Tom Cruise has practically rewritten the rulebook on stunt work, fearlessly flinging himself into danger film after film. From scaling the dizzying heights of the Burj Khalifa to clutching a plane mid-takeoff, from jumping off cliffs on motorcycles to diving into the deep, Cruise has stared death in the face—and filmed it in IMAX. Now, in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, he dives back into the madness—literally—with another jaw-dropping underwater stunt. 

Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning pushes limits further, with Cruise opening up on the brutal health risks behind one of his toughest feats yet.

Tom Cruise’s most daring underwater stunt has finally been unveiled, with a thrilling clip from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning now making waves. In an interview with Empire magazine, Cruise opened up about the brutal shoot, which took place in an 8.5 million-liter gimbal-controlled water tank. Playing Ethan Hunt as he explores a sunken submarine, Cruise wore a specially designed 125-pound diving suit. “I’m breathing in my own carbon dioxide,” he admitted, explaining he could only endure the gear for 10 minutes before hypoxia set in. Cruise's long-time collaborator also weighed in on the scene.

Christopher McQuarrie, director of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, described filming the underwater scene as both “terrifying” and “physically punishing” for Tom Cruise. The sequence involved a rotating tank filled with wreckage, where McQuarrie aimed to create a chaotic, off-kilter world that still needed to be repeatable. Cruise had to master this relentless environment, navigating it with precision just to survive the intense shoot. After earning well-deserved praise for his performance and giving the box office a hit, Cruise took a moment to thank his fans in a heartfelt note.

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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning smashed Memorial Day box office records, and Tom Cruise took a heartfelt moment to thank his fans and staff for making it happen.

Tom Cruise took to Instagram to share a deeply emotional message after Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning delivered a historic Memorial Day weekend at the box office. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to every filmmaker, artist, crew member, studio worker, and theater employee who made the film possible. Most importantly, Cruise reserved his greatest thanks for the fans, saying, “And most of all, THANK YOU to audiences everywhere—” before adding, “for whom we all serve and for whom we all LOVE to entertain." His appreciation for his fans was clear and genuine.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and co-written with Erik Jendresen, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning marks Tom Cruise’s final bow as Ethan Hunt—a role that defined a generation of action cinema. With a stellar cast including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett, the film is a celebration of legacy and grit. Amid talks of his intense stunts, it was his charming popcorn moment that melted the internet. At 62, Cruise is not just performing stunts—he is writing a love letter to cinema, one impossible mission at a time.

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