A split-screen of explosions and a man clinging to a skyscraper, performing a high-intensity action stunt.

Hollywood: the land of glitz, glamor, and, of course, jaw-dropping stunts. Whether it’s a car soaring through the air, an actor clinging to the side of a skyscraper, or a fiery explosion, these moments aren’t just the product of movie magic — they’re made possible thanks to dauntless stunt performers.

Eager to immerse yourself in the action? Then you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at some of Hollywood’s most outlandish stunts, the daredevils who pulled them off, and the evolution of stunt work through the years.

Lights, Camera, Action: The Most 5 Most Epic Hollywood Stunts in History

When the cameras start rolling, that’s when the mind-blowing magic happens. Here are five of the most remarkable stunts ever completed in Hollywood history.

1. The Burj Khalifa Climb – Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Aerial view of a man scaling a tall skyscraper, with a cityscape seen from above, performing a daring stunt.

No list of far-out stunts would be complete without a mention of Tom Cruise. Though he’s notorious for doing his own stunts, Cruise wowed audiences to a new level when he scaled the world’s tallest building: the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Suspended over 1,700 feet in the air, Cruise climbed, ran, and swung across the glass exterior of this architectural marvel. Equal parts thrilling and stomach-dropping, it’s a scene you almost can’t bear to watch (but also can’t tear your eyes from).

2. The Chariot Race – Ben-Hur (1959)

Two racers in a chariot race, one in gold armor and the other in brown, racing through an ancient Roman-style arena.

What do you get when you combine sheer daring with next-level practical efforts? The chariot race in Ben-Hur.

Shot over five weeks, the scene involved real chariots, more than 15,000 extras, and none other than lead actor Charlton Heston facing real-life dangers. As the horses and chariots sped around the track at breakneck speeds, the risks rose with each passing second. In fact, a near-fatal accident in which an extra was thrown from a horse was left in the final cut of the movie, adding to the intensity of the scene.

3. The Destruction of Blofeld’s Base – Spectre (2015)

A massive explosion at a secret dome facility as two characters look on from a distance in this dramatic action scene.

When it comes to explosions, it doesn’t get any bigger or badder than this. Staged in Morocco, the obliteration of Blofeld’s base in Spectre used a whopping 10,000 liters of fuel and 33kg of explosives.

The result? An explosion that was equivalent to 68 tonnes of TNT and lasted over seven seconds.

The maneuver even earned the Guinness World Record for the largest film stunt explosion in history.

 4. Keanu Reeve’s Bus Jump – Speed (1994)

A bus leaps through the air off a highway overpass during a high-speed chase, defying gravity in an iconic action scene in the movie Speed.

Though this movie was brimming with high-octane moments, there’s one in particular that stands out: the iconic bus jump.

Playing Officer Jack Tavern, Reeves is on a mission to foil a terrorist’s deadly scheme: a bomb that’s planted on a city bus and will detonate if the bus goes less than 50 miles per hour. To keep the bus moving at all costs, Jack has to launch the bus over a 50-foot gap in an unfinished freeway.

Although CGI helped smooth out the final shot, the stunt required a hell of a lot of two things: coordination and guts.

 5. The Aston Martin Roll – Casino Royale (2006)

A car flips dramatically in mid-air during a high-speed chase on a dark, isolated road at night.

It should come as no surprise that this is the second James Bond movie to grace this list. Since its inception, the franchise has been renowned for its larger-than-life, boundary-pushing action stunts — and Casino Royale was no exception.

In a breathtaking sequence, Bond’s sleek, silver Aston Martin flips through the air — seven full rotations — before crashing back down. The best part? This wasn’t brought to life with the help of CGI. It was the feat of real-life stunt driving.

Behind the wheel, stunt driver Adam Kirley pulled off this dizzying move with a perfect blend of timing, precision, and nerves of steel. The maneuver even earned a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls performed in a car stunt.

From Risk to Reality: The Evolution of Stunt Work Over the Years

You may be wondering: what did stunt work look like in the early days of cinema? In a word, dangerous. With no visual effects to rely on, these feats were performed by daredevils who relied on nothing but physicality, clever camera angles, and bravery.

As technology evolved, so did the nature of stunt work. Advances in rigging, harnesses, and specialized vehicles allowed filmmakers to push the boundaries of what was physically possible. Thanks to more sophisticated technology, stunt performers could tackle more ambitious stunts without risking their lives.

Then, the digital age transformed the stunt world even more. CGI transformed the landscape of filmmaking, making it possible to simulate wild situations without putting anyone in harm’s way. Epic explosions? No problem. Gravity-defying leaps? Can do.

With that said, practical stunts are far from disappearing; on the contrary, they’ve evolved alongside these technologies. After all, there’s something intangible about the adrenaline of a real stunt — an electric tension that no computer graphics can replicate. That’s why, even in the age of CGI, stunt legends like William Spencer, Jackie Chen and Tom Cruise are continuing to defy limits.

Ryan Gosling swings from a crane while shooting an action scene with an explosion with fire and a shocked woman played by Emily Blunt in a nearby vehicle.

The Future of Stunts: What’s Next for Hollywood’s Daredevils?

When it comes to action, Hollywood’s history of stunts has shown us that anything is possible. Even as CGI and AI continue to reshape the industry, the blood-pumping thrill of practical stunts shows no signs of dulling. If anything, the future of stunt work is looking more exciting than ever.

To learn more about this exhilarating path forward, tune into the latest episode of the Team Ignition Show podcast. In it, host Leticia Bufoni sits down for a chat with stunt performer and action actor William Spencer. Known for his work in Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Amazing Spider-Man series, and Maze Runner, Spencer knows exactly what it takes to bring Hollywood’s most nail-biting moments to life.

William Spencer Leticia Bufoni The Team Ignition Show Episode 1 Part 1