Since 1996, Mission: Impossible has gone from a twisty De Palma spy thriller to one of Hollywood’s most visually stunning movie franchises. What started with floppy disks and face masks has evolved into a high-stakes arms race of scale, precision, and Cruise pushing the limits of what a human body should legally be doing onscreen. Eight films in, it’s still the most consistent action series out there – equal parts spectacle, smarts, and sheer chaos.
But not all Mission Impossible movies are created equal. Some entries felt more “self-destruct” than self-assured. Others delivered genre-defining action and unexpectedly great characters. With The Final Reckoning now in the rearview (and the IMF’s future still uncertain), it’s time to rank all eight films – from worst to best.
Mission Impossible Movies, Ranked
8 – Mission: Impossible II (2000)
The one with slow-mo doves and zero tension.
John Woo’s entry was supposed to be a stylish action reinvention. Instead, it’s the series at its most disposable. Mission: Impossible II swaps espionage for slo-mo spin-kicks, and narrative clarity for gun ballet and leather jackets. The result? A film that feels like fan fiction written by a Matrix-era stunt team.
Thandiwe Newton’s character is reduced to a pawn in a love triangle that never clicks. The villain? Forgettable. The plot? Something about a bioweapon called “Chimera,” but good luck caring. Even Hans Zimmer’s score can’t save the mood – it’s bombastic to the point of parody. There’s some novelty in seeing Cruise’s Ethan Hunt lean full rockstar (that hair!), but beyond the opening rock climb and a ridiculous motorcycle joust, this one is best left in the archives.
7 – Mission: Impossible III (2006)
A great villain trapped in a mediocre movie.
J.J. Abrams brought his TV instincts to the big screen – sometimes to a fault. M:I III tries to reboot the franchise emotionally by giving Ethan Hunt a fiancée and a suburban life, only to throw it all into chaos via yet another shadowy arms dealer and another vague MacGuffin (this time, “The Rabbit’s Foot”).
The real standout is Philip Seymour Hoffman. His Owen Davian is genuinely menacing – a rare villain in this series who feels dangerous even when tied up midair. But the rest? Forgettable team dynamics, choppy pacing, and an ending that feels rushed despite all the setup. Simon Pegg makes his first appearance as Benji, which pays off later, but here he’s barely a blip. For all the stakes it tries to build, M:I III never quite finds its rhythm.
6 – Mission: Impossible (1996)
The coolest vault drop in cinema. Still holds.
Brian De Palma’s icy, twist-heavy take on Mission: Impossible is unlike anything the franchise would become – but it’s the reason it exists at all. Low on quips, big on paranoia, and packed with ‘90s spy-tech (floppy disks, exploding gum), it set the tone for what Ethan Hunt was capable of – even if it’s the most restrained version of him.
The plot is convoluted in a way only De Palma could get away with, but the moments hit: the bait-and-switch IMF massacre, the Langley heist (still untouchable), and that Dutch-angle showdown on a bullet train. Cruise plays Hunt with more calculation than charisma here – he’s still more puzzle-solver than death-defying demigod. M:I ‘96 isn’t the slickest entry, but it’s a sharp, stylish origin story that still feels like a bold studio gamble. Because it was.
5 – Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
High-budget déjà vu with serious stunt cred.
By the time Dead Reckoning Part One lands, the franchise has become a known quantity – elite spectacle, familiar rhythm. And that’s the catch. This one plays like a remix of greatest hits: another car chase, another rooftop sprint, another train fight. All thrilling, all expertly crafted, and yet somehow… expected.
The story hinges on a rogue AI called The Entity, which feels more like a plot device than a threat. Hayley Atwell is a welcome wildcard as Grace, and the motorcycle cliff jump is as jaw-dropping as advertised. But the film drags in stretches, weighed down by exposition and déjà vu plotting. Dead Reckoning proves the series still has fuel – but maybe not a new direction.
4 – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
A sprawling, emotional finale with serious firepower.
The Final Reckoning opens unevenly, juggling flashbacks, franchise callbacks, and the weight of eight films’ worth of lore. But what initially feels scattered gradually pulls together – and once it does, it’s classic Mission: Impossible in full gear. At nearly three hours, the film gives itself room to breathe, build tension, and showcase some of the series’ most technically ambitious action to date.
The central threat feels real, even if it’s sometimes caught in the noise of a dense character web. Still, the emotional stakes are clear, the set pieces are among the franchise’s best (that flooded submarine sequence is pure edge-of-seat cinema), and Tom Cruise delivers a full-force Ethan Hunt performance that never coasts. With a strong supporting cast – longtime allies, new faces like Hannah Waddingham and Tramell Tillman, and a clever throwback to Rolf Saxon’s CIA analyst – this feels like a true farewell. Not perfect, but fitting.
3 – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
The moment the franchise found its formula.
This is where it all clicks. Brad Bird brings precision and levity, the team dynamic sharpens, and Tom Cruise climbs the world’s tallest building with nothing but gloves, nerves, and a lot of glass. Ghost Protocol isn’t just a return to form – it’s a full reinvention.
The Burj Khalifa sequence remains one of the most iconic stunts in modern cinema, not just for what Cruise did, but how the film frames his sheer vulnerability. The gadgets constantly malfunction, forcing real improvisation – both from the characters and the filmmakers. Jeremy Renner adds dry scepticism as Brandt, and Simon Pegg gets more to do as Benji. If the ending feels a touch soft (thanks to a studio-mandated finale rewrite), the rest is peak popcorn filmmaking with actual intelligence behind the lens.
2 – Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
The slickest balance of brains, brawn, and ensemble energy.
Rogue Nation marks the point where Mission: Impossible graduates from blockbuster to artful action franchise. Christopher McQuarrie’s first time in the director’s chair is a confident reset: precise storytelling, smart structure, and an ensemble that finally clicks in full. And then there’s Ilsa Faust.
Rebecca Ferguson’s arrival injects the franchise with a genuine co-lead – one who challenges Ethan Hunt without ever becoming a foil or sidekick. Her presence sharpens everything. Meanwhile, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) makes for a coolly unnerving villain, and Benji and Luther are no longer just tech support – they matter. The Vienna Opera sequence is a Hitchcockian knockout, the Casablanca bike chase delivers pure thrill, and the underwater break-in is bonkers.
1 – Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
The apex of modern action cinema.
Everything Mission: Impossible had been building toward hits critical mass in Fallout. It’s not just the best entry in the franchise – it’s one of the finest action films of the century. McQuarrie refines the tone he set in Rogue Nation, but cranks the scale, stakes, and cohesion to near perfection.
The plot is tighter. The emotion is real. The stunts? Unreal. A HALO jump at 25,000 feet. A bathroom brawl that feels genuinely painful. A helicopter chase that Cruise literally piloted himself. But the brilliance isn’t just in spectacle – it’s in the rhythm. Every set piece flows into the next with clarity and momentum, no filler, no fluff.
Henry Cavill’s smug, hammer-fisted CIA double-agent is the franchise’s best antagonist. Rebecca Ferguson returns with weight and presence. Even the score by Lorne Balfe pulses with dread and urgency. Fallout doesn’t just top the list – it justifies the entire franchise.
FAQs
Will there be a Mission: Impossible 9?
As of now, The Final Reckoning is framed as Ethan Hunt’s farewell. That said, Paramount hasn’t officially ruled out future instalments or spin-offs. With strong box office and Cruise’s track record, another mission isn’t impossible.
Do I need to watch all the previous films to understand The Final Reckoning?
It helps – especially Fallout, Rogue Nation, and Dead Reckoning Part One. While the film offers some exposition, it draws heavily on past relationships, character arcs, and unresolved threads dating back to the first movie.
Which Mission: Impossible movie has the best stunts?
Most would agree Fallout takes the crown, with its real HALO jump, helicopter chase, and brutal bathroom brawl. But Ghost Protocol‘s Burj Khalifa climb and The Final Reckoning‘s biplane and submarine sequences give it a real challenge.
What’s the deal with the Rabbit’s Foot in Mission: Impossible III and Final Reckoning?
The Rabbit’s Foot, first introduced in Mission: Impossible III, was an intentionally mysterious bioweapon that was never fully explained. In The Final Reckoning, the film ties it into the larger narrative around The Entity, suggesting it may have been an early iteration – or related threat – linked to the same covert tech network. It’s not just a nostalgic callback; it reframes a long-standing mystery through the lens of the franchise’s endgame.
Where does Mission: Impossible rank among modern action franchises?
In terms of consistency, it’s top-tier. While Bond laid the groundwork and John Wick raised the bar on choreography, Mission: Impossible has evolved into the gold standard for practical stunt work and escalating tension. Not to mention the classic theme song.
