Summary– With their daring stunts, compelling spy drama, and Tom Cruise’s fearless performances, The Mission: Impossible films have completely redefined action cinema. These five selections highlight the franchise at its best, from the gripping 1996 original to the explosive Fallout (2018).
The Mission impossible films? Yeah, they’re the gold standard for action. Think crazy stunts, nail-biting spy stuff, and drama cranked up to eleven. Ever since the first one dropped in ’96, this series just keeps getting bigger and better – more exciting each time. Tom Cruise, who plays Ethan Hunt, is drawing us all over the world, doing crazy things like jumping buildings and grabbing planes. Hence, in case you desire a heart-pumping movie marathon, the following are the 5 best movies to watch sequentially.
5. Mission: Impossible (1996)
The film that launched the entire series of Mission: Impossible movies? Totally earns a spot on any must-watch list. Brian De Palma directed it, and it’s not just about huge explosions – it’s more about keeping you on the edge of your seat with suspense, its cool style, and smart spy stuff. The story of Ethan Hunt opens with a mission he failed to accomplish, and all of a sudden he is being chased by the CIA and some bad men.
The one in which Hunt is suspended from the ceiling of the CIA vault? It’s legendary. In earnest, one of the best-known scenes in action films. This one is nail-biting tension and a spy thriller, but later films have more outrageous stunts. The entire franchise would have been very different without the Mission impossible movies.
4. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Rogue Nation opens with that madcap first scene with Ethan Hunt hanging off a plane when it is taking off, and Tom Cruise actually did it! Under the helm of Christopher McQuarrie, this one has Hunt pitted against the Syndicate, a rogue outfit that is as good as the IMF.
Rebecca Ferguson comes into the play as Ilsa Faust, and she actually makes the story interesting. You never really know which side she is on, and she is capable of fighting herself as well as Ethan. The underwater mission, the crazy motorcycle chase in Morocco, and the super tense scene at the opera are some of the best parts. Rogue Nation is cool, slick, and one of those movies you can watch over and over again from all of the Mission Impossible films.
3. Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Before the series got all fun, Mission: Impossible III took a turn to the dark side and showed us Ethan Hunt’s softer side. This one was directed by J.J. Abrams, and it explores the life of Ethan beyond the missions, particularly with Julia. It made it all more serious since he was not only saving the world, but he was also attempting to save his beloveds.
What everyone remembers is the villain Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is really good and puts chills down your spine. He just has this way of being calm but totally terrifying, which makes every scene better. And who can forget the Vatican job or that crazy bridge explosion? This movie nailed it by mixing real feelings with awesome action and really cemented the movie as one of the very best Mission Impossible films.
2. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
The Ghost Protocol by Brad Bird was the kick-starter the Mission Impossible film series needed in terms of spectacular visuals and excellent story. Ethan Hunt and his crew are on their own after being set up for a bombing. The government is useless, and they are left alone in the fight to clear their names and prevent the nuclear attack.
One of the greatest action scenes ever is the one where Ethan reaches the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is extremely tense to see Cruise ascending to the highest building in the world without the use of ropes (only the safety cables that were removed later). And it is a funny movie, and the cast is rad, and thus the movie is one of the most enjoyable Mission Impossible movies, particularly when you enjoy group dynamics and insane action.
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1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Fallout happens to be the best of the lot, more or less, as it is a thrilling action game that includes real emotions. This is the first occasion when Ethan Hunt and team members must locate stolen plutonium quickly, or the entire world is under threat. It’s a really big deal. The film is successful in depicting both the concerns of the characters and the enormous threat to which they are exposed.
Tom Cruise is fantastic in the HALO jump and the insane bathroom fight, as well as the mad mountain helicopter chase. But Fallout is a pretty cool game too, by virtue of being related to the previous films and thus offering those fans who have been following it since the beginning a nice reward. No wonder many believe this is the best of the Mission Impossible films.
Wrapping Up
Mission: Impossible has gone on to reinvent action films in the past three decades. They may have begun as cool spy films and then have evolved into the giant, world-travelling movies that we currently witness. It is not only the outrageous acts that make us laugh, but also the feeling, the humour, and the manner in which this team collaborates that subsequently make these stories function.
Thinking about watching them all? Here are five Mission Impossible films you should watch. Begin with the first one to see how it all started, then check out the feels in Mission: Impossible III, and catch the wild action of Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation, and Fallout. Each movie turns up the heat, which is why this series is still a hit after all this time.
Written by Nidhi Singh
