Since its explosive debut in 1996, the Mission: Impossible franchise has evolved from a sleek spy thriller into one of the most daring and consistently entertaining action series in modern cinema. With Tom Cruise at the helm (literally hanging from planes, scaling skyscrapers, and sprinting through every country imaginable), each installment has brought its own flavour of jaw-dropping spectacle. But not all missions are created equal. Here’s how the franchise stacks up in this ranking from less impossible to more… implausible.
8. M:I-2 (2000)
John Woo’s Mission: Impossible II is widely seen as the franchise’s wild child. With operatic music swelling, slo-mo explosions bursting at every turn, and Tom Cruise scaling cliffs in sunglasses like an untouchable action god, it trades the series’ signature tension for glossy bravado.
But here’s the twist: for all its flair, the film is surprisingly a drag. The actual mission doesn’t really start until nearly an hour in, bogged down by a flat romance between Ethan Hunt and Thandiwe Newton.
One bright spot is Dougray Scott’s unhinged villain, who chews through every scene with delicious menace. Unfortunately, even he can’t distract from what fundamentally lacks: the team. The ensemble dynamic that gives the series its pulse is almost entirely MIA here. It’s Ethan solo, minus the charm of collaboration, which leaves the movie feeling oddly hollow beneath all the bombast.
By the third act, the film goes so far off the rails it almost loops back to entertaining with Woo-style absurdity cranked to eleven. But there’s a reason this one’s barely referenced in later instalments. It’s very much the black sheep: all style, no stealth.
7. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
The Final Reckoning promises a grand finale nearly 30 years in the making. But, while it aims to be an epic love letter to the franchise’s loyal fans, it only half delivers. The thrills are there, the stunts still jaw-dropping, but the pacing stumbles harder than Ethan Hunt after a rooftop sprint.
The trademark team chemistry, the heartbeat of the series, is pushed to the sidelines for exposition about this film’s McGuffin: the Entity. There is also a sprawling cast of new players in a tangled web of shifting allegiances. The result is a bloated chessboard of characters, where the familiar bonds that made earlier entries so magnetic get lost in the shuffle. Hunt and Benji, once the emotional and comedic core, barely share meaningful moments. And the budding connection between Hunt and Grace (Hayley Atwell) never quite sparks with the weight it should.
That said, the film still delivers a strong sense of cinematic scale. There’s tension, atmosphere, and the kind of high-gloss spectacle only Mission: Impossible can deliver. But even the action starts to feel a little too familiar. Ethan diving underwater? Been there. A race against time with bomb disarming and airplane dogfights? Done that. These set pieces are undeniably well-crafted, but they don’t break new ground. More critically, they’re spread far too thin. The first major sequence doesn’t even arrive until around the 90-minute mark in this nearly three-hour marathon.
6. Mission Impossible (1996)
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Ethan Hunt’s very first mission. It is a film that may carry the hallmarks of ‘first album syndrome’, but still stands tall as a sharp, stylish entry in the Mission: Impossible saga.
Under the meticulous direction of Brian De Palma, one of New Hollywood’s most iconic auteurs, the original Mission: Impossible leans into sleek espionage over explosive spectacle. Long before J.J. Abrams, Brad Bird, or Christopher McQuarrie put their stamp on the franchise, De Palma injected it with Hitchcockian suspense. The result is one of the most unforgettable scenes in action cinema: Hunt’s infiltration of the CIA headquarters, a masterclass in tension that remains pulse-pounding to this day.
It may not boast the relentless action of its sequels, but that’s exactly what makes it worth revisiting. This first outing offers a unique flavour for its methodical mystery, steeped in spy craft and it serves as an endearing origin story for the partnership between Ethan and tech-whiz Luther.
5. Dead Reckoning (2023)
The prologue to the finale barrels onto the screen with all the signature flair of the franchise, but it can’t quite outrun the long shadow cast by Fallout (2018). It often feels a bit too polished, a bit too safe, relying more on CGI gloss than the visceral grit that once set the series apart. The film’s musings on AI, while timely, come across as too on-the-nose and lacking in originality. For a franchise that once thrived on clever twists and grounded stakes, this feels like well-worn territory dressed up with tech jargon.
But make no mistake, Dead Reckoning still knows how to entertain. McQuarrie and Cruise bring relentless energy to the action and they don’t make you wait for it. From sprinting through airports to weaving through traffic-choked Paris, launching off cliffs on a motorbike, and narrowly escaping collapsing train cars; this is Cruise doing what Cruise does best!
The returning cast brings their usual spark, but the newcomers don’t disappoint either. Hayley Atwell’s Grace may not carry the mystique of Ilsa Faust, but her chemistry with Cruise crackles with tension and playfulness, making her a worthy addition to Hunt’s ever-evolving circle of allies and perhaps romantic entanglements.
4. M:I-III (2006)
Mission: Impossible III often flies under the radar, but it’s the pivotal entry that reshaped the franchise’s DNA. As the first film under J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot banner, M:I-III marked a major tonal shift, pivoting from stylized espionage to emotionally grounded blockbuster thrills. Abrams traded John Woo’s slow-motion chaos for tighter storytelling, and while his action chops aren’t quite on Christopher McQuarrie’s level (hello, shaky-cam), he still delivers a slick, high-stakes thriller packed with heart and momentum.
Right from the chilling opening scene, M:I-III sets itself apart. Ethan is strapped to a chair, powerless, as villain Owen Davian (played with icy menace by the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman) counts to ten, and the life of someone Hunt loves hangs in the balance. That ‘someone’ is Julie (Michelle Monaghan), Hunt’s new wife, and for the first time in the series, we’re pulled into his personal life. The action might be big, but the emotional stakes are even bigger.
Hoffman’s Davian is a masterstroke of casting. Known for powerhouse performances in Capote, Doubt, and Magnolia, Hoffman brings gravitas and real danger to the role. He doesn’t just chew the scenery; he owns it. To this day, he’s arguably the best villain Ethan Hunt has ever faced.
The climax might not have the massive scale of Fallout, but it delivers where it counts. Hunt is taken out of commission, and Julie is forced to step up—not as a damsel, but as a fighter. It’s a suspenseful, character-driven climax that more than makes up for the vague ‘Rabbit’s Foot’ MacGuffin.
M:I-III walked so the rest of the series could sprint full tilt (and there would be a lot of Tom Cruise running in those films).
3. Rogue Nation (2015)
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation marked the arrival of Christopher McQuarrie as the franchise’s guiding force from this point onwards, and what a debut it was! With a firm grip on both pulse-pounding action and razor-sharp storytelling, McQuarrie brought a slick precision to the series.
Each set piece flares with energy, from a breathtaking opera house standoff to a motorbike chase that ranks among the genre’s all-time greats: pure action movie gold. But what truly sets Rogue Nation apart is its confidence in restraint. Instead of ending with an explosive spectacle, the climax leans into strategy and subterfuge. Ethan Hunt doesn’t just fight his way to victory; he outsmarts the enemy, proving once again why he’s not just a daredevil but a leader.
The film also shines in its portrayal of team loyalty and chemistry. The core lineup clicks beautifully, and while Jeremy Renner exits after this mission, the squad never misses a beat. Rebecca Ferguson’s introduction as Ilsa Faust is electric. Constantly walking the line between ally and adversary, her chemistry with Cruise’s Hunt brings out the franchise’s version of Batman and Catwoman’s dynamic. Her presence deepens the emotional and narrative stakes.
Rogue Nation doesn’t just raise the bar, it redefines what the franchise can be: smart, stylish, and full of surprises.
2. Ghost Protocol (2011)
Brad Bird doesn’t just direct movies, he supercharges them. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is no exception. It’s a standout entry in the MI saga, not just because it’s Bird’s one and only outing in the franchise, but because it runs on pure adrenaline. Every frame is humming with energy due to sharp visuals, razor-sharp pacing, and a script that knows exactly when to punch and when to pause.
Unlike some of the other instalments that are tightly interwoven, this one feels more standalone, and that gives it a sense of freedom. We get more time to focus on Hunt’s team and the stakes of their mission, and their chemistry feels deeper than co-working agents. Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton both bring a grounded emotional weight, each tethered to Ethan Hunt in different but equally powerful ways. It’s a shame they didn’t stick around longer, especially Patton, who brought both edge and empathy. Meanwhile, Simon Pegg is promoted to regular status, adding levity without ever breaking tension. And Cruise still sprints and leaps in spectacular action sequences that each build on the last. From the Kremlin break-in to that death-defying Burj Khalifa climb fused with a sandstorm chase is a stretch of pure cinematic brilliance.
If there’s one major misfire, though, it’s the villain. The late Michael Nyqvist was a terrific actor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) proved that), but here he’s handed a thankless role. The franchise has always had a mixed bag when it comes to antagonists, but this one barely registers. He’s more of a plot device than a presence. The real spark of menace comes instead from Léa Seydoux’s near-silent assassin, who brings cool unpredictability to every scene she’s in. It’s a small role, but she makes it count.
With the exception of its villain, Ghost Protocol is a blast of pure blockbuster fun, guided by a filmmaker who knows how to keep every element humming in harmony.
1. Fallout (2018)
Mission: Impossible – Fallout isn’t just another thrilling instalment; it’s the crown jewel of the franchise. While Rogue Nation might take the edge in terms of script, Fallout delivers an emotional and cinematic experience that hits harder than any explosion.
When it comes to action, Fallout is firing on every cylinder. Each set piece is crafted with such precision and momentum that it’s impossible to pick a standout: the Paris bike-and-car chase, the stormy HALO jump, the brutal bathroom brawl, and the heart-pounding helicopter showdown. Each sequence is a masterclass in choreography, pacing, and sheer spectacle.
Christopher McQuarrie also pushes the franchise into bold, psychological territory. There is a palpable weight to Ethan Hunt’s journey now-years into his career as an agent, matched by Tom Cruise, years into his run as a tireless action icon. That sense of time, of wear and connection, runs deep through the team. There’s history here, and more importantly, there’s heart.
The supporting cast is on top form. Rebecca Ferguson and Ving Rhames give the film its emotional backbone, grounding Ethan in loyalty and genuine care. Simon Pegg continues to strike the perfect balance between comic relief and sincere concern. Henry Cavill is a revelation as the hammer-fisted August Walker. Exuding raw charisma and brute force, he’s a worthy foil to Cruise’s agile intensity. Alec Baldwin, in limited screen time, commands attention with gravitas and warmth, while Sean Harris returns as Solomon Lane, still as chilling and snake-like as ever. And Vanessa Kirby is a scene-stealing standout as the White Widow, a sly nod to Vanessa Redgrave’s Max from the original film.
Fallout doesn’t just aim to thrill, it soars. It’s a visually lush and emotionally layered rollercoaster, cementing its place not just as a high point for the franchise but as one of the defining action films of the 21st century.
Words by Joseph Jenkinson
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