Complete Watch Order: All Mission: Impossible Movies
The Mission: Impossible franchise stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in a series of increasingly spectacular espionage action films. Watch them in release order for the best experience.
Films and shows are listed in the recommended viewing order. Numbers indicate watch sequence.
Ethan Hunt is framed for the deaths of his IMF team and goes rogue to uncover the real traitor. Directed by Brian De Palma.
Ethan Hunt races to recover a deadly virus and its cure before a rogue IMF agent unleashes it. Directed by John Woo.
Ethan comes out of retirement to rescue a former trainee and faces the terrifying arms dealer Owen Davian. Directed by J.J. Abrams.
The IMF is disavowed after a bombing at the Kremlin. Features the iconic Burj Khalifa stunt. A franchise high point.
Ethan battles the Syndicate, a rogue organization of disavowed agents. Introduces Ilsa Faust.
The consequences of a previous mission come back to haunt Ethan. Widely considered the best film in the series.
Ethan Hunt races to prevent a rogue AI called the Entity from gaining control of global systems. The first of the final two-part conclusion.
The conclusion to the two-part finale. Ethan Hunt's final mission to stop the Entity.
Yes — especially from Ghost Protocol (4) onward, as these films form a continuous storyline with recurring characters and story threads. The first three films are more standalone but lay the groundwork for what follows.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) is widely considered the best in the series by critics and fans, praised for its spectacular practical stunts and continuous story.
Yes. The films are based on the Mission: Impossible TV series that aired from 1966 to 1973. Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt is a new character created for the film series.