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Stuff.tv
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
Every Mission: Impossible movie ranked ahead of the release of The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise may have a phonebook of different roles in his illustrious movie career, but his most recognised is arguably IMF Agent Ethan Hunt of the Mission: Impossible franchise (now available to stream on Paramount+). With this movie series spanning nearly 30 years, Hunt has performed enough stunts to leave a Cirque du Soleil artist in cold sweats. He's gone free solo climbing, hung on to an airplane mid-takeoff, completed a HALO parachute jump and ran down the tallest building in the world. However, there's still room for a few more death-defying feats as the franchise wraps up with the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. With this in mind, our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to rank all the Mission: Impossible movies and discover which of these thrilling spy action flicks takes the top spot. Get the latest deals from Sky or Now TV in the UK 7. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) Play MI's trademark scintillating stunts and John Woo seemed like a perfect match, so why is the first sequel widely regarded as the worst of the franchise? Well, beyond those franchise-defining action setpieces involving a breathtaking free solo opener and the bullet-ridden motorcycle chase finale, the main story ends up feeling fairly dull and uninvolving. And even if the premise revolves around a deadly bioengineered virus, there's a love triangle between our leads that falls flat due to a severe lack of chemistry. Still, between a languid stopover in Seville, a half-hearted heist at the horse races and a cliffside careening courtship scene, you'll be egging for the action to kick in again. Fortunately, these rousing OTT sequences are enough to kick you out of drowsiness, for those who stick with it are treated to Woo's trademark slo-mo balletic gunplay and doves. It's a John Woo film, you can't not have doves. 6. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) Play Ethan Hunt's fifth mission introduces shadowy organisation The Syndicate, a cabal of disavowed operatives turned rogue. If those individuals weren't enough, the IMF also faces blowback from the CIA, which brands the agency as uncontrolled and unchecked due to previous events in the series. With Hunt now on the run from both sides, he needs to bring down The Syndicate's leader, Solomon Lane, before the net closes in. This movie still fizzes with action and those ludicrous stunts, one of which features Ethan clinging onto the side of an Airbus transport aircraft during takeoff — talk about no-frills flying. Extra credit also goes to new addition Rebecca Ferguson as the mysterious Ilsa Faust, a capable foil for Ethan with a penchant for rifles and badassery. Still, Rogue Nation doesn't quite carve out its own place in the franchise, as villainous group The Syndicate doesn't quite feel as fleshed out and threatening as it could be, even though Sean Harris offers a brutal antagonist to Ethan and co. The final act is also somewhat forgettable, ending proceedings with a subtle whimper rather than a bombastic crescendo. 5. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) Play Part one of the team's final mission revolves around an AI asset known as The Entity gone rogue, which is right on the money, given public perception of this strange new tech. As various organisations race to secure this potential weapon, Hunt and his team need to make uneasy alliances and discover who or what is pulling the strings from afar. Adding to the mix are a whole host of new and old players, including Hayley Atwell as thief Grace, Henry Czerny as Kittridge, whom we haven't laid eyes on since the very first M:I, and Esai Morales as intimidating assassin Gabriel. Despite its lofty ambition, decent set pieces and technical prowess, Dead Reckoning feels very unbalanced under its vast juggling act, with an overly intricate plot, an excess of side characters with shifting loyalties, a bloated runtime, and confusing double and triple crosses aplenty. And while its endgame motorcycle jump was no doubt impressive, it was marketed to death, dulling its impact in theatres. 4. Mission: Impossible (1996) Play The opening Mission: Impossible is very much a different beast to the missions that followed it, playing it straight and focusing on a deadly game of shadows, Cold War paranoia, and Dutch angles… lots of Dutch angles. When a mission goes awry, Ethan, framed and wanted by his own agency, must dive into a murky world with his talents for espionage and forge new partnerships with unscrupulous types if he's to clear his name and discover who's behind it all. As cool as its lead (perhaps a little too cold), Mission Impossible rarely ventures into OTT territory, though that train versus copter finale more than makes up for it. It takes things at a more slow-burning pace, with shady conversations over espressos rather than explosives. With lashings of suspense, it serves as a great introduction into this shadowy universe where you really can't trust anyone, while the CIA break-in scene is still a highlight that'll have you on the edge of your seat. 3. Mission: Impossible III (2006) Play A much-needed shot in the arm for a franchise that faltered somewhat with the previous entry, Mission: Impossible III sees J.J. Abrams take up the helm, having previous experience in shooting sleuthwork on Jennifer Garner's excellent ALIAS series. The story is much more accessible this time around, with Ethan Hunt trying to juggle a normal life with fiancée Julia and being a clandestine operative, which goes as well as you might expect. The teamwork, which the original TV series was famous for, is on point in this one, particularly during a hostage extraction job in a factory and a drone showdown on a highway. The standout sequence is the mid-movie heist, in which our team needs to infiltrate Vatican City to retrieve an arms dealer, played by the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, who provides real menace and presence as one of the franchise's best villains. The plot moves at a breakneck pace and the screen is littered with Abrams' signature lens flares and grittiness thanks to its digital camerawork. Combining fun, humour, top drawer action and plenty of emotional stakes, this mission proved a great spy film needn't be so po-faced. 2. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) Play Mission: Impossible confidently strides into its fourth film with big shoes to fill, but director Brad Bird nails it with Ghost Protocol, an enjoyable action romp with plenty of absurd stunts and a gripping story. The team is on a mission to track down stolen Russian nuclear launch codes, which takes them on uncharted ground. After disaster strikes, the team must regroup and stop a plot to envelop the world in nuclear fire. It's a suspenseful movie that expertly blends well-drawn characters and a rip-roaring story. Brimming with unforgettable action and some of the finest stunt (and wire) work in the franchise, including a high-altitude jaunt on the exterior of Dubai's Burj Khalifa no less, and a surprisingly tense Kremlin infiltration mission, Ghost Protocol benefits from a tight yet explosive plot that doesn't let up until the credits roll. Peppered in with the action is a fair bit of human drama and baggage, courtesy of a bowless Jeremy Renner as Agent Brandt, Léa Seydoux as shady assassin Sabine, Simon Pegg's fan favourite Benji, and Paula Patton as a vengeful Agent Carter. 1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) Play Fallout easily takes top billing as the gang's best mission, a perfectly taut thriller that quintessentially captures what makes this franchise such a hugely enjoyable popcorn blockbuster. Featuring an all-star cast, including the returning Ving Rhames as Luther and Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa, new additions include Henry Cavill's one-man (and meme-d) gun show, August Walker, and Vanessa Kirby as the daughter of the infamous arms dealer Max from the OG M:I. Fallout expertly positions these characters as valuable pieces on the chessboard who serve their own agendas while helping or harming our heroes' endeavors. Of particular note is the HALO jump onto a Parisien skyline, a helicopter duel that ends on a heart-stopping cliffside encounter and a brutal bathroom brawl that's less WC and more 'did you see that??' Fallout breaks new ground in its thrilling sequences, thanks to Tom Cruise always going that extra mile, and then some, cementing the film's place among the hallowed halls of the finest action movies. Get the latest deals from Sky or Now TV in the UK
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
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 ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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.
Digital Trends
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 great Hulu movies you need to stream this weekend (May 16 – 18)
Next weekend, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is probably going to be the action movie of the summer. So there's no better time than to revisit the first five films in the franchise on Hulu. But only one of those flicks is among the three great Hulu movies that you need to stream this weekend. This week's other selections include a dark drama/thriller as well as a recently premiered Hulu original comedy movie. With selections like these, you can put off going to a movie theater for at least another weekend. Recommended Videos Need more recommendations? We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) It's hard to believe that Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation came out only a decade ago, as it marked a turning point in the long-running film franchise. Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt has had to go rogue before, but this time there was no Impossible Mission Force to go back to after being declared a traitor and a terrorist. The reality is that Ethan got too close to a secretive terrorist organization known as The Syndicate, and it tried to destroy him. Ethan's life is spared by Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a Syndicate operative who has been officially disavowed by MI6. Unofficially, Ilsa is deep undercover and trying to bring down the Syndicate from within. It's a dangerous spot to be in, and she needs Ethan's help just as much as he needs hers. It would be a match made in Heaven if their lives weren't constantly on the line. Watch Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation on Hulu. Trust (2010) Friends star David Schwimmer directed Trust, a dark thriller starring Clive Owen and Catherine Keener as Will and Lynn Cameron. The Camerons' world is shattered when their 14-year-old daughter, Annie (Liana Liberato), is seduced online by a much older man (Chris Henry Coffey) who lures her to a mall and then a hotel before molesting her. Annie initially hides the encounter from her parents because she still believes that the older man loves her, but when the truth comes out, Will becomes obsessed with finding her rapist. It becomes so all-consuming to Will that he constantly replays the incident in his mind. The pressure Will puts on Annie causes her to spiral even further out of control. Watch Trust on Hulu. Summer of 69 (2025) The title of the new Hulu original movie Summer of 69 may suggest a flashback film, but the number has a different connotation in the context of the movie. This is a comedy about the unlikely friendship between a teenager named Abby Flores (Sam Morelos) and a stripper who calls herself Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman). Abby is desperately in love with her friend, Max Warren (Matt Cornett), so she hires Santa Monica to help her get the confidence she needs to romantically pursue him. Santa Monica likes Abby, but she's not helping her out of the goodness of her heart. She needs the astronomically high money that Abby promised to save her job at the strip club and pursue her dream of becoming the co-owner. But she and Abby may be very disappointed when their ambitions seem very out of reach. Watch Summer of 69 on Hulu.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kiernan Shipka, Kiefer Sutherland & Krysten Ritter Pic ‘Stone Cold Fox' Boarded For Sales At Cannes Market, First Look Images Revealed
EXCLUSIVE: The Syndicate has boarded foreign sales rights to revenge thriller Stone Cold Fox starring Kiernan Shipka, Kiefer Sutherland and Krysten Ritter. Set in the 1980s, the film sees Fox (Shipka) escape an abusive commune to find her family. When the commune's queenpin (Ritter) kidnaps Fox's little sister and sends a crooked cop (Sutherland) after her, Fox is forced to infiltrate the very place she escaped to save her sister and exact her revenge. Above and below are first look images. More from Deadline Imax, Federation & Imago Join Forces On Documentary 'Patrouille De France' - Cannes Sarah Paulson, Toni Collette, Dianne Wiest & Toby Wallace Leading Cody Fern's 'Mother Courage'; Mk2 Launching At Cannes Market 'Snabba Cash' & 'Paradis City' Makers Team For Legal Thriller 'Burden Of Justice' From SVT, Strive Stories & Film i Vast; Scandi Pubcasters & DR Sales Attached Pic marks the feature directorial debut of Sophie Tabet, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Julia Roth. Cast also includes Lorenza Izzo, Jamie Chung, and Karen Fukuhara. The film is produced by Bee-Hive Productions, The Wonder Company, and Bang Bang Pictures, in association with Streamline Global. UTA Independent Group and Verve Ventures represent North American rights. 'Stone Cold Fox is a rip-roaring-and-wild ride with some very memorable performances with A-list actors in roles we've never seen them play before, and knowing all of that, The Syndicate and their repertoire of selling like-minded films made them an obvious choice for us,' said producer Eric B. Fleischman. 'Stone Cold Fox screams originality in every aspect — style, visuals, script, and energy — and we are thrilled to be involved and working with the talented filmmakers that brought this film to life,' added Shaun Sanghani, CEO of The Syndicate. Kiefer Sutherland in Stone Cold Fox Best of Deadline Where To Watch All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies: Streamers With Multiple Films In The Franchise Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
Los Angeles Times
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘All My Children' actor Esta TerBlanche died accidentally after a fall, coroner says
The Los Angeles County medical examiner has unveiled additional details about the death of 'All My Children' actor Esta TerBlanche, including her cause of death. TerBlanche, a South African actor who also appeared in TV series 'Spin City' and 'Egoli: Place of Gold,' died of an intracranial hemorrhage or brain bleed in July, the coroner confirmed Wednesday in a statement. According to the medical examiner's database, TerBlanche died after suffering 'blunt force traumatic head injury likely due to a ground level fall.' She also had a medical history of asthma, the coroner confirmed. Her death was ruled an accident. TerBlanche was found unresponsive in her Los Angeles home on July 19, 2024. She was 51. At the time, publicist Lisa Rodrigo confirmed TerBlanche's death, telling The Times via email she was 'heartbroken' about her client. 'She was and always will be a beautiful soul who I will miss every day,' Rodrigo said. 'I am proud to have known her and call her not only a client but a friend.' TerBlanche was best known for her portrayal of Gillian Andrassy on 'All My Children.' She joined the cast of the long-running daytime TV drama in 1997. After numerous dramatic twists and more than 100 episodes, TerBlanche exited the series in 2001 when her character died of a gunshot wound. She briefly returned to 'All My Children' for a single episode in 2011 to portray a ghost version of her character. Her credits also include hosting South Africa's 'K-T.V.' in the early 1990s, and acting in the series 'The Syndicate' and the short 'Germination.' She is survived by her father and her sister. The medical examiner said Wednesday that it expects to complete its full report on TerBlanche's death by the end of February. Former Times intern Asia Moore contributed to this report.
