10 Insane Movie Stunts They Filmed FOR REAL

Raiders of the Lost Ark is an an-time classic of cinema and a lot of that is down to its excellent action sequences that really put Indy in danger in the story.

The work was handled by both Ford himself and stuntman Terry Leonard who took on the more dangerous moments throughout the film. The most extravagent set piece is the truck chase in the film's latter half. Following storyboarding by director Stephen Spielberg, it was one of the first action scenes to make use of vehicles as opposed to horses that had been used in previous action flicks.

What makes it work so brilliantly is both the tension and the progression that unfolds. Indiana starts the scene by throwing out the drivers and it looks like he's in control. But then a soldier sneaks up and shoots him, tossing him out on the bonnet. After nearly being run over, our hero pulls himself under the truck and slowly hauls his way back to the front for some cathartic revenge on the trooper.

Harrison Ford really is being dragged behind that truck; there's no visual trickery and nothing to soften the road rash. The actor came away with some bruised ribs afterwards, but left the audience with a fantastic bit of stunt work that still stands strong today.