It’s hard to believe that the Mission: Impossible film franchise is over. The Final Reckoning is seemingly the end of Ethan Hunt’s career as an IMF agent, and it is also the 8th film in a series spanning almost 30 years. Now is the perfect time to consider the entire saga and determine the best installments. After all the beautiful global locations, the jaw-dropping stunts, and the self-destructing messages, let’s rank all the Mission: Impossible movies!
MORE: If you’re interested in the critical reception of Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning, we have you covered!
Mission: Impossible- Fallout (2018)
Fallout is the sixth entry into the franchise, so the trademarks are well-established, but it’s the strong story and top-tier action sequences that make this the best of the series. Ethan must stop a shadowy, evil group known as The Apostles (spawned off of The Syndicate, whom he fights in 2015’s Rogue Nation) from acquiring nuclear weapons. The reveal of the identity of their leader, John Lark, is one of the best this series has done. The supporting cast is also impressive. Besides the returns of Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill also appears. Angela Bassett begins her tenure in this installment, too. Did I mention the action is excellent? The bathroom fight, the Halo skydiving jump, the helicopter chase–it’s all brilliant. That’s why this one is the franchise’s best.
Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol (2011)
It gets a little tougher to put the middle of this list in order, but for me, Ghost Protocol is next. The story starts with the premise that the entire IMF has been framed for a crime and shut down. That’s a good idea to begin with, but the rest of the story gets even better. This is the first of two appearances by Jeremy Renner as William Brandt in the franchise, and I wish he’d stuck around longer. The villain here, played by Michael Nyqvist, is interesting. There are memorable visual sequences to enjoy, such as a pursuit in the middle of a sandstorm. Most of all, this film has one of the most tense action moments of the series when Cruise scales the world’s tallest skyscraper with nothing but magnetic gloves that randomly stop working. That gives this one the edge over the rest.
Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning (2023)
Choosing the next film on this list is just as difficult. However, I’m settling on Dead Reckoning for a few reasons. The timely use of an AI computer threat is well-executed in this one, and the addition of Hayley Atwell’s Grace to the team is inspired. Then there are the callbacks to the first film in the series. The return of Henry Czerny as Kittridge, for instance. I love things like that as a film fan. A really good car chase and excellent train crash finale increase the entertainment value of this one. It’s a shame that the title change for the next film left this installment with the awkward “Part One” to drop from it’s title, but this one is a terrific beginning to the end of this series.
MORE: If you need a reminder, read our review of 2023’s Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning!
Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation (2015)
Next up is Rogue Nation, which features the first appearance of former MI:6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). She’s another wonderful addition to the franchise. As I mentioned, the Syndicate is the antagonist in this one. They are a group of skilled operatives working to create a new world order. Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) leads them, and he is one of the franchise’s best villains. As for the action, Tom hangs onto a jet as it takes off in the opening sequence, but the rest of the physical stuff is a bit less memorable than some other installments. The internal politics in the IMF and the CIA in this one are compelling, as is the interaction between the US and UK intelligence apparatus. You can tell how good this franchise is when the film in the middle of the ranking is this good.
Mission: Impossible 3 (2006)
Writer-director J.J. Abrams created this entry in the franchise, and you can argue that he laid the groundwork for the successful tone of the rest of the series. Abrams and his co-writers weren’t afraid to change the game in terms of plot points. Ethan is recruiting and training instead of out in the field, and he gets married in this one. If the sight of Cruise dressed up as a priest in the Vatican wasn’t enough, his team here (played by Maggie Q and Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is memorable. I kept hoping they would show up again. Most of all, this installment can boast the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian, perhaps the best villain in the entire series. If the details of who Davian is working for were a bit more interesting, this one might be higher in the ranking.
Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning (2025)
In theaters right now, the newest movie in the series is supposedly the last. It certainly feels like a wrap-up of Ethan’s time as an IMF agent. The story is a timely one, focusing on an AI computer threat, and it also provides some incredibly intense action moments. The emotions are dialed up too. Probably more than they have been before. Honestly, if the first act wasn’t so expository, and if Esai Morales’ Gabriel was a more developed bad guy, this one might be higher in the ranking. There is a deep bench of acting talent filling up even the small roles here. That is an asset when things get too talky. If this truly is the end of Mission: Impossible on the big screen, everyone involved can hold their head up high.
MORE: If you’ve seen The Final Reckoning in theaters, come and read our review of the last Mission: Impossible film to compare what you think!
Mission: Impossible (1996)
The adventure that started it all! Certain trademarks are established from the beginning, like crazy action moments (helicopter in a train tunnel, anyone?) and the use of disguises. General public opinion deemed the story too confusing, though I didn’t find it so. It was just a little convoluted. Cruise dangling from the ceiling in the CIA black vault is an iconic image in action cinema, though. And there is no denying that the deaths of Ethan’s first team early in the film, including some recognizable faces, are a successful shock. This is the only installment that has Vanessa Redgrave as arms dealer Max, too. She stands out among the female characters at the beginning of the franchise.
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
At first glance, it’s surprising this entry would be ranked the lowest. Action maestro John Woo directs it. Sir Anthony Hopkins and Thandiwe Newton are part of the cast. And yet it is still the worst film in this series. The uninspired story is the reason why, and that includes Dougray Scott’s boring villain. There is also a noticeable and irritating amount of misogyny in this one. “To go to bed with a man and lie to him? She’s a woman, she’s got all the training she needs,” Hopkins’ character says, referring to Newton’s character. Yeah, not good. Woo manages to create some cool visuals but the rest is just not up to par with the remainder of the franchise.
So what do you think? Is our ranking of these movies correct? Let us know in the comments!
Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning is now in theaters. Mission: Impossible 1-7 are streaming on Paramount Plus.
