How Many “Mission Impossible” Movies Are There ?

The Mission Impossible franchise has been captivating audiences worldwide since its debut in 1996. With seven movies released so far and an eighth on the way, this spy thriller series shows no signs of slowing down. Starring the indomitable Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, each instalment delivers heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping stunts, and intricate storylines that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

 

The Evolution of Mission: Impossible

Over the years, the Mission: Impossible movies have evolved to keep up with changing times and audience expectations. Let’s take a look at how the franchise has grown and adapted:

Movie	Release Year	Director	Box Office (Worldwide)	Plot Summary
Mission: Impossible	1996	Brian De Palma	$457.7 million	Ethan Hunt is framed for the murders of his fellow IMF agents and must clear his name while uncovering a mole within the agency.
Mission: Impossible 2	2000	John Woo	$546.4 million	Hunt must stop a rogue IMF agent from unleashing a deadly virus and selling the antidote to the highest bidder.
Mission: Impossible III	2006	J.J. Abrams	$398.5 million	Hunt retires from active duty but is soon drawn back in to rescue a protégé from a ruthless arms dealer.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol	2011	Brad Bird	$694.7 million	When the IMF is implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot, Hunt and his team must go off the grid to clear their organization’s name.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation	2015	Christopher McQuarrie	$682.7 million	Hunt and his team take on the Syndicate, a rogue international terrorist organization, with the help of a mysterious British agent.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout	2018	Christopher McQuarrie	$791.1 million	When a mission goes wrong, Hunt must choose between his team and completing the mission, all while being hunted by the CIA and a dangerous terrorist group.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One	2023	Christopher McQuarrie	TBD	Plot details are currently under wraps, but the movie promises to be an epic continuation of the franchise.

As the table above shows, the franchise has consistently performed well at the box office, with the most recent installment, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, earning a whopping $791.1 million worldwide.

Mission: Impossible (1996)

The film that started it all, Mission: Impossible introduced audiences to Ethan Hunt, a skilled IMF agent who finds himself framed for the murders of his fellow operatives. Directed by Brian De Palma, this sleek and stylish thriller features iconic scenes like the CIA break-in, where Hunt dangles from the ceiling in a tense and intricate heist sequence. With a star-studded cast including Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, and Ving Rhames, Mission: Impossible set the stage for the franchise’s signature blend of high-stakes espionage and jaw-dropping stunts.

Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)

Helmed by action maestro John Woo, Mission: Impossible 2 finds Ethan Hunt tasked with stopping a rogue IMF agent from unleashing a deadly virus upon the world. The movie is known for its over-the-top action sequences, including a high-octane motorcycle chase and a climactic showdown on a cliffside. Starring Dougray Scott as the villainous Sean Ambrose and Thandie Newton as the enigmatic Nyah Nordoff-Hall, M:I-2 upped the ante with its stylized action and globe-trotting adventure.

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

J.J. Abrams made his feature film directorial debut with Mission: Impossible III, which sees Ethan Hunt coming out of retirement to rescue a protégé from the clutches of a ruthless arms dealer. The movie is notable for its emotional depth, with Ethan’s personal life and relationships taking center stage. Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a chilling performance as the villain Owen Davian, while Michelle Monaghan and Keri Russell bring heart to the story as Ethan’s wife and fellow agent, respectively. M:I-III also features some of the franchise’s most memorable set pieces, including a daring Shanghai skyscraper infiltration and a tense bridge assault.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Brad Bird, known for his work on animated classics like The Incredibles, brought his keen eye for action and comedy to Ghost Protocol. When the IMF is implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot, Ethan and his team must go off the grid to clear their organization’s name. The movie is famous for its stunning Burj Khalifa sequence, in which Tom Cruise scaled the world’s tallest building in a breathtaking display of real-life derring-do. With a cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, and Simon Pegg, Ghost Protocol reinvigorated the franchise and set a new standard for its thrilling blend of humor and spectacle.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Christopher McQuarrie, who would go on to become the franchise’s most frequent collaborator, made his Mission: Impossible debut with Rogue Nation. The film pits Ethan and his team against the Syndicate, a shadowy organization of rogue operatives led by the brilliant and ruthless Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). Rogue Nation is known for its intense underwater sequence, in which Cruise held his breath for a stunning six minutes, as well as its introduction of Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust, a formidable ally with mysterious loyalties. With its intricate plot and pulse-pounding action, Rogue Nation cemented McQuarrie’s status as the franchise’s guiding hand.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

The most recent installment in the series, Fallout, finds Ethan Hunt grappling with the consequences of his past choices as he races to prevent a global catastrophe. Directed once again by Christopher McQuarrie, the film features some of the most ambitious and thrilling set pieces in the franchise’s history, including a HALO jump, a brutal bathroom brawl, and a climactic helicopter chase through the mountains of Kashmir. With Henry Cavill joining the cast as CIA assassin August Walker and the return of fan-favorite characters like Ilsa Faust and Solomon Lane, Fallout is a masterclass in escalation and payoff, delivering an emotionally satisfying and adrenaline-fueled entry in the long-running series.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) and Part Two (2024)

As the franchise looks ahead to its two-part finale, expectations are high for what Christopher McQuarrie and company have in store. While plot details are being kept under wraps, the return of Kittridge (Henry Czerny) from the first film suggests that Dead Reckoning will tie together threads from throughout the series in a sweeping and epic conclusion. With a cast that includes franchise stalwarts like Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, as well as exciting additions like Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Esai Morales, Dead Reckoning promises to be a fitting capstone to one of the most enduring and thrilling franchises in modern cinema history.

As we eagerly await the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, it’s clear that the Mission: Impossible franchise shows no signs of slowing down. With its perfect blend of jaw-dropping stunts, intricate storytelling, and unforgettable characters, this series continues to set the standard for action filmmaking. Whether you’re a long time fan or a newcomer to the franchise, there’s never been a better time to join Ethan Hunt and his team on their impossible missions. Get ready for more pulse-pounding thrills, breath taking set pieces, and emotional depth as this iconic franchise prepares to take its final bow.

The Directors Behind the Mission

One of the reasons for the franchise’s success is the talented directors who have helmed each movie. From Brian De Palma‘s sleek and stylish debut to Christopher McQuarrie‘s gripping and emotionally charged sequels, each director has brought their unique vision to the series.

Other notable directors include:

• John Woo, known for his high-octane action sequences and stylish slow-motion shots
• J.J. Abrams, who brought a fresh perspective, introduced new characters, and delivered an emotionally compelling story in Mission: Impossible III
• Brad Bird, the acclaimed animator who made his live-action debut with Ghost Protocol and showcased his keen eye for action and comedy

The Stunts That Defy Belief

 

A hallmark of the Mission: Impossible franchise is the mind-blowing stunts performed by Tom Cruise himself. From scaling the world’s tallest building in Ghost Protocol to clinging to the side of a plane in Rogue Nation, Cruise’s dedication to performing his own stunts has become legendary.

Some of the most iconic stunts in the Mission Impossible series include:

1. The CIA break-in scene in the first movie, where Cruise famously dangles from the ceiling
2. The rock climbing sequence in Mission: Impossible 2, showcasing Cruise’s athleticism and daring
3. The Shanghai skyscraper infiltration in Mission: Impossible III, featuring a thrilling leap from one building to another
4. The Burj Khalifa climb in Ghost Protocol, where Cruise scaled the world’s tallest building using only a pair of gloves
5. The underwater vault heist in Rogue Nation, which required Cruise to hold his breath for an astonishing six minutes
6. The HALO jump and helicopter chase in Fallout, featuring Cruise performing a high-altitude, low-opening skydive and piloting a helicopter in a daring aerial pursuit

These death-defying feats are a testament to Cruise’s commitment to delivering authentic and thrilling action sequences that leave audiences breathless.

The Supporting Cast and Memorable Villains

While Tom Cruise may be the face of the franchise, the Mission: Impossible movies have always featured an impressive supporting cast. From seasoned veterans like Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell and Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn to newcomers like Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust and Hayley Atwell as Grace, each actor brings their own unique energy and depth to the series.

The franchise has also introduced some of the most memorable villains in recent cinematic history.

• Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in Mission: Impossible III – A ruthless black-market dealer who kidnaps Ethan’s wife and pushes him to the brink.
• Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist) in Ghost Protocol – A Swedish nuclear strategist bent on starting a global nuclear war.
• Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) in Rogue Nation and Fallout – A former MI6 agent who turns rogue and becomes the mastermind behind the Syndicate.

These complex and formidable adversaries have pushed Ethan Hunt to his limits, making for some of the most intense and dramatic moments in the series.

The Future of Mission: Impossible

With Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One set to release in 2023 and Part Two in 2024, fans of the franchise have a lot to look forward to. Director Christopher McQuarrie, who has helmed the last three installments, returns to close out the series with a two-part epic that promises to be the most ambitious and thrilling Mission yet.

Dead Reckoning will see the return of familiar faces like Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Rebecca Ferguson, as well as the addition of exciting new cast members like Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Esai Morales. While plot details are being kept under wraps, the two-part finale is expected to tie together threads from the previous movies and deliver a satisfying conclusion to Ethan Hunt’s story.

As the franchise approaches its 30th anniversary, it’s clear that Mission: Impossible has left an indelible mark on the action genre. With its perfect blend of heart-pounding stunts, intricate storylines, and unforgettable characters, the series continues to set the standard for blockbuster filmmaking.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Mission: Impossible franchise is a testament to the power of great storytelling, talented filmmaking, and sheer star power. As we eagerly await the next installment, let’s take a moment to appreciate the thrilling ride that this series has taken us on over the past three decades.

From the first movie’s iconic CIA break-in scene to the jaw-dropping stunts of the more recent films, Mission: Impossible has consistently delivered some of the most memorable moments in cinematic history. With Tom Cruise at the helm and a team of talented directors and actors by his side, the future of Mission: Impossible looks brighter than ever.

Get ready for more pulse-pounding action, breath taking set pieces, and emotional depth as Ethan Hunt and his team prepare to accept their most impossible mission yet. The countdown to Dead Reckoning has begun, and we can’t wait to see where this incredible franchise takes us next.