Every Mission: Impossible Movies Ranked – From Worst to Best

Few action franchises in contemporary cinema have matched the remarkable endurance and thrilling spectacle found in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Starting as a classic spy television show in the late 1960s, the franchise has grown into a blockbuster phenomenon around the world, which means a force of nature called Tom Cruise (who has created an indelible legacy as IMF agent Ethan Hunt). Now, whether it’s death-defying stunts, globe-trotting missions, or heart-stopping plot twists, the franchise constantly proves that there are plenty of new ideas for what blockbuster action can look like.

From the sleek style of the 1996 original to the lavish action of Dead Reckoning Part One; with a ninth film on the way; the Mission: Impossible franchise has remained critically successful and thoroughly entertaining ever since. But what is the best of them all? From action scenes and plot, to performances and unforgettable set pieces, here is our definitive ranking of every Mission: Impossible film from worst to best.

7. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible (1996) and the second installment in the Mission: Impossible film series. Directed by John Woo, and produced by and starring Tom Cruise. The film also stars Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton, Richard Roxburgh, John Polson, Brendan Gleeson, Rade Šerbedžija and Ving Rhames.

In the film, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) teams with professional thief Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Newton) to secure a genetically modified disease, Chimera, held by rogue Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agent Sean Ambrose (Scott), who is Nordoff-Hall’s former lover.

6. Mission: Impossible (1996)

A reboot of the 1966 television series of the same name and its 1988 sequel series, it is the first installment in the Mission: Impossible film series. Directed by Brian De Palma and starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Henry Czerny, Emmanuelle Béart, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Vanessa Redgrave.

The film follows Ethan Hunt (Cruise) seeks to uncover who framed him for the murders of most of his Impossible Missions Force (IMF) team. The film was made on a total budget of $80 million and grossed $457.7 million worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 1996

We can’t forget the action sequences, De Palma’s direction, and Cruise’s performance. As per reports, the filmmakers delivered the film on time and under budget, a rarity in Hollywood, with Cruise doing most of his own stunts.

5. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

In Mission: Impossible III, retired Impossible Mission Force (IMF) agent and trainer Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is forced to return to active duty to capture elusive arms dealer Owen Davian (Hoffman).

Directed by J. J. Abrams (in his feature film directorial debut), and produced by and starring Tom Cruise, from a screenplay by Abrams and the writing team of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. It also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Crudup, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell, Maggie Q, and Laurence Fishburne.

M:I:III stands out for its fast pace, jaw-dropping stunts, and impressive special effects. But what really sets it apart is its unforgettable villain—brought to life by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose chilling performance remains one of the franchise’s best.

4. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

The fifth installment in the Mission: Impossible series, 2015’s Rogue Nation, continues the franchise’s exciting resurgence and reinforces Tom Cruise’s status as an unmatched action star. While the villain isn’t particularly memorable or intimidating, the supporting cast delivers strong performances that help elevate the film overall.

It follows Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt and his team, who, subsequent to their disbandment and Hunt’s pursuit by the Central Intelligence Agency, must fight The Syndicate, an international group of rogue government agents.

The film was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie from a story by McQuarrie and Drew Pearce. It stars Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, and Alec Baldwin.

3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

The fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series, a big-budget movie, has fast-paced action, suspense, stylish, and loaded with gripping set pieces. Tom Cruise’s performance and Brad Bird’s direction, who known for The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007) which were worldwide critical and financial smash hits; they earned Bird two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature wins and Best Original Screenplay nominations.

In the film, the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) is shut down after being publicly implicated in a bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team to go without resources or backup in a life-threatening effort to clear their names.

The film also stars Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Paula Patton, with Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapoor, and Léa Seydoux in supporting roles.

2. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Filled with high-stakes action, global adventures, and some of its most ambitious stunts, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One picks up right where its storied predecessors left off. Tom Cruise once again shows he is all-in for whatever is asked of him, delivering a fearless performance that drives the film. While the plot draws deeper into the tech focus of the modern world, it still has enough depth of character and intense set pieces, and strong chemistry of returning cast members to ground it solidly. Not to mention delivery by the exciting Hayley Atwell who brings her own, sharp wit and energy to the franchise’s ever-evolving storyline, and makes Dead Reckoning Part One a great event film.

It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) and the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible film series, directed by Christopher McQuarrie from a screenplay he co-wrote with Erik Jendresen. It stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, alongside an ensemble cast including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, and Henry Czerny.

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission — not even the lives of those he cares about most.

1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

The sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible series, 2018’s Fallout, truly lives up to the “impossible” in its title—raising the bar yet again with some of the most jaw-dropping action sequences the franchise has ever seen. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The ensemble cast includes Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin.

Set two years after the events of Rogue Nation, Fallout follows Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt and his team in their efforts to prevent a nuclear attack by terrorist Solomon Lane and the mysterious extremist John Lark.

Cruise’s performance shines, especially with his continued commitment to doing his own stunts, adding a thrilling authenticity to the film. Fallout also benefits from a more personal storyline for Ethan Hunt and a standout villain in Henry Cavill’s August Walker, who instantly became an iconic addition to the franchise. And let’s not forget Vanessa Kirby, whose captivating performance leaves a lasting impression.

Mission: Impossible Movies Critical and Public Response

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