Intro: Where to Stream the Mission: Impossible Franchise
Heading out to see the new Mission: Impossible film this weekend? Here’s where you can catch up on all of the previous movies in the franchise before you go.
Here's the good news: all six of the previous Mission: Impossible films are available to stream on Paramount+, so no need to flip between apps. Below is a summary of all six entries as well as the ones that are most recommended before seeing Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One.
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Mission: Impossible (1996)
Director: Brian DePalma
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Henry Czerny, Emmanuelle Beart
When IMF Agent Ethan Hunt is framed as a mole, he must go rogue to find the real double agent.
This is a great starter for the franchise as it introduces us to the main characters and gets the world built. It’s also a fun 90s-style action film with some small connections to Dead Reckoning.
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Director: John Woo
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton, Brendan Gleeson
Ethan Hunt is thrust back into a globetrotting adventure to stop a terrifying bioweapon from falling into the wrong hands.
Widely considered by many to be the worst of the franchise, and also largely ignored by all of the subsequent sequels. There's nice action moments and stunt work, nonetheless.
Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan
Now retired, Ethan Hunt is brought back into the fold as he is pursued by a powerful arms dealer with a personal vendetta that threatens everything Ethan loves.
A marked improvement over the second installment, and features a powerhouse performance by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. This is a turning point in the series for sure, even if its release was dragged down by Tom Cruise’s personal problems at the time.
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (2011)
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Michael Nyqvist
When an explosion at the Kremlin implicates the IMF and threatens World War III, Ethan and his crew must race against time to stop the terrorists responsible before it’s too late.
This is where the franchise really became what we know today, with its death defying stunts and wild practical effects. Director Brad Bird's jump from animation to live action was flawless as well in this well-received film that renewed interest in the franchise.
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015)
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris
When an international criminal syndicate targets the IMF, Ethan Hunt must team with a skilled MI7 agent to destroy them before they return the favor.
The first of McQuarrie’s films that continue to this day, this is where the storyline begins to build really toward the events of Dead Reckoning: Part One and features some incredible stuntwork and action sequences.
Mission: Impossible Fallout (2018)
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris
The CIA begins to question Ethan Hunt’s loyalties as the IMF races against the clock to stop a nuclear threat against the entire world.
The film that leads directly into Dead Reckoning: Part One, features a wild Halo jump sequence and a terrific performance by Henry Cavill that will entertain throughout.
Where Can I Stream Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One?
Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One is now playing in theaters, and expected to release on Paramount+ after a 90 day theatrical window. More details will be provided as Paramount releases more information.
