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Tom Cruise, often hailed as the flagbearer of blockbuster stunts, is known for throwing himself into danger on screen, sometimes literally. But in one instance, it wasn’t for a scene or a headline that he played the hero. It was to pull a co-star out of harm’s way, in real life.
While Spielberg once credited the Top Gun: Maverick star with “saving Hollywood” by pushing for theatrical releases, Tom Cruise may have done something even more personal in the late ‘80s: saving The Karate Kid and The Boys star—and one of the ’80s’ most iconic actresses—Elisabeth Shue from a deadly helicopter accident while filming Cocktail.
What Happened On The Set Of Cocktail
In 1988, Cruise starred in Cocktail, one of his career’s biggest romantic hits, opposite Elisabeth Shue, who by then was a household name and a national crush. But despite its sun-kissed aesthetic and breezy vibe, the film’s shoot brought its fair share of chaos. From sweating it out under the Jamaican sun to perfecting flamboyant bartending “stunts” with military precision, the experience was far from a typical adventure in the Caribbean. Things took a darker turn when the crew brought in helicopters for aerial shots — a staple in Cruise’s career long before the Mission: Impossible films took flight.
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While a chopper was landing one afternoon, Shue stepped away from the monitor to review some shots. What she didn’t realize was that she was walking directly toward the still-spinning tail rotor.
In the iconic 1988 film Cocktail, Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue captured the essence of the 1980s era, a decade defined by its vibrant nightlife, flashy fashion, and a rising cocktail culture that swept through cities like New York and Miami. pic.twitter.com/Ql1YtLhsDO
— Hollywood Box (@hollywoodboxuk) April 12, 2025
