Mission: Impossible

Name: Mission: Impossible
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: May 22, 1996
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Emmanuelle Béart, Jon Voight, Tom Cruise

1996

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 499 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 499 Ratings

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Mission Impossible

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: May 22, 1996 | PG-13

Starring: Emmanuelle Béart, Jon Voight, Tom Cruise

Summary: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is a secret agent framed for the deaths of his espionage team. Fleeing from government assassins, breaking into the CIA's most impenetrable vault, clinging to the roof of a speeding bullet train, Hunt races like a burning fuse to stay one step ahead of his pursuers... and draw one step closer to discovering theEthan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is a secret agent framed for the deaths of his espionage team. Fleeing from government assassins, breaking into the CIA's most impenetrable vault, clinging to the roof of a speeding bullet train, Hunt races like a burning fuse to stay one step ahead of his pursuers... and draw one step closer to discovering the shocking truth. [Paramount]… Expand

Director: Brian De Palma

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Mark Salisbury

Enormous fun. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Exciting, smart and enormously enjoyable. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

It's a movie of profoundly convoluted pop pleasures. Between dazzling suspense sequences, it invites the audience to work for a good time. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Mission: Impossible is full of red herrings and MacGuffins, but even if you can't keep track of who's doing what to whom, it's hugely enjoyable for its sheer kinetic power. It's a soulless trinket, and it never really grabs you the way good action films do. But it moves like a demon, and it's consistently dazzling. [22 May 1996, p.1D]

Kevin Thomas

Mission: Impossible proves something of a letdown, not just because it's fairly easy to guess who the bad guy is but also because we've hardly gotten to know anyone in the movie well enough to become more than superficially involved with them. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not credited)

The result is a gracefully plotted spy film in the classic mode, with just enough self-consciousness to keep things interesting. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

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

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User Reviews

ManfredP.

May 1, 2006

t's been a long time coming. It's April 18th 2006. It's been ten years since this film was released and its second sequel is less than a month away. Now seems like the perfect time to reach back into the wells of my cinematic career and re-examine one of the single most t's been a long time coming. It's April 18th 2006. It's been ten years since this film was released and its second sequel is less than a month away. Now seems like the perfect time to reach back into the wells of my cinematic career and re-examine one of the single most important movies in my life. This is one of the movies that made me fall in love with movies. It made me appreciate the meaning of a good plot, the importance of cerating tension, the methods with which one creates suspense...and how to flawlessly set up, construct, and execute an explosive finalé so effective that you could've swore it gave you an errection. [***SPOILERS***] The movie opens with the simplest of shots: a camera slowly tracking in on a security monitor with an unknown guy hunched keenly over it watching two equally unidentified figures talking in a room. All we know is that we are in Prague. But our ignorance soon turns to astonishment as the layers of this lie - courtesy of fictional(? ) CIA special branch, IMF (Impossible Missions Force) - are stripped away and the truth is revealed. This one opening scene effectively establishes the style for the rest of the film; confused ignorance followed by shocking revelations. DePalma crafts an extraordingary plot of intrigue and betrayal and, of course, impossible missions whose tasks include a pursuit on the roof of a high-speed train and infiltrating the Central Intelligence Agency. But as well-conceived as the plot may be, the cinematography is equally commendable. With a range of shots being able to take the viewer from a sense of extreme panic and disorientation all the way to the most in-your-face shots that allow the action and story to carry the film on their own merits. I've seen other highly commended DePalma works, including 'Scarface' and 'The Untouchables', and whilst the former is exceptional in its style and excecution the latter is miserably out-of-synch with its own content. Even against 'Scarface', 'Mission: Impossible' more than holds its own. In fact, if there is one thing that 'Mission: Impossible' has over 'Scarface', it's the presence of a much more satisfying conclusion and a much more streamlined story. Heck, even the visuals give the reverred 'Scarface' a run for its money. I must have been about twelve or thirteen when I first saw this film, and it's as affecting today as it was all those years ago. Unfortunately, I'm not a member of the 'Star Wars' generation. Nor is my childhood filled with images from 'Star Wars'. My childhood was defined by movies like 'The Neverending Story' and 'The Land Before Time'. 'Mission: Impossible' was one of the first mature films I'd actually seen. It certainly left quite an impact on me...if only for the fact that I resolved I would one day understand the plot completely. Which, you'll be pleased to know, I now do :-D… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful

MovieGuys

Feb 9, 2014

Mission Impossible (the first) is one of the best in the series, and does justice to the old TV show. All of the familiar elements to the show are there, from gadgets to Cruise saying "Mission accomplished!".

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

royalguy07

Jun 1, 2022

Still Awesome, every time the theme drops is perfect, Seen it a few times and the plotting is still a little confusing at times, at least in its presentation.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jacob

May 22, 2015

The heist in the middle is amazing and the updated score is great but that’s about it. Works better as a TV show as the film’s plot was drawn out, confusing, predictable, and not that interesting. Ethan Hunt was smart and well acted but I never cared for him or the characters much I justThe heist in the middle is amazing and the updated score is great but that’s about it. Works better as a TV show as the film’s plot was drawn out, confusing, predictable, and not that interesting. Ethan Hunt was smart and well acted but I never cared for him or the characters much I just cared for the action which is fun except for the climax, which relies heavily on CGI. It’s a fun movie and a nice translation of a show to film but nothing spectacular. Prefer the focused storytelling of the show and lack of predictability but this was still fun. Fans of the show will be happy to see the film stay true to the spirit of the show brining back various trademarks of the show such as the tapes and the fact that it was able to be translated to a new medium and modernized is impressive. Worth a watch for the middle alone but outside of that not much to recommend.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JJ2FAS4U

Dec 30, 2021

----------------------------------7.3/10-----------------------------------

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LoletinAlexis

Jan 16, 2019

Mission: Impossible is a funny movie with some scenes very well staged, but the bizarre script, along with some lazy special effects and an unlikely final scene, create an interesting start to this movie saga.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Kai82

Aug 23, 2020

This is a great retcon or reboot and probably an 8-9/10. What I cant forgive however is destroying Jim Phelps. He is the hero of Mission Impossible and a legend. He stopped countless villains and saved so many lives. He deserved better. Small spoilers: For those who only known the movies.This is a great retcon or reboot and probably an 8-9/10. What I cant forgive however is destroying Jim Phelps. He is the hero of Mission Impossible and a legend. He stopped countless villains and saved so many lives. He deserved better. Small spoilers: For those who only known the movies. Mission Impossible was a TV series from 1966-1973 with a revival in 1988/89. Jim Phelps played by Peter Graves is (except the first season) the leader of the team. He is not only a true leader but also a role model for the gentleman good guy. He would rather die than betray his team and organization. For comparison: Think that James Bond is the villain in the next movie with no twist and nonsensical explanation. Then he gets stopped by a new guy that you have never heard of. Ability wise Jim Phelps could easily win. He is a legend and has the ranks to destroy them from within but this is fundamentally against his character. This is the reason for my rating. Without this it is an enjoyable movie with great stunts, memorable scenes and good actors. I also praise the special effects, sets and the memorable soundtrack. Especially the Mission Impossible theme is a timeless classic that I have heard so often but it never gets boring. Like I said in the beginning they could even be better and I still would give a low rating. Overall this is a great movie if you don't know the series. If you knew it it is a betrayal of a hero and beloved character. I often think or compare it with the South Park episode where George Lucas rapes Indiana Jones assisted by Steven Spielberg. A fitting analogy.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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75	#75 Best Movie of 1996
6	#6 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
8	#8 Most Shared Movie of 1996