed chase, watch: uae president with emirati students in china, israeli military says combat in part of north gaza over.

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

• Destinations

Mission Possible? Tom Cruise to help boost Dubai tourism

Latest Mission Impossible film set to give Dubai a huge tourism boost when action flick hits theatres later this year. 

Private jet furore: Prince Harry hits back

Hosties accused of ‘secret code’ scam

New Caledonia is still a popular cruising choice

DUBAI is preparing for a tourism boom when the latest film in Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible franchise hits the screen later this year.

"This movie will expose Dubai to a young audience and highlights a fun and adventurous aspect to the Emirate that we expect will appeal to tourists,'' a Dubai Tourism's Australia director Julie King said. "It showcases the scale of the world's tallest building and showcases the amazing architecture of the building and its surrounds.'' Abu Dhabi received a similar profile boost after Sex and the City 2 was set there, despite the fact it was actually filmed in Morocco. Cruise spent several months in Dubai with his family last year while filming was taking place and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammad for his hospitality on his blog. "Dubai is an exceptionally beautiful and very family friendly location,'' he said. "My family and I spent our evenings at the water park, go-karting, indoor skiing, shopping, scuba diving, camel riding, desert dune bashing, and we still didn't fit in all that there is to enjoy!'' The film, which also includes scenes shot in Moscow and Vancouver, will be released in December. 

Harry and Meghan were labelled hypocrites after taking a private jet to Elton John’s $27 million mansion. Today the Prince finally hit back.

Flight attendants from United Airlines have been accused of manipulating the company, selling cushier flight routes to one another for profit.

From secluded aqua beaches to friendly locals, amazing wildlife and delicious island food — New Caledonia offers a wonderful adventure for Australian families close to home. And one of the best ways to see everything the French Pacific island has to offer is on a Carnival cruise.