Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible is an American multimedia franchise based on a fictional secret espionage agency known as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The 1966 TV series ran for seven seasons and was revived in 1988 for two seasons. It inspired a series of theatrical motion pictures starring Tom Cruise beginning in 1996.

By 2011, the franchise had generated over $4 billion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

The most recent installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, premiered in Tokyo on May 5, 2025, and was released internationally on May 23. It earned about $598 million worldwide, including $197.4 million in the U.S. and Canada and $400.6 million internationally, making it the highest-opening entry in the series and the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2025.

Although its title suggests finality, franchise star Tom Cruise gave mixed signals. At the Cannes premiere, he said, "It's the final... it's not called final for nothing", while in other interviews he expressed interest in continuing the role into his eighties.

Legacy

The franchise's signature theme music, composed in 5/4 time by Lalo Schifrin for the 1966 series, incorporates the Morse code for "M.I." Schifrin's composition became an enduring cultural hallmark, earning Grammy recognition. Schifrin died in June 2025 at age 93, with obituaries widely highlighting his influence on spy film music.

The Mission: Impossible films have become famous for pushing the boundaries of stunts. Each film features increasingly death-defying real-world stunts, planned meticulously by Cruise and the stunt team, and performed by Cruise himself with as few special effects as possible. Stunts have included climbing the Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, hanging onto the outside of a plane during takeoff in Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation and riding a motorcycle off a cliff in Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning. The franchise has won five Taurus World Stunt Awards, two Actor Awards for its stunt team, and one Critics Choice Award for Wade Eastwood's stunt design for Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning.

Several actors have spoken about their experiences with the films. Jeremy Renner, who appeared in Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation, did not return for later installments due to family commitments, stating he prioritized raising his daughter over extended location filming. Hayley Atwell, who debuted as Grace in Dead Reckoning, noted she spent over five years with the franchise, including extensive reshoots, describing it as both physically demanding and creatively rewarding.

Media

Television series

Films

Soundtracks

Video games

Books

Comics

Cast and characters