Mission Impossible Movies Ranked from Worst to Best
With the release of "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One" fast approaching, I decided to reflect and rank the greatest action franchise of all time.
6. Mission Impossible II (2000)
John Woo's "Mission: Impossible II" upped the action from the first film but lacks a compelling storyline in comparison to the other movies in the franchise. Despite Woo's signature style and some memorable action sequences “Mission Impossible II” lands at the bottom of my list.
5. Mission: Impossible (1996)
Brian De Palma's "Mission: Impossible" film set the tone for the franchise. The plot was complex, filled with twists, turns, and double-crosses that kept audiences guessing. The film immerses us into the world of Mission Impossible through its captivating action sequences, including the iconic heist at the CIA headquarters and Tom Cruise's unforgettable portrayal of Ethan Hunt.
4. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
Brad Bird's "Ghost Protocol" breathed new life into the series. It introduced a new ensemble dynamic, with Jeremy Renner (William Brandt), Simon Pegg (Benji Dunn), and Paula Patton (Jane Carter) center stage with Cruise’s Hunt.
Ghost Protocol delivers exhilarating action sequences like the Kremlin scene, the car park fight, and the vertigo-inducing sequence on the Burj Khalifa, which has now become a trademark of the series.
3. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
Christopher McQuarrie's first entry, "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" introduced the shadowy organization known as The Syndicate led by Sean Harris’ Solomon Lane, and portrayed them as the anti-IMF further raising the stakes for what Ethan and his team will have to face. The film introduced us to the formidable Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson, has great character development, and thrilling action sequences, such as the plane scene at the beginning of the film and the Vienna opera house scene.
2. Mission: Impossible III (2006)
J.J. Abrams' "Mission: Impossible III" introduced a darker, grittier edge to the series. The film took a more personal turn pulling Ethan’s wife Julia Meade (Michelle Monaghan) into the middle of his mission as she’s taken hostage by the adversary he was assigned to apprehend. Philip Seymour Hoffman delivered an unforgettable performance as the film’s antagonist Owen Davian. He was intense, ruthless, and took Ethan and his team far beyond their limits.
1. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
Christopher McQuarrie's "Mission Impossible: Fallout" is the pinnacle of the franchise and continues the Syndicate storyline introducing the Apostles, new characters like Henry Cavill’s August Walker, Angela Bassett’s Erica Sloane as the new head of the CIA, and Venessa Kirby’s Alanna Mitsopolis.
“Fallout” features the franchise’s best action sequences, and cinematography, an amazing score by Lorne Balfe (Top Gun Maverick), and delves deeper into Ethan Hunt's personal life and the toll his work takes on him.
The "Mission Impossible" franchise has seen a multitude of stylistic and narrative shifts throughout its evolution, each adding to the complexity and richness of its cinematic universe. It's this constant reinvention that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new release. As we await "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One", one thing is certain: Ethan Hunt and his team will once again embark on a mission filled with intricate plots, dynamic characters, and heart-stopping action.
stay tuned for our review…