Movie stunts push the limits of human ability, creating unforgettable moments on screen. But behind these spectacular scenes, accidents can and do happen, sometimes leading to serious injuries or worse. The high stakes of practical effects and ambitious action sequences mean that even careful planning can’t eliminate all risks.
These 15 film stunts serve as sobering reminders of what can go wrong on set. Each incident led to changes in movie safety protocols, showing how the film industry learns from its mistakes.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Paralysis Incident (2009)
During the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2009, stunt performer David Holmes had a terrible accident that changed his life. Holmes, who had been Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double throughout the series, was badly hurt during a flying broomstick scene. An explosion during the stunt sent him crashing into a wall, leaving him unable to move from the chest down. This accident made British filmmakers completely change their rules about combining wire stunts with explosions.
The Dark Knight – Camera Vehicle Accident (2007)
The Dark Knight faced tragedy in 2007 when a camera operator lost his life during filming. The accident happened while testing a car chase scene with the Batmobile. The camera vehicle crashed into a tree during what should have been a routine test run. Warner Bros responded by creating stricter rules about filming with vehicles, hoping to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter – Motorcycle Crash (2015)
Stunt performer Olivia Jackson‘s life changed forever on the set of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. She was performing a motorcycle stunt when something went terribly wrong with a camera crane’s timing. The high-speed crash put Jackson in a coma and led to life-changing injuries. This scary accident taught filmmakers to be extra careful about making last-minute changes to stunts.
The Expendables 2 – Stuntman Death (2011)
A boat scene in Bulgaria turned deadly during the filming of The Expendables 2. The explosion was much stronger than anyone expected, killing stuntman Kun Liu instantly and seriously hurting another performer. The movie company got in big trouble and had to pay large fines for what happened. Everyone in Hollywood learned important lessons about being more careful with explosive stunts.
Top Gun – Art Scholl’s Fatal Flight (1985)
The movie Top Gun lost a true hero when stunt pilot Art Scholl crashed while filming over the Pacific Ocean. His last radio message mentioned going into a flat spin, one of the trickiest airplane moves he was trying to film. Search teams looked everywhere but never found Art or his plane in the deep waters. The accident changed how Hollywood planned flying stunts and led them to be much more careful about risky aerial moves.
Death Proof – Kurt Russell Car Crash (2007)
During Death Proof, stunt performer Zoe Bell had a scary moment that could have been much worse. She was doing a scene on a car’s hood when her safety harness started to fail. Bell managed to hold on during the high-speed scene and avoided serious injury. After this close call, director Quentin Tarantino changed several stunts to make them safer.
Deadpool 2- Motorcycle Crash (2017)
Professional road racer Joi Harris lost her life while filming her very first movie stunt for Deadpool 2. Harris crashed into a building during a motorcycle scene when something went wrong. Many people later said the production team should have given her more time to practice the stunt. The accident started important conversations about how much experience someone needs before doing movie stunts.
Fast & Furious 9- Fall (2019)
Joe Watts sustained a serious head injury during a choreographed fall at Warner Bros Studios. The safety wire system malfunctioned, causing him to fall 30 feet onto concrete. He spent several days in an induced coma during his initial recovery. The incident led to increased testing requirements for wire rigging systems.
Armour of God – Tree Jump Gone Wrong (1686)
Chan performed a routine stunt jumping from a castle wall to a tree branch in Yugoslavia. The branch unexpectedly snapped under his weight, causing him to plummet headfirst onto rocks below. The impact cracked his skull and drove bone fragments into his brain, requiring immediate emergency surgery. Medical teams worked for hours to save his life, and Chan remained unconscious for several days following the procedure.
Quantum of Solace- Car Crash (2008)
A stunt driver lost control of an Aston Martin during a high-speed chase scene on Italy’s Lake Garda. The car plunged into the lake, trapping the driver underwater. Quick action by the safety team prevented a fatality. The accident resulted in stricter protocols for water-adjacent vehicle stunts.
Die Hard 5 – Vehicle Crash (2012)
A terrifying moment happened on Die Hard 5 when two cars hit each other harder than planned. The special cage meant to protect the stunt driver bent inward, trapping him against the steering wheel. Emergency teams had to use special tools to get him out of the crushed car. After this, movies started using markers to make sure vehicles kept the right distance during crash scenes.
Maze Runner- Dylan O’Brien Accident (2016)
A vehicle stunt on set turned disastrous when Dylan O’Brien was struck during filming in British Columbia. His severe facial injuries required immediate hospitalization and multiple surgeries. The production shut down for nearly a year while O’Brien recovered. Fox Studios implemented strict safety requirements for future vehicle-to-vehicle transfers.
The Walking Dead – High Fall Accident (2017)
A stunt performer on The Walking Dead died after a high fall went wrong. The protective padding that was supposed to catch him had shifted a little bit during earlier takes. Even though he was wearing safety gear, he still hit his head hard enough to cause serious injury. Now, crews have to check landing spots before every single take.
The Avengers- Rooftop Chase Incident (2011)
Veteran stuntman Jeremy Pryer suffered a severe head injury while filming an action sequence in Albuquerque. The protective padding shifted during his planned 30-foot fall from a building, causing him to lose “a chunk” of his scalp. The incident prompted new regulations requiring multiple safety supervisors to check padding positions between every take.
Mission: Impossible- Rooftop Impact (2018)
Tom Cruise broke his ankle during a building jump stunt in London. The failed landing sent him crashing into the side of a building while filming at Blackfriars. Despite intense pain, he pulled himself up and limped off camera – footage that made it into the final film. The injury halted production for eight weeks and cost millions in delays.
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