Mission: Impossible

Movie review by Randy White, Common Sense Media
Mission: Impossible Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Sensational, implausible, violent: Irresistible to teens.

PG-13 1996 110 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 12+

Based on 11 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 74 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Mission: Impossible is an action-packed, suspense-filled film that will appeal to adults and some teens, with lots of fighting, danger, and characters killed in unusual ways. There are some bloody visuals: clothes, hands, knifings, and a woman shot to death. Still, much of the violence is suggested rather than shown either using wide shots or with the camera cutting away before a grisly death actually happens. Adventurous stunts include daring fights and chases along with explosions, flooding, crashes through glass, a helicopter in pursuit of a high speed train with men fighting atop it, and a death-defying burglary of an impregnable security installation. The film contains occasional mild cursing, some smoking and drinking, a few drugs administered to subdue those who may be a threat, and a hint of a possible sexual indiscretion.

Community Reviews

jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
April 12, 2020
age 13+

Excellent...Enough Said!

This film is incredible! Surprisingly, every film in this franchise is very good...except for the second one. My favorite part, though, is definitely the first mission. That’s where the whole group is alive and working together, and it is probably one of the more complex, well-made parts of the entire film. Who knew that Ethan Hunt would go from being an ordinary group member to the star of the series! Excellent film! My favorite movie in the franchise! Highly recommend to people 13 or older.

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
Emmybear5515
Emmybear5515 Adult
November 3, 2022
age 10+

A great movie

I think 10+ year olds should watch it with parents. It says a women gets shot to death but I’m pretty sure that’s not true. There’s also no kissing, I may be wrong. Overall I love this movie. I was 10 when I first watched it and I love it. I personally think Tom cruise does a great job as Ethan. Definitely recommend it to anyone who loves action/adventure. I’m pretty sure theres no drinking/ drugs.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The big-screen MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE may not have the campy sensibility of its TV predecessor (which ran from 1966-1973), but it generates plenty of nail-biting suspense while capturing the overall spirit of the spy genre, complete with really cool high-tech gadgets. The setting is Prague, behind the old Iron Curtain, when the lives of Eastern European operatives are at risk. When a mission goes horribly wrong, secret agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is marked as a mole and hunted by the CIA. Now a fugitive, Hunt must track down the true double agent and a computer disk in order to clear his name.

Is It Any Good?

The Cold War may be over, but the spy genre is alive and well in Tom Cruise and director Brian De Palma's sometimes confusing and implausible thriller. Still, Mission: Impossible has great sets, requisite turncoat agents, high tech espionage, and three thrilling action sequences that will keep action-crazy adolescents on the edge of their seats. The movie unfortunately foregoes plot coherence and plausibility in favor of sensationally shot break-ins and escapes. The CIA headquarters break-in, while exhilarating, is particularly dubious.

Mission: Impossible certainly has a great opening, breaking the rules of the Hollywood thriller by (seemingly) killing off stars (Jon Voigt, Emilio Estevez, Kristin Scott Thomas) in the introductory sequence. De Palma also does a fine job of creating an atmosphere of suspicion; nobody with whom Tom Cruise comes into contact is completely trustworthy. And the action sequences -- in particular the helicopter in the Chunnel -- are some of the best Hollywood has to offer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Mission: Impossible's themes of death, self-sacrafice and patriotism. What level of each does each family member believe is appropriate? What would you give up -- how much would you place your life in peril -- for what you believe in?

  • What makes watching action and violence compelling? When does it go too far?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate