About This Quiz
In 1996 the world was gifted with a brand new spin on the "Mission: Impossible" TV series. With more advanced spy gear, slicker editing and — not to mention — Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, the new spy in charge, a single movie turned into a still-growing franchise of fast-paced, action-packed movies. The "Mission: Impossible" films have redefined what it means to perform a stunt (as an actor, not as a stunt double), and they include some of the most impressive feats of explosive, heart-pounding storytelling around. Each film brings new agents, different villains and even more double-crossing. The audience is never 100 percent sure who they can trust, and it's that element of the unknown that makes the movies so much fun to revisit.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to show off your knowledge of all six "Mission: Impossible" movies. In a franchise where nothing is as it seems, this may prove more difficult than you might expect. Pay close attention to the details, keep your friends close (and your enemies closer), and get ready to show off your IMF-approved adventure skills; your life might depend on it.
So, cue the theme song, grab your spy gear, and test your knowledge of the "Mission: Impossible" film franchise!
Filmed at Dead Horse Point in Utah, in this movie, Tom Cruise appears to be rock climbing without the use of ropes or other equipment. In reality, Cruise was safely strapped to the cliffside with cables (which were digitally removed in post-production.)
The IMF, or Impossible Missions Force, is a top-secret group of highly skilled agents who work for the United States government. Later films reveal IMF agents can be found all over the world, suggesting the organization works at an international level.
Ving Rhames was originally hired to play the part of IMF hacker Luther Stickell only to find out the character dies at the beginning of the movie. Rhames told director Brian De Palma that black characters are often the first to die in action movies. The script was changed, making him the only other actor to appear in every one of the franchise's movies.
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Julia, or "Jules," is played by Michelle Monaghan in three "Mission: Impossible" movies. In order to keep Julia alive, Ethan Hunt makes the difficult decision to distance himself completely from her life. Although Meade is no longer a part of Hunt's life, they remain friends throughout the series.
Tom Cruise scales the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the tallest structure in the world at 2,720 feet, in "Ghost Protocol." Cruise insisted on doing his own stunts for the scene, and with the help of a stunt crew and cables which were later edited out, they climbed up and rappelled down the exterior of the building.
Previously known for high-octane thrillers such as "Face/Off" and "Broken Arrow," director John Woo's fast-paced, perfectly choreographed action scenes were an intentional departure from the more subdued, film noir tone of the first "Mission: Impossible" movie.
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Filming the moment when Ethan Hunt zooms around the Arc de Triomphe on his motorcycle was extremely time sensitive. Director Christopher McQuarrie had only two hours to shoot the scene in its entirety (and only 15 minutes to capture Cruise speeding against the flow of traffic.)
The familiar words, "This mission, should you choose to accept it ..." are usually heard coming from unexpected objects. These self-destructing objects not only provide the agent with information about the mission, they also state the IMF will deny any involvement if plans go awry.
Simon Pegg first makes his appearance in Mission: "Impossible III," where he plays Benji, an IMF technician who helps Ethan Hunt save the life of his wife, Julia. He returns as a central character in the next three "Mission: Impossible" movies and is promoted to the position of technical field agent.
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Ethan Hunt attends the opera "Turandot" at the Vienna State Opera in "Rogue Nation" while being pursued by three assassins from the Syndicate. Gorgeous cinematography, a flute gun and a breathtaking fight sequence make this a stand-out scene in the franchise.
Emilio Estevez plays IMF agent Jack Harmon in "Mission: Impossible," although his role was uncredited. A field operative, Harmon and most of his team fall victim to sabotage and are killed off one by one (with the exception of Ethan Hunt.)
Paramount released "Fallout" in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D, the first of its kind in the franchise. While the action scenes become even more impressive when viewed in 3D, the panoramic location shots in Paris, France and Norway are truly a sight to behold.
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Rebecca Ferguson plays Ilsa Faust, an MI6 agent who is asked to work undercover with the Syndicate in an effort to bring down their nefarious organization. Faust makes her first appearance in "Rogue Nation," becoming a main character and Ethan Hunt's love interest in "Fallout."
Fans of Keri Russell were shocked when her character, IMF agent Lindsey Ferris, was killed by an explosive charge implanted in her head in the first 15 minutes of the movie. Despite a lack of screen time, Russell reportedly trained as a boxer and stick-fighter for over four months for the role.
The dizzying scene in "Ghost Protocol" when Ethan Hunt climbs the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was filmed using IMAX cameras, a first for the franchise. The films that followed — "Rogue Nation" and "Fallout" — were also partially filmed using IMAX 70MM camera film.
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"I Disappear" was written by Metallica for "Mission: Impossible II," the first and only time the band composed a song specifically for a film. The song also sparked the court battle between Metallica and Napster after an early version of the song was released on the file-sharing platform.
The cast of the original "Mission: Impossible" was reportedly horrified that the heroic Jim Phelps double-crossed and murdered most of the IMF team at the beginning of the "Mission: Impossible" movie. In fact, Voight was cast because producers thought he looked more "trusting," despite his evil plans.
Sir Anthony Hopkins shows up unexpectedly in the second "Mission: Impossible" installment as Mission Commander Swanbeck, It is Hopkin's voice that relays Ethan Hunt's next mission, should he choose to accept it. He is the only actor to actually say the phrase "mission impossible" in the entire franchise.
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The first filming attempts of the scene where Ethan Hunt drops through the ceiling weren't successful as Cruise kept tipping forward onto his hands. He came up with the idea to put coins in his socks, thereby creating a balance in his weight.
Yet another real-life stunt performed by Tom Cruise, this scene featured Hunt hanging onto an actual Airbus 400. In order to create the stunt, Cruise was strapped onto the plane with aluminum cables (which were later edited out.)
Tom Cruise got his HALO, high altitude, low opening, certification for "Fallout." The HALO jump was done from 25,000 feet, and it had to be repeated a whopping 106 times (some of the jumps were completed while Cruise had an ankle injury) in order to get all the right shots.
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"Mission: Impossible III" was directed by J.J. Abrams, his debut directorial effort on a feature film. Although Abrams only directed the one "Mission: Impossible" movie, his production company, Bad Robot, produced the next three films in the franchise.
Wolf Blitzer makes a cameo as himself in "Fallout," but is it really him? In order to extract information from a terrorist, Blitzer helps the IMF team by reading fake news on air. However, once the information has been collected, "Blitzer" removes the mask only to reveal he's actually agent Benji Dunn.
Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin was the composer of the famous "Mission: Impossible" theme song. The unforgettable theme was so popular, it landed a spot on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in 1967.
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From the very first explosive scene of "Ghost Protocol," It's easy to see a marked resemblance to Brad Bird's other action-packed adventure, Pixar's "The Incredibles." Both films are full of over-the-top adventure scenes punctuated with humor, daring thrills and a hint of romance.
Paramount Pictures not only released every "Mission: Impossible" movie, they have also used a different logo for each film. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" featured a special 100th anniversary logo, the first film released by Paramount to use this design.
Christopher McQuarrie has directed two "Mission: Impossible" movies to date ("Rogue Nation" and "Fallout.") He is also slated to write and direct the next two installments in the franchise, which are set to be released in 2021 and 2022.
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August Walker, played by British actor Henry Cavilll, is certainly a force to be reckoned with in "Fallout." Walker is brutally killed when a helicopter winch hook rips him from the side of an icy cliff (thanks to Ethan Hunt's ingenuity and dogged persistence).
The late Philip Seymour Hoffman played Owen Davian, the villainous American arms dealer in "Mission: Impossible III." Ethan Hunt must steal the Rabbit's Foot (a dangerous biohazard) for Davian in exchange for his wife's safe return.
The suitcase at the beginning of "Fallout" contains three plutonium cores. Under the orders of the IMF, Ethan Hunt is supposed to buy the plutonium cores from international gang members before the Apostles (former members of the Syndicate) can purchase them for their own evil plans.
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Alec Baldwin plays Alan Hunley, former CIA director turned head of the IMF. At first, Hunley is skeptical of Ethan Hunt's activities in "Rogue Nation" but ultimately lets him go at the end of the movie to chase down terrorist Solomon Lane in "Fallout."
Although it was Vanessa Redgrave who ultimately portrayed Max in "Mission: Impossible," the part was originally written for a male actor. Known only by her first name, Max was a dangerous and manipulative arms dealer who helped Jim Phelps double-cross the IMF team.
"Mission: Impossible III" begins with an engagement party and the assumption that Ethan has successfully left the IMF world for good and is ready to settle down with his fiancee, Julia. The couple manages to tie the knot before the main action begins but they soon discover how dangerous a marriage can truly be.
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"Fallout" grossed almost $61.5 million in its first weekend, proving that Ethan Hunt and his fellow IMF agents continue to draw big crowds six films into the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.
The director of modern classics such as "Carrie" and "Scarface," Brian De Palma used his signature brooding style to transform the original "Mission: Impossible" TV show into a stylish, slow-burn of an action thriller.