In order to celebrate the release of the 7th film in the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible series, we're looking back at each one and giving them the 5 FAST FILM FACTS treatment, from the original 1996 remake of the TV show co-starring Jean Reno to 2018's Christopher McQuarrie directed Fallout.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (1996)
Directed by Brian De Palma.
When secret government operative Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is sent on a mission by his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), that takes a disastrous turn, Jim is murdered, and Ethan finds himself on the run as the prime suspect. Recruiting his brilliant hacker pal Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to help him break into Langley to retrieve a confidential computer file might just be the only way to prove his innocence. |
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5. MISSION: MUSIC
Based on Lalo Shifrin’s original TV theme, Danny Elfman composed the film’s score to great critical acclaim. However he had not been Director Brian De Palma’s first choice, having hired Alan Silvestri for the job. Elfman only took over late in the process, after Silvestri had already recorded several pieces, many of which including the main theme, have since leaked onto the internet.
Although the full story has yet to come to light, it has been suggested that the composer was dropped by the film’s star and producer Tom Cruise, who had wanted him replaced by Elfman after being impressed by the composer’s work in his then-wife Nicole Kidman’s movie To Die For (1995). The alternative opening music can be heard on Youtube.
4. SCRIPT
The film entered into pre-production without a script, and even by the time of production start still didn’t have a complete one. Several key action sequences were planned by De Palma and Cruise from the outset, (including the exploding fish tank scene), but they then had to hire screen writers Steve Zaillian, David Koepp and Roberts Towne to fill in the plot details and story.
3. CINEMA
Mission: Impossible was the first film in America to have opened to more than 3000 cinemas. As a result it took in over $45 million during its opening weekend, easily winning back more than half its estimated budget of $70-$80 million. Eventually it went on to earn $458 million, making it the third highest grossing film of 1996, just behind Independence Day and Twister.
2. WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
Emilio Estevez plays the part of tech guru Jack Harmon, a member of Hunt’s team that meets with an unfortunate fate early on in the movie. Considered an A-list actor at the time, his casting as such a short-lived character adds to the surprising twists and turns the film has to offer. What is even more surprising however, is that Estevez does not get a credit for his role. One possibility is that he is ‘returning the favour’ to Cruise, who made an uncredited cameo in Estevez’s Young Guns (1988).
1. IMPOSSIBLE EMAIL
Filmed back when the internet was still little more than a novelty to most film-goers, Max’s email address – Max@Job 3:14 – features as part of a major plot development despite the fact it cannot exist. This computer-related blunder did not stop Apple contributing $15 million to the production for product placement purposes.
5. MISSION: MUSIC
Based on Lalo Shifrin’s original TV theme, Danny Elfman composed the film’s score to great critical acclaim. However he had not been Director Brian De Palma’s first choice, having hired Alan Silvestri for the job. Elfman only took over late in the process, after Silvestri had already recorded several pieces, many of which including the main theme, have since leaked onto the internet.
Although the full story has yet to come to light, it has been suggested that the composer was dropped by the film’s star and producer Tom Cruise, who had wanted him replaced by Elfman after being impressed by the composer’s work in his then-wife Nicole Kidman’s movie To Die For (1995). The alternative opening music can be heard on Youtube.
4. SCRIPT
The film entered into pre-production without a script, and even by the time of production start still didn’t have a complete one. Several key action sequences were planned by De Palma and Cruise from the outset, (including the exploding fish tank scene), but they then had to hire screen writers Steve Zaillian, David Koepp and Roberts Towne to fill in the plot details and story.
3. CINEMA
Mission: Impossible was the first film in America to have opened to more than 3000 cinemas. As a result it took in over $45 million during its opening weekend, easily winning back more than half its estimated budget of $70-$80 million. Eventually it went on to earn $458 million, making it the third highest grossing film of 1996, just behind Independence Day and Twister.
2. WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
Emilio Estevez plays the part of tech guru Jack Harmon, a member of Hunt’s team that meets with an unfortunate fate early on in the movie. Considered an A-list actor at the time, his casting as such a short-lived character adds to the surprising twists and turns the film has to offer. What is even more surprising however, is that Estevez does not get a credit for his role. One possibility is that he is ‘returning the favour’ to Cruise, who made an uncredited cameo in Estevez’s Young Guns (1988).
1. IMPOSSIBLE EMAIL
Filmed back when the internet was still little more than a novelty to most film-goers, Max’s email address – Max@Job 3:14 – features as part of a major plot development despite the fact it cannot exist. This computer-related blunder did not stop Apple contributing $15 million to the production for product placement purposes.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II (2000)
Directed by John Woo.
Tom Cruise becomes super spy Ethan Hunt once again for the second installment of Mission Impossible, this time having to lead a team of IMF agents on a mission to prevent a deadly German virus being released by terrorists. Making his job more difficult is the fact that there are also other interested parties pursuing samples of the disease. He must also contest with international terrorists headed by a former IMF agent who has already got the cure. |
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5. FAMILY TIES
The part of Wallis in the film is played by William Mapother, Tom Cruise’s cousin. He has also appeared in Cruise’s other films Born On The Fourth Of July (1989), Vanilla Sky (2001) and Minority Report (2002).
4. BANG BANG
This is the first Mission: Impossible film where we see Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) fire a gun. As though it were trying to compensate for the lack of firearms in the first film, at one point Hunt simultaneously fires a pair of Berettas in typical John Woo style.
3. KNIFE FIGHT
The scene where Cruise nearly gets stabbed in the eye was technically real, the actor insisting that a genuine knife be used. In order to ensure his safety it was attached to a cable which had been carefully measured out to go no further than a quarter of an inch from his eyeball. Actor Dougray Scott, yielding the knife, was told not to hold back and use as much force as possible when trying to stab Cruise in the eye.
2. MISSION: MENTIONED
Anthony Hopkins’ character Swanbeck is the first person in the series to mention the title of the film when he says ‘Mr Hunt, this isn’t mission difficult, it’s mission impossible’.
1. DIRECTOR’S CUT
Director John Woo’s original R-rated cut of the film was 3 and a half hours long, which the studio demanded be sliced up into roughly 2 hours with some of the more graphic scenes removed to allow for a PG 13 certificate.
5. FAMILY TIES
The part of Wallis in the film is played by William Mapother, Tom Cruise’s cousin. He has also appeared in Cruise’s other films Born On The Fourth Of July (1989), Vanilla Sky (2001) and Minority Report (2002).
4. BANG BANG
This is the first Mission: Impossible film where we see Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) fire a gun. As though it were trying to compensate for the lack of firearms in the first film, at one point Hunt simultaneously fires a pair of Berettas in typical John Woo style.
3. KNIFE FIGHT
The scene where Cruise nearly gets stabbed in the eye was technically real, the actor insisting that a genuine knife be used. In order to ensure his safety it was attached to a cable which had been carefully measured out to go no further than a quarter of an inch from his eyeball. Actor Dougray Scott, yielding the knife, was told not to hold back and use as much force as possible when trying to stab Cruise in the eye.
2. MISSION: MENTIONED
Anthony Hopkins’ character Swanbeck is the first person in the series to mention the title of the film when he says ‘Mr Hunt, this isn’t mission difficult, it’s mission impossible’.
1. DIRECTOR’S CUT
Director John Woo’s original R-rated cut of the film was 3 and a half hours long, which the studio demanded be sliced up into roughly 2 hours with some of the more graphic scenes removed to allow for a PG 13 certificate.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III (2006)
Directed by J.J. Abrams.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is forced out of retirement in order to face his most deadly foe yet - Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), an international arms and intelligence broker. Cunning and ruthless, Davian wont stop until he has destroyed Hunt, and everything deemed precious to him - including the woman he loves. |
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5. MARKETING MAYHEM
A medical facility had to be evacuated and a news rack blown up after a marketing stunt promoting the film went wrong. 4,500 audio devices had been installed in news racks across Los Angeles, designed to play the Mission Impossible theme tune when opened. Unfortunately some of these devices had come undone and distressed paper buyers, believing them to be bombs, called the police. Unsure of the purpose of the machines themselves, there was at least one instance where authorities destroyed the news vendor.
4. FOUND HIS MISSION
Looking for more roles in Hollywood, actor Simon Pegg joked to a British reporter that although he was hopping over the Atlantic, ‘its not like I’m going to be in Mission Impossible III’. Soon after he was cast as IMF nerd Benji Dunn.
3. CINEMA
Mission Impossible III was the first film in America to open in over 4000 cinemas. Eventually grossing $397 million, it is the lowest performing earner of the franchise yet. While nowhere near a flop, it only just manages to return double its $150 million budget.
2. HIS FIRST MISSION
Director Joe Carnahan worked on the film for 15 months but then fell out with the studio just a month before production was due to start. The film was then delayed for a year before J.J. Abrams took to the director’s chair.
1. FUNNY
Ricky Gervais turned down a part in the movie. According to an interview posted on RickyGervais.com it seems highly likely to have been the part of Benji Dunn, the British techie working for the IMF and would go on to become a staple of the series.
5. MARKETING MAYHEM
A medical facility had to be evacuated and a news rack blown up after a marketing stunt promoting the film went wrong. 4,500 audio devices had been installed in news racks across Los Angeles, designed to play the Mission Impossible theme tune when opened. Unfortunately some of these devices had come undone and distressed paper buyers, believing them to be bombs, called the police. Unsure of the purpose of the machines themselves, there was at least one instance where authorities destroyed the news vendor.
4. FOUND HIS MISSION
Looking for more roles in Hollywood, actor Simon Pegg joked to a British reporter that although he was hopping over the Atlantic, ‘its not like I’m going to be in Mission Impossible III’. Soon after he was cast as IMF nerd Benji Dunn.
3. CINEMA
Mission Impossible III was the first film in America to open in over 4000 cinemas. Eventually grossing $397 million, it is the lowest performing earner of the franchise yet. While nowhere near a flop, it only just manages to return double its $150 million budget.
2. HIS FIRST MISSION
Director Joe Carnahan worked on the film for 15 months but then fell out with the studio just a month before production was due to start. The film was then delayed for a year before J.J. Abrams took to the director’s chair.
1. FUNNY
Ricky Gervais turned down a part in the movie. According to an interview posted on RickyGervais.com it seems highly likely to have been the part of Benji Dunn, the British techie working for the IMF and would go on to become a staple of the series.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)
Directed by Brad Bird.
Forced to go off the grid when blamed for an attack on the Kremlin, and without resources or backup, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and a small band of associates must find a way of clearing their name and the reputation of the IMF while preventing another incident. To make matters worse, Ethan's group of followers have not all made their agendas clear. |
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5. MISSION: INCREDIBLE
The missile launched at the climax of the film is targeted on Emeryville, California, the location of Pixar Animation Studios headquarters. Fans of animation need not worry about evil geniuses being Hell-bent on the destruction of their favourite cartoonists however, as it is simply a friendly nod to director Brad Bird’s colleagues who he worked with on The Incredibles (2004) and various other animated productions.
4. BOX OFFICE
While all films in the series average a half billion dollar gross, this is the first one to almost reach $700 million ($694,713,230), easily out-performing its predecessor Mission: Impossible III, which at $397,501,348 is the least financially lucrative of the lot. It was also Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film up to this point in his career.
3. ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Tom Cruise didn’t use a stunt double for the scene where he climbs Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai. While he didn’t have to rely on a pair of science fiction electronic gloves as his character does in the film, the actor was wise enough to use a harness which was digitally removed from the picture in post-production.
2. MISSION: DELETED
The Kremlin scene in which Ethan and Benji use a rear-projection screen to hide from a guard was originally longer and involved the guard coming up close to the screen. Director Brad Bird eventually decided to cut it from the movie as he thought it was too improbable that the guard would fail to realise the subterfuge.
1. NAME CHANGE
At one point during production the film makers considered dropping the ‘Mission: Impossible’ tag from the title and just call the movie ‘Ghost Protocol’. While this may at first seem odd, perhaps we should keep in mind that the James Bond films, which this series uses as a template, each have a unique name with no subtitles connecting them.
5. MISSION: INCREDIBLE
The missile launched at the climax of the film is targeted on Emeryville, California, the location of Pixar Animation Studios headquarters. Fans of animation need not worry about evil geniuses being Hell-bent on the destruction of their favourite cartoonists however, as it is simply a friendly nod to director Brad Bird’s colleagues who he worked with on The Incredibles (2004) and various other animated productions.
4. BOX OFFICE
While all films in the series average a half billion dollar gross, this is the first one to almost reach $700 million ($694,713,230), easily out-performing its predecessor Mission: Impossible III, which at $397,501,348 is the least financially lucrative of the lot. It was also Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film up to this point in his career.
3. ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Tom Cruise didn’t use a stunt double for the scene where he climbs Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai. While he didn’t have to rely on a pair of science fiction electronic gloves as his character does in the film, the actor was wise enough to use a harness which was digitally removed from the picture in post-production.
2. MISSION: DELETED
The Kremlin scene in which Ethan and Benji use a rear-projection screen to hide from a guard was originally longer and involved the guard coming up close to the screen. Director Brad Bird eventually decided to cut it from the movie as he thought it was too improbable that the guard would fail to realise the subterfuge.
1. NAME CHANGE
At one point during production the film makers considered dropping the ‘Mission: Impossible’ tag from the title and just call the movie ‘Ghost Protocol’. While this may at first seem odd, perhaps we should keep in mind that the James Bond films, which this series uses as a template, each have a unique name with no subtitles connecting them.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION (2015)
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie.
A major threat known as The Syndicate has come to light and left the IMF disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold. Using a network of highly skilled agents dedicated to establishing a new world order, The Syndicate begin a series of escalating terrorist attacks. Gathers a team of trusted operatives, Hunt unites with former British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who herself may be working for the merciless rogue nation. |
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5. BAD GUYS
The film’s villainous organisation, The Syndicate, was briefly mentioned in the previous movie. They were also the regular antagonists in the original TV series.
4. AQUAMAN
In one scene Cruise’s character finds himself underwater for an extended period of time. In order to be able to film it in one long take, Cruise trained with diving specialist Kirk Krack to hold his breath for over 6 minutes.
3. STUNTS
Tom Cruise insists on doing most stunts himself. For Rogue Nation he was strapped onto the side of an airbus A400 airplane and flown 5000 feet up in the air. In order to be able to keep his eyes open for the scene he wore specially designed lenses to combat the wind resistance. The entire sequence involved 8 takes.
2. COLLABORATION
This is the 4th time Cruise has worked with Christopher McQuarrie, although only the 2nd time that McQuarrie was directing.
1. MCQUARRIE'S WORRY
The film had its world première at the Wiener Staatsoper opera house in Austria, a venue which appears in the film. Director Christopher McQuarrie described it as a 'surreal... meta moment when the police came in the side doors [in the movie] my wife instinctively turned around to look at the doors to see if the police were coming in the door. It was really that immersive'. Fortunately, there were no assassination attempts that night.
5. BAD GUYS
The film’s villainous organisation, The Syndicate, was briefly mentioned in the previous movie. They were also the regular antagonists in the original TV series.
4. AQUAMAN
In one scene Cruise’s character finds himself underwater for an extended period of time. In order to be able to film it in one long take, Cruise trained with diving specialist Kirk Krack to hold his breath for over 6 minutes.
3. STUNTS
Tom Cruise insists on doing most stunts himself. For Rogue Nation he was strapped onto the side of an airbus A400 airplane and flown 5000 feet up in the air. In order to be able to keep his eyes open for the scene he wore specially designed lenses to combat the wind resistance. The entire sequence involved 8 takes.
2. COLLABORATION
This is the 4th time Cruise has worked with Christopher McQuarrie, although only the 2nd time that McQuarrie was directing.
1. MCQUARRIE'S WORRY
The film had its world première at the Wiener Staatsoper opera house in Austria, a venue which appears in the film. Director Christopher McQuarrie described it as a 'surreal... meta moment when the police came in the side doors [in the movie] my wife instinctively turned around to look at the doors to see if the police were coming in the door. It was really that immersive'. Fortunately, there were no assassination attempts that night.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT (2018)
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF gang join forces with a CIA assassin to prevent an epic disaster. A group of terrorists known as the Apostles intend on using three plutonium cores to attack the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hunt and co are now against the clock as they try to stop them. |
Coming soon...
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