Mission: Impossible (film series)

Mission: Impossible
Official film series logo
Based on	Mission: Impossible by Bruce Geller
Produced by	Tom Cruise Paula Wagner (1–3) J. J. Abrams (4–6) Christopher McQuarrie (6–8)
Starring	Tom Cruise Ving Rhames Simon Pegg
Production companies	Cruise/Wagner Productions (1–3) Skydance Media (4–8) TC Productions (4–8) Bad Robot (4–6)
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	1996–present
Running time	931 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.05 billion (7 films)
Box office	$4.13 billion (7 films)

Mission: Impossible is a series of American action spy films, based on the 1966 TV series created by Bruce Geller. The series is mainly produced by and stars Tom Cruise, who plays Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The films have been directed, written, and scored by various filmmakers and crew, while incorporating musical themes from the original series by Lalo Schifrin.

Starting in 1996, the films (taking place starting six years after the events of the previous TV sequel series) follow the missions of the IMF's main field team, under Hunt's leadership, to stop an enemy force and prevent an impending global disaster. The series focuses on Hunt's character, and like the television series' structure, is complemented by an ensemble cast, such as Luther Stickell (played by Ving Rhames) and Benji Dunn (played by Simon Pegg), who have recurring roles.

The series has experienced a generally positive reception from critics. It is the 17th-highest-grossing film series of all time, earning over $4.09 billion worldwide,^[1] and is often cited as one of the best action franchises to date. The sixth film, titled Fallout, was released on July 27, 2018 and is currently the series' highest-grossing entry. The seventh and eighth films are feature-length two-parters, with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning released in July 2023 and an untitled eighth film scheduled for release in May 2025. The films are co-produced and released by Paramount Pictures.

In 2024, the series received its first Academy Award nominations, with Dead Reckoning being nominated in the categories of Best Visual Effects and Best Sound at the 96th ceremony. ^[2]