James Bond Movie Dumped 8,400 Gallons of Coca-Cola on a Street
When people think of a James Bond stunt, they picture speeding cars or buildings exploding. Few would guess that thousands of gallons of Coca-Cola were part of the plan. While filming No Time to Die, the crew poured about 8,400 gallons of soda over a historic Italian street to help a motorcycle slide safely during a high-speed chase. It sounds over-the-top, but it was a carefully planned and surprisingly practical decision.
The Matera Street That Turned Sticky
Image via Getty Images/Stock Photos 2000
The sequence was filmed in Matera, Italy, a city known for steep stone streets and ancient architecture. Those cobblestone roads look incredible on camera, but they create real problems for stunt riders. Motorcycles can slide easily on polished stone, especially when landing from a jump at high speed.
To fix that, the stunt team sprayed roughly 8,400 gallons of Coca-Cola across sections of the street. The production cost was around €60,000, which converts to roughly $70,000 at the time’s exchange rates.
Once the soda dried, it left a tacky film on the stones. That sticky layer helped tires grip the surface, reducing the risk of the bike sliding out on impact. According to stunt coordinator Lee Morrison, this was not a brand-new trick. Soda has been used in stunt work for years to add traction on slick surfaces. It also rinses away relatively cleanly.
Using a familiar liquid also avoided introducing harsh chemicals into a historic public space. Matera is a UNESCO-recognized heritage location, so cleanup and preservation mattered. The drink used for filming was sourced commercially instead of through brand partnerships, which helped avoid conflicts tied to product placement or sponsorship influence.
The Motorcycle Jump That Needed It
Image via Canva/Africa Images
Coca-Cola was used for a major action moment featuring a stunt double riding as James Bond. The rider, stunt performer Paul Edwards, launched off a ramp roughly 25 feet high while traveling about 60 miles per hour. The jump sent the motorcycle over a wall before landing back onto the stone street.
The concept reportedly came from Daniel Craig. Daniel worked closely with the stunt team throughout his time playing Bond, and he often contributed ideas during action development. In this case, the solution focused on improving safety without changing how the scene looked on screen.
Without added grip, a landing like that could easily turn dangerous. Even a small slide on cobblestone at that speed could cause serious injury.
A Classic Bond Move Behind The Scenes
The soda stunt sounds expensive until you compare it to the film’s total cost. “No Time to Die” had a production budget estimated at around $250 million. In that context, $70,000 for safety and shot quality becomes a small line item.
Still, the image of tanker loads of soda being sprayed onto a street captures the scale of modern blockbuster filmmaking. Productions will spend heavily if it helps deliver a moment that feels real instead of digital.
James Bond movies have always leaned heavily on practical effects. The franchise built its reputation on real stunts performed in real locations. That tradition continued into Daniel Craig’s era.