Tom Cruise’s Intimate Scene Takes Shocking Turn—What Really Happened on Set?

Is it possible that Tom Cruise’s riskiest moment on a film set didn’t involve dangling from the world’s tallest buildings or clinging to the side of a jet at takeoff, but instead came during a love scene? I know, I know — it almost feels like a punchline you’ve heard on late-night TV. We’re used to Cruise leaping from helicopters, snapping ankles, or, frankly, tempting fate with yet another Mission: Impossible “can’t believe he survived” stunt. But the story you’re about to read flips the script entirely. Picture this: a romcom, a ticklish leading lady, and an unexpected, blood-soaked mishap that almost landed one of Hollywood’s most indestructible action stars in the ER — and no, the culprit wasn’t Ethan Hunt, but Gina Gershon’s reflexes . If your curiosity’s been piqued (or you’re quietly snickering at the idea of a steamy scene gone slapstick), you’re absolutely in the right spot. LEARN MORE

Tom Cruise was left covered in blood after a scene went pretty wrong during filming.

Although, while you might expect it was during one of his iconic stunts for one of the many Mission: Impossible films, that’s not quite the case.

I mean, we’ve all seen the clip of him breaking his ankle during Mission Impossible – Fallout or heard about him passing out multiple times during the latest movie.

But it was actually a sex scene in the 1988 flick Cocktail that left him with blood everywhere.

Dubbed as ‘the ultimate bad movie’ the romcom sees Cruise as ex-military man Brian, who moves from New York to Jamaica to open a bar, where he meets and strikes up a romance with waitress Jordan (Elisbaeth Shue).

Gina Gershon also appeared in the film as Coral, and filmed her ‘first love scene ever’ with the Top Gun actor.

Gershon in Cocktail. (Touchstone Pictures)

And while she says he was a total ‘gentlemen’, she ended up nearly landing him in hospital as she ‘kneed him right in the nose.’

I mean, that’s not exactly romantic, is it?

When asked what it was like ‘ordering a multiple orgasm’ from Cruise in the film, she said: “I almost broke his nose. I had never done a love scene before and it was going to be with Tom Cruise. I thought: God, I get paid for this. He was so cute. I had a crush on him immediately.”

Gershon had warned Cruise she is ‘very ticklish’ and would ‘lose control’ if he tickled her, while suggesting he ‘go down on me under the covers.’

“Right before the take, he was down there and grabbed my waist in a tickly, sweet manner. I didn’t mean to, but I had a kneejerk reaction right into his nose. It was full of blood,” she explained.

Cruise often puts his life on the line but this is a little different. (Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

The actor instantly feared she had ‘just broke Tom Cruise’s nose’ and began to spiral into total worry, thinking she’d ‘never work in Hollywood again.’

“I was mortified because I really kicked him good. I didn’t mean to. He said: ‘Nope. My bad. You warned me.’” Gershon recalled.

“I remember thinking: ‘This guy is a movie star. He deserves everything he gets.’ He was just so kind and so sweet with me in a situation where I was quite vulnerable. I’m glad he was my first.”

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she added that Cruise was ‘so overprotective’ and acted as a real ‘gentleman.’