Seriously, guys, don’t try this at home.
Tom Cruise on top of the Burj Khalifa
We start our roundup with a surprising photo of Tom Cruise hanging out on the tallest point of the world’s tallest building. Cruise was perched on top of the Burj Khalifa for about an hour in 2010 during the filming of Mission: Impossible 4. But, unlike the other daredevils on this list, Cruise’s expedition was sanctioned. Although that didn’t stop the Top Gun star from breaking the law when he was up there. As Emirates 24/7 reported, Cruise vandalized the building by etching his then-wife’s name, Katie Holmes, into the spire.
On a construction crane on top of the Shanghai Tower
Earlier this year, Russian daredevils Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov climbed up all 2,073 feet of the Shanghai Tower before adding more vertical to their hike by scaling the construction crane on top of the building. Want to see a video of their journey? Right this way.
Atop the spire of one of Moscow’s Seven Sisters
The duo also climbed up one of the Seven Sisters in Moscow. We’re not entirely sure which one, but it looks like the Moscow State University building.
In Hong Kong
Makhorov and Raskalov have taken five separate rooftopping expeditions to Hong Kong. They absolutely love it there, as they explain on their blog: “In Hong Kong, getting to the roofs is quite easy. If it is a residential building, most likely, the roof is unlocked. Even more likely, that somebody already lives there. If it is a business-center, getting to the roof is a bit more complicated. Here the main quest is to get to the pompier ladder. And after you got there, you know what to do.”
Overlooking the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague
This image was taken from a scaffold suspended above the gothic church, which, at its highest point, is a staggering 407 feet tall. Love these images as much as we do? Can’t get enough of the duo’s vertigo-inducing stunts? You can see many, many more photos on their website.
Standing on the Elektrostal radio tower in Moscow
According to an RT documentary on extreme urban exploration, this particular image depicts a copycat stunt. The young man in the photo climbed up the tower and out onto the beam despite having “no physical training.”
Various structures in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Often referred to as Russia’s Spiderman, Kirill Oreshkin told The Independent that he started scaling buildings because “he likes the views.”
On top of the Princess Tower in Dubai
Ukraine’s answer to Makhorov and Raskalov is the daredevil collective known as “Mustang Wanted.” Pictured above is the group’s fearless leader crouching on top of the Princess Tower spire 1,358 feet above Dubai.
Hanging from the 377-foot high Moscow bridge in Kiev
Two members of the group dangle one another from the tallest bridge in the Ukraine. Watch a video of the harrowing stunt here.
Back at the Seven Sisters in Moscow
With different daredevils during a different season.
Somewhere in Kiev
According to the group’s Facebook page, this stunt was performed 328 feet above ground.
Another spire in Moscow
Your palms are probably sweatier than his were.
Construction site in Southampton
Overlooking Toronto
Tom Ryaboi is a Toronto-area rooftopper and photographer who has climbed more than 100 buildings in the name of his art. See more photos here.
(not Tom Cruise) On top of the Burj Khalifa spire
Not a viral marketing campaign for a shoe company, just some ballsy climber taking photos for social media: “My old battered shoes climbed the worlds tallest building today. What an amazing structure! Tweeting from 820 meters straight up!”
