Mission: Impossible – Every Film Ranked

Siobe Morling

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Earlier this year, I made it my “mission” to watch the entire Mission: Impossible series before the finale hit cinemas in May. The franchise follows Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and his IMF (Impossible Mission Force), with a revolving door of team members, who are tasked with a seemingly impossible assignment with the world at stake. 

To prove that my own mission was a success, here is my definitive ranking of every Mission: Impossible film from worst to best. 

8) Mission: Impossible III (2006)

This may be a controversial placement but at this point the franchise was not sure of itself. With 3 directors under its belt (Brian de Palma, John Woo, JJ Abrams), it jumps from espionage thriller, to action spectacular to a new personal story and it does not work. In this third installment, Hunt settles down with a wife and lives a seemingly simple suburban life until an old friend offers him an assignment he cannot refuse. While the new villain, Davian, is a highlight of the entire franchise, the pacing is off. The new team lacks chemistry abd there is no distinct style. To audiences, it seems far away from where the franchise started.

7) Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023)

The penultimate installment falls a bit short, despite ironically being almost 3 hours long.

Interestingly, it makes the choice to introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) villain, named ‘The Entity’ with a human mouthpiece named Gabriel. The subject of AI in the current digital landscape is one that is contested, with many becoming highly concerned about its environmental impact. It is impressive that the film manages to implement a modern element so well, but without a physical enemy, it does leave you feeling unfulfilled. There is no tension filled confrontation like in previous films, but it has its place in the multi-part storyline.

6) Mission: Impossible II (2000)

This one is usually at the bottom of most rankings and one can see why: tonally, it is whacky and full of stunts. John Woo employs explosion after explosion, high speed chases and face mask rip-offs galore! The film was the highest grossing film of the year 2000, earning a strong $546 million worldwide, proving that it was not a failure, and rather, a commercial powerhouse. Hunt teams up with a thief to stop the release of a chemical disease and it cannot be denied that this film is entertaining. In terms of plot and villains, it is cliché but if you cannot enjoy entertaining action, then this is not the film franchise for you!

5) Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning (2025)

The final installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise gives fans a rounded conclusion. You will see Hunt in scenarios that are unfathomable and, well, impossible, while continuing to fight ‘The Entity’. However, the same problem persists from Dead Reckoning: the AI villain does not feel threatening because it is intangible to the viewer.

“It is impressive that the film manages to implement a modern element so well, but without a physical enemy, it does leave you feeling unfulfilled.”

The ensemble cast is fleshed out incredibly well and at this point, Ethan Hunt has fully embraced the ‘leave no man behind’ doctrine. While this is great, the array of characters and constant references to prior films accompanied by an incredibly dense plot, means there is too much for the audience to engage with.

Perhaps with a bit of revising and tweaking, this could be among the best.

4) Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Rogue Nation is the first MI film to be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, and in this instalment, they made the smart move to keep most of the IMF team from its predecessor Ghost Protocol, furthering audience connections to pre-established characters. Plus, the conflict here becomes one of personal value; as the story unravels, the audience can sense that Hunt is a character increasingly led by his compassion for others while maintaining his action flair. The franchise is developing heart and depth that keeps the audience coming back to the cinema year after year.

3) Mission: Impossible (1996)

Nothing beats the original right? The IMF are on a mission in Prague, the task goes awry and Ethan Hunt is left on the run from his superiors. The film is most famous for the iconic vault heist scene in which Cruise is dangling from the ceiling. Although, I would argue that the stunt involving both a train and a helicopter is the more striking sequence, and while tame in comparison to its modern sequels years later, it provides hints of the action flair that would later become a vital ingredient to the franchise’s identity.

2) Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

For many people this is the best instalment in the entire franchise and I somewhat agree. 2018 was a great year for action releases ranging from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom to the groundbreaking Black Panther and Fallout stands tall among them.

“This film is so brilliant, it nearly took the top spot!”

In this film, the IMF are joined by a CIA Assassin named August Walker to work against a terrorist, John Lark, and his devout followers, the Apostles who intend to simultaneously attack three major religious sites (the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca). As the plot unravels, the audience are pulled further into the twisted story before the plot climaxes on a cliff’s edge. This film is so brilliant, it nearly took the top spot! 

1) Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

With the franchise on its fourth director, Brad Bird, it seemed that the MI series would follow a pattern of inconsistency. Instead, Bird creates a tight knit story of the IMF going off the grid, initiating Ghost Protocol.

“It became the 5th highest grossing film of 2011 and completely rebooted the series as one that could be great.”

An underdog story is in full force, accompanied by incredible stunts, i.e. the Burj Khalifa ascent in which Cruise scales the building using only grippy gloves. Previous team members get upgraded roles, new members have their pasts explored all while showcasing great chemistry.

It became the 5th highest grossing film of 2011 and completely rebooted the series as one that could be great. We are only left to wonder, what if Brad Bird continued to direct further installments? Or perhaps its singularity is exactly what makes Ghost Protocol stand clear above the rest.

READ NEXT:

• THE ROSES: REVIEW

• WEDNESDAY SEASON 2: IN THE MOOD TO LOSE

• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING REVIEW 

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Featured image courtesy of Gage Skidmore on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.