The seventh movie of this blockbuster action franchise, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I is coming in less than a month away. I’m thrilled to be seeing the press screening tonight, so I thought I’d commemorate that by doing a top 10 list. However you feel about Tom Cruise, it’s hard to deny that he’s one of the remaining few movie stars who can open a movie just with his name on the marquee.

He’s also a bonafide producer and under his ‘reign,’ the Mission Impossible franchise has become a rare film series that only gets better and better. Being the massive adrenaline junkie that he is, Cruise always pushes the limit of what is possible, often doing the stunts himself. I don’t know any actor who’s SO committed to delivering the best entertainment for his fans.

I have to say that a lot of my faves are from the recent movies, as I could barely remember most of the action scenes from MI: II and MI: III, apart from the rock-climbing intro of the second movie, but still, not quite as memorable as so many other ones since. So here are my picks of the most epic action scenes, listed in the order of my own personal ranking:

#10. CIA headquarter breach – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (1996)

I have to admit, I’m not as overly fond of the first MI movie by Brian De Palma that was released 27 years ago in 1996. The cast is stacked with Oscar-caliber actors, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vanessa Redgrave, Jon Voight, etc. and it does have some great moments. This suspenseful wire act where Ethan Hunt is hanging down from the roof of Langley’s vault is still fun to watch.

#9. Chopper vs high-speed train in the tunnel – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 

Another one from the first movie that made me laugh and cheer in equal measure. Most of the first movie is so darn somber and serious, but the action scenes sure have a sense of humor. It’s pretty amazing too that almost 3 decades ago, the CGI still holds up quite well compared to some Marvel/DC movies released recently.

#8. Hanging off the side of a plane as it takes off – ROGUE NATION (2015)

I’ve become even more of a fan of these movies ever since Christopher McQuarrie came on board as writer/director for Rogue Nation. When you’ve got an opening as insane as THIS, it sure sets the bar high action-wise for the rest of the movie. There are no visual effects or use of a stunt double, that is really Cruise being suspended on the Airbus A400M some 5000 feet in the air! I’m glad Simon Pegg has been a mainstay of the franchise as he’s absolutely hilarious as the group’s tech guy Benji who’s often a few steps behind Ethan Hunt, literally.

#7 Mountain motorbike chase – ROGUE NATION

Every action movie has got to have a memorable chase scene. There are quite a few in this franchise but the one that I remember most is the extensive Morocco car + motorbike scene along the streets of Marrakech. Having Simon Pegg around adds an extra dose of mirth whose panic reaction represents ALL of us watching the scene. The motorbike chase that follows is beautifully shot and choreographed, and the music complements it perfectly.

#6 Underwater vault heist – ROGUE NATION

So Cruise was famously reported as being able to hold his breath underwater for six minutes to do this stunt (which was recently beaten by Kate Winslet by over a minute during filming of Avatar 2). No matter, this scene still makes me gasp for air as I’m watching it. It’s the best underwater heist I’ve ever seen, it not only pushes the envelope for the actors but also for the filmmaker and all the crew in putting this together. What’s amazing is how it’s all practical effects instead of CGI, and that’s really Cruise doing the scene, too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f81SacieKgk

#5 The Vienna Opera House – ROGUE NATION

Yes, it’s another epic action scene featuring Rebecca Fergusson‘s Ilsa Faust, my favorite amongst all the women of the franchise who’s clearly the most badass. Her introduction at the opera with her sexy, slinky golden dress is darn right iconic. Plus I think it’s genius to have Puccini’s aria Nessun dorma playing in the background, as well as using the music as a key element in the whole sequence.

#4 London foot chase  – FALLOUT (2018)

Tom Cruise loves to run in his movies, but nothing is more iconic and downright crazy than THIS chase all over London. It’s an ankle-breaking chase (literally), as apparently Cruise famously broke his ankle when he jumped off the building and that’s the scene they used in the movie!! Production had to be shut down while Cruise made a full recovery, boy he sure suffers for his art! It’s not quite ‘the last straw that breaks the camel’s back’ though, as obviously it hasn’t stopped Cruise from doing yet crazier stunts. Again, I love how funny this scene is, especially the bit inside the church, while the sequence could practically double as a London city tour advert.

#3 Bathroom brawl  – FALLOUT 

I had to include one fight scene from MI and this is the one that comes to mind because it was both epic and funny! Apparently, it took several weeks to film and I could see why. It really highlights how awesome Henry Cavill is in this movie, who improvised that arm gun reload moment that becomes a famous meme.

Of course, it’s Miss Elsa Faust who saves the day once again with her quick thinking.

#2 Helicopter chase through the mountains – FALLOUT 

I have to say I enjoy Henry Cavill’s performance more as a villain than as Superman (though not a fault of his). Cruise ups the ante in picking Ethan Hunt’s adversary and Cavill is more than up for the task.

As for the choppers battle, well, Cruise doesn’t just pilot his own helicopter but he also did those death-defying stunts that only the best stuntmen would even attempt. The whole sequence is pretty much one big OMG moment … it’s truly amazing how the MI crew pulls this white-knuckle scene off in such a spectacular fashion.

#1 The Burj Khalifa scene – GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

Speaking of spectacular… no scene in the franchise has been able to top THIS one. My hands and feet get tingly just watching Cruise dangling off the 2700+ foot Dubai skyscraper. Anyone who’s even remotely acrophobic would have a hard time just watching this. It’s like riding a rollercoaster as my stomach churns the moment Ethan’s only pair of suction gloves stop working!! It’s likely one of the most dangerous action stunts ever pulled by an actor, I mean, green-screen be damned for the ultimate daredevil like Cruise.

The cinematography is absolutely stunning, showing you just how insanely tall the Burj Khalifa is that you could barely make out the bottom of the building! Kudos to director Brad Bird who leads the entire crew of stuntmen, architects, engineers, as well as professional climbers who made this possible. Even 12 years later, I think this remains the defining scene of the franchise. Shot with IMAX cameras, this is the kind of scene to be seen on as big a screen as possible.

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I often wonder just how the studio could even get insurance for Tom Cruise, given the extremely high-risk stunts he constantly pulls. Well, whatever insurance they got, it must’ve cost them a fortune! I read here that Cruise fired his insurance agent for Ghost Protocol, likely because he insists on doing the Burj Khalifa stunt himself, ahah.

I simply have to include this hilarious Matt Damon interview with Conan where he talked about asking Cruise about doing those preposterous stunts.

In any case, I can’t wait to see which action scene(s) I’d get to add to the list once Dead Reckoning Part I and II are released!

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So are you a fan of the MI franchise? Let me know which action scene(s) are your favorite!

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