Mission: Impossible - Will Action Cinema Ever Be The Same?

For nearly three decades, the words “Mission: Impossible” have been synonymous with a specific brand of cinematic exhilaration. It’s a franchise built on the very real, dangerous, and breathtaking practical stunts that have become its hallmark. With the much-discussed conclusion of the saga in the form of The Final Reckoning, a question looms large over the landscape of action cinema: will audiences feel the sting of its absence, and can any other film truly fill the impossible-sized void it leaves behind?

The legacy of Mission: Impossible isn’t just one of box office success; it’s a testament to the pursuit of authenticity in cinema. In an era increasingly reliant on CGI and green screens, Tom Cruise, who plays the unrelenting Ethan Hunt, has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible without the need for digital tools. From scaling the Burj Khalifa to riding a motorbike off a cliff, Cruise’s antics are spectacles that draw audiences to cinemas everywhere.

This commitment to practical stunts has created a unique connection with audiences. We don’t just watch Ethan, we feel the peril he’s in because we know it’s Cruise himself hanging off that plane, driving that speeding car, or holding his breath for an astonishing amount of time. It’s a visceral experience that CGI would struggle to replicate.

The evolution of Cruise’s stunts in the franchise is a remarkable journey, mirroring a continuous drive to push boundaries. Cruise’s commitment to performing his own, increasingly ambitious, practical stunts has been a defining characteristic of the films from the series’ inception. In the very first Mission: Impossible (1996), Cruise established the tone with iconic moments like the Langley vault heist, where Ethan dangled from wires just inches above a pressure-sensitive floor. This scene, while not as physically demanding as later stunts would be, showcased his dedication to intricate practical work, even using coins in his shoes to maintain balance. Another early notable sequence involved the exploding restaurant aquarium, a scene created almost entirely without digital effects, where Cruise ran from 16 tons of real water.

As the franchise progressed, so did the scale and danger of Cruise’s endeavours. Mission: Impossible II (2000) opened with the free-climb of a 2,000-foot rock face. While he was harnessed, the visual impact and the sheer audacity of the stunt, performed with gale-force winds, set a new bar. This film also featured a memorable knife fight where a real blade was carefully cabled to stop mere millimetres from Cruise’s eye.

READ OUR REVIEW OF MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING HERE

Mission: Impossible III (2006) continued with Cruise performing stunts like being slammed into a car by a missile during a bridge explosion sequence, and a free-fall and “Tarzan swing” between Shanghai skyscrapers. However, it was with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) that the stunts truly entered a new stratosphere. Many argue this was where the franchise found its stride and truly channelled the Mission: Impossible spirit audiences know today. The film saw Ethan scaling the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, with only specialised magnetic gloves. Cruise was suspended thousands of feet in the air, allowing director Brad Bird to capture wide shots that emphasised the real height and peril. This commitment allowed for camera angles that wouldn’t be possible with a stunt double or CGI.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) had Cruise hanging from the outside of a massive Airbus A400M transport plane as it took off, travelling at 160mph. This was followed by an underwater sequence, for which Cruise trained with free divers to hold his breath for over six minutes. By Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), Cruise’s stunts were not just impressive; they were groundbreaking. The film featured a real HALO (High Altitude Low Open) jump from 25,000 feet. He also participated in an intensive helicopter piloting course, which involved performing a helicopter chase that required complex manoeuvres, including corkscrew turns, all while flying, acting, and operating cameras. This film also saw Cruise break his ankle while performing a rooftop jump that resulted in production having to be paused until he healed.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) showcased the star riding a motorcycle off a cliff and transitioning into a base jump before parachuting onto a moving train. And finally, he did an extensive aerial sequence with biplanes for The Final Reckoning. He hangs from the wing of a vintage 1930s Boeing Stearman biplane, sometimes at 8,000 to 10,000 feet, and travelling at speeds of 140 miles per hour. This required extensive training, with Cruise spending over a year and a half preparing for “wing walking,” including flight simulations, wind tunnel testing, and practice flights. He has since detailed the sheer physical exertion involved due to the lack of oxygen from the high-speed winds.

As the curtain appears to close on this iconic series (at least for now, since whispers of its potential continuation still linger), the proposed question remains: Will filmmakers attempt to fill the void? And will it be enough">Christopher McQuarrie.

Some contenders might emerge, certainly. There are plenty of franchises that deliver high-octane action and charismatic leads. But how many are willing to forego the convenience of digital effects for the heart-stopping reality of a practical stunt? Will we see a new generation of filmmakers and actors embrace the arduous, painstaking process of creating genuine spectacle over manufactured illusion"> might prove to be just that: impossible. The franchise has carved out such a distinctive niche that its absence would be keenly felt by anyone who appreciates the art of practical action.

Even if the door remains slightly ajar for future instalments, the influence of Mission: Impossible will resonate in cinema for years to come. It has shown what’s possible when a star and a creative team are willing to risk everything for the perfect shot. The challenge now for Hollywood is not just to imitate, but to innovate, to find its own way to ignite that unique spark of real-world wonder that Mission: Impossible perfected. The void is waiting to be filled, but the bar has been set impossibly high.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is in cinemas now.