# Mission: Impossible (1996) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/mission-impossible-1996/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-24

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 71% |
| Critic Score | 66% |
| Audience Score | 89% |
| Metascore | 59/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.5/5 |
| IMDb | 7.2/10 |
| Director | Brian De Palma |
| Genres | Adventure, Action, Thriller |
| Runtime | 111 min |

## Quick answer

Mission: Impossible (1996) earns a 71% Celluloid Score — Recommended. De Palma’s CIA mole thriller that launched the franchise — Langley’s CIA vault drop remains immortal. Critics and audiences diverge (66% critic vs 89% audience). Metascore 59/100. Directed by Brian De Palma.

## Critics consensus

De Palma’s CIA mole thriller that launched the franchise — Langley’s CIA vault drop remains immortal.

## Synopsis

When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.

## Cast

Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vanessa Redgrave, Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė, Valentina Yakunina

## Common questions

**Is Mission: Impossible worth watching?**
Mission: Impossible holds a 71% Celluloid Score. De Palma’s CIA mole thriller that launched the franchise — Langley’s CIA vault drop remains immortal.

**What is Mission: Impossible about?**
When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.

**Who directed Mission: Impossible?**
Mission: Impossible (1996) was directed by Brian De Palma.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Mission: Impossible?**
71% — the average of five public sources: critics 66%, audience 89%, Metascore 59/100, Letterboxd 3.5/5, and IMDb 7.2/10.

**Where can I watch Mission: Impossible?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Mission: Impossible page for current options.

---
Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/mission-impossible-1996.md