When Mission: Impossible first exploded onto screens in 1996, no one predicted Tom Cruise would still be sprinting through international crises nearly three decades later. But here we are: The Final Reckoning is finally in theatres, promising a proper send-off for Ethan Hunt and his IMF team.

With the full franchise now complete (or so they claim), we’re skipping the nostalgia trip and going straight to the numbers. Based solely on Rotten Tomatoes critic scores, here’s how all eight Mission: Impossible films rank—from early confusion and flying motorcycles to the tight, high-stakes brilliance of modern-day Cruise control.

Mission: Impossible Movies Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Score (Worst to Best)
 

8. Mission: Impossible II (2000) – 57%

The doves. The leather jackets. The motorcycle fencing. John Woo’s stylish sequel was all about the aesthetic, but critics weren’t buying the over-the-top swagger. Beautiful chaos, just not the good kind.

7. Mission: Impossible (1996) – 65%

De Palma’s sleek, paranoid original gave us that Langley scene and a killer theme tune. But critics found it more confusing than clever, and that final train sequence? Somehow more dated than floppy disks.

6. Mission: Impossible III (2006) – 71%

J.J. Abrams injected heart and handheld urgency, while Philip Seymour Hoffman delivered the franchise’s best villain. Still, it played more like a gritty TV pilot than a cinematic event.

5. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) – 80%

The grand finale is solid but not spectacular. Critics praised its emotional stakes and satisfying arcs, but found it less inventive than recent instalments. Call it a stylish landing—not a perfect one.

4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) – 94%

Brad Bird’s reinvention of the franchise brought in jaw-dropping set pieces (hello, Burj Khalifa), sharp pacing, and a lighter tone. Critics loved the energy, even if the villain was a bit forgettable.

3. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) – 94%

Slick, confident, and bolstered by Rebecca Ferguson’s breakout role, Rogue Nation gave critics the spy thriller they’d been waiting for. Every twist, chase, and opera house shootout landed clean.

2. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023) – 96%

An action masterclass that balances scale with smarts. From the Rome car chase to that collapsing train, Dead Reckoning Part One reminded critics that Cruise still knows how to raise the bar.

1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) – 98%

A nearly flawless action film. With its brutal bathroom brawl, helicopter acrobatics, and an emotionally grounded story, Fallout earned near-universal acclaim. This isn’t just the best M:I film—it’s a high point for modern blockbusters.