Top 10 Tom Cruise action sequences

The greatest American action star of all time returns to theaters this weekend with “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.”

Tom Cruise routinely risks his life to provide top-tier big-screen spectacle, and for that, we thank him with this list of his most astonishing, action-packed moments. 

1. Helicopter chase, “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” (2018) 

Secret agent Ethan Hunt obviously makes multiple appearances on this list, and, honestly, one could sub out this entire list with 10 different sequences from the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. The subjective best action sequence in the series, however, comes from my favorite entry in the franchise. The climax for “Fallout” features an extensive showdown between Hunt and double-agent August Walker (Henry Cavill), who fly choppers through a narrow valley, fist fight on top of a mountain and dangle from various perilous heights. Fun fact: Cavill’s mustache in the movie led to the notorious “CGI upper lip” for Superman in “Justice League.” 

2. Dangling from the Burj Khalifa, “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” (2011) 

Director Brad Bird (known mostly for his animation efforts like “The Incredibles”) led Cruise and the “Mission” franchise to its prestige status by dangling Hunt on the outside of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. It’s the most anxiety-inducing sequence in the series. After watching the film, go to YouTube and search a late-night talk show video of Matt Damon discussing Cruise’s approach to the skyscraper stunt. 

3. Rome car chase, “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning” (2023) 

While the studio subsequently ditched “Part 1” for the title, this installment is required viewing before heading to the theater to see “The Final Reckoning.” Luckily, midway through the film, Cruise and co-star Hayley Atwell take a wild jaunt through Rome in a lengthy-but-never-dull car chase that also includes a few standout comedic punchlines.  

4. Final dogfight, “Top Gun” (1986) 

Yes, technically the aerial footage in the 2022 sequel exceeds the combat sequences from this '80s classic, but nearly 40 years later, the flying in “Top Gun” bests most action scenes from the '90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Bonus points for the presence of Val Kilmer. RIP. 

5. Magnet car escape, “Minority Report” (2002) 

This science-fiction collaboration between Cruise and Steven Spielberg remains one of the best blockbusters of the 2000s, especially in how it veers away from traditional action to stage some of Spielberg’s most creative sequences. Before all that though, the Master throws Cruise onto a futuristic freeway dodging gravity-defying cars. One of the taglines of this film was “Everybody runs.” Cruise basically spent the next 25 years running.   

6. The tripods attack, “War of the Worlds” (2005) 

Cruise and Spielberg reunited for this often-grim adaptation of the H.G. Wells alien invasion classic, and the film’s New York-set “arrival” sequence thoughtfully threads terror, suspense and spectacle, all from a ground-level perspective.  

7. First battle sequence, “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014) 

Chaos reigns in the opening moments of this “Groundhog Day”-tinged sci-fi spectacle (often referred to as “Live. Die. Repeat.”) in which Cruise plays a solider forced to relive an aliens vs. humans battleground until he figures out how to survive the onslaught. The first battle sets the stage for an entertaining one-two punch of Cruise and Emily Blunt.  

8. Bridge attack, “Mission: Impossible III” (2006) 

The “M:I” installment with the best overall villain (Philip Seymour Hoffman) also features a signature trailer moment in which an on-foot Hunt narrowly dodges a rocket from an attacking fighter jet, with the impact of the explosion throwing Cruise against a parked car.  

9. Catching the plane, “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation” (2015)

Ethan Hunt dangles on the outside of a plane during takeoff as the payoff moment of this film’s opening sequence. It remains the definitive image of just how far Cruise will go to make audiences gasp in astonishment. 

10. “Death Star” run, “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022)

The second half of this ultra-satisfying legacy sequel contains the best aerial combat footage ever staged on film. It’s so good that it really doesn’t matter that the film’s primary mission basically copies the key beats from Luke Skywalker’s Death Star run in the original “Star Wars.”

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at [email protected].

    Tom Cruise poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" on May 15 in London.