Behind-the-scenes stories reveal that being an actor is not as safe as one might hope when movie stars often find themselves in dangerous situations while filming. The biggest disasters to ever happen on movie sets are the worst-case scenarios, but other shocking stories that thankfully ended with no permanent injuries recount actors encountering danger. This may be due to hazardous filming conditions, intense choreography, or misunderstandings with people outside the crew.
Actors famous for doing their own stunts are at risk of injury, as well as those managing complex set pieces. Unfortunately, negligence on the part of the crew may lead to an actor being injured, if safety standards aren’t met and stunt doubles aren’t used when they are needed. Certain examples regarded as the most hostile movie sets ever are far enough in the past that people would hope these conditions wouldn’t happen again today. Yet actors may encounter anything as they navigate the creation of new stories.
You are watching: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Movie Stories That Prove Being An Actor Is Dangerous
10 Halle Berry Hit Her Head Filming A Fight Scene
The Call (2013)
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Generally, things are prone to go wrong when filming action sequences, necessitating the use of stunt doubles with specialized training to protect the actors. At the time of filming The Call, Halle Berry was already a seasoned action star, having completed iconic action movies such as Catwoman and X-Men. Despite her experience, accidents may still happen; while filming The Call, Berry hit her head on the concrete floor and was knocked out (via Den of Geek). She promptly received medical attention and made a full recovery.
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The Call RThrillerDrama
The Call is a thriller directed by Brad Anderson, starring Halle Berry as a veteran 911 operator. When she receives a call from a kidnapped teenager, played by Abigail Breslin, she takes it upon herself to ensure the girl’s safe return. The suspenseful storyline highlights the intense responsibilities and quick decision-making required in emergency response situations.
Director Brad Anderson Release Date March 15, 2013 Writers Richard D’Ovidio , Nicole D’Ovidio , Jon Bokenkamp Cast Halle Berry , Abigail Breslin , Morris Chestnut , Michael Eklund , David Otunga Runtime 94 Minutes
This was hardly the first time Berry had been injured on set. While filming action staples such as Die Another Day, Catwoman, and Cloud Atlas, she ended up with some other breaks and bruises, including a different head injury. Berry is also not the only action star to have been repeatedly injured and needed to seek treatment while filming throughout her career.
9 The Cast Of Dune Filmed In Awful Heat
Dune: Part Two (2024)
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Austin Butler and the rest of the Dune 2 cast and crew found themselves filming in 110-degree heat, causing heat stroke (via Variety). The desert setting is, of course, a key part of Dune‘s story, resulting in this arduous filming experience. Butler reported that several people passed out, but didn’t specify who.
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7.9/10 Dune: Part Two PG-13 Sci-FiThrillerDramaAdventure
Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film that covers the novel’s events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe’s fate.
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*Availability in US Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date March 1, 2024 Writers Denis Villeneuve , Jon Spaihts , Frank Herbert Cast Timothée Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Rebecca Ferguson Runtime 166 Minutes
Heat waves are surprisingly dangerous but always miserable for the cast wearing potentially heavy costumes and the crew tasked with carrying around equipment. On a more positive note, Butler said: “It really bonds the entire crew […] There’s something so humbling about being in such an uncomfortable environment.”
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Related Paul’s Sandworm Ride Took “3 Months” To Film Practically, Dune 2’s Timothée Chalamet Talks Process
Exclusive: It took three months to film Paul’s sandworm ride in Dune 2 with practical effects, and Timothée Chalamet tells us about how they did it.
Meanwhile, director Denis Villeneuve said that he felt he had made the right choice to not film his two Dune movies back-to-back after realizing how “physically taxing” they would be to produce. “[…] to have a break in between them was a blessing,” said Villeneuve, for the entire cast and crew. It may have resulted in a longer hiatus between movies, but this kind of moderation while filming is important for the health of everyone involved.
8 Daniel Craig Knocked Out Two Teeth Filming A Bond Fight
Casino Royale (2006)
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Craig dealt with a lot of criticism when his casting was announced, before heading into a demanding production.
Daniel Craig quickly learned that he was not in for an easy time playing James Bond when he knocked out two teeth during the filming of Casino Royale (via MovieWeb). Any actor stepping into the role of James Bond may expect to be met with some backlash when it is such a monumental and iconic part to play. However, Craig dealt with a lot of criticism when his casting was announced, before heading into a demanding production.
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7/10 Casino Royale PG-13ActionAdventureCrimeThriller
The twenty-first film in Eon’s James Bond franchise, Casino Royale, stars Daniel Craig as secret agent 007. Introducing Craig to the role with an origin story, Casino Royale shows Bond earning his MI6 codename before being tasked with infiltrating a casino in Montenegro in order to bankrupt a terrorist financier known as Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). However, Bond’s assignment is more complicated than it seems, as Le Chiffre seems to have inside knowledge of the MI6 agent’s plan.
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*Availability in US Director Martin Campbell Release Date November 14, 2006 Writers Neal Purvis , Robert Wade , Paul Haggis , Ian Fleming Cast Daniel Craig , Eva Green , Mads Mikkelsen , judi dench , Jeffrey Wright , Giancarlo Giannini Runtime 144 minutes
The opening fight scene was the first thing filmed for Casino Royale, possibly explaining why both Craig and the crew weren’t fully prepared. Craig was presumably accidentally hit too hard by one of the other actors, resulting in the producers needing to fly in his dentist and requiring him to wear a protective gumshield for the rest of the production. Craig and the crew adapted, and he made it through five Bond movies and became one of the most beloved actors to play 007.
7 Margot Robbie Trained Relentlessly For I, Tonya
I, Tonya (2017)
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Filming isn’t the only difficult part of being an actor; training can be just as demanding, starting early before a particularly physical role. While action stars, including Margot Robbie, train for fight scenes so they can have a safe filming experience, the Barbie star doubled down on learning to ice skate for I, Tonya. Robbie emphasized (via The Hollywood Reporter) the difficulty of learning the sport as an adult when the movie correctly depicts Harding’s career beginning when she was a child: “When you’re a kid, you’re fearless, but starting at 26 years old, I had a lot of fear.”
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7.5/10 I, Tonya RDramaBiographyComedy
Based on the life of figure skater Tonya Harding, I, Tonya chronicles Harding’s personal life, rise to fame, and subsequent downfall after her involvement in the infamous attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. Framed in a mockumentary style that routinely breaks the fourth wall, I, Tonya is directed by Craig Gillespie and stars Margot Robbie and Harding, with Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney as Harding’s ex-husband and overbearing mother respectively.
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*Availability in US Director Craig Gillespie Release Date December 8, 2017 Writers Steven Rogers Cast Julianne Nicholson , Allison Janney , Margot Robbie , Bobby Cannavale , Bojana Novakovic , Sebastian Stan , Caitlin Carver Runtime 120minutes
Robbie reportedly got a herniated disc in her neck early on in training for I, Tonya but didn’t realize that she had the injury until a week into filming. In particular, I, Tonya illustrates the physical demands on the ice skaters that Robbie and the crew had to meet to tell the story. While other actors playing real-life athletes may find themselves in similar situations, the I, Tonya crew resorted to special effects to capture Harding’s famous triple axel.
6 Isla Fisher Almost Drowned Filming Henley’s First Scene
Now You See Me (2013)
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Now You See Me starts things off on a high note with the introduction to the four main characters being them conducting their own magic acts at different locations. In the case of Isla Fisher”s Henley, she terrifies her audience by making them believe she is stuck in a tank about to be swamped by piranhas, before miraculously escaping. It’s even darker when Fisher reported that she nearly drowned while filming this (via eonline.com).
The mechanism for Fisher to release herself from the tank malfunctioned, and she was stuck underwater for a few minutes. She tried to get the attention of the crew, but as she was supposed to be panicking in the scene, they misinterpreted it as her acting. While shaken by the incident, Fisher eventually got out of the tank and was not seriously harmed; she has shared the story in interviews.
5 Michelle Yeoh Tore Her ACL During Courtyard Scene
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
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Yeoh has continued to film action movies, most recently Everything Everywhere All at Once, hopefully with ever-improving safety measures.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon features one of the best fantasy movie performances ever by martial arts icon Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh came into Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with stunt experience, but faced a new challenge when director Ang Lee wanted to use a different combat style than what she was familiar with.
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9.5/10 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon PG-13ActionAdventureDramaFantasy
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts film directed by Ang Lee. Released in 2000, the story revolves around warriors Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, played by Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh, as they pursue a stolen sword and encounter a mysterious young aristocrat. The film is renowned for its lush visuals and choreographed fight scenes, blending romance and adventure against a historical Chinese backdrop.
Director Ang Lee Release Date December 8, 2000 Writers Wang Hui-ling , James Schamus , Tsai Kuo-jung Cast Chow Yun-Fat , Michelle Yeoh , Zhang Ziyi , Chang Chen , Lang Sihung , Cheng Pei-pei Runtime 120 Minutes
Yeoh tore her ACL during the courtyard fight scene; she completed filming by sitting in a wheelbarrow and mimicking running before getting surgery and spending weeks recovering (via IndieWire). While some actors recount powering through an injury, Lee took this safer approach for the scene’s final shot.
Related 10 Actors Who Got Injured Doing Their Own Stunts
An actor’s commitment to their role sometimes leads them to perform their own stunts. However, this dedication can raise the risk of on-set injuries.
However, other close calls have prompted Yeoh to ask questions such as: “Why am I doing this? Is it worth it? If I really got hurt, then what?” Yeoh has continued to film action movies, most recently Everything Everywhere All at Once, hopefully with ever-improving safety measures.
4 Peter Mayhew Needed A Security Detail As Chewbacca
Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (1983)
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Stories claim that Peter Mayhew was told to not wander around the set in costume while filming Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (via Vanity Fair). George Lucas notably depended on location filming for the original trilogy, seeking out spectacular deserts and forests to serve as various galactic settings. For the green planet of Endor, the original Star Wars cast traveled to the California redwoods to film their (assumed) final battle with the Empire.
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17 9.2/10 Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi PGActionAdventure Sci-FiFantasy
The third film released and the sixth film chronologically in the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is a sci-fi epic adventure film that continues the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and friends as they battle against the Empire. After a narrow escape but crushing defeat at the hands of the empire, the rebel alliance learns that a new Death Star has been constructed above the moon of Endor. With the war reaching its conclusion, the heroes will team with the forest planet’s inhabitants and prepare themselves for one final showdown with Darth Vander and the Galactic Empire.
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*Availability in US Director Richard Marquand Release Date May 25, 1983 Writers Lawrence Kasdan , George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , James Earl Jones , Billy Dee Williams , Ian McDiarmid , Peter Mayhew , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Frank Oz , Sebastian Shaw , Alec Guinness Runtime 131 Minutes
Mayhew, always in his full Chewbacca costume, is said to have been escorted around the set by a security detail to protect him from hunters who might have mistaken him for Bigfoot or another animal. Mayhew was also seven feet tall, an aspect that helped him land the role of Chewbacca but made him more visible under these circumstances. Filming passed without any reported incidents — Harrison Ford has been injured many more times while filming.
3 Harrison Ford’s Leg Was Damaged By The Millennium Falcon’s Door
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
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Ford’s return to the Star Wars set was met with an injury that could have been much worse. Reportedly, Ford’s leg was broken by the hydraulic door of the Millennium Falcon, which he didn’t realize was active. Director J.J. Abrams later revealed that he also injured his back trying to lift the door off Ford, and hid his back brace from everyone for the rest of filming (via The Hollywood Reporter).
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10 7/10 Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens PG-13ActionAdventureFantasy Sci-Fi
Set 30 years after Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens teams new heroes Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), who is now a General in the Rebel Alliance. Together they try to track down Luke Skywalker while battling the First Order, led by the villainous Kylo Ren. The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars film to be produced by Disney and was directed by JJ Abrams.
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*Availability in US Director J.J. Abrams Release Date December 17, 2015 Writers Lawrence Kasdan , J.J. Abrams , Michael Arndt Cast Daisy Ridley , John Boyega , Oscar Isaac , Harrison Ford , Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Adam Driver , Andy Serkis , Lupita Nyong’o , Max Von Sydow , Peter Mayhew , Simon Pegg Runtime 136 Minutes
While Ford recovered and returned to filming, Foodles Production company, owned by Disney, was held responsible for the lack of communication regarding the new Millennium Falcon door “capable of killing one or possibly two people” and was fined $2 million (via The Guardian). Ford commented on how the set had changed since the time the Falcon’s doors were operated manually, saying: “Now we had lots of money and technology and so they built a f*****g great hydraulic door which closed at light speed.” Overall, the event demonstrates the need for strict safety protocols around complex sets.
2 Jake Gyllenhaal Smashed A Mirror & Had To Get Stitches
Nightcrawler (2014)
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Jake Gyllenhaal gave an underrated, Joker-like performance in the thriller Nightcrawler, and his commitment to Lou Bloom’s characterization resulted in injury. During an intense scene where Lou is looking at himself in a mirror, Gyllenhaal possibly improvised punching the mirror, smashing it to pieces, and resulting in his getting 42 stitches. Other scenes in the movie show Gyllenhaal with his hands behind his back, to hide the cast he was wearing at the time (via Far Out).
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9.5/10 Nightcrawler RCrimeDramaThriller
Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler follows petty thief Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) after he learns of a potentially lucrative job opportunity selling footage of violent events to local media outlets. Lou becomes a “stringer” – a freelance journalist who captures and records footage for news stations – and finds that the profession sucks him into the most dangerous parts of Los Angeles. Drawn deeper into his dark obsession, Lou becomes increasingly fixated with violence and crime.
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*Availability in US Director Dan Gilroy Release Date October 31, 2014 Writers Dan Gilroy Cast Riz Ahmed , Bill Paxton , Jake Gyllenhaal , Rene Russo , Kevin Rahm , Michael Hyatt , Ann Cusack Runtime 117 Minutes
It seems likely that if director Dan Gilroy had planned on Lou breaking the mirror in the scene, precautions would have been taken to prevent Gyllenhaal’s injury. The action is in character for Lou, a maniacal con man destroying lives on his way to becoming a successful journalist. Gyllenhaal’s performance is doubtlessly the driving force behind Nightcrawler, cultivating his disturbing interactions with the other characters.
1 Almost The Entire Fellowship Of The Ring Got Hurt
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
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The Lord of the Rings cast endured an intense production when the epic battle sequences resulted in various mishaps. Viggo Mortensen famously broke his toes when he kicked an Orc’s helmet (an unscripted moment) after a discovery that leads the group to assume Pippin and Merry are dead, and his angry scream is at least partially real.
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9/10 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers rAdventureFantasyActionDrama
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a Fantasy film by director Peter Jackson and is based on The Two Towers book by author J. R. R. Tolkien. A sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this installment continues Frodo’s journey to take the One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it.
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*Availability in US Director Peter Jackson Release Date January 15, 2002 Writers Peter Jackson Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Bruce Allpress , Sean Astin , John Bach , Sala Baker , Cate Blanchett , Andy Serkis Runtime 179 Minutes
Mortensen also reportedly broke a tooth while filming Helm’s Deep; according to Peter Jackson, this barely slowed him down, and he insisted they keep going (via SlashFilm). Meanwhile, Orlando Bloom broke a rib falling off a horse, Sean Astin sliced his foot, and John Rhys-Davies’ stand-in Brett Beattie dislocated his ankle, all reportedly only while filming the second movie.
Related Lord Of The Rings’ Most Ambitious Trick That Led To $2.9 Billion Success Will Likely Never Be Repeated
Peter Jackson’s adaptations of The Lord of the Rings trilogy are impressive for countless reasons, including this behind-the-scenes trick he used.
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Lord of the Rings favored more open sets, but real and prop weapons as well as moments improvised without forethought still caused some minor injuries. Most of the time, the cast of big action movies get by without any lasting injuries, but their stories still demonstrate some danger in their work.
Source: Den of Geek, Variety, MovieWeb, The Hollywood Reporter, eonline.com, IndieWire, Vanity Fair, The Guardian, Far Out, SlashFilm
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment