Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to relive every daring stunt, double-cross, and pulse-pounding moment from the world’s most enduring spy franchise.
With eight adrenaline-fueled entries and more on the horizon, the Mission: Impossible series has become one of Hollywood’s most consistent action juggernauts. Led by Tom Cruise as the relentless IMF agent Ethan Hunt, the franchise has redefined the genre with practical stunts, global intrigue, and escalating stakes.
Here’s our definitive ranking of every Mission: Impossible movie — from the weakest mission to the most impossible triumph.
8. Mission: Impossible II (2000) – Directed by John Woo
Despite some stylish action and a 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er motorcycle chase, this entry is weighed down by melodrama and over-the-top slow motion. The weakest installment, though Cruise still commands the screen.
7. Mission: Impossible III (2006) – Directed by J.J. Abrams
Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a chilling villain, and the personal stakes are high. However, the story is uneven and lacks the iconic set pieces the series is now known for.
6. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) – Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
An ambitious chapter with jaw-dropping stunts (hello, motorcycle cliff jump), but as a part one, it ends on an incomplete note. Still, it sets the stage for an epic finale.
5. Mission: Impossible (1996) – Directed by Brian De Palma
The original. Tense, stylish, and iconic. That vault heist scene? Legendary. While slower than later entries, it laid the foundation for the franchise’s longevity.
4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) – Directed by Brad Bird
The Burj Khalifa climb remains one of the most unforgettable stunts in cinema. A fresh tone and fast pace helped reboot the franchise’s identity.
3. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) – Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
A perfect blend of story, espionage, and stunts. Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust steals the show. The underwater heist and Vienna Opera scene are standout highlights.
2. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) – Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Action filmmaking at its finest. Brutal fights, helicopter chases, and character depth collide in this fan-favorite masterpiece. Arguably the best-directed of the bunch.
1. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two (2025, Projected)
Though yet to release, early buzz and set reports suggest the most ambitious installment yet — rumored to include space sequences and Ethan Hunt’s final mission. If it sticks the landing, it could top them all.
🔍 Whether you’re here for the death-defying stunts, the mind-bending twists, or simply Cruise sprinting at full speed, Mission: Impossible remains a mission worth accepting — again and again.