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Mission: Impossible
1996 111 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★7.1
Adventure, Action, Thriller
Director: Brian De Palma
🎭 Based on
«Mission: Impossible»
Trailers
Description
When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.
Budget:
$80M
US Gross:
$180.98M
Worldwide:
$457.7M
Starring
Tom Cruise
Actor
Jon Voight
Actor
Emmanuelle Béart
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 1997
— Worst Blockbuster
Saturn Awards 1997
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1997
— Best Action Scene
Key opinion
Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible is widely regarded as a tension-filled, stylish spy thriller that prioritizes Hitchcockian atmosphere over the excessive spectacle of its sequels. While critics and audiences occasionally debate its thin character development and departures from the source material, it remains a highly influential and rewatchable benchmark for the genre.
| Acting | Tom Cruise delivers a charismatic and grounded performance that effectively launches the franchise's protagonist. | |
| Score | The iconic, reimagined score by Danny Elfman and Lalo Schifrin provides a memorable and atmospheric musical identity. | |
| Direction | Brian De Palma utilizes distinctive camera angles and close-ups to maintain a high level of suspense throughout the film. | |
| Screenplay | The plot, centered on a complex betrayal and spy intrigue, is praised by some for its twists but criticized by others for being underdeveloped or hollow. | |
| Pacing | The action sequences are lauded as iconic and striking, yet some viewers find the overall volume of action surprisingly sparse for a franchise-defining blockbuster. | |
| Adaptation | The film’s tone and character dynamics are praised as a sophisticated psychological thriller by some, while others feel it deviates too far from the original series' team-oriented spirit. |