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Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno ... see more see more... , Ving Rhames , Andrzej Borkowski , Ion Caramitru , Garick Hagon , Helen Lindsay , Vanessa Redgrave , Michael Rogers , Ricco Ross , David Schneider , Kristin Scott Thomas , Richard Sharp , Pat Starr , Tony Vogel , Andreas Wisniewski , Dale Dye , Emilio Estevez , Sam Douglas , Valentina Yakunina , Morgan Deare , Graydon Gould , Carmela Marner , Rolf Saxon , Jirina Trebicka , Marek Vasut , Ingeborga Dapkunaite , Oleg Fedorov , Marcel Iures , John McLaughlin , Karel Dobry , Randall Paul , Melissa Knatchbull , Laura Brook , Maya Dokic , Susan Doucette , Bob Friend , Mark Houghton , Annabel Mullion , Nathan Osgood , Rudolf Pechan , David Phelan , Mimi Potworowska , David Shaeffer , Gaston Subert

After he is framed for the death of several colleagues and falsely branded a traitor, a secret agent embarks on a daring scheme to clear his name in this spy adventure. Though it drew its name from th... read more read more...e familiar television series, director Brian DePalma's big-budget adaptation shares little more with the original show than the occasional self-destructing message and the name of team leader Jim Phelps (Jon Voight). The film focuses not on Phelps but his protégé, Ethan Hunt (a reserved Tom Cruise), who becomes a fugitive after taking the blame for a botched operation. He responds by banding together with a group of fellow renegades, and he is soon maneuvering his way through a twisted series of double crosses that mainly serve as excuses for spectacular high-tech action sequences. Much of the activity revolves around a missing computer disk, with the film's most famous scene depicting Hunt's delicate efforts to retrieve the disk from a secure, well-alarmed room in CIA headquarters. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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70% liked it

795,003 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

49 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Brian DePalma

Release Date: May 22, 1996

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DVD Release Date: January 17, 1998

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Stats: 24,383 reviews

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Mission: Impossible Lookin' Good mission impossible Ethan Hunt Mission Impossible TOM Mission: Impossible Vanessa Redgrave Ving Rhames (as Luther Stickell) and Jean Reno (as Franz Krieger) in 'Mission: Impossible' Jon Voight (as Jim Phelps) in 'Mission Impossible'
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Flixster Reviews (24,383)

  • phubbs1
    April 1, 2012
    phubbs1
    A good start for the trilogy, the cast is impressive and the look is super cool, just one problem, the plot is rather hard to follow, you end up just seeing it for the set pieces. There are of course some very tasty action sequences, the chopper in the tunnel being one but Cruise... read more dangling on ropes whilst hacking a computer being the top attraction here, truly tense and super suspense filled sequence, shame the whole film doesn't quite live up to that moment.

    The film isn't amazing but it holds its own well enough, slightly better than 'Bond' in my view, more of a younger version perhaps. Nice ensemble cast which all work well together throughout the film, never too sure who may get killed or double cross the team, its also closer to the original source material as 'Hunt' always worked in a team, it didn't solely revolve around Hunt, well not too much.

    A good 'light' action flick which everyone can enjoy as there is no excessive violence or blood, better than 'Bond', on par with 'Indy' but not as hard as 'Die Hard'.
  • fb100001048934982
    January 28, 2012
    fb100001048934982
    'Mission:Impossible' a film that will turn into a very successful franchise, seems it might've had a rocky start. Although this action-packed movie has plenty of fresh entertainment value, its corny camera work and wooden writing could use some improvement. It is however, a decen... read moret start to a franchise that will eventually produce some pretty awesome movies.
  • CloudStrife84
    January 21, 2012
    CloudStrife84
    There are spy thrillers and then there's Mission Impossible. A non-stop cavalcade of action, adrenaline and top notch suspense. With some sure-handed directing by Brian De Palma and a well-merged team of actors with Tom Cruise in the lead, this first entry in the series is undoub... read moretedly one of the best. I haven't seen "Ghost Protocol" yet so I can't make any comparison there, but if it's anything like the original, I know I'll be in for some first-rate entertainment. My only real beef is that the movie demands considerable suspension of disbelief. I recently read in an article though, that the extremely sophisticated methods made famous by the vault scene, were - believe it or not - successfully replicated by some real-life professional thieves. In this case, it was a heist pulled off at a Best Buy store, which may not sound as cool as breaking into the HQ of CIA, but it certainly goes to show that it's all fully plausible. Either way, the explosive turn of events and rip-roaring pacing, makes Ethan Hunt's first mission anything but impossible to watch.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 16, 2012
    sanjurosamurai
    i once hated this film, but it has grown on me a ton. i still think the end is a total mess, but the film up to that point is actually very good as a genre film and it serves as a solid set up to the franchise.
  • jarobb3
    January 6, 2012
    jarobb3
    Great memories of this movie, will have to watch it again with the new one out.
  • fb733768972
    December 20, 2011
    fb733768972
    This film represents the thrills and action that it promises, but when you get into the film and hope for a breathtakinly original action flick, then I think you should fulfill your satisfications someplace else. Tom Cruise is as awesome as ever as Ethan Hunt, but there is too mu... read morech dialogue that is, for the most part, uninspired! When the action finally delivers it is too cheesy to love. The plot of the film is indeed too hollywood, as it relies on action alone to carry it. This is a mission that is very well made for hollywood standards, but it must be taken with a grain of salt. Overall, Mission Impossible needs better writers and a bigger budget!
  • cosmo313
    November 10, 2011
    cosmo313
    The first few times I saw this, I thought it was really intricate and complex, and that I'd be lost if I wasn't paying absolutely 100% attention. Well, I'm older now, and I rewatched this last night, and I must say that, even though it is still a tight and intelligent spy thrille... read morer, this film is actually pretty straight forward for the most part, with a fairly standard plot. You still have to pay attention, but it's not nearly as complex and intricate as I used to think.

    Die hard fans of the series had lots of issues with how certain characters were portrayed and how things were done, but I can't really weigh in on that aspect. Though the broad plot (a hunt for a mole who tries to betray the company due to disillusionment) is nothing new, and the film is rather light on subtext, it's all done with tons of style, energy, and competance. Brian DePalma is at the helm, but it seems like many of his big flashy trademarks are downplayed, and used more subtly, which is fine by me even if it shows that anyone else could have been in charge instead of him.

    There's some big action scenes, one of which gets a bit too over the top, but, as good as all this is done, where the film shines is with the mood, tone, atmosphere, and the building of suspense and tension. The film has very much the feel of a slick, updated film noir quality about it, especially in the first act setpiece with all the shots of foggy streets and heavy backlighting. The real highlight of the film though, is the incredible sequence at Langeley where agent Ethan Hunt is suspended from a ceiling trying to steal valuable information from a heavily protected computer. Everytime I watch this sequence, no matter how many times I've seen it, it really holds up, and the only way it could have been more suspenseful would be if it was all done in a single take.

    The cast are well chosen and they all put in some good work. Say what you want about Cruise, but he is a good choice and pulls off the part pretty nicely. Emmanuelle Beart makes for a sultry femme fatale, Jean Reno and Ving Rhames each bring some charisma and humor to things, and having Jon Voight in your film is always a good idea.

    Give this one a watch. It's a real fun and entertaining ride, and Danny Elfman's score blends in nicely with Lalo Schifrin's classic theme song.
  • garyX
    October 19, 2011
    garyX
    When a deep cover operative's entire team is murdered on a mission, he becomes the prime suspect for their betrayal and so puts together a rogue team to steal a top secret document and draw the true culprit out of the shadows. Mission: Impossible was one of the first of the new g... read moreeneration of conspiracy action thrillers, and it's showing its age a little. It all looks rather quaint to the point of corn in the post-Bourne era and the antiquated technology, cheap looking effects and predictable plot suffer immeasurably compared to its modern day counterparts. On the plus side it has a great cast, and despite my loathing of hack director Brian De Palma, his unsophisticated comic strip direction actually works in the context of a kitsch TV show adaptation. It has some inventive moments and good pacing staves off boredom but it's starting to look very old fashioned in this day and age.
  • spielberg00
    October 1, 2011
    spielberg00
    The original MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE is a spy film, and a great spy film. It is, in its entirety, a two-hour thrill ride.

    Tom Cruise's portrayal of Ethan Hunt is most likely the best portrayal of any spy I have ever seen. He has the wit of Roger Moore's James Bond (using Roger Moo... read morere, because I thought he was the most witty of all the Bonds); the grittiness and hot-headedness of Matt Damon's Jason Bourne; and the occasional sarcasm offered in an original manner. Of course, it is tedious to compare him to Jason Bourne, onscreen, as THE BOURNE IDENTITY came six years after this, but to make it more reasonable, Robert Ludlum's authorized portrayal of Bourne may have been part of what Tom Cruise tried to work toward in his character--and he succeeded!

    If you have not seen this, be sure to catch it on TV or come across it in a DVD store. It's worth at least one watch, and really, with all the action and thrills, it's (nearly) impossible not to love.
  • TheGame90
    September 18, 2011
    TheGame90
    Great stuff. It's like unlimited action

View All Mission Impossible Reviews

Critic Reviews

May 20, 2008
Variety

The most dour, sexless piece of escapism in memory. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 18, 2002
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Humorless, charmless and flat. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

This movie isn't a disaster, but, all things considered, there's little reason to make it a high priority for theatrical viewing. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Exciting, smart and enormously enjoyable. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Every effect is so calculated that only the conscious minds of filmmakers and viewers are engaged--and not by very much or for very long. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's the worst kind of convoluted thriller -- it can never unravel satisfactorily because there's nothing simple at its center, just more confusion. Full Review

Charles Taylor
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

A sleek, stunningly made movie. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Stylish, brisk but lacking in human dimension.

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

A sleek, whooshingly entertaining update of the vintage television series. Full Review

Sean Means
January 1, 2000
Sean Means, Film.com

Too devious for its own good.

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Facts

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    • Luther: Are you sure we can do this?
    • Ethan Hunt: We're going to do it. *Main theme plays*
    • Ethan Hunt: One, two, three, toast. TOAST!
    • Ethan Hunt: Red light, green light.
    • Ethan Hunt: [Realizing Jim is the mole] Why Jim? Why?
    • Jim Phelps: Well, you think about it Ethan, it was inevitable. No more cold war. No more secrets you keep from yourself. Answer to no one but yourself. Then, you wake up one morning and find out the President is running the country without your permission. The son of a bitch, how dare he. Then you realize, it's over. You are an obsolete peice of hardware, not worth upgrading, you got a lousy marriage, and 62 grand a year.
    • Ethan Hunt: I don't communicate very well through a shroud.
    • Matthias: If Max doesn't like what you have to say, you will be wearing that shroud indefinitely.
    • Ethan Hunt: Well, my mom was a little confused how the DEA could mistake her and Uncle Donald for a couple of dope smugglers in the Florida Keys.
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Mission Impossible Trivia

  • Which 'Mission Impossible' movie was filmed in Shanghai, China?  Answer »
  • He starred in Top Gun, the Mission Impossible series, A Few Good Men, and Jerry McGuire. Who is he?  Answer »
  • Which actor has appeared in The da vinci code, Ronin, and Mission Impossible?  Answer »
  • The Tom Cruise character name in "Mission Impossible " was?  Answer »
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