Tom Cruise shares BTS video of hanging upside-down from plane for ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’: ‘There were times I’d pass out’

Here’s a snippet of the stunt shared by Cruise on his Instagram profile:

 

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A post shared by Tom Cruise (@tomcruise)

Why hanging upside down can be dangerous

Dr Basavaraj S Kumbar, consultant, internal medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, said that remaining upside down for extended periods can be extremely dangerous. “It can lead to unconsciousness due to increased blood pressure in the head and decreased blood flow to essential organs. Symptoms such as dizziness and disorientation may begin within minutes,” Dr Kumbar said.

In more severe cases, he warned, a person could lose consciousness within five to ten minutes. “If the inversion lasts for more than 30 minutes, it could even become fatal due to blood pooling in the brain and reduced oxygen supply to the heart,” he said.

The impact shooting such physically stressful scenes

According to Dr Basavraj, shooting upside-down scenes is extremely physically demanding on the body. “The elevated blood pressure in the head may result in headaches, dizziness and eye strain. In such cases, the heart has to work harder to circulate blood, which may lead to discomfort or fatigue,” he said.

Actors performing such stunts may also experience muscle strain, particularly in the core and neck, as they attempt to control their posture. “Without proper breaks and support, prolonged upside-down positioning could lead to nausea, disorientation, and, in severe cases, fainting,” Dr Basavraj said.