Hooper (1978)

Sonny Hooper is a renowned Hollywood stuntman who has been in the business for 25 years. He is considered the best in his field but is getting older and starting to become concerned about his dangerous profession.

Sonny is friends with a fellow stuntman, Cully, who is starting to retire due to fear. Cully introduces Sonny to a wealthy and eccentric film producer, Roger Deal. Deal offers Sonny a lucrative contract to perform a series of stunts for a new film. Despite his initial reservations, Sonny accepts the offer as he sees it as his last chance to prove himself.

Sonny's long-time girlfriend, Gwen, works as a makeup artist on movie sets. Their relationship has been strained due to Sonny's dedication to his job, and Gwen is frustrated with his lack of commitment to settling down. She wants him to quit the dangerous profession and start a family.

As Sonny begins working on Deal's movie, he is joined by another talented stuntman named Ski, who quickly becomes his rival. Their competitive relationship leads to various humorous situations and challenges as they try to outdo each other's stunts.

Meanwhile, Sonny's friendship with Cully grows stronger, and they spend time reminiscing about their past adventures and discussing the risks and rewards of their profession. They both have moments of doubt about continuing to perform such dangerous stunts, but ultimately, they feel compelled to keep pushing the limits.

During one of Sonny's stunts, he narrowly escapes a serious accident, which shakes him to his core and makes him question his decision to continue risking his life. Gwen confronts him about their future together and urges him to reconsider his priorities. Despite their love for each other, they struggle to find common ground.

As the movie progresses, Sonny's relationship with Ski becomes more friendly, and they start admiring each other's skills instead of engaging in fierce competition. They collaborate on several stunts and impress everyone on set.

The climax of the film comes when Sonny plans a death-defying stunt involving jumping a rocket-powered car over a moving train. On the day of the stunt, everything seems to go wrong, and Sonny faces multiple obstacles. Despite the challenges thrown his way, he successfully completes the stunt, which earns him a well-deserved applause from the crew and spectators.

With his successful stunt, Sonny proves to himself and others that he still has what it takes to be a top stuntman. However, he realises that his priorities have shifted, and he no longer wants to risk his life for his career. He decides to retire from the profession and finally commits to a future with Gwen. Sonny reflects on his career in a quiet moment with Gwen, glad to have made it out alive and appreciating the support and love he has received from his friends and loved ones.