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Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible is an American spy film franchise based on the 1960s television series of the same name.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Mission: Impossible is an American spy film franchise based on the 1960s television series of the same name. The series follows Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, as he and his team undertake high-risk covert operations to stop global threats. The franchise began with the 1996 film Mission: Impossible, directed by Brian De Palma, and as of 2025 includes eight films.

Overview

Mission: Impossible is a long-running film series that adapts the premise of the original television franchise into modern espionage thrillers. Its stories typically involve elaborate covert operations, betrayals, disguises, and global threats.

Film series

The franchise launched in 1996 and continued with seven sequels through Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in 2025. The films are centred on Ethan Hunt and his IMF team.

Main character and cast

Ethan Hunt is the central character of the series and is played by Tom Cruise. Recurring cast members include Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell and Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn.

Reception and legacy

The franchise became one of the best-known modern spy-action series and is strongly associated with Tom Cruise's star persona. It also preserves musical and thematic links to the original television series.

Key facts

  • The franchise began with the 1996 film Mission: Impossible, directed by Brian De Palma.
  • Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt throughout the series and is also a major producer of the films.
  • The films center on the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), a secret government unit that handles dangerous covert missions.
  • As of 2025, the series includes eight films, with the latest being Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
  • The franchise has broad Canadian theatrical and streaming availability.
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Canadian context

The franchise has broad Canadian theatrical and streaming availability and is part of mainstream Hollywood entertainment commonly followed by Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Mission: Impossible about?
It follows Ethan Hunt and the IMF as they carry out dangerous covert missions, often while stopping betrayals or global threats.
Who stars in Mission: Impossible?
Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, with recurring cast members including Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Rebecca Ferguson in later films.
How many Mission: Impossible movies are there?
There are eight Mission: Impossible feature films, ending with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025).
What is the order of Mission: Impossible movies?
Mission: Impossible (1996), Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), Mission: Impossible III (2006), Ghost Protocol (2011), Rogue Nation (2015), Fallout (2018), Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), and The Final Reckoning (2025).
When is the next Mission: Impossible movie?
No later instalment has been confirmed in the sources provided. The most recent film is Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025).
Who is the main character in Mission: Impossible?
The main character is Ethan Hunt, an IMF agent portrayed by Tom Cruise.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(film_series)
    Supports: Franchise overview, number of films, main character, recurring cast, and 2025 release status.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(film)
    Supports: First film details, plot premise, cast, and Ethan Hunt as the central character.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9603212/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot premise for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and franchise context.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9603208/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot premise for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and 2025 release-related information.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible
    Supports: First film synopsis, Ethan Hunt, Jim Phelps, and the spy-thriller premise.