50 Riskiest Movie Projects

Did cinema's biggest gambles pay off?

By Simon KinnearFeb 18th 2013
47

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

The Movie: The fourth in Tom Cruise's spy franchise sees the star getting a little too cocky about performing his own stunts.

The Risk: The Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai is, at 2,722 ft, the tallest man-made structure in the world. It is not somewhere you want your A-list movie star hanging out of without a stunt double, but that's exactly what Cruise insisted on doing.

Did It Pay Off?: Yes, yes, he was thoroughly protected with safety harnesses, but just try watching the sequence without your heart jumping into your mouth.

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Comments

    • Hadouken76

      Feb 18th 2013, 15:29

      Southland Tales, Waterworld and Superman Returns also

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    • rosshorgan

      Feb 18th 2013, 19:17

      Inception should be in the top 10 at the very least.

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    • FBJRider

      Feb 18th 2013, 22:36

      Inception wasn't a risk at all. It's a weird film but it was Nolan was riding high on the wave of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, no matter what his next film was after those two it was going to be a hit.

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    • MRNasher

      Feb 21st 2013, 11:47

      Well hell.. a well researched and considered piece on Totalfilm again! Bravo :)

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    • FBYBrown

      Feb 23rd 2013, 5:50

      Apocalypse Now is my all-time favorite. I've watched both versions of the film and the documentary "Hearts Darkness", which really broke down all the insanity making this film. My favorite.

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