8 stunts that defied the laws of gravity

Have you ever fallen in love with a film for its dangerous jumps, leaps and falls? Although it is true that films are make-believe, what about the stunts? Stunts often add to the excitement and thrill of the film and keep viewers at the edge of their seats with their heart in their mouth.

Here is a list of eight such stunts from some of the best films that will leave you mind-blown.

1. Dam bungee jump - Goldeneye

If you recall, this film was released after the longest gap in 007 history, when Pierce Brosnan took over the James Bond franchise. It was the first scene of the film itself that blew the audiences’ socks off. Wayne Michaels is the stuntman responsible for the 720-foot bungee jump on the Contra Dam, which broke world records at the time. Reports state that he passed out after the fall but managed to pull out the prop gun before doing so.

2. Window leap - The Bourne Ultimatum

If you have watched the film, you will definitely be able to recall the famous jump from the balcony window to the floor below. The jump lasts for about two seconds on screen but is guaranteed to leave an impact. If you watch the behind-the-scenes footage of the stunt, you will realize that the camera operator is also making a jump, along with Matt Damon’s stunt double. This is what makes the audience feel like they are experiencing the fall too.

3. Underwater stunt - Now You See Me

Although not incredibly amusing to look at, Isla Fisher finds herself chained in a tank of water in the film. The stunt was dangerous to shoot; the actress has previously spoken about how the chains she was bound with got stuck during the filming of the scene. This caused her to remain underwater for about three minutes. Fortunately, she was able to free herself; but the incident made the scene as realistic as possible.

4. Plane scene - Mission impossible: Rogue nation

In this film starring Tom Cruise, the actor was strapped to an Airbus 400, which flew 1000 feet above ground level. Of course, there are a few visual effects used to erase the harness, wires and cameras, but apart from that, the scene was not only thrilling but also completely authentic.

5. The train scene - Ra.One

The film, popularly known for its catchy song, ‘Chammak Challo,’ is also known for Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic leap into a local train, which he grinds to a halt at VT. This is done to stop the possessed train driver from crashing the train and putting the passengers’ lives at risk.

6. Roof fall - John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum

At the end of the film, we witness the hero plummet from the roof of a building and bounce between neighbouring balconies. In this stunt, Reeves’ stand-in, Jackson Spidell, falls from a replica scaffolding. The scene is terrifying to watch and knowing it was 100 percent real makes it even scarier.

7. Dragging the vault through the street – Fast Five

Dominic Toretto, played by the iconic Vin Diesel and his gang are forced to steal a vault full of money belonging to Hernan Reyes, a criminal mastermind. The team breaks into the police station where the vault is kept and pulls it out with the help of dodge chargers that are well-known for having high horsepower. They drag the vault across the city and destroy several buildings and vehicles as the police chase them. Jack Gill, the stunt coordinator, built multiple vaults for the scene. Two of these vaults were also mobile during the chase.

8. The fight in the hallway – Inception

Inception is famous for being a rather mind-boggling film. It is hailed by critics and is one of the best films out there. If you’ve watched the film, you probably recall the fight scene that took place in the rotating hallway. Although the scene is a dream sequence, Christopher Nolan, the director of the film, insisted on making it as realistic as possible. Due to the complexity of the scene, it reportedly took three weeks to shoot and had about 500 crew members on set.