Mission: Impossible (1996) is the first film based on the television series Mission: Impossible. It was directed by Brian De Palma and starred Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. The film was the third highest grossing film of the year.

Plot summary

Ethan Hunt, the point man in Jim Phelps' team of IMF agents, is framed for attempting to steal and sell the CIA "NOC" list to an arms dealer named "Max". The NOC list is a list of every IMF agent, their codenames and their real names.

Cast and characters

• Tom Cruise — Ethan Hunt
• Jon Voight — Jim Phelps
• Ving Rhames — Luther Stickell
• Jean Reno — Franz Krieger
• Emmanuelle Béart — Claire Phelps
• Henry Czerny — Eugene Kittridge
• Vanessa Redgrave — Max

Crew

• Directed by: Brian De Palma
• Written by: David Koepp, Steven Zaillian
• Produced by: Paul Hitchcock , Tom Cruise
• Composed by: Danny Elfman

Reaction

Although the film ranked the third highest in box office gross for the year, the film was criticized for being unfaithful to the original television series Mission: Impossible by focusing on star Tom Cruise's character Ethan Hunt rather than emphasizing teamwork. At the same time the film made the central character of the television series, Jim Phelps, a traitor in the CIA. The script was also criticized for being too complicated, a twist on the usual complaints that summer blockbusters are too lowbrow. To the film's credit though, it was regarded as much more faithful than its sequel Mission: Impossible II.

See also

• Mission: Impossible II

External links