The Mission: Impossible film franchise has spanned through four decades and given us more visceral thrills than almost any other movie series. Regardless what you think of Tom Cruise, he has had an extraordinary career. Very few people can maintain the level of stardom he has over four decades. And all the while, he has done everything he can to give his audiences a truly cinematic experience.
With the release of the potentially final film in the saga, I thought it should be time to list all 8 movies in order of greatness.
8. Mission: Impossible II
This would be the only real misfire of the series. Director John Woo gave us a meandering story with some pretty visuals, but nothing really to hold on to. Besides the opening rock-climbing scene, there is nothing much worth remembering.
7. Mission Impossible III
This movie should get credit for getting the franchise back on track. It has some excellent moments, like the cold open scene. And Philip Seymore Hoffman did a terrific job as the villain. What holds it back is that it feels more like a big-budget version of the show Alias than a cinematic experience.
6. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
My full review is coming soon. There is a lot to admire about this film and the last act is one of the best in the entire series. The main thing that holds his movie back from being higher on the list is that it is just a bit too long and too indulgent for its own good. If they cut about 45 minutes out of it, this would be a lean-mean high note for the franchise.
5. Mission: Impossible
I don't think Cruise knew that he would still be making movies in this franchise for nearly three decades. This first movie has its rough spots and it gives away the big twist too soon. But it is very impressive with its spy action, even when the CGI is a bit much. The heart of the movie is the break-in with the CIA. It is expertly staged for maximum tension. Who doesn't remember that moment where he is inches off the ground trying to keep from touching the floor. This was an amazing combination of directing and physical acting by Cruise. Fun and rewatchable film.
4. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning
Not only is the franchise firing on all cylinders at this point, but I felt a real sense of dread and danger from the villain. The student sequences were some series high points, especially the motorcycle jump. But I love the character work and chemistry. But we also get at the heart of the entire series, where Ethan says he will always value Grace's life before his own. When she says that he doesn't even know her, he gives the heroic reply: "What difference does that make?"
3. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
This makes it onto the list because it is an improvement from the first three installments, but also because it has one of the greatest action set-pieces I've ever seen with Cruise climbing the Burj Khalifa. This moment typifies why Cruise is able to hold onto his audience for as long as he has. When possible, this scene and most scenes in the movie were filmed in actual location and CGI was avoided. There is a tangible feeling of risk that puts you on the edge of your seat. The rest of the movie is also incredibly enjoyable. This movie also sets the tone and style of the rest of the movies that follow
2. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
There is a reason there are so many Mission: Impossible films on this list. Cruise has been safeguarding this franchise and he has been doing everything possible to keep making them better. Once again, the action set-pieces are creative and pulse-pounding. I always try to hold my breath when he goes into the underwater cavern and I barely hold on for any significant amount of time. Yes, it is a movie, but Cruise makes you believe the risk is real. My favorite moment is when he is in the opera house. His fight in the rafters made me realize that Ethan Hunt is the American James Bond. And at this point in both franchises, Hunt is superior. And then it culminates when Hunt has only one bullet and he has to stop two assassins at different ends of the building. The scene was wonderfully tense and the solution was perfectly in keeping with his character. This movie was also the one where I realized that Tom Cruise has given us an American James Bond in Ethan Hunt.
1. Mission: Impossible - Fallout
One of the things that I have truly appreciated about the Mission: Impossible series is that ever since the terrible second movie, they have gotten successively better through this one. Fallout actually fooled me in a fantastic way. I love a good sleight-of-hand, and when a story can do that when I should have seen it coming, I am all the more impressed. The action set-pieces are some of the best along with the fight scenes. I also love that Cruise listens to fans of the series and tries to deliver something for them. This movie ties up loose ends from previous Mission: Impossible movies and opens up the story to even more adventures.
Thoughts?
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