Mission: Impossible (film series)
Updated: 12/30/2025, 12:43:53 PM Wikipedia source
Mission: Impossible is an American series of action spy films, based on the 1966 television series created by Bruce Geller. The series is mainly produced by Tom Cruise, who plays Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). The films have been directed, written, and scored by various filmmakers and crew, while incorporating musical themes from the original series by Lalo Schifrin. Starting in 1996, the series follows the missions of the IMF's main field team, under Hunt's leadership, to stop an enemy force and prevent an impending global disaster. The series focuses on Hunt's character, and like the television series' structure, is complemented by an ensemble cast, such as Luther Stickell (played by Ving Rhames) and Benji Dunn (played by Simon Pegg), who have recurring roles. The series has experienced a generally positive reception from critics and audience. It is the 16th-highest-grossing film series of all time, earning over $4.35 billion worldwide, and is often cited as one of the best action franchises to date. The sixth film, subtitled Fallout, was released on July 27, 2018, and is currently the series' highest-grossing entry. The seventh film, Dead Reckoning Part One, was released in July 2023, and the eighth film, The Final Reckoning, had its theatrical release in late May 2025. The films are co-produced and released by Paramount Pictures. In 2024, the series received its first Academy Award nominations, with Dead Reckoning Part One being nominated in the categories of Best Visual Effects and Best Sound at the 96th ceremony.
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| Code | Film | release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producers |
| M:I | Mission: Impossible | May 22, 1996 (1996-05-22) | Brian De Palma | David Koepp & Robert Towne | David Koepp & Steven Zaillian | Tom Cruise & Paula Wagner |
| M:I-2 | Mission: Impossible 2 | May 24, 2000 (2000-05-24) | John Woo | Robert Towne | Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore | |
| M:I-3 | Mission: Impossible III | May 5, 2006 (2006-05-05) | J. J. Abrams | J. J. Abrams, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman | ||
| M:I-4 | Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol | December 16, 2011 (2011-12-16) | Brad Bird | André Nemec & Josh Appelbaum | Tom Cruise, Bryan Burk & J. J. Abrams | |
| M:I-5 | Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation | July 31, 2015 (2015-07-31) | Christopher McQuarrie | Christopher McQuarrie | Drew Pearce & Christopher McQuarrie | Tom Cruise, Bryan Burk, Don Granger, J. J. Abrams, Dana Goldberg & David Ellison |
| M:I-6 | Mission: Impossible – Fallout | July 27, 2018 (2018-07-27) | Christopher McQuarrie | Tom Cruise, Jake Myers, J. J. Abrams & Christopher McQuarrie | ||
| M:I-7 | Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One | July 12, 2023 (2023-07-12) | Christopher McQuarrie & Erik Jendresen | Tom Cruise & Christopher McQuarrie | ||
| M:I-8 | Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23) | ||||
| 1996 | Mission: Impossible |
| 1997 | |
| 1998 | |
| 1999 | |
| 2000 | Mission: Impossible 2 |
| 2001 | |
| 2002 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2005 | |
| 2006 | Mission: Impossible III |
| 2007 | |
| 2008 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2010 | |
| 2011 | Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2018 | Mission: Impossible – Fallout |
| 2019 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning |
| Character | ||||||||
| Mission: Impossible | 2 | III | Ghost Protocol | Rogue Nation | Fallout | Dead Reckoning Part One | The Final Reckoning | |
| 1996 | 2000 | 2006 | 2011 | 2015 | 2018 | 2023 | 2025 | |
| Ethan Hunt | Tom Cruise | |||||||
| Luther Stickell | Ving Rhames | Ving RhamesUC | Ving Rhames | |||||
| The Voice on Tape | Henry Czerny | Anthony HopkinsV | Billy CrudupV | Teddy NewtonV | Christopher McQuarrieV | Henry Czerny | Angela BassettV | |
| Eugene Kittridge | Henry Czerny | |||||||
| William Donloe | Rolf Saxon | Rolf Saxon | ||||||
| The Contact | Andreas Wisniewski | Andreas WisniewskiC | ||||||
| Jim Phelps | Jon Voight | Jon VoightUA | ||||||
| Jane Carter | Paula Patton | |||||||
| Benji Dunn | Simon Pegg | |||||||
| Julia Meade | Michelle Monaghan | Michelle MonaghanUC | Michelle Monaghan | Michelle MonaghanUA | ||||
| William Brandt | Jeremy Renner | Jeremy RennerUA | ||||||
| Ilsa Faust | Rebecca Ferguson | Rebecca FergusonUA | ||||||
| Solomon Lane | Sean Harris | Sean HarrisUAV | ||||||
| Secretary Alan Hunley | Alec Baldwin | Alec BaldwinUA | ||||||
| Alanna MitsopolisThe White Widow | Vanessa Kirby | Vanessa KirbyUAV | ||||||
| Zola Mitsopolis | Frederick Schmidt | |||||||
| Erika Sloane | Angela Bassett | Angela BassettUP | Angela Bassett | |||||
| Denlinger | Cary Elwes | |||||||
| Grace | Hayley Atwell | |||||||
| Jim Phelps Jr.Jasper Briggs | Shea Whigham | |||||||
| Theo Degas | Greg Tarzan Davis | |||||||
| Gabriel | Esai Morales | |||||||
| Paris | Pom Klementieff | |||||||
| Marie | Mariela Garriga | |||||||
| Head of the NSA | Mark Gatiss | |||||||
| Head of the NRO | Charles Parnell | |||||||
| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
| Composer | Cinematographer | Editor(s) | Production companies | Distributing companies | Running time | ||
| Mission: Impossible | Danny Elfman | Stephen H. Burum | Paul Hirsch | Paramount PicturesCruise/Wagner Productions | Paramount Pictures | 110 min | |
| Mission: Impossible 2 | Hans Zimmer | Jeffrey L. Kimball | Steven KemperChristian Wagner | Paramount PicturesCruise/Wagner ProductionsMunich Film Partners & Company | 124 min | ||
| Mission: Impossible III | Michael Giacchino | Dan Mindel | Mary Jo MarkeyMaryann Brandon | Paramount PicturesCruise/Wagner ProductionsThe Fourth Production Company Film Group | 126 min | ||
| Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol | Robert Elswit | Paul Hirsch | TC ProductionsSkydance MediaParamount PicturesBad Robot | 133 min | |||
| Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation | Joe Kraemer | Eddie Hamilton | 131 min | ||||
| Mission: Impossible – Fallout | Lorne Balfe | Rob Hardy | 147 min | ||||
| Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One | Fraser Taggart | TC ProductionsSkydance MediaParamount Pictures | 163 min | ||||
| Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | Max ArujAlfie Godfrey | 170 min | |||||
| Film | release date | Budget | Box-office gross | ||
| Domestic | International | Worldwide | |||
| Mission: Impossible | May 22, 1996 | $80 million | $180,981,856 | $276,714,535 | $457,696,391 |
| Mission: Impossible 2 | May 24, 2000 | $125 million | $215,409,889 | $330,978,219 | $546,388,108 |
| Mission: Impossible III | May 5, 2006 | $150 million | $134,029,801 | $264,449,696 | $398,479,497 |
| Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol | December 16, 2011 | $145 million | $209,397,903 | $485,315,477 | $694,713,380 |
| Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation | July 31, 2015 | $150 million | $195,042,377 | $487,674,259 | $682,716,636 |
| Mission: Impossible – Fallout | July 27, 2018 | $178 million | $220,159,104 | $571,498,294 | $791,657,398 |
| Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One | July 12, 2023 | $291 million | $172,640,980 | $398,484,455 | $571,125,435 |
| Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | May 23, 2025 | $300–400 million | $197,413,515 | $401,353,542 | $598,767,057 |
| Total | billion | $1,525,075,425 | $3,216,468,477 | $4,741,543,902 | |
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
| Mission: Impossible | 65% (159 reviews) | 59 (29 reviews) | B+ |
| Mission: Impossible 2 | 57% (211 reviews) | 59 (40 reviews) | B |
| Mission: Impossible III | 73% (248 reviews) | 66 (42 reviews) | A− |
| Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol | 94% (250 reviews) | 73 (47 reviews) | A− |
| Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation | 94% (326 reviews) | 75 (46 reviews) | A− |
| Mission: Impossible – Fallout | 98% (443 reviews) | 87 (60 reviews) | A |
| Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One | 96% (439 reviews) | 81 (66 reviews) | A |
| Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | 80% (428 reviews) | 67 (57 reviews) | A− |
References
- Known as Skydance Productions for the fourth and fifth films. The company later merged with Paramount’s Parent Company t
- Retroactively retitled Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning upon release on streaming platforms.
- Popular abbreviation used as shorthand and for marketing.
- "Mission Impossible Movies"https://web.archive.org/web/20051201114648/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=missionimpossible.htm
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2024/01/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-streaming-date-paramount-plus-1235796726/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tom-cruise-making-movies-into-100s-mission-impossible-1236220928/
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scienceshttps://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2024
- Mission: Impossiblehttps://www.gamesradar.com/mission-impossible-not-ending-dead-reckoning/
- "'Oppenheimer then Barbie': Tom Cruise picks side in box office battle"https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/tom-cruise-celebrates-birthday-at-australian-premiere-of-mission-impossible-20230703-p5dlch.html
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2023/07/tom-cruise-mission-impossible-movies-harrison-ford-indiana-jones-1235430568/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tom-cruise-making-movies-into-100s-mission-impossible-1236220928/
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=missionimpossible.htm
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mi2.htm
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mi3.htm
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mi4.htm
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mi5.htm
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=missionimpossible6.htm
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4912910/?ref_=bo_se_r_3
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1896449537/
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mission-Impossible-The-Final-Reckoning-(2025)
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoninghttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9603208/
- Box Office Mojohttps://web.archive.org/web/20181225034310/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=missionimpossible.htm
- "CinemaScore"https://www.cinemascore.com/
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_2
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible-ii
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_3
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible-iii
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_ghost_protocol
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible---ghost-protocol
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_rogue_nation
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible---rogue-nation
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_fallout
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible-fallout
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_dead_reckoning_part_one
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning/
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_the_final_reckoning
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/article/1996/06/07/lalo-schifrins-mission-impossible-remains-catchy-ever/