How To Watch Mission: Impossible Movies In Order?

Very few movies leave an impact on our minds strong enough to remember it for years. One such movie series is Mission: Impossible. This collection of action spy films has always been a fan-favourite, mainly because of its engaging storyline and exciting character.

The first Mission: Impossible movie was released in 1996, and since then it has captivated audiences with its intriguing plotline. It also marked the birth of a movie franchise that would run for the next 25 years.

All the movies under this franchise focus on the intelligent and daring hunt while playing the same character for over 20 years. While Tom Cruise is the main face of the Mission: Impossible franchise, other actors are no less. Each of them did a great job and contributed to the success of the franchise.

As of now, the franchise has seven movies, but the number might go up in the future. If you are wondering how to watch Mission: Impossible movies in order, we can help. This guide will provide all the details you need to know.

Mission: Impossible Movies In Order Of Release Date

The first movie came to being in 1996, and thereafter, the makers released six other movies every few years. This makes a total of seven movies, starting from 1996-2023. To watch the movie in the release order, you should follow the given sequence:

• Mission: Impossible (1996)
• Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
• Mission: Impossible III (2006)
• Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
• Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Mission: Impossible Movies In Chronological Order Of Events

Unlike some other movies, the Mission: Impossible timeline is pretty straightforward so, you won’t feel confused watching the movies in chronological order. But if you are someone who hasn’t watched a single Mission: Impossible movie yet, you might feel a bit lost. No worries, we got your back! 

To watch the movies in chronological order, you should follow the sequence given below:

Mission: Impossible (1996) The first movie is based on a TV show of the same name. It starts with all the IMF agents getting killed during a mission except Ethan Hunt. The IMF suspects Hunt to be the mole and the cause of the deaths. This makes him take things into his control as he sets out to find the real traitor and prove his innocence. He is determined to stop the real mole from causing further harm. Besides Tom Cruise in the lead role, the movie stars Vanessa Redgrave, Emilio Estevez, and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) Directed by John Woo, the second movie was released four years after the first movie. In this film, Ethan Hunt and the IMF team are back with a new mission. They are determined to find and destroy a dangerous biochemical weapon, Chimera. This time, Sean Ambrose, a former IMF agent is the villain who wants to start a pandemic to make money by selling the antidote. Hunt and Nyah are on a mission to stop him before he succeeds in his plans. This movie features lots of action and takes place in Sydney, Australia.

Mission: Impossible III (2006) Released six years after the second movie, Mission: Impossible III was a major hit. In this film, Ethan Hunt and the IMF agents try to lead a normal life after retirement. However, Hunt is pulled back into action as he has to rescue a kidnapped agent and stop Owen Davian from acquiring the “Rabbit’s Foot.” Hunt tries to keep his real job a secret from his fiancée Julia, but that lands her in a dangerous situation. The movie is directed by J.J. Abrams and features Billy Crudup, Laurence Fishburne, and Keri Russell.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) This movie takes a series of turns from the previous movies. The story starts with a mission going wrong and the Kremlin exploding. This causes the U.S. government to disown the IMF, leaving Ethan Hunt and his team without any support. In this movie, you will see Hunt trying his best to stop a nuclear war. He faces both physical and emotional challenges but doesn’t give up. He is determined to save the world no matter what it takes. Besides Tom Cruise, the cast includes Simon Pegg, Ving Rhymes, Michelle Monaghan, Jeremy Renner, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, and Léa Seydoux.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) This is the fifth movie in the franchise and has a strong storyline. In this movie, we see Ethan Hunt getting captured by Soloman Lane and his syndicate. Although Hunt is tortured, he escapes with Faust’s help. The Syndicate then plans to attack and disrupt global order. Hunt is wrongly accused on the run and must use his skills to stop the Syndicate before they succeed. The movie is directed by Christopher McQuarrie who did an exceptional job making the movie interesting.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) Once again, the story follows Ethan Hunt and his team as they battle against the Syndicate which is led by John Lark. However, things go wrong during a mission as they fail to retrieve the stolen plutonium cores. CIA Director Erika Sloane assigns August Walker to oversee Hunt's future missions. Meanwhile, Alanna Mitsopolis steals the plutonium cores and strikes a deal with Hunt. However, Hunt discovers that John Lark is closer than he realized. The story is set two years after Rogue Nation; therefore, you should watch both movies together to understand the full story.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) This is the latest addition to the franchise, where we get to see a whole new cast. The movie also features bigger and better stunts and action scenes than before. The new cast includes Pom Klementieff, Hayley Atwell, Indira Varma, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales, Mark Gatiss, and Cary Elwes. The movie is written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who is expected to direct Mission: Impossible 8. These are all the Mission: Impossible movies released so far. While we wait for the franchise to expand, you can start watching the movies in the given order to understand the full story.

These are all the Mission: Impossible movies released so far. While we wait for the franchise to expand, you can start watching the movies in the given order to understand the full story.

Watch All Mission Impossible Movie Trailers (1996 – 2023)