‘Mission: Impossible‘ has become one of the biggest franchises on the planet, and Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt is almost as big as James Bond. With a lot of movies and new ones in the work, you might be wondering what is the best way to watch ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies. Well, this article will help you with that. So far, there are seven movies in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise. The movies were released from 1996 up to 2023. There is also an eight movie in production.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated in October 2023 with the latest ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies and information.
All ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies in release date order
‘Mission: Impossible’ is a franchise that managed to endure for 27 years up to this point, and due to that, it accumulated quite a bit of installments:
- ‘Mission: Impossible‘ (1996)
- ‘Mission: Impossible 2‘ (2000)
- ‘Mission: Impossible III‘ (2006)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol‘ (2011)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation‘ (2015)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout‘ (2018)
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One‘ (2023)
Are all ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies connected? What’s the best way to watch them?
All ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies are connected. While each movie has its own unique plot and challenges, there is an overarching storyline that connects them. You’ll see recurring characters and references to previous missions throughout the series. It’s like one big, action-packed puzzle that Tom Cruise keeps putting together! The best way to watch the movies is in their release date order – which is also the chronological order.
All ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies in chronological order
The ‘Mission: Impossible’ series, led by the indomitable Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, has captivated audiences for years. To dive deep into its intertwined plots, here’s a guide to the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies in their exact chronological order.
1. ‘Mission: Impossible‘(1996)
In the debut of the series, IMF agent Ethan Hunt is framed for the deaths of his team during a Prague Embassy mission. With the trust of his agency lost and a traitor in the ranks, Ethan embarks on a quest to clear his name. This spy thriller is filled with high-stakes action, introducing the world to Cruise’s signature stunts, as he unravels a deep conspiracy within the IMF.
2. ‘Mission: Impossible 2‘ (2000)
Director John Woo brings his trademark balletic action sequences to the fore as Ethan Hunt is tasked with stopping a rogue IMF agent from releasing a genetically engineered virus named “Chimera.” Romantic tensions rise as Hunt gets involved with Nyah, a skilled thief, intertwining personal stakes with global catastrophe.
3. ‘Mission: Impossible III‘(2006)
Directed by J.J. Abrams, this installment delves into Hunt’s personal life. When his fiancée, Julia, is kidnapped by an arms dealer, Owen Davian, Ethan is thrust into a race against time. Facing deadly threats and brutal interrogation, Hunt confronts visceral challenges, revealing the human behind the agent.
4. ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol‘ (2011)
When the IMF is implicated in a global bombing plot, they are disavowed by the U.S. government. Ethan and his team must operate off the grid. Scaling the Burj Khalifa and chasing through a sandstorm in Dubai, Hunt seeks to prevent a nuclear war while trying to clear the IMF’s name.
5. ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation‘ (2015)
The Syndicate, an international rogue organization, is determined to destroy the IMF. As they commit a series of terrorist attacks, Ethan Hunt and his team embark on their most impossible mission yet: eradicating this global threat. This game of cat and mouse introduces Ilsa Faust, whose loyalties remain uncertain.
6. ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout‘ (2018)
A direct sequel to ‘Rogue Nation,’ Ethan Hunt and his team race against time after a mission goes wrong. Past decisions come back to haunt Hunt, leading to intense aerial chases, a dangerous arms dealer, and the palpable tension of a world on the brink of nuclear disaster.
7. ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ (2023)
The stakes escalate as an advanced rogue AI, termed the “Entity,” manipulates global defense and financial systems. Ethan Hunt, diving deep into a web of deception and past affiliations, ventures into the Arabian Desert to secure a key to control this AI. With alliances shifting rapidly and a race against world powers, Ethan faces challenges both technological and deeply personal.
The interplay between familiar faces and new adversaries, including a thief named Grace and a sad*stic liaison, Gabriel, adds layers to Hunt’s mission to destroy the Entity. Amidst train-top battles and heart-wrenching losses, Ethan’s determination to save the world continues to blaze.
Where to watch all aforementioned movies?
All ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies can be streamed on Apple TV or Paramount+. The only exception is the latest movie, ‘Dead Reckoning Part One,’ which can only be purchased on the Apple TV store.
Will there be more ‘Mission: Impossible‘ movies?
Currently, there is only one more ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie in the works. ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two’ should be released on June 28, 2024.
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