With the explosive release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, now feels like the perfect time to look back at the franchise that redefined the modern action film. Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt has gone from a grounded covert agent in 1996 to the living embodiment of chaos-defying determination. But which impossible mission stands above the rest? Here’s how they rank, from bottom to breathtaking.
8. The one that isn’t really a Mission: Impossible film – Mission: Impossible 2
Synopsis: Ethan Hunt is back and facing his most personal mission yet—this time involving a deadly virus and a rogue IMF agent.
Why it ranks here: The weakest of the franchise, not because it’s a bad action movie, but because it hardly feels like a Mission: Impossible movie. It’s a John Woo movie masquerading as a Mission: Impossible movie. John Woo’s signature doves, slow-motion gun ballet, and melodramatic romance drown out the spycraft and ensemble chemistry that define the series. It’s more Tom Cruise: Action Hero than Ethan Hunt: IMF Agent. A paradox of a movie—it fails at being Mission: Impossible, but still entertains.
7. The one that started it all – Mission: Impossible
Synopsis: When the IMF team is ambushed, Ethan Hunt goes rogue to uncover the mole and clear his name.
Why it ranks here: A solid foundation with one of the most iconic heist scenes ever—the Langley break-in. Brian De Palma’s stylised direction makes this one of the most visually interesting entries, but it’s also steeped in 90s tech absurdity. Ethan Hunt emailing “max@job 3:14” might raise eyebrows today. Still, its cold-war-era paranoia and the legendary train-top finale cement its legacy.
6. The one that changed the stunt game – Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol
Synopsis: After being framed for bombing the Kremlin, Ethan and his team must stop a nuclear war without IMF support.
Why it ranks here: It’s the stunt movie—the Burj Khalifa climb is a jaw-dropper. But the film lacks some of the emotional resonance due to Ving Rhames’ absence (mostly), and Jeremy Renner, well, he’s not quite in sync with the rest. A visual spectacle that pushed the series forward, even if it still feels like it’s searching for its new identity.
5. The one that started the McQuarrie era – Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation
Synopsis: The IMF is disbanded, and Ethan is pursued by the CIA while trying to prove the existence of a rogue organisation called the Syndicate.
Why it ranks here: From the opening airplane stunt (yes, Cruise was on the outside) to the brilliantly executed motorcycle chases and opera house sequence, McQuarrie takes the reins with style. This film sets the tone for the modern M:I era—bigger, tighter, and smarter. Weak link? Jeremy Renner. Strength? Rebecca Ferguson.
4. The one with the best villain – Mission: Impossible 3
Synopsis: Ethan is pulled back into active duty to stop arms dealer Owen Davian, who has kidnapped his wife.
Why it ranks here: A reset for the franchise. JJ Abrams brings emotional stakes and a sadistic villain played to perfection by Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Vatican set-piece, the bridge attack, the top-of-the-building finale—it’s all solid. The film also lays the groundwork for the overarching narrative seen in later entries. A thrilling chapter, though Abrams’ lens flares and shallow focus age it slightly.
3. The one that ties it all up together – Mission: Impossible Final Reckoning
Synopsis: The final chapter sees Ethan Hunt and his team face their deadliest mission yet: stopping a rogue AI known only as “The Entity.”
Why it ranks here: This is where it all comes full circle. Cruise is certifiable, pulling off more gravity-defying stunts and emotional crescendos. The team dynamics hit new highs, and there’s a genuine sense of closure brewing. While it lacks the breakneck pacing of Fallout, it’s a satisfying bridge to the finish line. Or so we think.
2. The one with the motorbike and the train – Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning
Synopsis: Ethan Hunt goes on the run to recover a powerful AI key that could alter global power balances.
Why it ranks here: Possibly the most self-aware of the franchise, bordering on stunt exhibitionism. Cruise rides a motorbike off a cliff. Then base jumps. Then fights on top of a train. It’s relentless. And rewatching it is even better. But with all the spectacle, it tiptoes dangerously close to parody. Still, you can’t look away.
1. The one with Henry Cavill – Mission: Impossible Fallout
Synopsis: Ethan and his team must stop nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands while dealing with betrayals and moral dilemmas.
Why it ranks here: This is the apex. The complete M:I film. Tom Cruise breaking his foot mid-stunt, Henry Cavill’s shotgun-arm-reload move, and that helicopter finale. Fallout blends action, espionage, emotion, and spectacle better than any of the rest. If you only watch one Mission: Impossible film, this is it.
What started as a stylish 90s spy thriller became the world’s most consistent action franchise. Watching Tom Cruise literally and metaphorically risk his life for cinema across nearly three decades has been equal parts thrilling and unhinged. The franchise evolved from techy noir into an all-out adrenaline series—and each film built on the last. Whatever you think about Ethan Hunt, there’s no denying the impossible has somehow become the reliable. Until Cruise really can’t run anymore, we’re strapped in.
Your mission now? Rewatch them all—and try not to hold your breath during the Burj Khalifa climb. Or the HALO jump. Or the train fight. Or the… look, just hang on tight.
What’s your ranking?
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