Tom Cruise on The Tonight Show: How He Raised the “Mission: Impossible” Bar Higher Than Ever

Tom Cruise is not just an actor—he’s a phenomenon. And whenever he sits down for a talk show, especially with Jimmy Fallon, you know you’re about to get behind-the-scenes insights that make his on-screen feats seem even more incredible. On a recent episode of The Tonight Show, Cruise joined Fallon to talk about the latest epic installment, “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning,” and what it really takes to pull off a real-life action hero career spanning decades.

Old Friends, New Feats

The energy between Cruise and Fallon was electric from the start. Fresh from a surprise crowd stunt, Cruise beamed about the experience: “It’s great to be back… It was so beautiful.” Cruise, ever humble, celebrated the connection with fans as Fallon praised his near-legendary status as a movie star who keeps blowing audiences away, not only with charisma but with gravity-defying (sometimes sanity-defying) stunts.

Lifting Others Up—Even Off the Charts

This isn’t just a man who influences the box office. Fallon shared a fun story: pop megastar The Weeknd credits a Tom Cruise lip-sync performance of “Can’t Feel My Face” for helping his song reach number one on the charts. “That actually helped the song,” The Weeknd confirmed in a previous appearance, much to Cruise’s delight. “What a nice guy,” Cruise grinned, genuinely thrilled to not just meet The Weeknd at his movie premiere, but know he’d been part of someone else’s success.

Thirty Years of Ethan Hunt: Each Stunt Crazier Than the Last

Fallon marveled at Cruise’s willingness to up the ante with each “Mission: Impossible” film. From dangling barefoot off cliffs to gripping jets as they thunder down runways, to toppling off skyscrapers and now, performing wing walks on classic biplanes, Cruise’s approach is simple: see it, imagine it, do it… for real.

“Do you manifest it?” Fallon asked. Cruise nodded. “Yeah, I do. I remember seeing black and white footage of the early days of wing walking and I thought, ‘Wow, I’d love to do that’… and so we did.” He discussed the evolution of aerial action from “Top Gun” through to these new breathtaking sequences, revealing that the ambition to push boundaries is what keeps him inspired—and keeps moviegoers in awe.

Real Stunts, Real Danger, Real Preparation

Cruise wasn’t shy about the preparation and danger involved: “It’s absolutely intense. The air pressure is so high… you have to figure out how to breathe with that wind force,” he explained. Training for stunts—like hanging outside a plane at 145 mph, or floating between wings with zero gravity—takes years. “We spent a year and a half testing the biplane stunt. Honestly, it’s taken decades in aviation and continuous practice to get here.”

For a taste of what that preparation looks like, Cruise brought exclusive footage—a behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsal and fine-tuning of these wild new feats alongside his longtime collaborator, director Christopher McQuarrie. The dedication is staggering, but Cruise brushed it off with a laugh: “People are like, ‘It’s crazy.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah.’”

Underwater, Underground, Unbelievable

Just when you think Cruise can’t go further, the latest “Mission: Impossible” entry throws in a 20-minute underwater submarine sequence. Cruise detailed how the crew built the largest water tanks in the world so these scenes could be filmed practically (no shortcuts here), with real underwater danger and real submarine rotation. “I can’t see a lot of the time because of the lighting,” Cruise explained, not to mention his wet suit increases in weight by 125 pounds.

The training to prepare for these takes place in what Cruise calls “the Pain Cave”—his private gym, famously bearing a sign that reads, ‘Only the motivated may enter.’ Decades of discipline, grit, and pushing through pain to perfect every impossible shot—this is the real story behind each blockbuster headline.

Why He Does It

Despite risking life and limb, Cruise insists it’s all done for the audience. “I love these movies, all the way back to the silent era. I want to give the public what they can’t see anywhere else.” Each jaw-dropping sequence is an evolution, not just for the franchise, but for Cruise’s own relentless pursuit of excellence.

IMAX or Bust

Cruise closed by urging fans to see “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning” the way it was meant to be seen: on the biggest screen possible. “You have to see it in IMAX,” he insisted. “Go see it in a theater. It’s worth it.” In true Cruise fashion, everyone in the Tonight Show audience got free tickets (“thanks to Tom Cruise!” Fallon crowed), and viewers got a special preview of the film—packed with submarine chases, peril, and, of course, Tom Cruise doing the unthinkable.

The Adventure Never Ends

After more than thirty years as Ethan Hunt—a role that has defined and redefined his superstar legacy—Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down. Whether it’s in the air, underwater, or behind the scenes, the message to fans is clear: the mission, however impossible, goes on.

With each appearance, each audacious stunt, and every infectious grin, Cruise proves he’s not done inspiring audiences—or himself—just yet. And as fans spill out of theaters, adrenaline still pumping from his latest adventure, the verdict remains unanimous: nobody does it like Tom Cruise.