There are few franchises quite like the Mission: Impossible franchise. With jaw-dropping action set pieces, charming characters, engaging narratives, and awesome gadgets, each installment only gets better. One aspect that many overlook in the franchise, however, is the brilliant performances of the entire cast.
The likes of Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, and Philip Seymour Hoffman give just a handful of the spectacular performances found in the franchise. So with that in mind, here are the best performances in the Mission: Impossible franchise.
10 Jeremy Renner - William Brandt
Jeremy Renner has starred in some of the best movie franchises of all time. Most notably, he starred as the legendary super heroic archer, Hawkeye, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as starring in the Bourne spin-off, Bourne: Legacy. However, Renner's best performance is undoubtedly as Agent William Brandt in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Renner enthuses Agent Brandt with his usual charisma, and brilliant physicality. He's witty when he needs to be, and he's deadly when the time calls for it.
9 Henry Cavill - August Walker
When it was announced that Henry Cavill was joining the Mission: Impossible franchise, we were beyond excited. Thankfully, he did not disappoint. Cavill was suave, menacing, intimidating, and badass as August Walker. That infamous shotgun pump he did with his arms was stunning, and one of the best moments in movie history. Which wouldn't have been possible without Cavill in the role. Cavill's large physique allowed for a more unique fighting style, which incorporated boxing, compared to Ethan Hunt's Muay Thai-like fighting style.
8 Ving Rhames - Luther Stickkell
Ving Rhames has been in the franchise since the start, and has helped Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt on pretty much every single mission. Luther is one of the best characters in the franchise, which wouldn't be possible without Ving Rhames' witty and charismatic performance. The dynamic and chemistry Rhames has with the rest of the cast is infectious, and elevates our enjoyment of the franchise.
7 Hayley Atwell - Grace
As one of the newest additions to the cast, Hayley Atwell immediately cemented her character of Grace as one of the best, mostly thanks to her performance. She may be the most cunning and quick-thinking character in the franchise, thanks to her extensive criminal history, which Atwell delivers in spades. A step away from her time as Peggy Carter in the MCU, Atwell delivers a far more timid, chaotic, and wholly entertaining performance as Grace, and we can't wait to see where her performance and her character goes in the next installment in the franchise.
6 Henry Czerny - Kittridge
Appearing in the very first Mission: Impossible in 1996, Henry Czerny delivered an intriguing, intimidating, and awesome performance as Kittridge. As one of the more senior roles of the IMF, Kittridge would give Ethan all the intel needed for his next impossible mission, and hearing Czerny's unique wispy voice on the iconic tape that will "self-destruct in five seconds" only made the franchise and the world far more investing.
Czerny's performance was one of the best aspects to the first Mission: Impossible movie, and since, we have all been wanting to see Czerny to return to the franchise. Thankfully, our wishes were granted as Czerny makes a triumphant return in the latest installment in the franchise Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1, where he once again proved that his performance as the conniving Kittridge is among the best in the franchise.
5 Sean Harris - Solomon Lane
For the most part, the villains in the Mission: Impossible are pretty dull. That said, when the franchise delivers a complex villain, these are some of the best and most evil villains in action cinema. Thankfully, Solomon Lane is the latter, thanks to Sean Harris' haunting performance. Sean Harris is one of the best actors around, and his performance as Solomon Lane is among his best work to date.
He provided the character with so much depth just in his facial expressions, which mostly lacked expression, proving how unemotional and detached from humanity he really is. This made Solomon Lane a lot more maniacal and intimidating than he already was.
4 Rebecca Ferguson - Ilsa Faust
Appearing in movies like Doctor Sleep, Life, and Dune among many others, Rebecca Ferguson is without a doubt one of the best female actors working today. No matter her role, Ferguson will always infuse her roles with a gravitas that only Ferguson could deliver. Ferguson delivers her all in the Mission: Impossible franchise as the badass Ilsa Faust. Ilsa is quite easily the deadliest character in the entire franchise, even more so than Ethan Hunt. Her hand-to-hand fighting skills are unparalleled, and so is her cunning and determination. Delivering impeccable physicality, Ferguson is simply flawless as Ilsa Faust.
3 Simon Pegg - Benji Dunn
Simon Pegg is a phenomenal actor. He's starred in movies like Shaun of the Dead, the new Star Trek movies, and the underrated comedy movie Paul, all of which wouldn't be as beloved without Pegg's incomparable wit and charm. After finding success with his work on Shaun of the Dead, Pegg was quickly signed on for a small role in Mission: Impossible III.
However, we loved his role so much that the franchise brought Benji back for a larger role, and is now one of the best and most important characters in the franchise. Like Pegg's other roles, the character of Benji just wouldn't be as lovable and endearing without the comedian in the role.
2 Philip Seymour Hoffman - Owen Davian
There are few villains in action movie history that are as notoriously evil as Owen Davian. He tortured both Ethan and his wife, and no matter what, the villain would always come out on top, due to his masterfully crafted plans. That alone makes for a haunting villain, but add Philip Seymour Hoffman's unnerving line delivery and unpredictability, and Owen Davian is a flawless antagonist, and without question, the best in the franchise.
1 Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt
How can we deny that Tom Cruise doesn't give the best performance in the entire franchise? He is literally Ethan Hunt in real life. No actor, not even method actors, can delve into their roles as much as Tom Cruise. He is so invested in his character and his craft, and he will immerse himself into his role so much, that he has done some of the most dangerous stunts in cinema history, ranking him among the best actors who perform their own stunts.
Cruise has jumped out of a plane 25,000 feet in the sky, he has dangled off a moving helicopter, and rode a motorcycle off a cliff before parachuting onto a train. That is dedication right there. Not only that, but Cruise is a fantastic actor, capable of emitting laughs, emotion, and confidence in any of his roles, but none more so than as Ethan Hunt.
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