On this special edition of "Ranked", I'm ranking the Mission: Impossible franchise ahead of the release of "Mission-Impossible: The Final Reckoning" in theaters on Thursday.
7.Mission: Impossible 2 (2000):
The only movie in the franchise that kind of stinks. It leans way too heavily into the rubber mask/double cross ridiculousness that's otherwise existed as a pretty small recurring plot device in the other entries, the chemistry between Tom Cruise and love interest/co-worker Thandiwe Newton couldn't be flatter and worst of all, it marked the start of John Woo's depressing transition from trailblazing action pioneer to sauceless clock puncher.
Grade: C-
6.Mission: Impossible (1996):
Revisiting this now as we're on the cusp of the 8th entry entering the world is kind of hilarious. It actually perfectly mirrors the evolution of Fast and Furious where the first film feels like it's part of a completely different franchise than the one that the later installments belong to. While there's something oddly novel about its mostly dialogue-driven approach to exploring the relentless treachery that comes with being in the spy game, the lack of true spectacle on display inevitably relegates it to minor status in a series that's at its best when the jaw-dropping action/stuntwork is taking center stage.
Grade: B-
5.Mission: Impossible III (2006):
Folks, we've gone too far with the post-Rise of Skywalker J.J. Abrams hate. The veteran television showrunner made a very smooth transition to the world of features with this fun action romp that got the series back on track after the lackluster initial sequel threatened to derail the franchise for good. This might've even flirted with greatness if Phillip Seymour Hoffman's incredibly imposing antagonist Owen Davian had more screentime and the opening third of the film outside of the sick Berlin setpiece had a bit more flare.
Grade: B
4.Mission-Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015):
While the focus on its comically convoluted plot is way too prominent, the action hits such dizzying new heights (particularly in the opera house scene and cliffside motorcycle chase) with Christopher McQuarrie at the helm that it doesn't matter all that much.
Grade: B
3.Mission-Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
Like quite a few people out there, Ghost Protocol was the first time I ever came away from a Mission-Impossible movie really impressed. The setpieces here are consistently pulse-pounding and exhilarating and leaning into the inherent silliness of its "ragtag spies that don't play by the rules trying to stop WWIII from breaking out" plot upped the entertainment value considerably. By the way, somebody in Hollywood needs to let Brad Bird make another live action movie ASAP! The price he's paid for the failure of Tomorrowland is more than steep enough at this point!
Grade: B+
2.Mission-Impossible: Dead Reckoning (2023):
Despite being the longest entry in the series that's currently out in the world at a whopping 163 minutes, Dead Reckoning may be the single most propulsive entry in the franchise as it stacks up hyperkinetic setpiece upon hyperkinetic setpiece (shootout in the Arbian Desert, car chase through Rome, foot chase through the Abu Dhabi airport) every step of the way. If not for the shockingly CGI-heavy albeit still solid finale aboard the Orient Express, it would've made a strong challenge for the top spot.
Grade: B+
1.Mission-Impossible: Fallout (2018):
Fallout may be a boring answer for #1 as it often finds itself in this spot when somebody drops a Mission: Impossible ranking, but there was just no way in hell that I was going to put any other entry here. Cruise and McQuarrie went completely ballistic here as they delivered one of the most consistently exhilarating, well-crafted action movies that we've seen in the last 20-25 years. Even the mere mention of the HALO Jump, bathroom fight or Paris motorcycle chase are enough to take me back to the absolute glee I felt seeing these scenes on the big screen for the first time nearly 7 years ago.
Grade: A-
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