Mission: Impossible movies in order: the complete IMF saga

Every Ethan Hunt mission, in the order to watch them. The films are mostly standalone, but the stunts, and the story, keep escalating, so release order is the way in.

How many Mission: Impossible movies are there?

Eight, all with Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. In release order:

  1. Mission: Impossible 1996
  2. Mission: Impossible 2 2000
  3. Mission: Impossible III 2006
  4. Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol 2011
  5. Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation 2015
  6. Mission: Impossible: Fallout 2018
  7. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One 2023
  8. Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning 2025

The early films stand on their own; from Rogue Nation on, the story carries from one film to the next.

Tom Cruise has spent nearly three decades running, climbing and free-falling as IMF agent Ethan Hunt. The missions stand largely on their own, but recurring characters and an ongoing arc make release order the natural way to watch.

Do I watch them in order?

You can dip into the early films on their own, but recurring characters and an ongoing story build over time, so watch in release order, especially from Rogue Nation onward.

Mission: Impossible in release order

  1. Mission: Impossible poster
    Mission: Impossible1996★ 7.0

    Brian De Palma's twisty original, Ethan is framed and goes on the run.

  2. Mission: Impossible 2 poster
    Mission: Impossible 22000★ 6.1

    John Woo's stylish, slow-motion-heavy sequel.

  3. Mission: Impossible III poster
    Mission: Impossible III2006★ 6.8

    J.J. Abrams raises the stakes with a chilling personal villain.

  4. Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol poster
    Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol2011★ 7.1

    The Burj Khalifa stunt sends the series into a new gear.

  5. Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation poster
    Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation2015

    Ethan takes on the shadowy Syndicate.

  6. Mission: Impossible: Fallout poster
    Mission: Impossible: Fallout2018★ 7.5

    Widely regarded as a series highlight, with a jaw-dropping helicopter chase.

  7. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One poster
    Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One2023★ 7.5

    Ethan faces a rogue artificial intelligence known as the Entity.

  8. Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning poster
    Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning2025★ 7.2

    The two-part finale brings the saga to a close.

Track every mission in Cinopsys

Eight films of escalating set pieces is a great binge. In Cinopsys you can build a Mission: Impossible list, tick each one off as you watch, and see your total runtime and highest-rated entries.

Accept the mission

Press play on the 1996 original, and let Cinopsys keep your dossier in order.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order to watch Mission: Impossible?

Use release order, from Mission: Impossible (1996) through The Final Reckoning (2025). The films are largely standalone, but recurring characters and an ongoing plot make later entries better watched in sequence.

How many Mission: Impossible movies are there?

There are eight films in the main series, from the 1996 original to The Final Reckoning (2025).

Is Dead Reckoning Part Two the same as The Final Reckoning?

Yes. The eighth film was originally announced as Dead Reckoning Part Two and was later retitled Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning.

How can I track which Mission: Impossible movies I've watched?

Use Cinopsys: build a Mission: Impossible list, mark each film as watched, and see your progress and stats.

Which Mission: Impossible movies are connected?

Rogue Nation and Fallout form one story, and Dead Reckoning Part One leads straight into The Final Reckoning, which also calls back to the earlier films. The first four can be watched on their own.