Mission: Impossible

1996
PG-13
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

480K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

354

Play trailer1:58

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Spy Urban Adventure Action Adventure Thriller

An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

480K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

354

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 17 nominations

Trivia
While filming the famous scene where Tom Cruise drops from the ceiling and hovers inches above the ground, Cruise's head kept hitting the floor until he got the idea to put coins in his shoes for balance.

Goofs
Although some would consider a computer room equipped with the three high-tech security systems, meant to prevent any intrusion, as missing the "most basic security measure" of video surveillance, video surveillance is often not permitted in highly classified areas where there is a risk that unauthorized personnel - such as the security personnel - may see the material. The security personnel may theoretically be cleared for that classification but they would not have a "need to know" the information contained within AND video surveillance visible in another area would defy the measures taken to keep the information in a secure room.

However, a simple device to lock out the keyboard, of any other I/O devices or ports, when there was no authorised operator officially present, would be simple to implement, very efficient, and pose zero potential for information leakage.

Quotes
Ethan Hunt: [sitting in an outdoor café] So, how does it feel to be a solid citizen again?
Luther Stickell: Man, I don't know. I'm gonna miss bein' disreputable.
Ethan Hunt: Well, Luther, if it makes you feel any better, I'll always think of you that way.

Crazy credits
The opening credits contain several plot points from the movie.

Alternate versions
The in-joke where Tom Cruise goes online with his laptop by typing in, not Usenet, but Crusenet, has been changed in the US DVD versions to where he types "internet access."

Connections
Edited into Las Vegas: Father of the Bride (2006)

Soundtracks
The Mission: Impossible Theme
Written by Lalo Schifrin

User reviews603

Review

Featured review

8/10

Soak up Cruise's Charisma

Yes, there was a time when Tom Cruise was charismatic. Take trashy movies such as Cocktail and Far and Away or great movies like The Firm and A Few Good Men and imagine anyone other than Tom Cruise in the lead role. Hard to do, isn't it? His brash, cocky attitude was once appealing. Now that he feels he's an intelligent spokesman with something to say, he just comes across as an arrogant a**hole. Fortunately, the first MI falls into his earlier stage.

This movie would have been just another action flick without Cruise. Sure we have a stellar cast, but did not Mr. Cruise steal every scene? He is perfect in the role of Ethan Hunt, a spy whose whole team is rubbed out in a convoluted cover up at the start. It is up to Ethan to uncover the plot behind the failed mission. The movie is a series of unveiled plot twists that becomes implausible after a while. But that's not the fun behind Mission Impossible. The fun is watching the great action scenes with their suspenseful turns. So much so, we are willing to suspend disbelief to enjoy the ride. And to let ourselves be swept away by Mr. Cruise's undefinable quality to take us there.