Tom Cruise's final mission? The 30-year evolution of Ethan Hunt's impossible legacy
A spy who aged like fine wine: three decades of Ethan Hunt
ADVERTISEMENT When Mission Impossible first debuted in 1996, nobody could have predicted that the stylish, pulse-pounding spy thriller would morph into one of the most enduring action franchises in Hollywood history. Now, 28 years later, Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt is back for one final, death-defying mission in Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning , and this time, the stakes are existential.
The Mission Impossible film series has thrilled generations of moviegoers with its blend of espionage, spectacular stunts, and globe-trotting plots. Whether Ethan was dangling from the ceiling of a CIA vault or leaping from an exploding helicopter, audiences stayed hooked. Now, as Cruise races against time once again, fans can stream the first seven Mission Impossible films and even the 1960s TV series on Paramount Plus.
Also read: Tom Cruise is 'working on' Top Gun 3, Days of Thunder sequel after Mission: Impossible
1996 to 2006: The foundation of a franchise
In the original Mission Impossible , Ethan Hunt was framed for the deaths of his espionage team. Directed by Brian De Palma, this cerebral thriller gave audiences a taste of what was to come: smart plots, explosive set pieces, and Cruise performing his own stunts. The film starred Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, and Emmanuelle Béart, and introduced viewers to Hunt's relentless pursuit of the truth.
Mission Impossible 2 (2000), directed by action maestro John Woo, saw Hunt pairing up with Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton) to stop a biological threat. The style was more operatic, the stakes higher. By Mission Impossible 3 (2006), directed by J.J. Abrams, the franchise found a darker emotional core. This time, Hunt faced off against sadistic arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in a race to save his wife.
ADVERTISEMENT 2011 to 2023: When the Impossible became blockbuster
With Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol (2011), the franchise kicked into overdrive. After being blamed for the Kremlin bombing, Hunt and his team went rogue, diving into skyscraper stunts and global crises. Brad Bird's direction gave the franchise fresh energy.
Also read: Is Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning the last film of the series? Tom Cruise gives a big hint
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In Mission Impossible Rogue Nation (2015), Hunt faced The Syndicate, a shadowy network of rogue agents. The film brought Rebecca Ferguson into the fold as Ilsa Faust, whose allegiance remained tantalizingly unclear.
By Mission Impossible Fallout (2018), Hunt's decisions had world-altering consequences. When plutonium falls into the wrong hands, he teams up with CIA enforcer August Walker (Henry Cavill) to prevent a nuclear disaster. The aerial sequences and jaw-dropping motorcycle chases set a new bar for action cinema.
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Then came Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning (2023). This time, Hunt's foe was no mere man, it was a rogue artificial intelligence threatening global stability. The film widened the franchise's scope into near-future tech paranoia while still delivering globe-spanning thrills.
2025: The Final Reckoning and Hunt's last stand
Now, Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning (2025) promises to close the chapter. With 'The Entity,' an AI supervillain, manipulating global conflict, Ethan must recover its source code from a sunken Russian submarine in the Bering Sea. According to USA TODAY, this latest installment feels like 'closure' for the long-running saga. If this is Ethan's last mission, he's going out in high-octane style.
ADVERTISEMENT The star-studded cast includes Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff, and Angela Bassett. Longtime director Christopher McQuarrie returns to steer the cinematic farewell.
Also read: Tom Cruise appears on Run Jin: top highlights of his episode with BTS member
Where to watch every mission before the last
Before you dive into The Final Reckoning , now is the perfect time to revisit the earlier films in the Mission Impossible franchise. Paramount Plus is currently streaming all seven previous movies, along with the original TV series that inspired them. Whether you're a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, there's never been a better time to binge the saga of Ethan Hunt.
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