‘Mission: Impossible’ Ranked: How Tom Cruise’s Signature Franchise Redefined Action Cinema

When Tom Cruise first sprinted across the screen in 1996, signalling the explosion of the first ‘Mission: Impossible’ installment on to the screen, few could have predicted that Cruise’s stylish spy thriller would evolve into one of the most consistently exhilarating action franchise of the modern era, only rivaled by ‘James Bond’ franchise. Across nearly three decades, the ‘M: I’ series has shape-shifted without times, from Brian De Palma’s noir style to Christopher McQuarrie’s operatic set pieces, all while cementing Cruise’s Ethan Hunt as the gold standard of action heroes. The series pays homage to the unique architecture and cultures of each country Ethan finds himself in. Each installment offers its flavor of suspense, gadgets, twists, and jaw-dropping stunts. But which mission was the most impossible to top?

In anticipation of the upcoming ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’, let’s dive into all seven films– the glorious highs, the near-catastrophic misfires, and the moments that redefined what action cinema could be– and crown the ultimate ‘Mission: Impossible’ entry.

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Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), dir. John Woo

The slow-motion doves, the operatic gun ballets, the extended rock climbing sequence– if John Woo’s entry was aiming for style, it certainly delivered. With tough shoes to fill after the success of ‘Mission: Impossible’ four years prior, the style came at the expense of almost everything else. With a script reverse-engineered to serve pre-planned stunts (quite the red flag), ‘M: I-2’ turns Ethan Hunt into more of a Bond knockoff than a dedicated IMF agent. While Cruise is undeniably handsome, he lacks the sex appeal of Bond’s of old, and is unrooted from his character’s belief in the greater good due to the strange and fast-paced relationship with thief Nyah, played by Thandiwe Newton. The story revolves around a deadly engineered virus, but honestly, who remembers the villain? Even Anthony Hopkins’ blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo feels out of place. Thandiwe Newton is the film’s one bright spot, offering a quick wit in a film that feels devoid of memorable characters. Sadly, her terrible experience on set led her to step away from the franchise for good, despite the happy ending between Nyah and Hunt. In short, Hunt’s most distracted mission is also his weakest.

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Mission: Impossible (1996), dir. Brian De Palma

The original ‘Mission’ film is less of an action blockbuster and more of a stylish espionage thriller, which is not a bad thing. De Palma’s known flair for suspense turns what could have been a generic adaptation of a 1960s TV show into a cerebral cat-and-mouse game. The tension-filled CIA vault heist with the iconic suspended Tom Cruise stunt, the exploding aquarium restaurant ambush, and those iconic masks set the tone for decades of cinematic spycraft and lay the groundwork for what the franchise can become. While the third act does spiral a bit into helicopter-on-a-train absurdity, the film deserves credit for establishing Tom Cruise as a formidable action star. The series began here, smaller in scope, sure, but already brimming with potential.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), dir. Christopher McQuarrie

From this point on, I like these movies. I even love these movies, and think they’re all brilliant. ‘Rogue Nation’ in particular marks a turning point, where the franchise stopped reinventing itself and started perfecting its formula. Cruise hanging off the side of a plane? That’s the opening shot. But what makes ‘Rogue Nation’ more than just a stunt spectacle is its narrative ambition and political intrigue. The IMF faces extinction at the hands of the CIA (led smugly by Alec Baldwin), and Hunt becomes a fugitive, a man without a country, being pursued by his own government. Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust steals the show as an unpredictable agent, offering the franchise its most complex female character. Add in lipstick flash drives, clarinet guns, and an opera house assassination attempt, and you’ve got a high-concept thriller that feels as brainy as it is brawny. However, villain Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) feels slightly miscast (I could not help but imagine him as Philip Seymour Hoffman), and the amount of twists and turns verges on the confusing in the overlong second act, leaving ‘Rogue Nation’ standing a bit below its counterparts.

Mission: Impossible III (2006), dir. J.J. Abrams

This may be my hottest take on this list. ‘M: I III’ is right before the McQuarrie era, which catapulted the franchise into iconic status; it lacks the strong team that will form later in the franchise. However, the third entry gives us something rare in action films: a truly terrifying villain. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s cold and calculating arms dealer Owen Davian is nothing short of a force of nature, so unnerving he still stands as the franchise’s most memorable baddie. His icy delivery turns a simple threat into pure dread, even for our untouchable hero Ethan. Abrams also injects fresh blood into the series, grounding Hunt with a personal stake through his relationship with Michelle Monaghan’s Julia. Hunt is not just running after a McGuffin, he’s fighting for someone he loves, elevating the emotional core. This film saved the franchise from potential irrelevance, re-centering it around Cruise’s humanity rather than just his heroism.

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Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), dir. Christopher McQuarrie

As artificial intelligence began to dominate real-world headlines, ‘Dead Reckoning’ tapped into our fears precisely with The Entity, an advanced, self-aware AI capable of penetrating any cybersecurity barrier. This villain is not just a man with a grudge or a selfish plan, it’s a sentient algorithm capable of manipulating global intelligence. Gabriel (Esai Morales) serves as the human face of this digital threat and is a ghost from Hunt’s past, anchoring the narrative with unexpected emotional weight. The action, from a train finale that evokes ‘Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid,’ to a tense car chase through iconic sites in Rome, are superb. However, it’s the storytelling’s philosophical edge that resonates with modern audiences. If ‘Fallout’ was the franchise’s physical peak, ‘Dead Reckoning’ might be its most cerebral. And with ‘The Final Reckoning’ on the horizon, the saga still has more secrets to reveal.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), dir. Brad Bird

With animation wizard and ‘The Incredibles’ alum Brad Bird at the helm, ‘Ghost Protocol’ infused the series with a kinetic energy and cartoonish audacity. Cruise dangling from the Burj Khalifa in IMAX remains one of cinema’s greatest stunts, a moment so real and absurd it could only belong to ‘M: I.’ This film establishes the team dynamic that would carry through the rest of the series, introducing Jeremy Renner and deepening the roles of Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames). Lea Seydoux adds an icy, villainous flair, and the globetrotting scope sets a new benchmark for scale. Bird understood that action could be both spirited and coherent, and let Cruise have creative control over his own body and stunts.

‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018), dir. Christopher McQuarrie

If ‘Ghost Protocol’ was the franchise’s ignition and ‘Rogue Nation’ its refinement, ‘Fallout’ is the masterpiece, firing on all cylinders to create the perfect action film. Cruise jumps out of a plane at 25,000 feet in a real HALO skydive, flies his helicopter through mountain canyons, and trades blows in a brutal bathroom brawl with Henry Cavill’s mustachioed CIA operative. Every element of ‘Fallout’ clicks: the emotional continuity with Julia, the high stakes nuclear threat, and the breathtaking pacing that never lets up. Vanessa Kirby adds a sly charisma, while Cavill makes an excellent brute-force foil, another side of perceived justice. McQuarrie’s direction is surgical, balancing practical effects with stunning set pieces. It’s as close to perfection as an action film can be.

The Final Countdown: What’s Next for the IMF?

With ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ on the horizon, there is a sense of finality looming. Will this be the franchise’s swan song? At 62, Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down, defying both gravity and genre fatigue. Yet, the question persists: is there still a market for theatrical action epics in an era dominated by streaming and superheroes? Cruise thinks so, he’s even staked his legacy on it. More than just starring in these films, he champions the theatrical experience, insisting that some things must be seen on the big screen. Whether or not the next ‘Mission: Impossible’ is the last, one thing is certain: this franchise did not just raise the bar for action, it launched it out of a cannon. And Ethan Hunt, the man who runs like his life (and ours) depends on it, remains a cinematic icon whose missions we will always choose to accept.

By Leeann Remiker

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The Final Countdown: What’s Next for the IMF?

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