Back in the '90s and 2000s, nothing really stood out about the Mission Impossible franchise but in the last decade, everything changed. The last three films have been highly praised by critics, with each latest installment getting a higher Tomato Score than the previous one.
There is even an argument that the Ethan Hunt-led franchise has surpassed the James Bond franchise in terms of brilliance. That's up for debate but it's clear that Tom Cruise isn't stopping anytime soon. But in as much as the franchise has become brilliant, there are still some ways in which it has regressed.
10 Better: The Stunts
Earlier Mission Impossible films didn't go overboard with the stunts but in the 2010s, Tom Cruise decided to put his body on the line as much as possible. It almost feels like the more news spread about him doing his own stunts, the more he wanted to outdo himself.
There have been many incredible stunts in recent film in the franchise, from climbing the Burj Khalifa to Hunt holding on to a cargo plane to the rooftop chase in London. The helicopter and cliff fight in Mission Impossible: Fallout were simply too good as well.
9 Worse: Diminishing Humor
Recent installments appear to have substituted the humor for the action. There were memorable quotes in earlier films, such as Luther Stickwell exclaiming "That punk put a hole in my Versace!" right after being shot. There was also Sean Ambrose dangling an antidote in front of an infected Niyah and saying: "Feel like pleading for your life?"
Hilarious quotes like these are just not present anymore. There might a funny line or two but there is rarely any awe in the recent jokes that have been delivered.
8 Better: Supporting Characters Have Matured
Ethan Hunt was normally granted all the glory in earlier films in the franchise. Given that it was the one-man-army era, it's totally understandable. But in recent films, the supporting characters have played more significant roles in the proceedings.
Characters like Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) who were around since the first films have grown to be major players in the franchise. They take on the bad guys without having to involve Ethan and they also save Ethan's life on several occasions.
7 Worse: Character Development
While the supporting characters have been given more tasks, there has been little character development for them compared to that accorded to Ethan Hunt. Outside their jobs, nothing much is known about them.
As for Ethan, audiences have come to know his lovers like Julia and Claire. Members of his family such as his mom Margaret Hunt and his uncle Donald Hunt have also been revealed. Thre's been also a look into Ethan's background including the fact that he studied at the University of Pennsylvania.
6 Better: Incredible Villains
Recent Mission Impossible films have had amazing villains, most notably August Walker (Henry Cavill) in Fallout. As a high-ranking operative at the CIA's Special Activities Division and a member of The Apostles, Walker not only had brains but he also knew how to fight.
When compared to earlier villains like Jon Voight's Jim Phelps, there's a stark contrast. While Phelps aligned to the traditional storyline of an operative turning out to be a mole, villains like Walker and Kurt Hendricks had bigger plans which they almost accomplished.
5 Worse: Overreliance On Motorcycle Chase Scenes
It's clear that Tom Cruise loves motorcycles. He was even seen riding one in the trailer Top Gun: Maverick. However, motorcycle chase scenes are now becoming monotonous in the Mission Impossible franchise.
While the Paris chases scene in the last film was amazing, it felt like something that was so familiar. Rogue Nation had a chase scene too in Morrocco that ended with Ethan Hunt falling off his bike and so did Ghost Protocol. It's definitely time to cut these off.
4 Better: The Fight Scenes
The bathroom brawl in Fallout remains one of the most entertaining action movie moments of all time. And so is the cliff fight between August Walker and Ethan Hunt. There is also the incredible Hunt Vs Hendricks showdown in Ghost Protocol.
The fight scenes in the franchise have not only been good because of the choreography but because of the choice of location too. The beauty of all these fight scenes is that there is never any form of CGI involved. Everything is made to be as realistic as possible by the stunt performers.
3 Worse: Ethan Never Loses
There has never really been a moment when audiences were worried for Ethan. Everyone knows that he'll get through whatever predicament he is and this subtracts from the fun.
The franchise would have been much better if Ethan was more human and helpless at times. It would be brilliant for one of the movies to end with Ethan captured or at risk of dying. Something close to what Avengers: Infinity War did.
2 Better: The Plots
The storylines in the franchise have become more c0mplex in recent years. The focus on plots involving The APostles and The Syndicate have especially given the franchise more complexity. It's no longer just about a single bad guy that has to be stopped. The conspiracy is vast and complicated.
The plot of the first film for example only revolved around Ethan being framed for murder and trying to clear his name. And in the second film, Ethan's only mission was to stop a rogue IMF agent who was trying to sell a deadly virus and cause a pandemic.
1 Worse: Too Much Globetrotting
Mission Impossible shares this sin with the James Bond franchise. At times it feels like characters are moving around to different countries for no good reason. The desire to showcase different sceneries is understandable but does the villain really have to be in Bulgaria?
By the time each movie ends, events tend to have taken place in five or more countries. This isn't necessary. For a better story, things have to be grounded.
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