Mission: Impossible

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1:50

Mission: Impossible

PG-13

Released May 22, 1996

1h 50m

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

159 Reviews

71%

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250,000+ Ratings

When U.S. government operative Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), go on a covert assignment that takes a disastrous turn, Jim is killed, and Ethan becomes the prime murder suspect. Now a fugitive, Hunt recruits brilliant hacker Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and maverick pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to help him sneak into a heavily guarded CIA building to retrieve a confidential computer file that will prove his innocence.

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Critics Consensus

Full of special effects, Brian DePalma's update of Mission: Impossible has a lot of sweeping spectacle, but the plot is sometimes overly convoluted.

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Philip Wuntch

Dallas Morning News

The movie has too much vitality to allow itself to be overly analyzed; so just participate in the magic carpet ride.

May 13, 2025

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

The screenwriters, David Koepp and Robert Towne, barely sketch in relationships among the characters.

May 6, 2025

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Paul Kalina

The Age (Australia)

Many of the capable cast are wasted, misused or miscast.

May 6, 2025

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Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Convoluted and captivating in the best possible way.

Jun 21, 2025

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Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

De Palma’s fingerprints are all over Mission: Impossible, but without Cruise’s superstardom, it might not have been the showcase we’d expect.

Rated: 9/10

May 26, 2025

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

If anyone but Cruise was behind “Mission: Impossible” and in front the camera, there would be no sequels.

May 17, 2025

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rjerrycaldwellmsncom

I enjoyed watching it but I have seen it before.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/25/21

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Nathan B.

It was a little boring to me but the heist scene was cool though

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

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Ajay M

This is where Mission Impossible Movie Franchise all started. This film definitely have my heart. Tom Cruise really created a franchise and I'm glad he give his best to this franchise. 1st Mission Impossible Movie is a good film. This is where it all started so this have a special place in my heart. I Love Tom Cruise and Mission Impossible Movies!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

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Vince C

Still a great movie and really ahead of it's time. It only goes up (with the exception of the horrible sophomore installment) from here.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Marcus H

Incredibly boring at times, the overall plot is also all over the place. Feels like it is going to get better multiple times but just doesn’t. Like wouldn’t watch it again or ever if not for it just being the first mission impossible. If it were on its own it would be 1.5-2 stars. Does not live up to the hype.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Ryan H

Ethan Hunt’s 1st big screen adventure is thrilling & action packed. Although a little confusing at times upon first watch it’s still M:I!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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Brian De Palma

Director

Tom Cruise

Ethan Hunt

Jon Voight

Jim Phelps

Henry Czerny

Kittridge

Ving Rhames

Luther

Kristin Scott Thomas

Sarah Davies

Movieclips: Mission Impossible's Best Scenes

32:30

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Is He Serious?

0:59

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Tunnel Chase

2:12

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - High-Speed Train Ride

2:12

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Master of Disguise

2:11

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Out of the Vault

1:33

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Into the Vault

2:13

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Close Call

2:13

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - Mission Gone Wrong

2:07

Mission: Impossible: Official Clip - A Mole Hunt

2:13

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Mission: Impossible II

57%

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Mission: Impossible III

73%

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Mission: Impossible III

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Mission: Impossible: Trailer 1

1:50

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Synopsis

When U.S. government operative Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), go on a covert assignment that takes a disastrous turn, Jim is killed, and Ethan becomes the prime murder suspect. Now a fugitive, Hunt recruits brilliant hacker Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and maverick pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to help him sneak into a heavily guarded CIA building to retrieve a confidential computer file that will prove his innocence.

Director: Brian De Palma
Producer: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner
Screenwriter: David Koepp, Robert Towne
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Cruise-Wagner Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $180.9M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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