Released on May 22, 1996, the first film launched one of the most successful action franchises in cinema history. Directed by Brian De Palma and starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, it transitioned the classic 1960s TV series into a high-stakes modern spy thriller. Plot Summary
The story begins with Jim Phelps and his Impossible Missions Force (IMF) team attempting to retrieve a "non-official cover" (NOC) list of undercover agents in Prague. The mission goes disastrously wrong; the team is wiped out, leaving as the sole survivor. Branded a mole by his own agency, Hunt must go rogue to find the real traitor and clear his name. Key Highlights Mission: Impossible (1996)1996
: Interestingly, this is the only film in the entire franchise where Ethan Hunt does not fire a single gun. Released on May 22, 1996, the first film
: The film is famous for the vault infiltration scene, where Ethan Hunt is suspended by cables inches above a pressure-sensitive floor—a sequence that has since become a staple of pop culture. The mission goes disastrously wrong; the team is
: This was the first film Tom Cruise officially produced. It also featured a refreshed version of Lalo Schifrin’s legendary theme song and a score by Danny Elfman .