Ranking the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies on Netflix
Age is just a number, especially when Tom Cruise hits the screen like a flashbang. Whether you’re Gen Z or a millennial, resistance is futile. His charm pulls you in like a zero-gravity stunt. From death-defying leaps that most actors outsource to explosive action sequences that barely let you blink, Cruise has had only one mission: to make the impossible look easy. And now, in a move as slick as an IMF getaway, five Mission: Impossible movies have landed on Netflix.
The Tom Cruise effect is truly surreal. It has stood the test of time and the era of action fatigue. Most recently, the 63-year-old even had the Guinness World Records bow down. But for the actor? That’s probably just another Tuesday. While he has been associated with quite a few high-profile film franchises, nothing perhaps hits home like Mission: Impossible.
These films were added to the Netflix US library in the opening salvo of July’s arrival arc, and, by now, many have already got the hunch. However, to ease the marathon of watches and rewatches this time, Best of Netflix brings a ranked list from the worst to the best.
Although Ethan Hunt’s rigorous tenure has met an end, with Netflix now serving as a streaming home to half of it, let’s make the best of the opportunity.
Mission: Impossible films on Netflix: Ranked
5. Mission: Impossible II (John Woo, 2000)
Serving as a sequel to Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible II has been generally deemed the franchise’s low point. Despite coming from the creative mind of action legend John Woo, banking on excessive slow-motion sequences didn’t exactly compensate for its shortcomings. But the most critical points of the film are its convoluted storyline, one-dimensional antagonist, lack of menace, and sluggish tempo.
The over-the-top action sequences are definitely a setback, and the German virus and villain are just not convincing enough.
4. Mission: Impossible III (JJ Abrams, 2006)
To keep the Mission: Impossible franchise running for almost three decades, Tom Cruise‘s Ethan Hun has had a rollercoaster run. When one of the aspects crossed home base, another felt short. But one of the major reasons fans celebrate Mission: Impossible III is JJ Abrams’s vision and delivery. Despite the lacklustre reviews of the second instalment, the filmmaker took a leap of faith, and the one arena where it knocked it out of the park was with its villain.
In fact, Mission: Impossible III marked the debut of Hunt’s trusted sidekick, Simon Pegg, as Benji Dunn.
3. Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (Brad Bird, 2011)
The biggest takeaway of the Mission: Impossible films is not the ending; it’s the opening. And with Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, Brad Bird couldn’t have chosen a better one. Unlike the previous films that had minor roadblocks, this one packs a punch. It has the right blend of intelligence, action, and humour. But most importantly, it has Cruise climbing up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world.
It’s not weak in pace, unlike its predecessors. Rather, Bird builds the suspense with a crucial plot detail when the IMF gadgets begin to hiccup.
2. Mission: Impossible (Brian De Palma, 1996)
There’s truly nothing like the first Mission: Impossible movie. The first film makes you wish you could watch it for the very first time, every time. Brian De Palma masterfully wove the web of espionage, deception, and betrayal in the 1996 film. With its intricate plot, double agents, and shocking mid-credits massacre, this film was the perfect launchpad for the franchise, with De Palma, the ideal maestro to orchestrate the chaos.
A scene that redefines the term edge-of-your-seat in the movie is Hunt’s CIA vault sequence, in which tension trumps violence as he threads the needle with the finesse of a ninja.
Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (Christopher McQuarrie, 2015)
Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation is a masterclass in story building, execution, and precision. The greatest challenge with this instalment is pigeonholing the highlights. It’s a surfeit of spectacular set pieces, each one more breathtaking than the last. From the high-octane plane sequence to the opera assassination, McQuarrie’s masterful direction elevates each and every moment.
While McQuarrie’s ingenuity injects new life into the franchise with Rogue Nation, how can anyone forget Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust? This film is widely deemed as a turning point for the franchise, with the IMF being disbanded and Ethan Hunt going head-to-head against the Syndicate.