Washington DC [US], June 6: The legendary Mission: Impossible franchise, launched in 1996 with Tom Cruise as super-spy Ethan Hunt, continues to push the limits of action cinema. In the final chapter, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise has achieved yet another astonishing milestone — a Guinness World Record.
According to Deadline, Cruise performed 16 flaming parachute jumps from a helicopter for a jaw-dropping stunt in the film, earning the world record for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual. The stunt, filmed in South Africa’s Drakensberg mountains, required weeks of preparation and involved a fuel-soaked parachute ignited mid-air. After freefalling, Cruise detached the flaming chute and deployed a backup parachute.
“Tom doesn’t just play action heroes — he is an action hero!” said Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records’ editor-in-chief. “His commitment to realism and his fearless pursuit of cinematic authenticity are unmatched.”
To capture the heart-stopping sequence, Cruise even wore a 50-lb Snorri camera rig during multiple takes to get immersive, close-up shots. A behind-the-scenes featurette showed all 16 takes, with Cruise briefing the crew beforehand, emphasizing safety over risk.
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and co-written with Erik Jendresen, The Final Reckoning follows Ethan Hunt as he tries to stop a rogue AI, known as The Entity, from wreaking global chaos. The film, released in theatres on May 23, promises a dramatic conclusion to the beloved eight-film saga.
Alongside Cruise, the cast features franchise regulars Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Kirby, and Hayley Atwell, with Esai Morales as the main antagonist. New additions include Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, Katy O’Brian, and Tramell Tillman.