Tom Cruise relies on a specific diet and constant training to execute the intricate physical demands of the Mission: Impossible film series. As he gears up for the eighth installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the actor detailed the regimen supporting his on-screen feats.
The upcoming film features Cruise attempting stunts like wing-walking, where he moves on the wing of an airplane in flight. To fuel his body for such intense activities, the 62-year-old actor consumes a substantial morning meal.
"I actually eat a massive breakfast," Cruise told People magazine. He described the meal as including sausage, almost a dozen eggs, bacon, toast, coffee and fluids, noting the high altitude and cold temperatures during filming require significant energy.
Beyond diet, Cruise trains continuously in various disciplines to maintain peak physical condition for his performances. This training includes activities such as singing, dancing, motorcycles, cars, skydiving and speed-flying. He approaches these skills with a focus on perpetual improvement, acknowledging some, like playing the piano, remain works in progress.
The desire to perform stunts like wing-walking stems from childhood inspiration. While vintage aircraft performed the maneuver at lower speeds, Cruise noted the planes used for his film stunt travel over 120 miles per hour, describing the experience as "takes your breath away."
Simon Pegg, who plays Benji Dunn alongside Cruise's Ethan Hunt since the third film, has witnessed many of these stunts firsthand. He recalled watching Cruise scale Dubai’s Burj Khalifa for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, seeing a "big s--- eating grin on his face."
Pegg noted other moments induced nervousness, particularly the sequence in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation where Cruise hung onto the outside of a military plane during takeoff. Pegg said it was the first time he saw Cruise appear visibly nervous due to the numerous variables involved.
Cruise himself acknowledged the inherent risk of the Rogue Nation plane stunt. He recalled thinking, "Oh, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea," once the plane began taxiing, but felt committed to the shot for the story. His late mother reportedly expressed relief she hadn't known about that specific stunt beforehand.
The motorcycle jump off a cliff in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One stood out to Pegg as particularly "nail-biting." Cast and crew waited for confirmation over the radio that Cruise's parachute opened safely after he disappeared from view.
The latest film, The Final Reckoning, continues the story from Dead Reckoning Part One, with Ethan Hunt working to confront the AI villain known as The Entity. The cast also features Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Kirby and Pom Klemetieff, among others.
Cruise maintains a busy schedule, often working seven days a week acting, producing and training. He enjoys applying learned skills to filmmaking. "It's not what I do," Cruise stated regarding his passion for making movies. "It's who I am."
Tom Cruise told People, "I love making movies."
