When we speak of action stunts, Tom Cruise and the Mission: Impossible franchise immediately come to mind. No other actor in Hollywood blew away fans with his determination and courage to perform death-defying moves other than the 62-year-old veteran star.
With such insane dedication, it is only fitting that the Oscars bestow a prize for the most impressive stunt performers. It is a good thing that the award-giving body is now considering it, given the lengthy legacy of the craft.
Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible stunt might not be eligible for Oscars
The Academy Awards is now giving an Oscar for Best Stunt after a long overdue process. Over the years, we’ve witnessed tons of explosive and adrenaline-pumping scenes in movies, and yet, they remain underappreciated. Even the stunt performers don’t get enough recognition.
Now, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that they are now honoring the efforts of our beloved stunt people. In a joint statement from CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang, they said (via USA Today):
Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking. We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists.
This is great news, but this will roll up in 2028 for the 100th Academy Awards. The category rules for eligibility will be announced in 2027. Tom Cruise’s final Mission: Impossible movie won’t even make the cut.
This is heartbreaking because the actor just set the record for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual as recognized by the Guinness World Record. In this particular scene, he leaped out of a helicopter 16 times wearing a parachute pre-soaked in fuel and later set on fire.
Light the fuse. pic.twitter.com/X1i1w70VOX
— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) June 5, 2025
The fact that this dangerous stunt—and the many other stunts the actor performed throughout his run in the Mission: Impossible franchise—might not be eligible to contend for the best stunt category in the upcoming Oscars is shocking and unacceptable.
No, but for them to wait until the film which has Tom Cruise falling with a parachute on fire, wing walking at 140mph, creating a whole new type of diving suit for the underwater scene, & jumping between 2 biplanes is not eligible for the best stunts Oscar is outright diabolical. pic.twitter.com/f1t6MOZu8q
— Catt (@cattbutt) June 5, 2025
Hopefully, the Academy would give Cruise a special accolade as recognition for his efforts in keeping the creative art of stunt performing alive.
Why Tom Cruise loves death-defying stunts
Cruise is no stranger to heights. He is a licensed skydiver and has performed hundreds of jumps in the past years in preparation for his latest movie. He always insists on doing his own stunts, and when asked why he would put his life at risk for a movie scene, the actor said it’s just in his blood.
Since he was a child, Cruise loved thrill-seeking adventures. As he grew older, he became fascinated with driving fast cars and climbing, among many other dangerous activities. It’s no wonder he’s the perfect actor to play a spy like Ethan Hunt.
However, it’s not only the adrenaline he gets from these physically demanding acts that give him satisfaction. It’s the fact that he is telling stories in the most authentic way, which becomes possible through discipline, tenacity, and passion.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is now showing in theaters worldwide.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
