Best Action Sequences from the Mission Impossible Franchise: The buildup to the new Mission Impossible film, Dead Reckoning: Part I, has been electric. Paramount and Tom Cruise have left no stone unturned to ensure their reach is more comprehensive than ever before. It is slated to become the biggest hit not just for this year in Hollywood but also in the franchise’s decorated history. The promotions started a few months ago, and everything centered around the “greatest stunt in cinema history.” Tom Cruise just jumped from the cliff of a rock with no wires. The lengths this superstar will go to involve the audience are unknown.
“Involving the audience” has been the core tenet reflected in the franchise until now. It has also been repeated by Tom and the other creators numerous times. The Mission Impossible franchise provides viewers with a sense of adventure that few franchises have. With every new film, Cruise takes on the mantle of risking his life to invest us in the believability of the action and rake in the thrills of larger-than-life filmmaking. Dead Reckoning Part I will release on 12 July. But before that, we decided to revisit the best action sequences from the Mission Impossible franchise. Here they are in no particular order!
10. The Bridge Scene, Mission Impossible: III
MI 3 was notably different from the first two films. JJ Abrams took over the helm as director and saddled the film with his signature unstable camera. That was the most robust choice to provide more realism to how the action scenes pan out on the screen. The tension was even more palpable than before. Nevertheless, that choice resulted in a great sequence on this list, “The Bridge Scene,” where Davian is kidnapped from the IMF team’s grasp.
The scene goes something like this. The microdot video that Hunt recovered from Lindsey Farris reveals that Director Brassels is involved with Davian. A drone’s blast is initiated on the bridge while Hunt and the team are bringing Davian to the HQs. Ethan and the other agents face off against Davian’s goons in the chopper. The firing of missiles is relentless and also puts other civilians on the bridge in danger. Hunt gets a G36 from the truck under heavy firing as the tram is clearly outgunned. But Davian’s goons escape with him, even as Ethan shoots down the drone.
Ethan suffered not just a professional blow but also a personal setback. He has potentially lost Julia to Davian and endangered his life. He calls her brother and learns an Englishman is tracking Julia at the hospital. This event marked the end of Monaghan’s character in the series and was a wrenching reminder for Hunt that she could never be safe with him. The scene was filmed with a wide lens to capture the monstrosity of vehicles and weapons used. All of them were filmed in real time with authentic pieces of equipment. The coordination of all the personnel involved was top-notch. Abrams fully understood that this scene was the most important one in the film and could elevate Davian as an antagonist. The way he was picked up showed how powerful he was and the extent of Hunt’s helplessness.
9. Hunt Steals Rabbit Foot, Mission Impossible: III
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqw0qh3l0qA&pp=ygUZaHVudCBzdGVhbGluZyByYWJiaXQgZm9vdA%3D%3D
This one seemed like an “impossible” scene to pull off. But Cruise still did it in style and with just enough skill to leave us breathless. Stealing the Rabbit Foot became Hunt’s topmost priority after Davian got ahold of Julia. He simply had no other option but to give it to Davian. Hunt has 18 minutes to successfully breach the building, secure the Foot, return to the top of the building, and then make a run for it with the team. Cruise had to once again free fall from the top of a building. This time, though, he had a wire attached to him. It was still quite a ballsy thing to do.
The rope did break, and Hunt was spiraling in midair. He finally found his footing and stole the Foot. Interestingly, Abrams and Cruise decided not to show the robbery itself, which was a huge plus point. It added more urgency to the scene. More often than not, it is getting away from such tricky situations that films generally iron over. But MI 3 went full in and tracked Hunt and his team running away with the Foot through the heavy traffic. The combination of handheld and crane shots worked perfectly once again. The tight editing ensured every second counted as if it was done in real-time.
Cruise had to do a lot of training to get intuitive about sky racing. It is one of the most challenging things to do, especially when the location is filled with skyscrapers and ongoing traffic. The star did not disappoint one bit and carried the viewers with him through the sequence.
8. Destroying Chimaera, Mission Impossible: II
MI 2 is arguably the worst film in the franchise. Compared to what we saw in the other movies, revisiting it proved how clueless the franchise brand was back then. Cruise’s flowing hair and tactful sunglasses did not evoke confidence like his traditional crew cut ever since. For those beginning to watch the franchise from scratch, skipping this one wouldn’t be the worst idea. However, John Woo did have a trick or two up his sleeve to “woo” the audiences. Hunt embarked on yet another dangerous mission to destroy the chimera samples at the lab. Chimera was a genetically engineered virus that a terrorist organization wanted to use for mass destruction.
In this particular scene, Ethan wades off Ambrose and his goons to destroy the chimera. They were already at the facility where it was kept, and it was up to Ethan to take it all and destroy them. Given the setting, Cruise and Woo fell back to old traditions in the action genre to stage the scene. While there was nothing spectacular at first sight about it, revisiting the scene showed a carefully curated combination of sound and sight. A lot of glass was broken, and many bullets were fired, but Hunt ultimately managed to get the upper hand.
7. The Climax and Birth of the “Face Mask,” MI: 2
The face mask has become iconic ever since Ghost Protocol. Even in MI 3, Hunt used Davian’s face mask to kidnap him from the Vatican. But the origins of the face mask lie in MI 2, more specifically, the scene where Ambrose tricks Nyah into believing he is Hunt. In the final sequence, after Hunt steals the vials disguised as Stamp, we see it getting deployed again. Characterized by fast cuts, agile camerawork, and an over blast of sound and special effects, Hunt ran through the entire facility with a fox’s deftness and a tiger’s bravery.
Zimmer’s redesigned Mission Impossible theme parades in the background. Although most of us would agree that the tune in itself was a wrong decision, it somehow fit the final scene. Cruise on the Bike reminds me of the Top Gun sequences, where he cuts through the air like a knife through butter. Performing wheelies and shooting people with one hand, all while his ideally brushed, luscious hair danced against the wind. John Woo’s rock and roll version of MI 2 might not be up to the franchise standard, but this is one of the film’s more memorable action set pieces. Another reason why this scene is so impressive is the running. Yes, Cruise’s iconic running in free flow is a majestic sight.
6. Backstage Scene at the Opera, MI: 5
Rogue Nation was when Rebecca Ferguson was introduced to us first as Isla Faust. She has since established herself as an indispensable part of the gang and is set to reprise her role in the upcoming film. She is introduced when Ethan breaks out of Syndicate’s custody after he is caught in the records store. Ferguson was instantly suitable for her role in the franchise. But the true depths of her talent and suitability were explored and confirmed in what can be called the most poetic scene on this list: the backstage opera scene.
Who was chasing who became a conundrum as many parties vied to save the Austrian Chancellor. Benji’s involvement added to the fun as his amateurish field training came in handy to provide some laughs. Cruise deftly danced the battle between action and wits. The most fascinating thing about the scene is that it is almost completely silent. Only the sonnets of the opera can be heard in the background. McQuarrie beautifully holds the narrative. It is drowned in the melody of true blood opera. The subtle humor with Cruise and the prominent syndicate operative added fresh breath to the scene. The triple whammy of motives, with three people aiming in different directions, makes the scene somewhat elusive.
The sense of tension is heightened by the gliding camerawork that goes well with the other “classy” technical elements. The brand of action in this scene is uncharacteristic of the franchise but truly one of its many highlights.
Read More: How Teamwork On and Off the Screen Transformed the Mission: Impossible Franchise
5. Burj Khalifa, MI: 4
To be clear, Cruise’s Burj Khalifa stunt is not the only thing we refer to here. The extended scene that includes setting up a trap for Winston and Moerau is a work of art. Ghost Protocol is arguably the best movie in the franchise and has brilliantly crafted action scenes. The best among the lot is the extended scene we have mentioned here. Cruise had to change many “safety guys” to get the final go-ahead for hanging outside the world’s tallest building with safety wires. But he eventually got there and executed the scene with aplomb. The objective of the IMF team in this scene was to get the nuclear launch code from Moreau.
To do that, they needed diamonds they did not have. Winston had them. So, the IMF team plotted a plan to do the exchange simultaneously with face masks. When the machine failed, the team had to improvise and go into the transactions with their real faces. While the tension in these scenes was itself mounting when Winston discovered the truth about Hunt, he ran for his life. Hunt chased him through a raging sandstorm, making the chase even more enthralling. The aesthetics of the visuals were soothing and captured the true essence of the desert Nation-state.
4. Bathroom Scene, MI: 6
The Bathroom scene became an instant internet hit when the movie was first released. Everything about its choreography, conception, and execution spoke to the highest class of professionalism. Cruise, Cavill, and Isla fight Lark’s goons in the striking white background as they scamper to track the stolen plutonium. The IMF is positioned in a particular circumstance as they are suspected of treason. The ball is in their court to bring things back on the track. The scene is vivacious with the combination of subtle humor and hardcore action that the franchise has embraced since the fourth movie.
Cavill’s August Walker destroyed the laptop that was supposed to give them the next clue. When the other goons arrive and corner them in the bathroom, Hunt and Walker conjure a marauding spirit to outgun them with their bare hands. Credit must also be given to the other stunt performers in the scene, who were up to the task and even bettered Cruise and Cavill several times. The grittiness of the scene reminds one of how the action in Jon Wick is curated. Caviil’s reloading of his arms has now attained an iconic status in pop culture. He will not be returning for Dead Reckoning, but he made his appearance worthwhile in Rogue Nation.
3. Diving Underwater, MI: 5
The odds have not been stacked more heavily against Hunt than in this “breathtaking” scene from Mission Impossible 5. Since he does all his stunts himself, Cruise has to learn once again to practice his breathing. The unbelievable task could not be done in any other way. Six minutes, the actor held his breath in an unreal fashion. Although he did use a sealed compressor for oxygen to complete the scene, Cruise once again showed his commitment to making an unmatchable experience for his viewers. Coming back to the scene, after being decommissioned by Director Hunley, Hunt, and the remaining agents worked independently. They knew the threat that Lane’s Syndicate presented to the world.
In this scene, Hunt, Isla, and Benji retrieve a digital ledger stolen from Lane that purportedly contains the names of Syndicate operatives. They infiltrate the facility, which is built to be secure. The system’s mechanics have come a long way from the first MI film and the Langley black vault room. While Benji went in to steal it above board, Ilsa and Hunt went under. Hunt singlehandedly replaced the security profiles in the system so that Benji could swoop in undetected. Hunt’s most significant obstacle was the ominous-looking cooling system in the scene, designed in the shape of cascading waterfalls.
The design of things like the cooling system must be accredited to the production team, who never take half measures in the films. Once again, the scene used no music, only the diegetic sounds that organically came from the setting. Cruise had a lot hanging on his shoulders. The scene is primarily believable due to his sync with Hunt and the franchise’s constantly changing dynamics.
2. Deactivating Nuclear Warhead, MI: 4
The final scene of Ghost Protocol was filmed in Mumbai. Hunt and his team were chasing Hendricks, a radical Russian professor who wanted to detonate a nuclear warhead. This sequence was set majorly in two locations. One was Nath’s broadcast station, where Benji, Naomi, and Brandt chased Wistrom. Hunt went after Hendricks, who had the suitcase which could avert the warhead hitting Seattle. It is the latter situation that is more fun to follow. Hunt and Hendricks go around the structure that houses different luxury cars stacked neatly on each floor.
Both men fall and get up multiple times in order to get ahold of the silver briefcase that can deactivate the warhead. The moving platform also adds another layer of complexity that they have to negate. There is the instant reminder of the moving stairs from Harry Potter watching the platform. Until then, in the franchise, this was Hunt’s most significant achievement. The stakes were never this high in real-time, and the IMF team successfully defended the interests of the US.
Hendricks’ manic fall from the top with the briefcase was momentarily upended by Hunt driving a car from the top right into the ground. The ending was expertly crafted, fully using the setting and extracting the most of the situation.
1. Langley Heist, MI: 1
How can the first film not feature on the list of the best action sequences at all? Brian De Palma’s cinematic style ensured that Mission Impossible 1 did not spring too many surprises in terms of action. The final sequence has the most amount of legwork with explosions and a chase on a running train. But the graphics on that one are woefully dated in today’s context. Instead, Hunt and his team’s Langley Heist are the real work of art from the first film. Their task is next to impossible. Cruise, Luther, and Franz infiltrate the CIA HQ in Langley to steal the authentic NOC list.
It is a pivotal scene in the plot. Cruise will never find out who betrayed and killed his entire team if they cannot steal the list. The plan is to infiltrate the black vault room from the vents. The group breaks into the building under the pretense of a false fire alarm. The vault room is itself highly monitored by automated sensors. The littlest of mistakes can land the mission in trouble. Hunt literally hangs in mid-air to sneakily retrieve the list escaping failure by the skin of his teeth. Many of the 90s kids remember Mission Impossible through this scene. It is what pushed the franchise’s brand and appeal into the stratosphere.
De Palma’s approach is not reminiscent of going all out. His style in this sequence and the film, in general, conforms more to noir filmmaking, which emphasizes bringing out the espionage elements of the story.
