Action Stunts

Forget the stunt doubles, these actors prefer to do their own tricks during filming. They put their lives in harm’s way for the sake of an awesome scene—and we love them for it.

1. Daniel Craig as Bond, James Bond: When Craig was cast in Quantum of Solace in 2008, he was faced with performing most of his own stunts. The mother of these stunts was a leap from a three-story building onto a moving bus—a big feat for someone with a fear of heights. Had Craig missed his cue or jumped too soon the auditions for the James Bond role would have reopened.
2. Matt Damon as Jason Bourne: The star of the Bourne trilogy (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum) also does most of his own stunts. Despite his fear of drowning, he was in multiple scenes in the water and a scene where he jumps off of a bridge. Damon also performed in all of the car crash stunts of the series. (more…)

Before computer imaging technology took care of all the crazy stunts for the actors, daredevil stuntmen completed the dangerous stunts that made for one heck of a viewing experience. Here are the top 10 highest rated movie stunts of all time.

1. GoldenEye (1995): James Bond’s character, played by Pierce Brosnan with the help of stuntman extraordinaire Wayne Michaels, opens the film by bungee jumping 750 feet off of a Switzerland dam. The longest jump of all time, Michaels managed to execute it flawlessly and shoot a piton gun at the end—all in one take.
2. Ben Hur (1959): During the famous chariot race, Charlton Heston’s stunt double Joe Canutt is thrown from the front of his chariot and manages to cling on and climb back up. The final stunt was completely unplanned, making it even more nerve racking and crazy to watch. (more…)