However, I suspect that in most movies etc this kind of thing is either faked outright, or is done by having a CPL holder sitting in the plane, out of view of the camera, as was done in e.g. that banal top gear stunt where the Veyron "beat" a Cessna.
Are you referring to Mr May? If indeed you are, then you are misinformed. James May is a PPL holder and has been for almost 10 year. In addition he has IMC, Night Rating as well as tail wheel conversion.