Revisiting every 'Mission: Impossible' movie before 'The Final Reckoning'
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to follow along as we rewatch and rank every "Mission: Impossible" movie before the finale
My first IMAX experience was “the one where Tom Cruise climbs the world’s tallest building.” It was my first year of high school, and I was only a few years removed from the cinematic awakening that was “The Dark Knight,” but “Ghost Protocol” felt like the first full-blown action flick I ever loved. As a kid, Batman was my favorite hero, and “The Dark Knight” trilogy was my defining cinematic saga.
But it was in my high school and college years that Ethan Hunt became a hero for me on par with the Caped Crusader, and “Mission: Impossible” grew into my movie series of choice. With the seemingly final “M:I” installment upon us, I want to take a trip down memory lane in the weeks leading to “Final Reckoning” and give my definitive takes and ranking.
Every film will be scored on five essential categories key to the success of any “Mission: Impossible” film: villain, Ethan’s crew, location, stunts, and, of course, the quality of Tom Cruise’s glorious, luscious hair.
Each week I’ll be updating this list after a new rewatch. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to follow along as we revisit and rank every "Mission: Impossible" movie before the series’ epic conclusion hits theaters on May 23.
Update: Read Johnny’s review of “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” as well as his thoughts on “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning”
“Mission: Impossible - Fallout” (2018)
The “Mission” pinnacle. Just as this film represents the “fallout” of Ethan’s entire life to this point, it’s the culmination of every stunt design, location shoot and stylistic choice that the franchise has completed to date. It’s no coincidence this marks the first time in the series that a director has returned to helm a “Mission” pic, with McQ doing his damndest to top the series-best entry of “Rogue Nation.”
Mission: accomplished.
The most dramatic and emotional pic to date (without forgoing its wit and humor), it wisely returns all of the pieces in “Rogue Nation” that worked best, namely villain Solomon Lane and heroine Ilsa Faust. This is key to maximizing the punch of every story beat, as well as making “Mission” feel more desperate and high stakes than ever. Lane threatens everyone Hunt has ever loved, while Ilsa continues to fight for her freedom.
Lane is joined by double-agent August Walker (Henry Cavill), a.k.a. anarchist John Lark. For a guy who played Superman, this remains Cavill’s most charismatic and enjoyable character to date. He’s a one-man wrecking crew who has the honor of physically facing off with Hunt in the most spectacular “Mission” finale ever. He also makes for a great contrast to Lane’s more cerebral style of antagonist, and while the pair would be formidable opponents for Hunt on their own, the two together make for an even more potent mix.
At this point, though, we know the stunts are undoubtedly the star. For my money, “Fallout” is the greatest action film of Cruise’s illustrious career. Completing a one-shot H.A.L.O. jump and destroying a bathroom with a brawl, motorbiking through Paris and sprinting through London, and, of course, seeing Cruise pilot a helicopter through mountainous terrain – it’s everything you’ve come to expect from “Mission” dialed to 11 and then some.
While the franchise has been constantly reinventing its tone and aesthetic via new filmmakers, McQ took the chance by returning to evolve the story of “Mission,” rather than just the style. “Fallout” is the first pic to genuinely examine Ethan’s history and what makes him tick, the closest these films ever come to a character study. Whether it’s his “doomed” marriage with Julia (in Michelle Monaghan’s welcome return), his unflinching loyalty to his best friends, or his supernatural determination to save the world, no stone is left unturned by “Fallout.”
The Scoreboard:
The Villain: 4.5 out of 5
The Crew: 5 out of 5
The Location(s): 4.5 out of 5
The Stunts: 5 out of 5
The Hair: 4 out of 5
The Final Score: 5 out of 5
“Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation” (2015)
Enter McQ, the latest and greatest filmmaker to take the reins.
Despite not being a known action director, it feels like this was Christopher McQuarrie’s destiny, with him doing rewrites on “Ghost Protocol” before becoming one of the credited screenwriters on another Cruise film, “Edge of Tomorrow.” How could McQ supplant the likes of De Palma, Woo, Abrams and Birds? Well…
First, McQ and Cruise wisely chose to follow the tonal recalibration of “Ghost Protocol,” which is epitomized by giving Simon Pegg’s Benji an even more prominent role. In terms of substance, there is a distinct re-center on action, with hand-to-hand combat and chase sequences getting elevated. It doesn’t sacrifice the best spy elements of the series, though, keeping the gadgetry and sleuthing on the pedestal it deserves.
Second, and most importantly, it finally introduces a woman to match Hunt, who isn’t purely here as a love interest or to serve as part of the team. Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust is an instantly iconic action hero. From her show-stopping yellow dress at the Vienna opera, to her saving Ethan from drowning and the subsequent motorcycle chase in Morocco, it’s the closest someone has come to stealing the franchise out from Cruise’s nose.
The opera sequence in particular is one of the all-time greats. It’s everything “Mission” does well, blending suspense, style, humor, gadgets and action, balancing between Hunt, Benji and Ilsa. It also does well to illustrate the power and scope of The Syndicate, Hunt’s latest antagonist, given a face in the form of Sean Harris’ Solomon Lane. He offers a legitimately sinister aura compared to the dullness of the last film’s villain.
In retrospect, “Mission” sometimes doesn’t feel like “Mission” proper until Cruise allows Benji and Ilsa in to share the spotlight. “Rogue Nation” gives the former the most full-fledged arc of any character apart from Hunt yet, while introducing the latter like a lightning bolt to the heart of this franchise.
As fun as it would’ve been to continue with Tom Cruise as the one burning fuse of “Mission,” it’s the continued fleshing out of these characters around him that really keeps us choosing to accept.
The Scoreboard:
The Villain: 3.5 out of 5
The Crew: 4.5 out of 5
The Location(s): 4 out of 5
The Stunts: 4.5 out of 5
The Hair: 4 out of 5
The Final Score: 4.5 out of 5
“Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol” (2011)
With the 9/11-era, mid-2000s grittiness of “M:I3” five years in the rear view, who better to inject some magic and whimsy into this franchise than the man behind “The Incredibles”? Brad Bird brings us Ethan Hunt in his final form – unstoppable force and immovable object, all in one. The stage is perfectly set through his most iconic entrance yet – an almost slapstick, musical jailbreak in Moscow. It’s an apropos contrast to the torture scene opener from the prior entry.
But this film isn’t just Hunt at his best. Benji in the field is emblematic of everything Bird aims to achieve from a tonal standpoint. Endlessly quick wit but with just enough messiness and bad luck to keep the audience on their toes. Flanked by Paula Patton as Carter and Jeremy Renner as Brandt, this trio is the best crew so far. The mysterious subplot tying Brandt to Hunt is a particularly nice touch.
This also really marks the first film to make a Tom Cruise stunt the focal point of its entire existence. The Burj Khalifa sequence might still be the crown jewel of the series: no CGI, no set, no doubles. Just the world’s biggest movie star on the face of the world’s tallest building, weaving another iconic Cruise stunt with a suspense-filled spy scene for the whole crew to shine.
Nyquist is the most forgettable antagonist in the franchise, which is arguably worse than just being the worst antagonist. The lack of proper villains continues to distinguish “Mission” from “Bond,” although I’d argue it plays into the strengths of the series to operate this way, especially to ensure Cruise as Hunt isn’t outdone (see: any “Batman” flick).
Hunt doesn’t fire a gun the entire film, and the gadgets are constantly failing. It’s the franchise’s first subversive film – now that they have a solid foundation to subvert – and it pays off in spades. “The only thing that functioned on that mission was this team,” Hunt tells the crew in the film’s final scene. There is a heartfelt center to “Ghost Protocol” that the first three films never quite reach. Backs against the wall, on the brink of nuclear annihilation, Hunt and Co. don’t let us – or each other – down.
The Scoreboard:
The Villain: 2.5 out of 5
The Crew: 4.5 out of 5
The Location(s): 4 out of 5
The Stunts: 4.5 out of 5
The Hair: 4 out of 5
The Final Score: 4.5 out of 5
“Mission: Impossible III” (2006)
Did someone order the J.J. Abrams Special? Before he relaunched “Star Trek” and “Star Wars,” Abrams revived this franchise with its first true blockbuster extravaganza, injecting the series with big-budget effects and action set pieces. It also feels like the first real globetrotting entry, with on-location shooting in Germany, Italy and China making for memorable sequences.
Tonally, it’s not too dissimilar from Abrams’ other blockbuster fare, doing well to inject an appropriate dose of humor, which would really become the standard going forward. “M:I3” lets the banter between Ethan and his team shine, leaning into Cruise’s comedic chops. The introduction of Simon Pegg’s Benji is a particular standout as even with limited screen time, he is a marker for things to come. Michelle Monaghan offers the most interesting female character yet, even if it’s in service of Hunt’s story. Their romance is sketched well enough to keep the plot engaging, down to her shooting the final bad guy and literally bringing Hunt back to life.
What everyone remembers this one for isn’t for a specific stunt or the most-riveting plot. What this film has that every other in the franchise lacks is Philip Seymour Hoffman, fresh off his Oscar win and offering a level of menace and intensity that raised the bar for the series. Hoffman also gets to join in on the fun side of the flick, with the film’s central mask sequence offering the chance for him to play Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt playing Hoffman’s character. “Freaky Friday” eat your heart out.
As a soft reboot, I appreciate the continuation of some past elements (Ving Rhames as Luther, the “drop in” stunt motif, the double-cross IMF narrative) while making new additions and expanding on its predecessors. Making Hunt less of a lone wolf and making the teamwork integral is what sets him apart from the likes of Bond. The exploration of IMF tech (i.e. mask making) and techniques (i.e. lip reading) does well to flesh out the reality of how this whole thing works in the first place. If this film had fallen flat, we never would’ve gotten the “Mission” franchise we know and love today.
Thanks, J.J.
The Scoreboard:
The Villain: 4 out of 5
The Crew: 4 out of 5
The Location(s): 3.5 out of 5
The Stunts: 4 out of 5
The Hair: 3.5 out of 5
The Final Score: 4 out of 5
“Mission: Impossible 2” (2000)
New millennium, new Mission! John Woo’s melodrama and unabashed romantic style swings the series to the other side of the stylistic spectrum. Who needs De Palma paranoia when you have Woo aura?
While the flick moves closer to the lighthearted fun of later entries, it does feel a bit too much like Woo’s take on James Bond. Ethan Hunt is smiley, sexy and as charismatic as ever, with the most suave locks of the series pairing well with Woo’s eye for glamour shots. Thandiwe Newton is a suitably stunning love interest.
Unfortunately, after a thrilling meet cute, her thinly-drawn character gets sidelined for most of the pic. Still, Newton has really enjoyable chemistry with Cruise when the pair do get to be on screen, setting a high bar for the women to come (albeit plenty of room for better writing).
Unbelievable stunt work is where “M:I2” shines brightest, especially in the third act, buoyed by an amazing motorcycle chase and a surplus of Ethan Hunt kicks. The film overall is certainly less spy-centric and more action-oriented than its predecessor, with the most prominent gunplay of the series and no shortage of explosions. The most death-defying stunt Cruise handles himself is a knife spot, with the weapon rigged to stop just millimeters from his eye. Not particularly memorable, but that’s more complimentary of the film’s climactic 30+ minutes than anything else.
Unfortunately, all this goodness is at the mercy of the film’s primary locale (Sydney, Australia) and more mediocre villain (Dougray Scott as… Sean Ambrose? Okay lol). Both are by-the-numbers for an early 2000s action film, marking a low point for the series in both categories. But when the taste the film ultimately leaves in your mouth is Tom Cruise’s best “Matrix” impression, with Hans Zimmer blaring in the background, there are certainly far worse action flicks out there.
The Scoreboard:
The Villain: 1 out of 5
The Crew: 2.5 out of 5
The Location(s): 2.5 out of 5
The Stunts: 4.5 out of 5
The Hair: 5 out of 5
The Final Score: 3.5 out of 5
“Mission: Impossible” (1996)
My birth year of 1996 gave Tom Cruise the opportunity to work with the legendary Brian De Palma, but I’m guessing he didn’t see this modest spy thriller evolving into the defining work of his life. It’s by far the most lowkey and least action-packed of the series, instead relying on De Palma’s voyeuristic perspective to drive the drama.
The colors and camera angles are probably never as good as they are here, but the key issue with this “Mission” in retrospect is that Cruise doesn’t truly become Hunt until the death defying stunts start. At the time this was made, Cruise was still a competent enough hero but was only just coming of age as a legitimately dynamic actor. To become the Ethan Hunt we all know and love, Cruise had to stop taking himself so seriously and become a more Indiana Jones-style action hero.
The story told is serviceable enough, with Ethan being betrayed and framed, then and having to go against the IMF directly – sound familiar? It does a good job of establishing the more upbeat IMF team dynamics and bringing in a solid cast of characters for Ethan to work with, including the impeccable Ving Rhames as Luthor. The standout sequences are the restaurant confrontation between Ethan and Kittridge, which not only plays to all of De Palma’s strengths with paranoia but also provides Cruise’s first real stunt as Hunt – sprinting away from a massive, crashing tank of water.
The most iconic sequence, which really helped put “Mission” on the map, is the CIA break-in. It’s a beautifully orchestrated and layered set piece that balances sheer tension with satisfying comedic beats – this would become the “Mission” formula.
While this isn’t one of my favorites overall, there’s no denying it has a more unique look and feel, thanks to a true auteur like De Palma. I also won’t argue that sometimes less is more when it comes to action! For me, it just isn’t the series or hero I know and love yet.
The Scoreboard:
The Villain: 3.5 out of 5
The Crew: 3.5 out of 5
The Location(s): 3 out of 5
The Stunts: 3 out of 5
The Hair: 2 out of 5
The Final Score: 3.5 out of 5
The Final Rank-oning:
“Mission: Impossible - Fallout”
“Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation”
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol”
“Mission: Impossible III”
“Mission: Impossible”
“Mission: Impossible 2”
“Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning”
“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning”