Mission: Impossible movies in order
Mission: Impossible Marathon

Page Last Modified:

4 December 2025

Most Recent Release:

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - 2025

Total Runtime:

1105 Minutes

Total Items:

8

Average User Score:

(7)

Mission: Impossible movies in order

Ever wondered, "Which Mission: Impossible movie should I start with?" You're not alone. With seven films and one final installment on the horizon, planning a Mission: Impossible movie marathon is a mission in itself. But fear not, we've crafted the ultimate chronological order for you. From Brian De Palma's stylish debut to Christopher McQuarrie's explosive new chapters, each film builds on its predecessor with bigger stunts, more intense threats, and evolving team dynamics. So grab your popcorn, gather your binge-watching buddies, and prepare for a non-stop spy extravaganza. Here's how to watch the Mission: Impossible franchise as it was meant to be seen: in perfect order.

1105 Minutes 8 Movies
  1. Mission: Impossible Backdrop 1
    Mission: Impossible Movie 111 min. 1996
    When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.
    USER SCORE 7
  2. Mission: Impossible II Backdrop 2
    Mission: Impossible II Movie 123 min. 2000
    With computer genius Luther Stickell at his side and a beautiful thief on his mind, agent Ethan Hunt races across Australia and Spain to stop a former IMF agent from unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called Chimera. This mission, should Hunt choose to accept it, plunges him into the center of an international crisis of terrifying magnitude.
    USER SCORE 6
  3. Mission: Impossible III Backdrop 3
    Mission: Impossible III Movie 126 min. 2006
    Retired from active duty, and training recruits for the Impossible Mission Force, agent Ethan Hunt faces the toughest foe of his career: Owen Davian, an international broker of arms and information, who's as cunning as he is ruthless. Davian emerges to threaten Hunt and all that he holds dear – including the woman Hunt loves.
    USER SCORE 7
  4. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Backdrop 4
    Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Movie 133 min. 2011
    Ethan Hunt and his team are racing against time to track down a dangerous terrorist named Hendricks, who has gained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning a strike on the United States. An attempt to stop him ends in an explosion causing severe destruction to the Kremlin and the IMF to be implicated in the bombing, forcing the President to disavow them. No longer being aided by the government, Ethan and his team chase Hendricks around the globe, although they might still be too late to stop a disaster.
    USER SCORE 7
  5. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Backdrop 5
    Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Movie 131 min. 2015
    Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet—eradicating 'The Syndicate', an International and highly-skilled rogue organization committed to destroying the IMF.
    USER SCORE 7
  6. Mission: Impossible - Fallout Backdrop 6
    Mission: Impossible - Fallout Movie 147 min. 2018
    When an IMF mission ends badly, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt takes it upon himself to fulfill his original briefing, the CIA begin to question his loyalty and his motives. The IMF team find themselves in a race against time, hunted by assassins while trying to prevent a global catastrophe.
    USER SCORE 7
  7. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One Backdrop 7
    Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One Movie 164 min. 2023
    Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the world's fate at stake and dark forces from Ethan's past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan must consider that nothing can matter more than his mission—not even the lives of those he cares about most.
    USER SCORE 8
  8. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Backdrop 8
    Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Movie 170 min. 2025
    Ethan Hunt and team continue their search for the terrifying AI known as the Entity — which has infiltrated intelligence networks all over the globe — with the world's governments and a mysterious ghost from Hunt's past on their trail. Joined by new allies and armed with the means to shut the Entity down for good, Hunt is in a race against time to prevent the world as we know it from changing forever.
    USER SCORE 7

Mission: Impossible (1996)

The mission kicks off with Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, directed by Brian De Palma. This film sets the tone for the franchise's unique blend of high-stakes missions, dubious allies, secret identities, and those iconic masks. We meet Ethan as a young, loyal agent who is suddenly on the run after a mission goes awry. The style is sleek, the tension is palpable, and the first glimpse of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) leaves you craving more. Ethan's improvisational skills and nerves of steel distinguish him from any other spy in the genre.

Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)

With John Woo directing, the second installment introduces slow-motion doves, motorcycle stunts, and fiery glances. Mission: Impossible 2 leans more towards stylish action than pure espionage thriller, yet it is a crucial step in Ethan Hunt's evolution. Here, he becomes a full-fledged action hero, tasked with earning the trust of a suspicious ally and stopping a deadly virus called Chimera. The film features Dougray Scott as the intense antagonist Sean Ambrose, and the chemistry between Ethan and Nyah Hall (Thandiwe Newton) adds a personal touch to the mission. Love it or hate it, this chapter is essential for your binge.

Mission: Impossible 3 (2006)

J.J. Abrams makes his directorial debut, bringing more pace, character development, and a truly terrifying antagonist. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian delivers pure intensity. Ethan's personal life receives real attention for the first time, adding depth to his character. The film also introduces key team members like Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames, now a franchise veteran) and technician Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg, a fan favorite from the start). This film serves as the emotional anchor of the franchise and is a vital link to what follows.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Brad Bird, known for The Incredibles, elevates the franchise to blockbuster status with explosive action, visual flair, and a storyline with global stakes. The Burj Khalifa climb in Dubai? A moment that made film history, and yes, Tom Cruise really performed that stunt. Ethan teams up with a new IMF crew, including William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) and Jane Carter (Paula Patton), while the organization teeters on the brink of dissolution. Ghost Protocol is where the modern vibe of Mission: Impossible truly takes shape: larger scale, tighter pace, and awe-inspiring stunts.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

Christopher McQuarrie takes the helm, bringing a grittier, more muscular style without losing the fun. Rogue Nation introduces Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), one of the franchise's strongest characters mysterious, dangerous, and absolutely indispensable. The film revolves around the rise of the Syndicate, a shadow organization opposing the IMF. With motorcycle chases in Morocco, an opera scene in Vienna, and a team fighting against the system, this film strikes a perfect balance between classic espionage and modern action.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

If one film proves why Tom Cruise is a stunt legend, it's Fallout. The HALO jump, the helicopter chase, that bathroom fight everything is bigger, rawer, and more intense. Henry Cavill as August Walker adds brute force to the team, and that infamous arm reload? Instant meme. Fallout directly builds on Rogue Nation, dealing with the Syndicate's aftermath and the rise of the Apostles. The relationships between team members Benji, Luther, Ilsa, and Ethan gain more emotional depth, while the plot continues to revolve around global risks and personal sacrifices. This is Mission: Impossible at its finest.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (2023)

The first part of the epic finale. McQuarrie raises the stakes again with Dead Reckoning, where Ethan and his team must thwart a new, all-encompassing threat: an AI capable of destabilizing the entire world order. We meet Grace (Hayley Atwell), a master con artist who joins the team, and Gabriel (Esai Morales), a shadow from Ethan's past who disrupts everything. Expect classic tropes masks, espionage, double crosses with a modern paranoia twist. The film cleverly taps into contemporary technology fears and builds perfectly towards the upcoming finale.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (TBA)

While we await the final chapter, we know The Final Reckoning will bring everything together. The film will conclude the story of Dead Reckoning and possibly bring Ethan Hunt's journey to an epic conclusion. Expect returning faces like Benji, Luther, Ilsa, and Grace, along with surprises, callbacks to previous films, and a climax that honors the entire franchise. If past films are any indication, this finale will make you call your friends, turn off your phone, and immerse yourself in a three-hour adrenaline rush.

The Ultimate Mission: Impossible Binge Starts Now

Few franchises remain as consistently thrilling, surprising, and inventive as Mission: Impossible. Whether you're a fan of classic espionage a la De Palma or prefer McQuarrie's spectacular practical stunts, this series has it all. With Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, who repeatedly risks his life for your viewing pleasure, you're in for a treat. So prepare your streaming list, gather your squad, and follow this viewing order for the ultimate Mission: Impossible movie marathon. This mission? You accept it with full conviction.