The dangerous science of movie stunts

How to Know It’s Time for the Movies, Not Accounting

A personality reboot can help you determine just how strong your desire to become a stunt performer really is. You need to find out whether you truly have that spark—the one that separates an ordinary person from an action movie hero.

Start by measuring your adrenaline level. A parachute jump is the perfect way to test how ready you are to take risks. In the moment of the jump—if you go through with it—ask yourself: are you flying toward your dream or just trying not to pass out from fear? You can also fuel your adrenaline by rafting down a mountain river. If you enjoy it, you probably have nerves of steel and a thirst for adventure. And if parachuting or rafting sound too extreme, try riding a rollercoaster and see if you can keep your lunch down.

Okay, that was a joke—sort of. Today’s world of extreme hobbies has come a long way, but dangerous professions still require professional skills and years of grueling training.

Just about 100 years ago, all you needed to become a stunt performer was a little bit of acting talent, a sparkle in your eyes, a touch of madness, and a desperate need for money.

Stunt Masters on the Bench

During the silent film era, the world saw truly brilliant actors. It took special talent and expressive staging techniques to convey meaning and emotion without words—especially in extreme scenes. The stars would slip on banana peels, fall off cars, and balance at great heights. All those risky moves were done live—they were the result of careful planning, a certain level of stunt mastery, and real courage. But not all actors were willing to take such risks, which is how the need for stunt doubles emerged.

In Hollywood in the 1910s and 1920s, it was common for unemployed people to gather on benches outside studios, playing cards and waiting for someone to offer them easy money. When an assistant director came out and asked, “Who wants to make 10 bucks?”, no one even asked what the job was. They were taken into a studio and given a task—for example, to jump off a tall roof. If the person survived unscathed, they got paid. If they broke something, the studio covered a few days in the hospital.

The first known stunt payment was just 5 dollars. In 1908, an unknown daredevil earned it by jumping off a cliff into the water.

Cinematic history marks a key date—November 12, 1910. That’s when the first filmed stunt was performed: a person jumped from a burning hot air balloon into the Hudson River.

There’s also another theory about the profession’s origin. Some researchers believe stunt work was born on the theater stage. Many circus performers claim the first stuntman came from the circus world. In fact, the word “stuntman” itself (in many languages) is derived from the word “cascade,” a term used for a type of circus trick.

All Your Math Just Flew Out the Window, Folks

Planning any stunt requires precise calculations and measurements. Sometimes stunt performers handle this themselves, but often they rely on expert consultations.

During the filming of a catapult stunt, acrobat Paul Malvern narrowly escaped death. Before performing the maneuver, he expressed doubts about the flight calculations, but director Alan Crosland insisted filming begin immediately, citing mathematical precision. The stuntman then suggested a test using a sandbag to verify the trajectory. From his recollections:

“They loaded the bag, fired it—and the entire crew craned their necks and watched as it flew over the safety net, past the stage, and landed on a city street a block and a half away.”

The stunt was eventually filmed successfully, but only after a series of tests and adjustments.

Weighing Psychological Qualities and Chances of Success 

A stunt performer must possess physical strength and agility, iron willpower, nerves of steel, and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure. It also takes countless hours of training, exhausting shoots, constant muscle pain, intense focus, executing stunts at the edge of human limits, risk, injuries, and failures. The ability to stay calm in stressful situations and trust your team is also essential.

Psychologists divide people in this profession into two categories:

The first group craves constant risk. Without it, life feels bland—like food without salt. Their sense of fear is weak; they simply don’t believe they can die.

The second group enters the field seeking social or financial status. They meticulously rehearse stunts, pay attention to every detail, are punctual and reliable. These are the high-level professionals who coordinate dangerous scenes.

Falling Doesn’t Mean Crashing

“Remember: the more you train, the less you fear. Fear is your main enemy. If you’re scared, it means you’re not well prepared. Go back to the gym, train, improve your technique, and believe in yourself. Then any stunt will be within your reach.”
—Advice from a seasoned stunt performer

Before you leap onto a trampoline from a tall building or climb onto the roof of a burning set, you need to learn how to land properly. This too is an art form that requires technique, experience, and fearlessness.

The safest way to learn how to fall correctly is by working with professionals. They’ll teach you proper form, how to tuck and roll, how to distribute impact across your body, and how to avoid injury. 

There Must Always Be Safety Gear

What could be simpler than jumping into a burning building?

Stunt performers use safety equipment such as gym mats, nets, wires, props, and set decorations during stunt execution. Even short sequences—lasting only 3–4 seconds—require extensive preparation: planning, organizing, rehearsing, and multiple takes to reduce risks.

Unfortunately, tragedies still occur on film sets.

David Holmes was the stunt double for Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Holmes was performing what was considered a relatively simple stunt at Warner Brothers Studios—he had to crash into a wall. For such stunts, the performer is strapped to a wire, which is then pulled tight, sending the actor flying back or forward into an obstacle. Protective mats are usually placed at the impact point to soften the blow. For unknown reasons, Holmes missed the mat and hit the wall directly. The accident left him paralyzed.

Wires often make actors appear to “levitate” on screen. The sturdy ropes with special hooks are securely fastened to tall structures or props. In post-production, the wires are digitally removed, making them invisible in the final cut. Working a 12-hour shift suspended in midair is extremely demanding—even for seasoned stunt professionals. Sometimes, they have to hang upside down for extended periods, if the shot requires it.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the suspension systems used were fragile-looking piano wires. These delicate strings became the main tool for creating the illusion of flight. Though they could bear tremendous weight, they required careful handling — a sudden jerk could instantly snap the thin wire, sending the actor or their stunt double into free fall.

In the 1924 film The Thief of Bagdad, as many as 16 wires held up the flying carpet. These same wires brought to life a giant bat, a terrifying octopus, and other monsters imagined by the screenwriters.

The Fighter of the Invisible Front

A good stunt performer is like an invisible man. You stare right at them for the entire film and never realize it. It seems like it’s your favorite actor falling off a skyscraper or leaping from an exploding car at the last second — but it’s not.

In Hollywood, stunt performers are members of the Screen Actors Guild, but unfortunately, the Oscars don’t recognize them. To honor their work, professional organizations have established their own awards: the Taurus World Stunt Awards and the Action Icon Awards. These awards recognize skill in all categories — from best fight scenes to the most spectacular car stunts.

Many stars began their careers as stunt performers. Jackie Chan honed his skills for years in a drama academy before becoming one of the leading action stars. When the world needed a new action hero, he broke onto the big screen as an actor. His realistic stunts combined with his comedic charm made him a global sensation. Audiences wouldn’t accept a “fake” — they needed real stunt training behind the scenes.

Becoming a stunt professional is difficult, but possible. Even the most badass stunt double was once a beginner who just refused to quit and took the long, demanding road to mastery.

New times bring new opportunities. You can forget the old-fashioned safety ropes and crash mats. Today, to become a stunt performer, you need more than strong muscles and a fearless heart — you also need tech skills: from VR simulators to smart helmets. Advanced technology is opening new horizons; maybe your gadget will become your ticket into the world of complex stunts.

Catch Yourself — If You Can

Welcome to a world where falling is just a pause. You can hover in the air, think things through, and then continue the stunt. Head Rush Technologies, a trendsetter in the world of automated belaying, has sparked a revolution. They introduced the new TRUBLUE IQ and IQ+ device lines.

The boring old belay systems that would drop thrill-seekers quickly to the ground after a fall are a thing of the past. The new TRUBLUE technology with IQ mode is like hitting the “pause” button in real life. The device grabs and holds the actor in the air for up to 30 seconds. The performer falls, and the system catches and holds them, giving time to safely resume the ascent or decide what to do next. For example, a motorcycle speeds along a cliff edge, and the IQ+ system catches it, allowing time to choose whether to continue falling or try to avoid the obstacle. The “catch and hold” feature can be turned on and off with touch panels at the start and end of the course.

When the Car Speeds, But the Driver is Miles Away

When the Car Speeds, But the Driver is Miles Away

It’s time to forget cramped cabins and the risk of smashing your head. The era of remote driving makes it possible. Now, you can drive a car from a seat thousands of kilometers away — and it doesn’t take much to do it.

The Lincoln MKZ — a ghost car with tinted windows so no one sees it’s empty inside — uses two Samsung Galaxy S10 5G smartphones mounted on the roof as its eyes. The phones are slightly offset to create a stereoscopic effect and improve perception, giving the car 3D vision.

On the driver’s head is a Samsung Gear VR headset, allowing them to see the world through the car’s eyes. There’s no need for a cockpit — the driver becomes the car.

Software developed by Designated Driver acts as the system’s brain, remotely controlling the vehicle. Experiments have proven that it’s possible to drive a car even across the Atlantic Ocean.

Stunt Execution Algorithm:

▪️ Galaxy S10 5G smartphones capture the environment and stream it to the Gear VR headset.

▪️ The driver, located miles away from the car, sees the world through the car’s eyes and controls it as if behind the wheel.

▪️ The 5G network ensures minimal latency, letting the driver react to road situations almost instantly.

The Stunt Performer’s Tech Upgrade

To survive in a world of explosions, fire, and dizzying falls, courage alone isn’t enough. Today’s stunt performer relies on a toolkit of high-tech gadgets that turn life-threatening maneuvers into carefully calculated risks.

Let’s take a look inside a stunt performer’s toolkit:

▪️ When fire plays a game of cat and mouse, the stunt double stands at the center of the fiery whirlwind, yet not a drop of sweat appears on their face. This effect is achieved with a special gel that has thermal insulation properties. It absorbs the heat and provides precious seconds for a dramatic escape.

▪️ Air Ram – a launch accelerator and a ticket to the skies for those unafraid of heights. This pneumatic board is essentially a powerful burst of compressed air. It propels the object up to 2 meters high and 7 meters across. It’s perfect for those spectacular airborne entrances on camera. 

▪️ For stunt performers who skipped P.E. class, harnesses lend a helping hand with flips and somersaults. Single- and three-point swivels allow even beginners to perform breathtaking midair tricks after minimal training. These harnesses are practically invisible under clothing, so audiences never guess the secret behind the stunt double’s agility.

When Robots Become Stunt Doubles. Disney is rewriting the rules of action

A stunt robot diving off a burning building, flipping gracefully in the air, and landing perfectly on a crash pad. It sounds surreal, but it’s real. In the near future, robots may be the ones risking their “lives” — no insurance, no million-dollar contracts required.

Disney unveiled the Stuntronics project — smart robotic assistants that fly, leap, and navigate space with precision, adjusting their movements mid-air to appear as lifelike as possible. These robots feature a streamlined design and are becoming increasingly human-like. Built-in accelerometers, gyroscopes, and laser rangefinders enable them to calculate trajectories, execute complex jumps, and land accurately.

At the core of the project lies the Stickman technology — an acrobatic robot equipped with advanced sensors that allow it to perform aerial stunts. The secret to the realistic movements lies in optimized joint mechanics that mimic the human body. These robots don’t feel pain, aren’t afraid of death, and can tackle the most dangerous stunts with zero risk to human life.  

The Universal Soldier in a Vest

A stunt performer who can lift cars with one hand, run like a cheetah, and withstand impacts that would break ordinary bones — this is no longer science fiction.

Exoskeletons are turning humans into universal soldiers on set. These external frameworks enhance an actor’s physical abilities. They mirror the body’s natural movements while boosting strength and endurance, allowing for the execution of tasks previously deemed impossible — lifting and moving props, set pieces, even vehicles — all without injury.

With exoskeletons, stunt performers can endure grueling action scenes for longer without fatigue. This is especially valuable during long shooting days. The exoskeleton supports joints and muscles, reducing the risk of strains, sprains, and fractures.

As early as the 1960s, General Electric developed the first electric-hydraulic structure called Hardiman, which resembled a powered exosuit. This very concept was brought to life in the final battle of Aliens, where Lieutenant Ellen Ripley wields a similar suit against the alien queen.

From Classics to Modern Action 

To wrap up this article on a high note, we’ve selected a list of films that will inspire you to reach new heights in the world of stunt performance. Many of these movies feature real stunts, performed without the use of CGI. They showcase the incredible dedication of actors and stunt performers who risk their lives to create breathtaking scenes. Watching these films might not make you a stuntperson, but they just might help you overcome any challenge life throws your way.

The Stunt Man (1980)

This film offers a behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking and the hardships of working as a stunt performer.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

A cult action film filled with thrilling stunts and car chases. Legendary stuntman Buddy Joe Hooker was behind many of the film’s complex sequences, setting new standards for the stunt industry.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

A true celebration of stunt work, packed with daring jumps, intense chases, and brutal fight scenes.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Brimming with jaw-dropping vehicular stunts and pyrotechnics. Stunt performers pushed their limits to create unforgettable, high-octane visuals.

John Wick (2014)

A showcase of expert gunplay and martial arts. The film’s extreme action scenes are executed with precision and realism.

Atomic Blonde (2017) 

Features dynamic and inventive hand-to-hand combat scenes, with women leading the charge in brutal and stylish fights.

The Fall Guy (2024)

Offers a modern take on the life and challenges of a stunt performer in today’s film industry.

Progress races forward like a runaway train. Machines have learned to mimic human movement with astonishing precision, but no robot has yet managed to replicate that spark — that fearless madness — which makes a stunt performer a true master of their craft. Technology now allows action directors to show things never before imagined. That means stunt professionals will be creating moments never before seen.

Still, it’s vital that at the heart of all this remains the human being — someone willing to risk it all for the perfect shot. As long as audiences crave raw emotion and real adrenaline, the art of stunt performance will live on.

That’s probably enough internet for today.