{{Short description|American media franchise}}{{For|the unrelated 1984 game|Impossible Mission}}{{About|the multimedia franchise}} {{Infobox media franchise | title = Mission: Impossible | image = Mi-logo.svg | image_size = 250px | caption = Series logo | creator = Bruce Geller | origin = ''Mission: Impossible'' (1966) | owner = Paramount Pictures | years = 1966–present | novels = | comics = | magazines = | strips = | tv_series = {{plainlist| * ''Mission: Impossible'' (1966–1973) * ''Mission: Impossible'' (1988–1990) }} | films = {{plainlist| * ''Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob'' * Film series }} | shorts = | wtv = | plays = | musicals = | games = | rpgs = | radio = | soundtracks = {{plainlist| * ''Music from Mission: Impossible'' * ''More Mission: Impossible'' * ''Mission: Impossible'' * ''Mission: Impossible: Score'' * ''Music from and Inspired by Mission: Impossible 2'' * ''Mission: Impossible 2: Score'' * ''Mission: Impossible III'' * ''Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'' * ''Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation'' * ''Mission: Impossible – Fallout'' * ''Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One'' * ''Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'' }} | music = {{plainlist| * "Theme from Mission: Impossible" * "I Disappear" * "Scum of the Earth" * "Take a Look Around" }} | toys = | vgs = {{plainlist| * ''Mission: Impossible'' (1990) * ''Mission: Impossible'' (1998) * ''Mission: Impossible'' (1999/2000) * ''Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma'' (2003) }} }} '''''Mission: Impossible''''' is an American multimedia franchise based on a fictional secret espionage agency known as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The 1966 TV series ran for seven seasons and was revived in 1988 for two seasons. It inspired a series of theatrical motion pictures starring Tom Cruise beginning in 1996.
By 2011, the franchise had generated over $4 billion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barone|first=Matt|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/11/paula-patton-complex-cover-story-2011|title=Paula Patton: The P Is Free (2011/2012 Cover Story)|magazine=Complex|publisher=Verizon Hearst Media Partners|date=November 15, 2011|access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419021406/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/11/paula-patton-complex-cover-story-2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
The most recent installment, ''Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'', premiered in Tokyo on May 5, 2025, and was released internationally on May 23. It earned about $598 million worldwide, including $197.4 million in the U.S. and Canada and $400.6 million internationally, making it the highest-opening entry in the series and the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning box office|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mission-Impossible-The-Final-Reckoning-(2025)#tab=box-office|website=The Numbers|access-date=September 9, 2025}}</ref>
Although its title suggests finality, franchise star Tom Cruise gave mixed signals. At the Cannes premiere, he said, "It's the final{{nbsp}}... it's not called final for nothing", while in other interviews he expressed interest in continuing the role into his eighties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Is Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning the last film?|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/is-mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning-the-last-film-of-the-series-tom-cruise-gives-a-big-hint/articleshow/121282299.cms|work=The Economic Times|date=May 25, 2025|access-date=September 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Cruise not ruling out more Mission: Impossible films|url=https://people.com/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning-everything-to-know-8790349|work=People|date=May 28, 2025|access-date=September 9, 2025|archive-date=November 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251107004136/https://people.com/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning-everything-to-know-8790349|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Legacy== The franchise's signature theme music, composed in 5/4 time by Lalo Schifrin for the 1966 series, incorporates the Morse code for "M.I." Schifrin's composition became an enduring cultural hallmark, earning Grammy recognition. Schifrin died in June 2025 at age 93, with obituaries widely highlighting his influence on spy film music.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lalo Schifrin, Mission: Impossible composer, dies aged 93|url=https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/14570754/lalo-schifrin-dead-mission-impossible-theme/|work=The Sun|date=June 30, 2025|access-date=September 9, 2025|archive-date=June 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628112827/https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/14570754/lalo-schifrin-dead-mission-impossible-theme/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The ''Mission: Impossible'' films have become famous for pushing the boundaries of stunts. Each film features increasingly death-defying real-world stunts<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Marco MargaritoffTrends |date=2025-06-06 |title=Tom Cruise Sets Guinness World Record For Death-Defying 'Mission: Impossible' Stunt |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tom-cruise-sets-guinness-world-record-for-death-defying-mission-impossible-stunt-tktk_n_68431554e4b04a6fce06074b |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>, planned meticulously by Cruise and the stunt team, and performed by Cruise himself with as few special effects as possible. Stunts have included climbing the Burj Khalifa in ''Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol'', hanging onto the outside of a plane during takeoff in ''Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation'' and riding a motorcycle off a cliff in ''Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning''. The franchise has won five Taurus World Stunt Awards, two Actor Awards for its stunt team, and one Critics Choice Award for Wade Eastwood's stunt design for ''Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning''<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Batey |first=Eve |date=2026-01-05 |title=Critics Choice Awards 2026: See the Full Winners List |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/critics-choice-awards-winners-2026-full-list |access-date=2026-03-06 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=2026-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305102312/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/critics-choice-awards-winners-2026-full-list |url-status=live }}</ref>.
Several actors have spoken about their experiences with the films. Jeremy Renner, who appeared in ''Ghost Protocol'' and ''Rogue Nation'', did not return for later installments due to family commitments, stating he prioritized raising his daughter over extended location filming.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Jeremy Renner left Mission: Impossible franchise|url=https://people.com/why-jeremy-renner-had-to-leave-mission-impossible-franchise-8654575|work=People|date=March 15, 2025|access-date=September 9, 2025|archive-date=July 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723232200/https://people.com/why-jeremy-renner-had-to-leave-mission-impossible-franchise-8654575|url-status=live}}</ref> Hayley Atwell, who debuted as Grace in ''Dead Reckoning'', noted she spent over five years with the franchise, including extensive reshoots, describing it as both physically demanding and creatively rewarding.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hayley Atwell on Mission: Impossible role and reshoots|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/01/hayley-atwell-marvel-mission-impossible-much-ado-interview|work=The Guardian|date=February 1, 2025|access-date=September 9, 2025}}</ref>
==Media== ===Television series=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |+Overview ''Mission: Impossible'' television series |- !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Release !scope="col"| Seasons !scope="col"| Episodes !scope="col"| Note(s) |- |scope="row"|''Mission: Impossible'' (1966 TV series) | 1966–1973 | 7 | 171 episodes | |- |scope="row"|''Mission: Impossible'' (1988 TV series) | 1988–1990 | 2 | 35 episodes | |- |}
===Films=== {{main|Mission: Impossible (film series)}}
{|class="wikitable sortable" |+Overview of ''Mission: Impossible'' films |- !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Release date !scope="col"| Note(s) |- | ''Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob'' | {{dts|1967| | }} | Released theatrically in Europe and Australia. |- | ''Mission: Impossible'' | {{dts|1996|05|22}} | rowspan="8" | Part of the ''Mission: Impossible'' film series. |- | ''Mission: Impossible 2'' | {{dts|2000|05|24}} |- | ''Mission: Impossible III'' | {{dts|2006|05|05}} |- | ''Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'' | {{dts|2011|12|16}} |- | ''Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation'' | {{dts|2015|07|31}} |- | ''Mission: Impossible – Fallout'' | {{dts|2018|7|27}} |- | ''Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning'' | {{dts|2023|7|12}} |- | ''Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'' | {{dts|2025|5|23}} |}
===Soundtracks=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |+Overview of ''Mission: Impossible'' soundtracks |- !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Release date !scope="col"| Note(s) |- |scope="row"| ''Music from Mission: Impossible'' | {{dts|1967| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''More Mission: Impossible'' | {{dts|1969| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture)'' | {{dts|May 14, 1996| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible – (Music from the Original Motion Picture Score)'' | {{dts|June 18, 1996| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Music from and Inspired by Mission: Impossible 2'' | {{dts|May 9, 2000| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible 2 (Music from the Original Motion Picture Score)'' | {{dts|June 13, 2000| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible III (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' | {{dts|May 9, 2006| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (Music from the Motion Picture)'' | {{dts|December 13, 2011| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (Music from the Motion Picture)'' | {{dts|July 24, 2015| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible – Fallout (Music from the Motion Picture)'' | {{dts|July 13, 2018| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (Music from the Motion Picture)'' | {{dts|July 12, 2023| | }} | |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Music from the Motion Picture)'' | {{dts|May 23, 2025| | }} | |}
===Video games=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |+Overview of ''Mission: Impossible'' video games |- !scope="col"| Title !Platform ! scope="col" | Release date !scope="col"| Note(s) |- | rowspan="2" scope="row" | ''Spy Daisakusen''<ref>{{cite web |title=Spy Daisakusen |website=MobyGames |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/197720/spy-daisakusen/ |access-date=July 25, 2025 |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224131900/https://www.mobygames.com/game/197720/spy-daisakusen/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |PC-8800 series | rowspan="2" | {{dts|1982| | }} | rowspan="2" | Based on the 1966 TV series. Released in Japan only. |- |Sharp MZ |- |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible'' |NES | {{dts|1990| | }} | rowspan="2" | Based on the 1988 TV series revival. |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible''<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission: Impossible for DOS (1991) |website=MobyGames |publisher=Blue Flame Labs |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/mission-impossible__ |access-date=May 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804080519/https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/mission-impossible__ |url-status=live }}</ref> |MS-DOS | {{dts|1991| | }} |- | rowspan="2" scope="row" | ''Mission: Impossible'' |N64 | {{dts|1998| | }} | rowspan="3" | Based on the 1996 film. |- |PSX |1999 |- | scope="row" | ''Mission: Impossible'' |GBC | {{dts|2000| | }} |- | rowspan="4" scope="row" | ''Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma'' |GBA | rowspan="4" | {{dts|2003| | }} | rowspan="4" | |- |Xbox |- |PS2 |- |GC |- | scope="row" | ''Mission: Impossible III'' |J2ME | {{dts|2006| | }} | Developed by Gameloft |- | rowspan="2" scope="row" | ''Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation'' |iOS | rowspan="2" | {{dts|2015| | }} | rowspan="2" | Developed by Glu |- |Android |- | rowspan="5" scope="row" |''Lego Dimensions - Mission: Impossible'' |PS3 | rowspan="5"| {{dts|2016| | }} | rowspan="5"|Expansion pack for ''Lego Dimensions''. Based on the ''Mission: Impossible'' film series. |- |PS4 |- |Xbox One |- |Xbox 360 |- |Wii U |- |}
===Books=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |+Overview of ''Mission: Impossible'' books |- !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Release date !scope="col"| Author !scope="col"| Note(s) |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible 1'' | {{dts|1967| | }} | Walter Wager (credited as John Tiger) | rowspan="4" | Part of a series |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible 2: Code Name: Judas'' | rowspan="2" | {{dts|1968| | }} | rowspan="2" | Jim Lawrence (credited as Max Walker) |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible 3: Code Name: Rapier'' |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible 4: Code Name: Little Ivan'' | {{dts|1969| | }} | Walter Wager (credited as John Tiger) |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible: The Priceless Particle'' | {{dts|1969| | }} | rowspan="2" |Talmage Powell | rowspan="2" | Part of a series |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible: The Money Explosion'' | {{dts|1970| | }} |- |scope="row"| ''Mission Impossible'' | rowspan="4" | {{dts|1996| | }} | Peter Barsocchini | Novelization to the Tom Cruise film |- |scope="row"| ''Mission Impossible: The Aztec Imperative'' | James Luceno | rowspan="3" | Tie-in series to the film series |- |scope="row"| ''Mission Impossible: Ring of Fire'' | rowspan="2" | Tom Philbin |- |scope="row"| ''Mission Impossible: The Doomsday Summit'' |- |}
===Comics=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |+Overview of ''Mission: Impossible'' comics |- !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Release date !scope="col"| Note(s) |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible'' | {{dts|1967| | }} | Five-issue series; published by Dell Comics. |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible'' | {{dts|1973| | }} | Comic strip published in ''TV Action''. Art by John M. Burns. |- |scope="row"| ''Mission: Impossible'' | {{dts|1996| | }} | Tie-in prequel one-shot to the 1996 film. Published by Marvel Comics. Written by Marv Wolfman, art by Rob Liefeld et al. |- |}
==Cast and characters== {{Main|List of Mission: Impossible (TV series) characters}}
{{See also|Mission: Impossible (film series)}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+Overview of ''Mission: Impossible'' cast and characters |- !scope="col" rowspan="2" | Character !scope="colgroup" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | TV series !scope="colgroup" colspan="8" style="text-align:center;" | Film |- !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''Mission: Impossible'' (1966) !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''Mission: Impossible'' (1988) !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''Mission: Impossible'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''Mission: Impossible 2'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''Mission: Impossible III'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''{{small|Mission: Impossible –}}<br />Ghost Protocol'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''{{small|Mission: Impossible –}}<br />Rogue Nation'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''{{small|Mission: Impossible –}}<br />Fallout'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''{{small|Mission: Impossible –}}<br />Dead Reckoning'' !scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | ''{{small|Mission: Impossible –}}<br />The Final Reckoning'' |- !scope="row"| Dan Briggs | Steven Hill | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Cinnamon Carter | Barbara Bain | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Barney Collier | colspan="2" | Greg Morris | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Willy Armitage | Peter Lupus | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Jim Phelps | colspan="2" | Peter Graves | Jon Voight | colspan="7" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Rollin Hand | Martin Landau | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| The Great Paris | Leonard Nimoy | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Dana Lambert | Lesley Warren | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Dr. Doug Robert | Sam Elliott | colspan="9" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Lisa Casey | colspan="2" | Lynda Day George | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Nicholas Black | style="background:lightgrey;" | | Thaao Penghlis | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Max Harte | style="background:lightgrey;" | | Tony Hamilton | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Grant Collier | style="background:lightgrey;" | | Phil Morris | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Casey Randall | style="background:lightgrey;" | | Terry Markwell | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Shannon Reed | style="background:lightgrey;" | | Jane Badler | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Ethan Hunt | colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="8" | Tom Cruise |- !scope="row"| Luther Stickell | colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="8" | Ving Rhames |- !scope="row"| Eugene Kittridge | colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;" | | Henry Czerny | colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Henry Czerny |- !scope="row"| Benji Dunn | colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="6" | Simon Pegg |- !scope="row"| Julia Meade | colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Michelle Monaghan | style="background:lightgrey;" | | Michelle Monaghan | colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| William Brandt | colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Jeremy Renner | colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Ilsa Faust | colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="3" | Rebecca Ferguson | colspan="1" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Alan Hunley | colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Alec Baldwin | colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Solomon Lane | colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Sean Harris | colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Alanna Mitsopolis<br />{{small|White Widow}} | colspan="7" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Vanessa Kirby | colspan="1" style="background:lightgrey;" | |- !scope="row"| Erica Sloane | colspan="7" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="1" |Angela Bassett | colspan="1" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="8" style=|Angela Bassett |- !scope="row"| Denlinger | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Cary Elwes |- !scope="row"| Grace | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Hayley Atwell |- !scope="row"| Jasper Briggs | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Shea Whigham |- !scope="row"| Gabriel | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Esai Morales |- !scope="row"| Paris | colspan="8" style="background:lightgrey;" | | colspan="2" | Pom Klementieff |}
==References== {{Commons category|Mission: Impossible}} {{Reflist}}
{{Portalbar|United States|Television|Film|Video games|Music|1960s|1970s|1980s|1990s|2000s|2010s|2020s}} {{Mission: Impossible}} {{Paramount Franchises}}
Category:Mission: Impossible Category:Media franchises introduced in 1966 Category:Television franchises Category:American spy fiction