Mission Accomplished? Ranking Tom Cruise’s Most Daring Impossible Adventures!

Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt has run, jumped, and hung around in movie history for the better part of three decades and made the Mission: Impossible franchise a stunt behemoth known for its fearless stunts and uncompromising reinvention. With the arrival of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth and allegedly final installment, the planet is once again under the thrall of Hunt-mania. Here's a definitive ranking of all Mission: Impossible movies, capturing their pulse-pounding moments, critical success, and the jaw-dropping experiences that made them legendary.

 

1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

IMDb: 7.7 | Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

 

Consistently the franchise's best, Fallout is an action masterwork. The story has Ethan Hunt racing against time to prevent a nuclear disaster, joined by Henry Cavill's rugged villain to bring some brawn to the fight. The Paris chase, HALO jump, and helicopter battle are now action legend, and critics praise it as the franchise's most well-rounded package-balancing character, stakes, and spectacle.

 

2. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

IMDb: 7.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

 

Rogue Nation established a new standard for practical stunts-Cruise's death-defying airplane cling remains jaw-dropping. The addition of Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust brought intrigue and depth, and the Syndicate plot kept everyone guessing. It's a high-tech, globe-trotting thriller that revitalized the series and still holds a fan-favorite reputation.

 

3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

IMDb: 7.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

 

The Burj Khalifa climb is arguably the franchise’s most iconic stunt, and Cruise’s commitment to real action sequences reached new heights-literally. The plot, involving a disavowed IMF and a race to clear their name, is classic spy fare, but it’s the relentless pace and inventive set pieces that make this entry unforgettable.

 

4. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

IMDb: 7.6 | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

 

With an AI antagonist and a global plot, Dead Reckoning Part One is a contemporary action epic. The motorbike-over-a-cliff stunt in Norway is celebrated as one of the greatest in movies. The film's fight choreography is also the most savage on record. Although some people criticized the plot as being thick, the spectacle and suspense cannot be denied.

 

5. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

IMDb: 6.9 | Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

 

J.J. Abrams' addition brought emotional stakes and a grimmer tone, courtesy of Philip Seymour Hoffman's terrifying villain. The Vatican heist and the bridge assault sequences were highlights, and Ethan's personal life focus was a welcome addition of depth to the film.

 

6. Mission: Impossible (1996)

IMDb: 7.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

 

Brian De Palma's original is a twisty, stylish spy thriller, most remembered for the legendary Langley CIA vault robbery. Although fans are split on the complexity of the plot, its impact on the genre cannot be denied, and it cemented Cruise as a legitimate action hero.

 

7. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

IMDb: 6.1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 57%

 

John Woo's action-heavy, romance-drenched sequel is the weakest in the franchise, though there are some stand-out action and style. The knife fight and motorcycle pursuits are stand-outs, but the melodrama of the film and its overall lack of coherence make it fall behind the rest.

 

8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

IMDb: N/A | Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

 

The big finale is a mixed bag-praised for its jaw-dropping biplane stunt (with Cruise doing the flying and wing-walking at 10,000 feet), but panned for a plot that's more style than substance. While its Cannes premiere elicited a five-minute standing ovation, critics point out the film's dark tone and tangled story. Nevertheless, as a goodbye, it's a mawkish, travel-globe around-the-world spectacle that seals the franchise's reputation as a masterclass in blockbuster filmmaking.

 

Key Franchise Highlights

With The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt runs off into the sun, leaving a legacy of impossible missions, memorable stunts, and a franchise that redefined the possibilities of action cinema.

 

Sources: Times Now, Indian Express, IMDb, Deadline