loading loading...

Mission: Impossible Details

1996 Certificate PG Certificate PG (TBC)
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 33,904 members

Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, leader of a crack squad of intelligence operatives, in this labyrinthine action-thriller based on the hit 1960s-'70s television series. When a dangerous mission in Prague goes inexplicably wrong, Hunt finds himself out in the cold. A mole has infiltrated the CIA, and suspicions are that it's Hunt... Read more

Starring Tom Cruise, Jean Reno, Vanessa Redgrave, Ving Rhames
Director Brian De Palma
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller

loading loading...

Mission: Impossible

Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, leader of a crack squad of intelligence operatives, in this labyrinthine action-thriller based on the hit 1960s-'70s television series. When a dangerous mission in Prague goes inexplicably wrong, Hunt finds himself out in the cold. A mole has infiltrated the CIA, and suspicions are that it's Hunt. His only chance: Find out who the real mole is and turn the tables. The plan takes him on an incredibly suspenseful infiltration of CIA security, leading to a spectacular chunnel climax that would make Hitchcock proud. Thanks to crisp, inventive direction from Brian De Palma and Danny Elfman's dynamite electronica score (including a catchy update of the original Lalo Schifrin theme), this mission is great fun. The talented roster of stars backing Cruise includes Ving Rhames, Vanessa Redgrave, John Voight, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Jean Reno. A witty script by Robert Towne (CHINATOWN, SHAMPOO) and David Koepp keeps the ball rolling in unexpected directions, with the paranoia always set to high. A box-office record-setter during its original release, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE led to a well-deserved sequel, also with Cruise and Rhames.

Starring Tom Cruise, Jean Reno, Vanessa Redgrave, Ving Rhames, Jon Voight, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Emmanuelle Beart, Henry Czerny
Director Brian De Palma
Studio PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 46 mins
Blu-ray: 1 hr 46 mins
Watch now: 1 hr 50 mins
HD DVD: 1 hr 46 mins
Certificate DVD: Certificate PG, Watch Online: Certificate PG (TBC)
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller
Language DVD: English
Blu-ray: English
Watch Online: English
HD DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles DVD: Danish, English, Norwegian, Swedish
Released DVD: 03 Jul 2000
Blu-ray: 03 Nov 2008
Watch now: 25 Aug 2009
HD DVD: 27 May 2007
Production year: 1996
Watch now £2.49
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (6) of Mission: Impossible

    View all
  • 4 stars out of 5

    Superstar Tom Cruise and director Brian De Palma join forces for this thrilling extravaganza of jaw-dropping special effects and amazing stunts. Based on the cult 1960s TV series about a covert strike force designing situations villains believe to be real, it's best to forget the complicated plot — something about Cruise clearing his name and proving to the CIA he's not a treacherous mole — and simply enjoy the epic roller-coaster ride that De Palma brings to life with his customary brilliance. The burglary of a guarded vault and the Channel Tunnel helicopter pursuit alone put other high-action thrillers in intensive care.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    A movie very much in the James Bond style, with added paranoia; the gimmick-laden narrative makes little sense, but the set-piece stunts are spectacularly over-the-top.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Mission: Impossible

    View all
  • 5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Good Action - can't wait for MI:3

    Great update of the 70's series.

    Tom Cruise is great as Ethan Hawk. As he now seems to have a hand in the majority of his film choices with his own production company, the man is almost unable to make a bad film.

    The stunt work on this film was dangerous and arduous - and the care taken to make these scenes as perfect as possible really shows.

    With regard to the poor review listed for this film - I can only conclude that they were watching the original!!!!!

    I thought that the supporting cast were actually good on the whole - but the problem of acting on the same screne as Cruise is that if you are not in his league - then I'm afraid that you will pale in comparison. Having been in the game myself, I think that the old saying of 'Never work with children and animals' (because they are usually scene stealers) should also include the rare breed of actor - like Cruise - because by god you have got to be good to score 'evens' never mind actually win a point!!!! Oh, and by the way, I'm not particulally a Cruise fan - but I'm honest enough to give credit where credit is due!

    Well worth watching. More please.

      • A customer from Northamptonshire
  • Most recent members' review of Mission: Impossible

    View all
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    DOWNFALL for tom cruise

    AN excellent film to watch good drama, a littil bit confusing but altogether not so bad.

    BUT! there was a bad downfall for tom cruise i dont think he tryed as hard in acting as he usally does so its alright but i would only properly want to watch it twice at the most.

      • A customer from england
  • News and features

    View all
    Paris

    Beart's regrets after Mission: Impossible

    • 30 Sep 2009

    Actress Emmanuelle Beart accepts she missed out on becoming a big Hollywood star by turning down a series of big-money movies after Mission: Impossible. The French star perfected her English for the Tom Cruise action film and was excited to land a role in the 1996 blockbuster, but she was overwhelmed by the amount of press she was subsequently forced to do to promote the movie. The media attention she received prompted her to return to her native France - but she now wonders about the parts... Read more

  • More like this

    View all

Rating breakdown

33,904 Member ratings
  • 100
2,014
  • 90
2,568
  • 80
7,310
  • 70
8,063
  • 60
7,331
  • 50
3,338
  • 40
1,697
  • 30
835
  • 20
510
  • 10
238

Related user collection

THE GREATEST ACTION MOVIES EVER MADE !!!!!! (184)

Average rating: 3.61   72.2% from 310 members

by: A customer from Cardiff

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop


    • Mission: Impossible - HD DVD Version
      Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, leader of a crack squad of intelligence operatives, in this labyrinthine action-thriller based on the hit 1960s-'70s television series. When a dangerous mission in Prague goes inexplicably wrong, Hunt finds himself out in the cold. A mole has infiltrated the CIA, and ...

    • Mission: Impossible - BLU-RAY Version
    • Blu-Ray: £11.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £19.79 (you save: 40%)
    • Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, leader of a crack squad of intelligence operatives, in this labyrinthine action-thriller based on the hit 1960s-'70s television series. When a dangerous mission in ...

    • Mission: Impossible
    • DVD: £6.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £15.79 (you save: 56%)
    • Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, leader of a crack squad of intelligence operatives, in this labyrinthine action-thriller based on the hit 1960s-'70s television series. When a dangerous mission in ...