The ‘Mission: Impossible’ series, starring Tom Cruise, has been a touchstone of spy-themed cinematic entertainment for almost three decades now, paralleled only perhaps by the James Bond series. Initiated as a cinematic adaptation of a 1966 TV show and brought to life by David Koepp and Robert Towne, the first ‘Mission: Impossible’ essentially laid the groundwork for each subsequent episode with only a few minor deviations.
The films orbit around the unyielding character of Ethan Hunt and his cohort, the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), presented with the charge and choice to thwart catastrophes that could spell disaster for the US, the global intelligence fraternity, or even the world at large. More often than not, the ensemble finds themselves abandoned, pursued not just by their foes, but ironically, their supposed allies too.
Following a rollercoaster ride of eight captivating chapters, Ethan Hunt’s tenure with IMF seems to be heading towards its grand finale. In tribute to this momentous turning point, director Christopher McQuarrie has pulled every trick in the book to craft ‘The Final Reckoning,’ a concluding sequence that he dreams will match, if not outshine, the nearly infinite succession of tense predicaments conjured by him and his forerunners over the lifespan of this series.
But did he deliver on this ambitious promise? The answer lies with the spectators, whose individual quest, should they choose to undertake, is to decide this for themselves. To help the audience along this journey, we delve into a retrospective exploration of the eight ‘Mission: Impossible’ films, ranking them on a scale from ‘watching it in absolute incognito’ to ‘going to the lengths of taking a HALO plunge from a plane for another viewing’.
Each entry in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ saga, from the second installment to the final chapter ‘The Final Reckoning,’ boasts its unique blend of strengths and imperfections, contributing to the overall ranking. Elements that factor into this appraisal range from the storytelling and action orchestration to the indelible set pieces that offer thrilling and exhilarating moments to audiences.
The dynamic journey of the characters, the maturing plotlines, and the thrilling culmination of each film stand out as singular and riveting. There is no denying the momentum, vigour, and staying power of the series, culminating with the climax, ‘The Final Reckoning,’ though initially heavy with exposition, manages to nail the finale.
Every ‘Mission: Impossible’ film has a significant role in this ranking, from ‘Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol,’ which amusingly anchors the franchise in mature entertainment, to ‘Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,’ which cements the ‘Mission: Impossible’ sequence into a fully-fledged epic. Each film is a piece of the puzzle that contributes to the ranking, and the overall journey this monumental franchise has undertaken.