Top 10 Most Difficult Stunts in Music Videos

#10: “Try” (2012)

Pink

Pink called this her “favorite video ever” and said she had “the most fun of her entire career” making it. Her mom, on the other hand, was left “Speechless. And uncomfortable,” telling her that no one can claim she “plays it safe.” Pink is already famous for her aerial and acrobatic performances, but this video is something else. The choreography shows a messy, passionate back-and-forth, performed beautifully by Pink and Broadway performer Colt Prattes. It pulls from the Apache style, and every throw and catch tells a truly tumultuous story. The whole thing comes through as bold, intense, and honestly one of the coolest examples of what a music video can be.

#9: “Virtual Insanity” (1996)

Jamiroquai

When this video was first released, viewers couldn’t wrap their heads around this illusion of the moving set. Well, special effects weren’t what they are today, but actually, this production was pretty low-tech. The crew rolled the set pieces around on wheels. However, singer Jay Kay still had to stay on high alert, carefully and seamlessly dodging any collisions. And there were certainly some pretty close calls! On screen, it all comes through so clean and clever that you’d never guess how many people are working in sync to make it happen. It basically changed our expectations of what could be achieved in a music video.

#8: “Cold Hearted” (1989)

Paula Abdul

Abdul wanted to prove she was more than just “the girl next door” when she planned her “Cold Hearted” music video. Taking inspiration from Fosse’s “All That Jazz,” Abdul and her dancers left no part of the floor untouched, even incorporating scaffolding into the routine. For her, this was about showing her strengths as a dancer, choreographer, and performer while making her mark in the biz. According to Abdul, it came at a price: “More dancers injured themselves on this video shoot than any other.” She pushed everyone with floorwork, scaffolding maneuvers, and fearless movement that would make Bob Fosse proud. Indeed, it’s cool, sexy, and gritty. We hope those dancers wore their bruises proudly.

#7: “2 Bad” (1995)

Michael Jackson

Even considering his special footwear, the core strength required for that iconic, logic- and physics-defying lean will never cease to amaze us. But if you want to be truly astonished by difficult stunts, watch Jackson’s “Ghosts,” specifically the choreography for “2 Bad.” Unlike some of his other routines, it features a percussive, sharp, and physically aggressive style. The moves demand extreme power, control, and stamina, with rapid-fire spins, hard stops, and abrupt direction changes that push dance to its limits. Sure, there are no fancy props and just a little dancing off of elaborate sets, but the dancers move as if gravity’s gone and the beat has taken over. Add those flashing lights, and we’re mesmerized by every move.

#6: “Ain't It Fun” (2014)Paramore

Director Sophia Peer wanted the song’s message at the heart of the video. What better way to “push yourself out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself” than attempting to break a bunch of world records? Teaming up with RecordSetter, the group spends the video smashing a bunch of things, catching feathers in 30 seconds, running through banners, and rolling out as many cartwheels as possible in 20 seconds. The list just keeps getting crazier. Like, if you want to beat the record for screaming while in a convertible, you’ll need to go longer than 8.48 seconds. In the end, the video itself became a record holder, the first to break 10 records in a music video.

#5: “Bad Girls” (2012)

M.I.A.

M.I.A. got the idea for this video from watching YouTube clips of guys in Saudi Arabia doing two-wheel drifts. However, this was also a commentary on the country’s former ban on women driving. They shot it over four days in Morocco, and it’s just something else. It features women pulling crazy stunts, drifting, skidding, and spinning across desert roads. M.I.A. even rides on top of a moving car, which is straight-up heart-stopping. The stunts borrow from “tafheet” desert drifting, flipping a space usually dominated by men. At its core, it’s about rebellion, empowerment, and pushing limits. It mixes jaw-dropping action with sharp cultural commentary. You'll be holding your breath through every shot.

#4: “John Wayne” (2016)

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has never been one to do things halfway, so it’s no surprise she did her own stunts in the “John Wayne” music video, well, most of them. She confirmed that no stunt doubles were used for the shots where she jumped between moving vehicles. And yes, she did it all in heels. “Marry the Night” is another video where Gaga handled her own stunts, proving, like Pink, that being a pop star’s parent isn’t for the faint-hearted. She later shared that her mom was beside herself watching her daughter near those flaming cars. The video went on to break a personal record, earning over five million views in just under two days.

#3: “Lydia” (2015)

Highly Suspect

This music video, capturing how someone might feel after a breakup, could make anyone break into a sweat. Over the roughly four-minute runtime, we watch actress and freediver Marina Kazankova tied up underwater, struggling to get free. If you’re thinking, okay, what’s the big deal, surely it’s all just special effects? You’d be wrong. The whole thing was filmed exactly as we see it, in one single real-time take. The choreography was planned carefully on land first, and the crew made sure she had oxygen access right up until action. We should mention that Kazankova holds some world records for her underwater feats, so seriously, don’t try this yourself.

#2: “Sabotage” (1994)

Beastie Boys

Taking inspiration from those classic ’70s cop shows, this video needed high stakes, and the group definitely delivered. They weren’t interested in a huge production; instead, they worked with a small team and just wreaked havoc on LA with barely any advanced planning. Perhaps their most daring stunt was sidestepping many of the necessary permits. Anyway, they bought this beat-up old car for those chase scenes, which they performed themselves. Don’t worry, they still used dummies for the riskier stuff. Needless to say, it's all thrilling in the most unpolished way. The idea was to create something low-budget, but some of those shots cost them a few cameras, which alone tripled the intended price tag.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Elastic Heart” (2013), Sia

Both Performers Fully Throw Themselves into This Interpretive Dance Routine (Literally)

“Bye Bye Bye” (2000), NSYNC

No Stunt Doubles for Chris Kirkpatrick & Joey Fatone Here!

“Motivation” (2019), Normani

The Fact That This Move Inspired a Viral Dance Challenge Tells You All You Need to Know

“Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” (2021), Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X Learned to Pole Dance Just for This Video & Almost Had to Give Up, It Really Was That Hard!

“Stronger” (2000), Britney Spears

If We Tried to Do That Kind of Chairography, We’d Be Flat on Our Backs in Seconds

#1: Any OK Go Video

“OK Go”

OK Go first put themselves on the map with that incredible treadmill routine in “Here It Goes Again.” But even before that, they were dreaming up the wildest, most clever ideas that didn’t need some big Hollywood budget. They went on to create videos like “Obsession,” “Needing/Getting,” “This Too Shall Pass,” and “The Writing’s On the Wall,” which constantly leave us staring in disbelief and awe. Whether it’s zero-gravity shoots or massive Rube Goldberg setups, the logistics and physical demands are next-level. Seriously, once you’ve taken a music video to zero gravity, what’s left? Filming on the moon? Honestly, with this group, we wouldn’t even be surprised if they tried it.

Which music video would you have added to the list? Let us know in the comments