Common Sense Media Review
First M:I movie starts off with a bang; violence, peril.
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Mission: Impossible
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 77 kid reviews
Kids say that while the movie features thrilling action sequences and strong performances from the cast, its complex plot and violent scenes can make it confusing and intense for younger viewers. Though some appreciate its entertaining elements and clever twists, many feel it may not be suitable for children under ten due to levels of violence and language.
- thrilling action
- complex plot
- suitable for tweens
- violence concerns
- strong performances
- entertaining elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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 labeled 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 Cruise and director Brian De Palma's thriller. It's sometimes confusing and implausible, but Mission: Impossible still has great production values, tense high-tech espionage, and three thrilling set pieces that will keep action lovers on the edge of their seats. The movie unfortunately forgoes plot coherence in favor of flashy scenes 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 most of its stars (Jon Voight, Emilio Estevez, Kristin Scott Thomas) right off the bat. De Palma also does a fine job of creating an atmosphere of suspicion; nobody with whom Ethan comes into contact is completely trustworthy. And the action sequences -- especially 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 theme of self-sacrifice. What would you give up to do what you think is right? Is it ever OK to break the rules to get the result you want?
What makes watching action and violence compelling? When does it go too far?
If you've watched the other Mission: Impossible movies or TV show, how does this one compare? What are some of the franchise's recurring themes?
In one scene, Ethan roughly pats down a woman he doesn't trust, grabbing her breasts and holding her down against a bed. What are other ways he could have tested her trustworthiness?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 12, 1996
- On DVD or streaming : November 12, 1996
- Cast : Jon Voight , Kristin Scott Thomas , Tom Cruise
- Director : Brian De Palma
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic intensity
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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