Tom Cruise On Top Of Burj Khalifa
Tom Cruise has made a name for himself as one of the most daring and adventurous actors in Hollywood. From performing his own stunts in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise to hanging from the side of an airplane in "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation," Cruise has never shied away from a challenge. But perhaps his most iconic and awe-inspiring feat to date is when he climbed to the top of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol."
The Burj Khalifa: An Engineering Marvel
Before we dive into the details of Cruise's stunt, let's take a moment to appreciate the engineering masterpiece that is the Burj Khalifa. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the skyscraper stands at a staggering 2,717 feet tall, with 160 floors. It took six years to build and cost over $1.5 billion dollars. The building has broken numerous world records, including being the tallest freestanding structure in the world and having the highest outdoor observation deck.
One of the most impressive features of the Burj Khalifa is its Y-shaped floor plan, which is designed to significantly reduce wind forces on the building. The tower also has a system of sensors and dampers that keep it stable during high winds and seismic activity. The building's exterior features over 26,000 glass panels, which give it a stunning reflective surface.
The Mission: Impossible Stunt
Now let's talk about the heart-stopping scene in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" where Tom Cruise scales the Burj Khalifa. The scene is not CGI or green-screened – Cruise actually did the stunt himself. He spent months preparing for the climb, with training that included climbing the tallest building in the world without ropes or harnesses. The actual scene took four days to film, with Cruise performing the climb multiple times.
In the scene, Cruise's character Ethan Hunt scales the outside of the building using a pair of high-tech gloves that allow him to grip onto the glass surface. The film crew had to specially design the gloves so that they would look sleek and futuristic, while also providing enough grip for Cruise to safely climb the building. The gloves also featured a magnet system that allowed Cruise to attach himself to the building when he needed to rest or adjust his position.
The Risks Involved
The stunt was incredibly dangerous, with Cruise risking his life to perform it. The filmmakers took numerous precautions to ensure his safety, including using wires and harnesses for some of the shots, and having a team of safety experts on hand at all times. However, even with these precautions, there was still a risk of something going wrong.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cruise said that he was scared throughout the entire stunt, but that the fear propelled him to keep going. "I was scared shitless, but it was something that I wanted to do," he said. "I have a very high bar for myself and I wanted to do that sequence on the Burj Khalifa."
The Legacy Of The Stunt
The scene has become one of the most iconic moments in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, and has cemented Tom Cruise's reputation as one of the most daring actors in the business. It has also inspired other filmmakers to push the boundaries of what is possible in action filmmaking, with directors like Christopher Nolan and James Cameron using practical effects and stunts in their films.
So the next time you watch "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" and see Tom Cruise scaling the Burj Khalifa, remember that it's not just movie magic – it's a real-life feat of bravery and skill.