The Mission Impossible franchise has been delivering thrills and action for decades. Brian De Palma directed the first Mission Impossible movie in 1996, with Tom Cruise starring as Ethan Hunt and Jon Voight as the film’s antagonist. From there, five sequels have been created, with even more deadly stunts and state-of-the-art spy gadgets that will blow your mind. Known for doing his own stunts, Cruise is constantly pushing the boundaries, from jumping out the window to holding onto a plane taking off. With every movie, fans are always curious what his next stunt will be.
The Mission Impossible franchise is based on the 1960s show of the same name. Like the movies, the series was known for its group of IMF agents who used super cool gadgets and risked everything to save the world from evil people and organizations. Since the series was adapted into a movie franchise, several acclaimed filmmakers have directed, including John Woo, JJ Abrams and Brad Bird. We’ve seen characters come and go, but Ethan Hunt is always at the center of the movies, risking his life to save the world. Hunt is a character with such courage, he will often get into deadly situations and figure everything out as he goes. Of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One next summer in the cinema, per IndieWireand Part twocurrently in productionNow is a great time to watch the entire film series, ranked.
Updated September 30, 2022: If you like the . holds Mission Impossible franchise, you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve updated this article with additional content and information.
6/6 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
While the John Woo sequel is arguably the weakest of the franchise, Mission: Impossible II definitely not a bad movie. The film follows Hunt on a mission to find a deadly biological weapon at the hands of an ex-IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), with the help of Ambrose’s ex-lover, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton). . While the film lacks many aspects of the story, Woo is known for creating good action, and he does deliver many well-choreographed fight scenes. The opening shot of the film is breathtaking as we see Hunt free-solo on a very high rock peak to retrieve his mission.
5/6 Mission: Impossible III (2006)
While JJ Abrams’ directorial debut received mixed reviews, this is a solid addition to the franchise with some great performances. In Mission: Impossible III, we follow Hunt in search of an unknown object simply called “the rabbit’s foot.” The film’s main antagonist, Owen Davian, is brilliantly played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who gives us a chilling character without all the empathy. The movie is full of explosions and car chases, and the subplot featuring Hunt and his fiancée (Michelle Monaghan) offers a lot of heart.
4/6 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation was a solid addition to the franchise that brought back beloved characters and introduced us to some new ones. In this film, we follow Hunt on the run from the CIA as he desperately tries to investigate the existence of a terrorist group called Syndicate. Rogue NationThe villain is Solomon Lane, brilliantly played by the hair-raising Sean Harris. The film also introduces us to a new member of the team, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who becomes both an ally and a challenge to Hunt throughout the film. The film has exceptional visuals from start to finish, including the iconic scene where Hunt is holding a plane as it takes off.
3/6 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
The addition of Brad Bird to the franchise gives us an exceptional action film mixed with humor and drama. The film follows Hunt and his team on a quest to stop a nuclear disaster before it’s too late. Mission Impossible – Ghost protocol is filled with several memorable scenes, including Hunt climbing a towering skyscraper in Dubai while conducting a heist to retrieve nuclear codes. Simon Pegg, who plays Benji Dunn, gives us comic relief throughout the movie, and Jeremy Renner as William Brandt was a great addition to the cast.
2/6 Mission: Impossible (1995)
De Palma’s original film was a well-made film with fantastic performances that de Mission Impossible series to the big screen. De Palma’s directing is masterful, focusing on the emotional depth of the characters, while delivering satisfying action sequences. Jon Voight takes on the role of IMF agent Jim Phelps, who eventually becomes the film’s main antagonist. Hunt’s team, which includes a helicopter pilot (Jean Reno) and a computer hacker (Ving Rhames), is top notch. There are several memorable scenes, including the terrifying scene where Hunt has to infiltrate CIA headquarters without making a sound or hitting the ground. The climax, including a train and helicopter chase, is also unforgettable.
1/6 Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Mission: Impossible – Fallout is an action-packed rollercoaster ride where the characters come first. precipitation brings back Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson and Alec Baldwin and introduces new characters such as John Lark (Henry Cavill) and new CIA Director Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett). The film follows Hunt and his team as they track down plutonium to prevent a nuclear disaster. The stunts Cruise pulled in this movie are terrifying, including skydiving from extremely high altitudes and being taken off the ground by a helicopter while holding on to a rope. Lark was a great addition to the franchise, serving as the movie’s shapeshifter character, because you’re never quite sure whose side he’s on until the very end. The climax is unforgettable as we see Hunt in an epic helicopter chase as his team members attempt to disarm an atomic bomb. It’s safe to say the franchise has found their best crew yet, and fans can’t wait for the next one Mission Impossible movie.