Tom Cruise’s ‘Unhinged’ Influence: 3 Actors Who Took Extreme Risks Inspired by the Hollywood Icon

Tom Cruise isn’t just a Hollywood legend—he’s a force of nature whose fearless work ethic, intense public persona, and iconic action scenes have left a profound (and sometimes wild) mark on other actors. From daredevil stunts to chilling character studies and kinetic performances, Cruise’s influence has inspired some of the most extreme choices in recent years. Here are three unforgettable examples where actors channeled their inner Cruise in ways that could only be described as unhinged.

1. Florence Pugh: Pushing for Death-Defying Stunts in Thunderbolts

Florence Pugh, best known for her fierce portrayal of Yelena Belova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, took a page straight out of the Tom Cruise playbook while preparing for Thunderbolts (2025). Determined to bring authenticity to her role, Pugh fought tooth and nail to perform a jaw-dropping stunt—jumping off Merdeka 118, the world’s second-tallest skyscraper at 2,722 feet.

Facing resistance from Marvel executives over insurance concerns, Pugh jokingly described herself as a “sassy Karen” in an interview with The Guardian, demanding the stunt be allowed: “Of course we are! We have to do that.” Citing Cruise’s history of performing his own high-risk feats in the Mission: Impossible franchise, Pugh proudly admitted, “No one can top Tom Cruise, but he has inspired me 100%.” Her bold insistence turned heads across the industry, proving that Cruise’s stunt legacy continues to fuel fearless performances.

2. Christian Bale: Channeling Cruise’s Eerie Charm for American Psycho

In one of the most chilling transformations in modern film, Christian Bale drew direct inspiration from Cruise’s public persona—not for a heroic role, but for the blood-soaked satire American Psycho (2000). Director Mary Harron revealed that Bale modeled Patrick Bateman’s unnerving charisma on Cruise’s appearance during a David Letterman interview, where he displayed an “intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes.”

This unsettling blend of charm and vacancy perfectly captured Bateman’s sociopathic facade. According to Collider and CBR, Bale’s creative interpretation of Cruise’s mannerisms added a disturbing layer to Bateman’s character, embodying the emptiness beneath the glossy surface of 1980s Wall Street culture. It was an unorthodox, even “unhinged” choice—turning the megastar’s public warmth into something deeply menacing.

3. Adam Scott: Emulating Cruise’s Legendary Sprint in Severance

In Severance Season 2, Adam Scott gave a subtle but heartfelt nod to Cruise’s legendary action hero energy. For a dramatic opening scene that required his character, Mark S., to sprint through endless, sterile hallways at Lumon Industries, Scott directly channeled Cruise’s famed running style seen in films like Mission: Impossible.

Filming the high-intensity sequence took an exhausting five months, complicated by the use of green screens and motion control cameras. Scott confessed to IndieWire that Cruise’s signature determined sprint inspired his physical performance, and director Ben Stiller also acknowledged Cruise’s influence on the scene’s ambitious energy. Fans on Reddit’s r/SeveranceAppleTVPlus even pointed out the unmistakable Cruise vibes. Committing so heavily to perfecting a run might seem trivial, but for Scott, it was an earnest homage to the master of on-screen momentum.

Conclusion: Cruise’s Wild Legacy Lives On

Whether it’s inspiring death-defying leaps, shaping the psychological foundation of a cinematic psychopath, or influencing the very way actors run across the screen, Tom Cruise’s impact on Hollywood is anything but conventional. His commitment to authenticity, physicality, and presence has left a legacy that continues to push other actors into thrilling, daring—and sometimes delightfully unhinged—territory.