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Movies have the power to transport us to alternate realities, immersing us in captivating narratives. However, the creation of these cinematic moments often involves real-life dangers, with some scenes leading to severe injuries or even fatalities. One of the most tragic examples is the untimely death of Brandon Lee during the filming of *The Crow*. A mishap during a scene where his character was shot by thugs resulted in Lee being fatally wounded, cutting his life short at just 28 years old.
Fortunately, such incidents are rare in Hollywood today, thanks to stringent safety protocols and the presence of experts on set. However, there have been numerous close calls where stunts nearly turned deadly for well-known actors. Below is a compilation of 10 such harrowing near-misses.
10. Eli Wallach *The Good, the Bad & the Ugly*
While filming *The Good, the Bad & the Ugly*, Eli Wallach, portraying the character Tuco, faced life-threatening situations not once, not twice, but an astonishing three times!
As detailed in Wallach’s 2005 autobiography, *The Good, the Bad, And Me*, the actor faced several life-threatening situations on set. One such incident occurred when he unknowingly drank acid. A crew member had carelessly left acid in a soda bottle near Wallach’s drink. After consuming it, he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors successfully removed the toxic substance from his stomach, averting a potential tragedy.
In another scene, Wallach was required to sit on a horse with his hands tied behind his back. During filming, a gunshot startled the horse, causing it to bolt. Wallach was dragged for nearly a mile before the production team managed to stop the horse.
Adding to his string of near-misses, Wallach faced yet another perilous situation when director Sergio Leone demanded he perform a stunt involving lying next to a train track as a train sped past to free him from handcuffs. Unbeknownst to the crew, the train had low-hanging steps that nearly struck Wallach’s head. Had he moved even slightly, the outcome could have been fatal.
9. Johnny Depp *The Lone Ranger*
One of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, Johnny Depp, narrowly escaped a serious accident while filming the 2013 movie *The Lone Ranger*. During a scene, Depp was thrown from his horse, putting him in grave danger.
Video footage of the incident reveals just how narrowly Depp avoided a severe injury. The clip captures Depp slipping off the side of a horse galloping at full speed. He eventually falls to the ground, and by sheer luck, the horse jumps over him, preventing him from being trampled.
Remarkably, Depp sustained only minor injuries from the accident. After a quick medical evaluation, he was cleared to resume filming without further delay.
8. Michael J. Fox *Back to the Future, Part III*
During the late 1980s, the *Back to the Future* franchise propelled Michael J. Fox to stardom, cementing his status as a Hollywood icon. However, a dangerous stunt during the filming of the third installment nearly ended his life.
In his memoir, fittingly titled *Lucky Man*, Fox recounted a harrowing experience during the filming of a hanging scene. Despite multiple rehearsals with stunt coordinators, the rope around his neck tightened excessively during the actual shoot, leaving him unable to breathe and putting him in real danger.
The terrifying aspect of the situation was that the crew believed Fox was merely acting and failed to immediately recognize he was in a life-threatening struggle. Fortunately, the filmmakers noticed something was amiss just in time to intervene, though Fox had already lost consciousness during the incident.
7. Isla Fisher *Now You See Me*
Similar to Michael J. Fox’s experience, a real-life emergency almost unfolded on the set of the first *Now You See Me* film when the crew misinterpreted a genuine struggle as a convincing performance.
In the movie, Fisher portrays an escapologist and is chained inside a water tank for a specific scene. During filming, the chains got tangled, leaving her in a real fight to break free.
Since the scene required Fisher to frantically bang on the glass, the crew initially assumed her actions were part of the act. Unable to reach a safety button that would drain the water, and with the safety diver too far to assist, Fisher was left to fend for herself in the perilous situation.
The stunt coordinator eventually noticed something was amiss and stepped in to help the Australian actress escape. Fisher later shared with the *Daily Mail*: “Fortunately, I kept my composure, freed myself, and got out before the situation escalated into something even worse.”
6. Kate Winslet *Titanic*
While *Titanic* catapulted Kate Winslet to fame, she has frequently discussed the challenges she endured on set, especially under the direction of James Cameron.
During one scene, Winslet genuinely feared for her life when her coat got caught on a gate, leaving her momentarily trapped underwater. Reflecting on the incident with the *Los Angeles Times*, she described Cameron’s lack of sympathy, stating: “I was out of breath and felt like I was going to burst. But Jim simply said, ‘OK, let’s do it again.’ That was his approach.”
This wasn’t the only instance where Cameron’s filming nearly turned fatal. Ed Harris also faced a near-drowning experience while working on Cameron’s 1989 film *The Abyss*. Actors might want to reconsider signing up for water-intensive scenes in a James Cameron production.
5. Viggo Mortensen *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers*
Aragorn, a character well-versed in combat, was brought to life by Viggo Mortensen, who faced his own share of peril during the filming of the *Lord of the Rings* trilogy.
Mortensen, committed to authenticity, performed all his stunts and insisted on using real knives and swords whenever possible. This dedication nearly led to disaster during *The Fellowship of the Ring* when a real knife was accidentally hurled at him. Mortensen deflected it with his sword, and the moment was even included in the final film.
While filming *The Two Towers*, Mortensen suffered two broken toes after kicking a helmet and nearly drowned during a scene where Aragorn floats unconscious down a river. The heavy armor he wore pulled him underwater, and he was caught in a dangerous undertow, putting him at serious risk.
4. Dylan O’Brien *Maze Runner: The Death Cure*
The *Maze Runner* film series, inspired by James Dashner’s novels, consists of three sci-fi movies. During the filming of the third installment, lead actor Dylan O’Brien encountered a horrifying accident.
While shooting a stunt for *Maze Runner: The Death Cure*, O’Brien was dragged from one vehicle and struck another. The collision resulted in severe injuries, including a concussion, facial fractures, and brain trauma.
Filming was halted for nearly a year as O’Brien underwent hospitalization and reconstructive surgery. Fortunately, he made a full recovery and was able to return to his acting career.
3. Jackie Chan *Armour of God*
Jackie Chan’s career is marked by countless on-set injuries, many of which could fill a list like this single-handedly. Known for performing his own stunts, Chan has fractured nearly every bone in his body over the years.
Among his most notorious stunts is the harrowing fall in *Project A*, where he plunges from a clock tower through two fabric awnings, landing headfirst and nearly breaking his neck. Another unforgettable moment is his daring leap in *Police Story*, where he jumps from a mall balcony, slides down a pole covered in lights, and crashes through a glass roof.
However, Chan’s most life-threatening incident occurred during the filming of *Armour of God* in 1987. While attempting to jump from a cliff to a tree, a branch broke, causing him to fall to the ground. He landed on his back, hitting his head on a rock.
The impact fractured his skull, driving a bone fragment into his brain. Chan later revealed that he “almost died” from the accident, but this didn’t deter him from continuing to perform his own stunts in future action films.
Damn, Jackie Chan, you’re truly fearless.
2. Sylvester Stallone *Rocky IV*
The *Rocky* series stands as one of the most legendary franchises in film history. The fourth movie, a fan favorite, features Rocky facing off against the formidable Russian boxer Ivan Drago.
During filming, Sylvester Stallone, who wrote, directed, and starred in the movie, decided it would be a good idea to let Dolph Lundgren, the 6’5” actor playing Drago, actually punch him. Stallone instructed Lundgren: “Just go ahead and hit me for real.”
Unsurprisingly, this didn’t end well for Stallone. He was hospitalized for nine days after the punch caused his heart to slam against his breastbone, cutting off blood and oxygen flow and leading to swelling.
1. Jim Caviezel *The Passion of the Christ*
Few roles are as monumental as playing Jesus Christ. When Jim Caviezel was chosen for the part in Mel Gibson’s 2004 epic *The Passion of the Christ*, it must have felt like a divine opportunity.
However, Caviezel’s time on set was far from blessed, as he endured numerous injuries during filming. He sustained bruises, scars, and even a dislocated shoulder, leading him to wonder if the role had brought him bad luck—especially after being struck by lightning!
During the filming of the “Sermon on the Mount” scene, Caviezel was struck by lightning, reportedly lighting him up “like a Christmas tree.” Miraculously, he walked away from the incident unharmed.
