Keanu Reeves’ iconic bullet dodging in The Matrix has been named the greatest movie stunt of all time in a survey of 2,000 film enthusiasts.
The poll ranked Neo’s mind-bending technique in the 1999 sci-fi classic above Tom Cruise’s daring stunt in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, where he clung to the side of a flying plane.
Other highly praised stunts included the breathtaking car skydive sequence from Fast & Furious 7, which involved dropping real cars from a plane 12,000 feet in the air, and the legendary chariot race from Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston.
The top five also featured Daniel Craig’s intense fight scene as Bond in Skyfall, with Craig, Reeves, and Cruise all making multiple appearances in the top 20.
The study was conducted by Samsung, which has partnered with stunt director Tony Christian from Spectrum Stunts to showcase the meticulous planning behind some of cinema’s most iconic scenes in instant slow-mo, following the launch of its Galaxy S24 FE.
Tony commented: “With a stunt to be impressive, it doesn’t always have to be the most difficult move, but something that really captures the attention which this top 20 list shows a real variation of.”
When it comes to actors famous for performing their own stunts, Tom Cruise tops the list above all others, with Jackie Chan, Jason Statham, and Keanu Reeves also making notable mentions.
Cruise has further been hailed as the most committed to not using a stunt-double, with 67 percent believing actors who perform their own stunts are more dedicated to their roles.
Moreover, 72 percent consider stunts to be among the most iconic parts of an action film, while a significant 86 percent think they contribute substantially to the thrill of the movie-watching experience.
An interesting 48 percent of audiences are more inclined to watch a film if it boasts a significant stunt, according to data from OnePoll.com.
High-flying drops, hand-to-hand combat, and high-octane vehicle tricks are ranked highly in terms of impressiveness, with 79 percent feeling performers accomplishing such challenging acts deserve greater acclaim in the industry.
Additionally, over half (52 percent) of those surveyed felt that slow motion sequences enhance the power of a stunt scene, with 17 percent appreciating the opportunity to observe the finesse and intricacy at play.
Concluding the findings, an interesting 58 percent admitted they’d gain a deeper appreciation for movie stunts if given a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes action.
TOP 20 MOVIE STUNTS OF ALL TIME:
- The Matrix (1999) – Bullet Dodging Backbend
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) – Hanging from a Plane
- Fast & Furious 7 (2015) – Car Skydive Sequence
- Ben-Hur (1959) – Chariot Race
- Skyfall (2012) – Train Roof Fight
- Die Hard (1988) – Jumping Off Nakatomi Plaza Rooftop
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – Motorbike Chase Into Canal
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) – HALO Jump
- Speed (1994) – Bus Jump Over Freeway Gap
- Casino Royale (2006) – Crane Chase Parkour Scene
- Jackie Chan’s Police Story (1985) – Mall Pole Slide
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – Liberty Island Fight
- The French Connection (1971) – Car Chase Under the Elevated Train
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – Truck Dragging Scene
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – Parachuting Off a Cliff
- Deadpool vs Wolverine (2024) – Opening fight
- The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – Tangier Rooftop Chase
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – Tank Battle
- GoldenEye (1995) – Dam Bungee Jump
- Inception (2010) – Rotating Hallway Fight