The Mission: Impossible series has experienced some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the release of the next two films. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was recently announced as the title for the seventh entry, which will continue Ethan Hunt’s adventures with the IMF that started all the way back in 1996.
With such a long history to consider, fans on Ranker have taken the time to vote on which of the movies so far they believe are the best. Since hundreds of votes have been taken into consideration, there’s no doubt that the ranking is definite to how Mission: Impossible feels on average. Before Tom Cruise returns for the latest installment in 2023, it’s worth looking back at the series’ filmography.
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
The second movie is the only one on Ranker to have more downvotes than upvotes. It has a mixed reception among both critics and fans for the rather outlandish premise of a virus threatening the world. Mission: Impossible 2 has far more emphasis on action than a story, which is another aspect that many didn’t take to. The plot has Ethan falling in love with Nyah Nordoff-Hall while both have to deal with Sean Ambrose’s threat.
The film has catchy visuals and explosiveness as well, so it’s not all bad. But for the fans who had come to expect a certain balance between Ethan’s characterization and action sequences, it was something of a letdown. Still, viewers who just want to have a breezy time with a fast-paced blockbuster will find themselves at home with Mission: Impossible 2.
Mission: Impossible III (2006)
In contrast to the second movie, the follow-up has the least action of any in the series. While Mission: Impossible III ranks well in the overall franchise, fans still don’t see it eclipsing most of the other films. The story sees Ethan getting back into the field to search for a mysterious toxic weapon known as the Rabbit’s Foot while the IMF is infiltrated.
Ethan gets his most layered personal arc here with him marrying Julia Meade, who is also dragged into the conflict when Ethan’s enemies learn of her. It’s a heartwarming film overall, but Mission: Impossible fans looking for Tom Cruise’s classic stunt-based sequences will be disappointed because the movie aims for straightforward combat-based action instead.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
The first film is where Ethan established himself as the bravest IMF agent in Mission: Impossible, where he had to clear his name after Jim Phelps betrayed him. It plays more like a thriller than the spy action movie that Mission: Impossible fans have come to expect. However, the first entry still has intense moments like the water tank explosion and bullet train chase.
This is the only installment where special effects were given precedent over practical effects, although it’s not as jarring as it could be. Following a younger, less experienced Ethan Hunt is fun in retrospect since fans get to see the way he thinks rather than having to go with the flow as the older Ethan Hunt conducts himself.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
The fourth movie is when the series truly went bigger and better, with a globetrotting premise that sees Ethan assemble a team of like-minded individuals. It notably has one of Tom Cruise’s most iconic lines when he exclaims “Mission Accomplished!” during the climax. The quote is earned because the preceding story sees Ethan and his allies going rogue to clear the IMF’s name from a disaster they were blamed for.
From incredible scaling sequences like Ethan’s climb of the Burj Khalifa to the escape from the Kremlin, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol set a benchmark for success for movies to come. It still has incredible replay value for the way it can be viewed out of order, as the story essentially takes a reboot to draw in new fans.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
The sixth movie is considered the best Mission: Impossible by Rotten Tomatoes reviewers, having garnered an incredible 97% score. That rating comes down to taking things on the largest scale yet, with Ethan now having to deal with Solomon Lane and August Walker’s threat to the world’s water supply. It brings back his former wife Julia to close out Ethan’s arc of moving on, as he acknowledges his feelings for Ilsa Faust.
The story has a lot of heart for focusing on Ethan’s value to the IMF, with Secretary Alan Hunley being an example of the positive influence the former has in reforming people’s minds. In addition to Hunley, the focus is also on the remaining people in Ethan’s team including Benji and Luther, as the value that everyone brings altogether is best exemplified here.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Doing away with heavy-handed storytelling to exclusively depict Ethan’s attempts to take down the villain has worked best in impressing Ranker voters. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is entirely about Ethan locating Solomon Lane who’s using the Syndicate as cover for his illicit dealings. The film has the biggest cat-and-mouse aspect in the series so far, with a constant push from Ethan to prove the existence of the Syndicate.
Much like its predecessor, Rogue Nation features incredible sequences like Ethan’s ascent with a plane while dangling outside it, along with a high-octane chase scene that blows most viewers away. Adding Ilsa Faust to the mix brings another level of mystery to proceedings since her loyalties remain dubious until the action-packed finale.