Tom Cruise's Passion for Doing His Own Stunts Dates Back to 1983's The Outsiders

Published: June 16, 2025

Tom Cruise's love for performing his own stunts dates back to 1983 film The Outsiders, according to his co-star Rob Lowe. Speaking on SiriusXM's Literally! with Rob Lowe, Lowe recounted how the actors had to "practice to be gymnasts" during the film.

"And I don't know if you've ever learned a standing backflip," Lowe said, adding: "It's hard, it's scary as s---."

Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe in 1983's 'The Outsiders

Lowe said there was "a lot of pressure" on the cast "to like learn backflips and do all this s---."

"And I don't know if you've ever learned a standing backflip," he added. "It's hard, it's scary as s---. And of course, there was only one person — Tom was the only one who did it. And if you watch the movie, the movie is playing and then the movie just stops. And there's a shot of Tom doing a backflip for no reason. And then the movie continues. I realized that's where it started for him, 100% that's where it started."

Ralph Macchio, who was also on the podcast and appeared in The Outsiders, added: "And then he was quite driven from day one. I mean, that gentleman had a plan ... he has the backflip and he comes up grabbing the back of his head 'cause I'm not so sure he stuck the landing ... it was out of frame."

Lowe joked, "By the way, maybe it's a Texas switch," adding: "let's start a rumor right now, that Tom Cruise actually doesn't do his stunts and we have the evidence and the evidence is The Outsiders."

Of course, Cruise does indeed do his stunts, with Lowe and Macchio noting that in his latest film, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Cruise filmed a scene in which he parachutes out of a plane, while the parachute is burning.

"Just when you think you've seen it all, the burning parachute ... It makes my stomach hurt," Lowe said.