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'{{short description|1996 film directed by Brian De Palma}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Mission: Impossible | image = MissionImpossiblePoster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Brian De Palma]] | producer = {{Plainlist| * [[Tom Cruise]] * [[Paula Wagner]] }} | screenplay = {{Plainlist| * [[David Koepp]] * [[Robert Towne]] }} | story = {{Plainlist| * David Koepp * [[Steven Zaillian]] }} | based_on = {{Based on|''[[Mission: Impossible]]''|[[Bruce Geller]]}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Tom Cruise * [[Jon Voight]] * [[Emmanuelle Béart]] * [[Henry Czerny]] * [[Ving Rhames]] * [[Kristin Scott Thomas]] * [[Vanessa Redgrave]] * [[Jean Reno]] }} | music = [[Danny Elfman]] | cinematography = [[Stephen H. Burum]] | editing = [[Paul Hirsch (film editor)|Paul Hirsch]] | studio = [[Cruise/Wagner Productions]] | distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60515?sid=68507ffc-4341-4aaf-b55c-cbae55c363ea&sr=4.0242205&cp=1&pos=1|title=Mission: Impossible|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=May 22, 2017|archive-date=January 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124041415/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/60515?sid=68507ffc-4341-4aaf-b55c-cbae55c363ea&sr=4.0242205&cp=1&pos=1|url-status=live}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|1996|05|22}} | runtime = 110 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 110:25--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/mission-impossible-1970-4 | title=''MISSION IMPOSSIBLE'' (PG) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=May 20, 1996 | access-date=August 2, 2015 | archive-date=January 2, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102214041/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/mission-impossible-1970-4 | url-status=live }}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $80&nbsp;million<ref name="boxofficemojo1">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0117060/?ref_=bo_rl_ti |title=Mission: Impossible (1996) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2015-08-01 |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424145236/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0117060/?ref_=bo_rl_ti |url-status=live }}</ref> | gross = $457.7&nbsp;million<ref name="boxofficemojo1"/> }} '''''Mission: Impossible''''' is a 1996 American [[action film|action]] [[spy film]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Foutch |first1=Haleigh |title='Mission: Impossible' 20 Years Later: How An Uneasy Spy Thriller Became a Blockbuster Franchise |url=http://collider.com/mission-impossible-tom-cruise-20-years-later/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=May 22, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717083626/http://collider.com/mission-impossible-tom-cruise-20-years-later |url-status=live }}</ref> directed by [[Brian De Palma]] and produced by and starring [[Tom Cruise]] from a screenplay by [[David Koepp]] and [[Robert Towne]] and story by Koepp and [[Steven Zaillian]]. A continuation of [[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|the 1966 television series of the same name]] and its [[Mission: Impossible (1988 TV series)|1988 sequel series]] ([[Canon (fiction)|canon]]ically set six years after the latter), it is the first installment in the [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|''Mission: Impossible'' film series]]. It also stars [[Jon Voight]], [[Emmanuelle Béart]], [[Henry Czerny]], [[Ving Rhames]], [[Kristin Scott Thomas]], [[Vanessa Redgrave]], and [[Jean Reno]]. In ''Mission: Impossible'', [[Ethan Hunt]] (Cruise) seeks to uncover who framed him for the murders of most of his [[Impossible Missions Force]] (IMF) team. Numerous efforts by [[Paramount Pictures]] to create a film adaptation of the television series stalled until Cruise founded [[Cruise/Wagner Productions]] and decided on ''Mission: Impossible'' as its inaugural project. Development initially began with filmmaker [[Sydney Pollack]] but most of the final screenplay was complete after De Palma, [[Steven Zaillian]], [[David Koepp]], and [[Robert Towne]] were hired; De Palma also designed most of the action sequences, while Cruise did most of his own stunts. [[Principal photography]] began in March 1995 and had lasted until that August, with filming locations including [[London]], [[Pinewood Studios]] in England, and [[Prague]] (a rarity in Hollywood at the time). ''Mission: Impossible'' was theatrically released in the United States by Paramount on May 22, 1996. The film received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics, with praise for the action sequences, De Palma’s direction and Cruise's performance but criticism for the convoluted plot; cast members of the original television series negatively received the film. The film grossed $457.7 million worldwide, making it the [[1996 in film|third highest-grossing film of 1996]], while the dance rendition of the [[Theme from Mission: Impossible|original theme song]] by [[Larry Mullen Jr.]] and [[Adam Clayton]] became a top-ten hit internationally and was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance]]. The sequel, ''[[Mission: Impossible 2]]'', was released in 2000. ==Plot== <!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for featured films should be between 400 and 700 words. --> After finishing a mission in [[Kyiv|Kiev]], [[Jim Phelps]] and his latest [[Impossible Missions Force|IMF]] team are sent to [[Prague]] to stop rogue agent Alexander Golitsyn from stealing the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] [[non-official cover|NOC]] list. However, the mission unexpectedly fails after the list is stolen and the team is killed one by one, with Golitsyn killed along with Sarah Davies, leaving Phelps's pointman [[Ethan Hunt]] the only survivor. Hunt is debriefed by IMF director Eugene Kittridge in a hotel. During the debrief, Hunt realizes that another IMF team was present during the mission and learns that the operation was a setup to lure out a [[Mole (espionage)|mole]] within the IMF after many IMF operations had suffered blowbacks for the past few years. The list Golitsyn stole was a decoy and that the actual list was secure in the [[George Bush center for Intelligence| CIA headquarters]] in [[Langley, Virginia|Langley]]. The mole is believed to be working with an arms dealer named "Max" as part of "Job 314". Hunt, realizing Kittridge suspects him of being the mole, escapes by using exploding chewing gum given to him by Phelps before the mission. After returning to the Prague safe house, Hunt realizes "Job 314" actually refers to Bible verse [[Book of Job|Job]] {{bibleverse-nb|Job|3:14|9}}, "Job" being the mole's code name. Phelps' wife Claire, thought to have been killed during the mission, arrives at the safe house, explaining that before his death, Phelps contacted her saying that the mission was compromised, which enabled her to avoid getting killed. Hunt arranges a meeting with Max to warn her that the NOC list she has is fake and equipped with a tracking device. After Max realizes that Hunt was telling the truth, they escape together just as Kittridge and the other IMF team, following the tracking device, raid her apartment. Hunt convinces Max that he can obtain the real NOC list in exchange for $10 million and Job's true identity. Hunt and Claire recruit two disavowed IMF agents: hacker [[Luther Stickell]] and helicopter pilot Franz Krieger. They infiltrate CIA headquarters, steal the authentic list while narrowly avoiding detection, and escape to London. Krieger takes the floppy disk containing the list, but Hunt tricks him into giving the list up. Hunt then gives the list to Stickell. Kittridge has Hunt's mother and uncle falsely arrested for drug trafficking. After learning about their arrests, Hunt contacts Kittridge from a payphone, intentionally allowing the IMF to trace the call. Phelps resurfaces unexpectedly, recounts surviving the shooting, and tells Hunt that Kittridge is the mole. However, Hunt deduces that Phelps is the mole after realizing that the Bible he found in Prague was taken from [[Chicago]]'s [[Drake Hotel (Chicago)|Drake Hotel]] by Phelps. Hunt pretends to believe Phelps but pieces together how he betrayed and killed his teammates with help from Claire and Krieger. Hunt arranges to exchange the list with Max aboard the [[TGV]] train to Paris, secretly inviting Kittridge to the meeting. On the train, Hunt directs Max to the list, and she sends him to the baggage car where the money and Job are located. Meanwhile, Stickell uses a jamming device to prevent Max from uploading the list to her servers. Claire goes to the car to collect her share of the money from Phelps, only to realize that he is really Ethan in disguise. When the real Phelps arrives and takes the money at gunpoint, Hunt sends a live video of Phelps to Kittridge, exposing him as the mole. Claire tries to talk her husband into surrendering, but Phelps kills her and climbs to the train's roof, where Krieger is waiting with a helicopter. As Phelps attempts to climb onto the helicopter using a tether, Hunt hooks it onto the train, preventing Krieger from flying away and forcing the helicopter into the [[Channel Tunnel]]. He uses another piece of exploding chewing gum to blow the chopper up, killing both men. Kittridge takes Max into custody and recovers the NOC list from Stickell. As he and Stickell are reinstated back in the IMF, Hunt is unsure about returning to the team. On the flight home, an attendant approaches him and asks, through a coded phrase, if he is ready to take on a new mission and that he has been promoted as team leader. ==Cast== {{div col}} * [[Tom Cruise]] as [[Ethan Hunt]], a young, inexperienced agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) and protagonist of the film. * [[Jon Voight]] as [[Jim Phelps]], Hunt's mentor and a veteran. * [[Emmanuelle Béart]] as Claire Phelps, Phelps' wife and an IMF agent who works alongside Ethan. * [[Ving Rhames]] as [[Luther Stickell]], a former IMF agent and skilled computer hacker recruited by Ethan to assist him. * [[Vanessa Redgrave]] as Max, an illegal arms dealer and Job's contact. * [[Henry Czerny]] as Eugene Kittridge, director of IMF. * [[Jean Reno]] as Franz Krieger, a former IMF agent and skilled pilot recruited by Ethan to assist him. * [[Kristin Scott Thomas]] as Sarah Davies, an IMF agent and Ethan's partner. * [[Emilio Estevez]] as Jack Harmon, an IMF agent and equipment technician assigned to Phelps' team. * [[Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė]] as Hannah Williams, an IMF agent and field operative assigned to Phelps' team. * [[Rolf Saxon]] as William Donloe, a CIA analyst at Langley. * [[Marcel Iureş]] as Alexander Golitsyn, a rogue IMF agent hired to steal the NOC list by Job. * [[Karel Dobrý]] as Max's henchman * [[Andreas Wisniewski]] as Max's henchman * [[Annabel Mullion]] as an IMF agent posing as the flight attendant on Ethan's plane. * [[Olegar Fedoro]] as an IMF agent during the Kiev sequence. * [[Morgan Deare]] as Donald Hunt, Ethan's uncle who is falsely arrested in an attempt to lure him out. {{div col end}} ==Production== ===Development and writing=== [[Paramount Pictures]] owned the rights to the television series and had tried for years to make a film version but had failed to come up with a viable treatment. Tom Cruise had been a fan of the show since he was young and thought that it would be a good idea for a film.<ref name="Portman">{{cite news |last=Portman |first= Jamie |title= Cruise's Mission Accomplished |work= [[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]] |location= Montreal |page = E3 | date= May 18, 1996}}</ref> The actor chose ''Mission: Impossible'' to be the inaugural project of his new [[Cruise/Wagner Productions|production company]] and convinced Paramount to put up a $70&nbsp;million budget.<ref name="Penfield">{{cite news | last= Penfield III | first =Wilder |title=The Impossible Dream |newspaper=[[Toronto Sun]] |page = S3 |date= May 19, 1996}}</ref> Cruise and his producing partner, [[Paula Wagner]], worked on a story with filmmaker [[Sydney Pollack]] for a few months when the actor hired [[Brian De Palma]] to direct.<ref name="Green">{{cite news | last= Green | first= Tom | title= Handling an impossible task A 'Mission' complete with intrigue | work= [[USA Today]] | page= 1D | date= May 22, 1996 | url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16346882.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | access-date= July 7, 2017 | archive-date= November 7, 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121107134333/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16346882.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | url-status= live }}</ref> While working on ''[[Interview with the Vampire (film)|Interview with the Vampire]]'', Cruise met De Palma during a dinner with [[Steven Spielberg]] and was impressed by his filmography, so when he went back home, he saw all De Palma's films and convinced himself to have De Palma hired to direct ''Mission: Impossible''.<ref name="Spielberg">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqXZTkJmxgk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/bqXZTkJmxgk |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Tom Cruise on How Steven Spielberg Inspired Him to Hire Brian De Palma to Direct Mission: Impossible |date=May 20, 2021 |last= |first= |work=Collider Exclusives |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> They went through two screenplay drafts that no one liked. De Palma brought in screenwriters [[Steve Zaillian]], [[David Koepp]], and finally [[Robert Towne]]. When the film was green-lit Koepp was initially fired with Robert Towne being the lead writer and Koepp being brought back on later.<ref>{{cite AV media | people= [[Noah Baumbach|Baumbach, Noah]]; [[Jake Paltrow]] |publisher=[[A24]] | title=[[De Palma (film)|De Palma]] |medium=Motion picture |date=September 9, 2015}}</ref> According to the director, the goal of the script was to "constantly surprise the audience."<ref name = "Green" /> Reportedly, Koepp was paid $1&nbsp;million to rewrite an original script by [[Willard Huyck]] and [[Gloria Katz]]. According to one project source, there were problems with dialogue and story development. However, the basic plot remained intact.<ref name = "Brennan">{{cite magazine |last= Brennan |first= Judy |title=Cruise's ''Mission'' |magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=December 16, 1995}}</ref> The film went into pre-production without a script that the filmmakers wanted to use.<ref name = "Green" /> De Palma designed the action sequences, but neither Koepp nor Towne were satisfied with the story that would make these sequences take place. Towne ended up helping organize a beginning, middle, and end to hang story details on while De Palma and Koepp worked on the plot.<ref name="Green" /> De Palma convinced Cruise to set the first act of the film in Prague, a city rarely seen in Hollywood films at the time.<ref name = "Penfield" /> Reportedly, studio executives wanted to keep the film's budget in the $40–50&nbsp;million range. Still, Cruise wanted a "big, showy action piece" that took the budget up to $62&nbsp;million range.<ref name="Brennan" /> The scene that takes place in a glass-walled restaurant with a giant lobster tank in the middle and three huge fish tanks overhead was Cruise's idea.<ref name = "Penfield" /> There were 16 tons in all of the tanks, and there was a concern that when they detonated, much glass would fly around. De Palma tried the sequence with a stuntman, but it did not look convincing, and he asked Cruise to do it, despite the possibility that the actor could have drowned.<ref name="Penfield" /> During the filming of the scene in the vault [[wikt:heist|heist]] where Cruise is suspended by a cable, Cruise put [[One pound (British coin)|British pound coin]]s in his shoes as counterweights to stay level.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmaldPt0kU|title=Mission Impossible interview (1996)|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=17 April 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417050124/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmaldPt0kU|url-status=live}}</ref> Principal photography took place between March and August 1995 mainly in Prague and England's [[Pinewood Studios]],<ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=Mission: Impossible (1996) - Filming & Production |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117060/locations |work=IMDb |access-date=2022-06-29}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |title='Mission: Impossible' at 25: behind the scenes of Prague's first Hollywood blockbuster |url=https://www.praguereporter.com/home/2021/5/21/mission-impossible-at-25-behind-the-scenes-of-pragues-first-hollywood-blockbuster |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=The Prague Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> but some scenes were shot in [[London]], Scotland and United States.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Beck |first=Otto |date=2022-03-06 |title=These Movies Shot In Prague Will Amaze You |url=https://hayotfilms.com/blog/movies-shot-in-prague/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=HayotFilms - Video Production in Prague |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was one of the first Hollywood features to be both set and shot in contemporary Prague with extensive filming throughout a number of recognizable places including [[Charles Bridge]], [[National Museum (Prague)|National Museum]] or Old Town Square.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Cruise approved the script for a showdown to take place on top of a moving train. The actor wanted to use France's high-speed train for filming, the [[TGV]], but the rail authorities objected.<ref name="Penfield" /><ref name="Green" /> Thus, De Palma visited railroads on two continents, trying to find a suitable location elsewhere.<ref name="Green" /> Cruise decided to dine with the TGV owners, and the following day, the crew were given permission.<ref name="Penfield" /> For the actual sequence, Cruise wanted the wind powerful enough that could blow him off the train. Cruise had difficulty finding the right machine to create the wind velocity that would look visually accurate before remembering a simulator he used while training as a skydiver. The only machine of its kind in Europe was located and acquired. Cruise had it produce winds up to 140 miles per hour so it would distort his face.<ref name="Penfield" /> Exterior shots of the train were filmed on the [[Glasgow South Western Line]], between [[New Cumnock]], [[Dumfries]] and [[Annan, Dumfries and Galloway|Annan]]. Most of the sequence, however, was filmed at Pinewood Studios against a blue screen and was later digitized by [[Industrial Light & Magic]].<ref name="Wolff">{{cite news |last=Wolff |first=Ellen |title=''Mission'' Uses Sound of Silence |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date=May 22, 1996}}</ref> The filmmakers delivered the film on time and under budget, a rarity in Hollywood, with Cruise doing most of his own stunts.<ref name="Portman" /> Initially, there was a sophisticated opening sequence that introduced a love triangle between Jim Phelps, his wife Claire, and Ethan Hunt that was removed on the advice of [[George Lucas]] because it took the test audience "out of the genre," according to De Palma.<ref name="Green" /><ref>{{cite web|date=2021-07-11|title=The Advice George Lucas Gave Early On That Majorly Influenced Tom Cruise's Original Mission: Impossible|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2570238/the-advice-george-lucas-gave-early-on-that-majorly-influenced-tom-cruises-original-mission-impossible|access-date=2021-07-14|website=CINEMABLEND}}</ref> There were rumors that Cruise and De Palma did not get along. These rumors were fueled when the director excused himself at the last moment from scheduled media interviews before the film's theatrical release.<ref name = "Portman" /> ===Music=== {{Main|Mission: Impossible (soundtrack)}} The film uses [[Lalo Schifrin]]'s original "[[Theme from Mission: Impossible]]". [[Alan Silvestri]] was originally hired to write the film's score, but his music was rejected and replaced with a new score by composer [[Danny Elfman]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Burlingame |first=John |date=July 15, 1996 |title=Music You Won't Hear at the Movies |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-15-ca-12822-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920185631/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-15-ca-12822-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to some sources, Silvestri had written and recorded some 20 minutes of music, and the decision to replace him was made by producer [[Tom Cruise]] during [[post-production]].<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.runmovies.eu/?p=4679 | title = Composer Alan Silvestri Disavowed | publisher = Runmovies.eu | place = EU | date = 2000 | first1 = Ford A. | last1 = Thaxton | first2 = Randall D. | last2 = Larson | journal = Soundtrack Magazine | volume = 19 | number = 74 }}{{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [https://cnmsarchive.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/composer-alan-silvestri-disavowed/ Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920185635/https://cnmsarchive.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/composer-alan-silvestri-disavowed/ |date=September 20, 2019 }}</ref> Elfman had only a few weeks to compose and produce the final score, which used Schifrin's "The Plot" theme in addition to his main theme, as well as new themes composed by Elfman for the characters [[Ethan Hunt]], Claire and the [[Impossible Missions Force|IMF]].<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=''Mission: Impossible'' - Limited Edition |others=[[Danny Elfman]] |year=2019 |first=Jeff|last=Bond |pages=5-6 |type=booklet |publisher=La-La Land Records, Inc. |id=LLLCD1411 |location=[[Los Angeles]], CA}}</ref> [[U2]] bandmates [[Larry Mullen, Jr.]] and [[Adam Clayton]] were fans of the TV show and knew the original theme music well but were nervous about remaking Schifrin's theme song.<ref name="Gunderson">{{cite news |last=Gunderson |first=Edna |title=U2 members on a 'Mission' remix |work=[[USA Today]] |page=12D |date=May 15, 1996 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16341979.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107134325/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16341979.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=live }}</ref> Clayton put together his own version in New York City and Mullen did his in [[Dublin]] on weekends between U2 recording sessions. The two musicians were influenced by [[Brian Eno]] and the European dance club scene sound of the recently finished album ''[[Original Soundtracks 1|Passengers]]''. They allowed Polygram to pick its favorite, and they wanted both. In a month, they had two versions of the song and five remixed by DJs. All seven tracks appeared on a limited edition vinyl release.<ref name="Gunderson" /> The song entered the top 10 of music charts around the world.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Adam Clayton |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/adam-clayton/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal |url=https://australian-charts.com/search.asp?todo=notfound |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=australian-charts.com |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806193122/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Danielle&titel=Underneath+The+Radar&cat=s |url-status=dead }}</ref> U2's rendition, as well as Schifrin's version as performed with the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], were nominees for the [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance]] for the [[39th Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/193 |title=Join us on Social |publisher=Grammy.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-03}}</ref> ==Marketing== [[Apple Inc.]] had a $15&nbsp;million promotion linked to the film that included a game, print ads, and television spot featuring scenes from the TV show turned into the feature film; dealer and in-theater promos; and a placement of Apple personal computers in the film. This was an attempt on Apple's part to improve their image after posting a $740&nbsp;million loss in its fiscal second quarter.<ref name="Enrico">{{cite news |last= Enrico |first= Dottie |title= Apple's mission: Hollywood Computer ads take new turn |work= [[USA Today]] |page= 4B |date= April 30, 1996 |url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16362018.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |access-date= July 7, 2017 |archive-date= November 7, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121107134316/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16362018.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status= live }}</ref> The film's promotion in [[Germany]] was complicated by Bavarian Minister-President [[Edmund Stoiber]]'s ban of [[Scientology|Scientologists]] from joining the state civil service.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Staunton|first=Denis|title=German MPs attack Scientology, urge boycott of Tom Cruise film|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/german-mps-attack-scientology-urge-boycott-of-tom-cruise-film-1.78226|access-date=2021-07-14|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref> In response to Tom Cruise's affiliation with the religion, members of the ruling [[CDU/CSU]] spoke out against the film and its youth organization the [[Junge Union]] boycotted it. The [[Church of Scientology International]] responded that it had not invested in the film and that it was part of a pattern of [[religious discrimination]] by German authorities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scientology denies link to Cruise film|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/09/Scientology-denies-link-to-Cruise-film/4431839563200/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=UPI|language=en}}</ref> The boycott was also criticized by the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] and the [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights|United Nations Human Rights Commission]] after fellow Scientologist [[John Travolta]] arranged a meeting with U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] and National Security Advisor [[Sandy Berger]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Wright|first=Lawrence |title=Going clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the prison of belief|date=2013|isbn=978-0-307-70066-7 |location=New York|oclc=818318033}}</ref> The Church later published an open letter to Chancellor [[Helmut Kohl]] in the ''[[International Herald Tribune]]'' written by [[Bert Fields]] comparing German boycotts of Scientologist celebrities such as Cruise to [[Nazi book burnings]].<ref name=":1" /> == Release == === Home media === ''Mission: Impossible'' was released by [[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount Home Video]] on [[VHS]] on November 12, 1996, and [[DVD]] on November 17, 1998. The film was released on DVD again on April 11, 2006, as a special collector's edition with a [[Blu-ray]] release followed on June 3, 2008. Special features include five featurette's about the 40-year legacy and behind-the-scenes plus photo gallery and theatrical trailers. A [[4K UHD]] Blu-ray version released on June 26, 2018, offering upgraded picture and audio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/1537/Mission:-Impossible-(1996).html|title=Mission: Impossible DVD Release Date|website=DVDs Release Dates|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-02|archive-date=August 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827142502/https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/1537/Mission:-Impossible-(1996).html|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2021, a ''Mission: Impossible'' 25th anniversary edition was released in the U.S. and U.K. on remastered Blu-ray disc with all eleven previous Blu-ray special features ported over.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mission-Impossible-Blu-ray/287778/|title=Mission Impossible (1996) remastered 25th anniversary|date=May 18, 2021|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521021823/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Mission-Impossible-Blu-ray/287778/|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Reception== ===Box office=== ''Mission: Impossible'' opened on May 22, 1996, in a then-record 3,012 theaters, becoming the first film to be released to over 3,000 theaters in the United States, and broke the record for a film opening on Wednesday with [[United States dollar|US$]]11.8&nbsp;million, beating the $11.7&nbsp;million ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' made in 1991.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite news | last =Thomas | first =Karen | title ='Mission' is successful, breaks Wednesday record | work =[[USA Today]] | page =1D | date =May 24, 1996 | url =https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16348281.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | access-date =July 7, 2017 | archive-date =November 7, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121107134257/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16348281.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | url-status =live }}</ref> The film also set house records in several theaters around the United States.<ref name="Hindes">{{cite news |last=Hindes |first=Andrew |title= ''Mission'' Cruises to B.O. Record | work =[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |page =1 | date=May 24, 1996}}</ref> Earning $45.4 million, ''Mission: Impossible'' smashed the short-lived record held by ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]'' for having the biggest May opening weekend.<ref name="Weinraub" /> It grossed $75 million in its first six days, surpassing ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'', and took in more than $56&nbsp;million over the four-day [[Memorial Day]] weekend, beating out ''[[The Flintstones (film)|The Flintstones]]''.<ref name="Weinraub">{{cite news |last=Weinraub |first=Bernard |title=Cruise's Thriller Breaking Records |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=15 |date=May 28, 1996 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/28/movies/cruise-s-thriller-breaking-records.html |access-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129020206/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/28/movies/cruise-s-thriller-breaking-records.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The next year, ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'' would take the records for having the largest May opening weekend, the biggest number of screenings and the highest Memorial Day gross.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=Judy |title='Lost World: Jurassic Park' Stomps Record for Openings |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-26-ca-62601-story.html |access-date=May 28, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 26, 1997 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021075403/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-26-ca-62601-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cruise deferred his usual $20 million fee for a significant percentage of the box office.<ref name = "Weinraub" /> The film went on to make $180.9 million in North America and $276.7 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $457.6 million.<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite news |title=Mission: Impossible |publisher=Box Office Mojo |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=missionimpossible.htm |access-date=2008-07-16 |archive-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802185141/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=missionimpossible.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Critical response=== On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 67%, based on 63 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's critics' consensus reads: "Full of special effects, Brian De Palma's update of ''Mission: Impossible'' has a lot of sweeping spectacle, but the plot is sometimes convoluted."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible/ |title=Mission: Impossible (1996) |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=2022-08-24 |archive-date=July 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726212846/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 59 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible |title=Mission: Impossible Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2015-08-01 |archive-date=August 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821100305/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/mission-impossible |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://m.cinemascore.com |title=CinemaScore |work=cinemascore.com |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=December 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210223808/https://m.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' film critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film three out of four stars and wrote, "This is a movie that exists in the instant, and we must exist in the instant to enjoy it."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Mission: Impossible |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=May 31, 1996 |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19960531/REVIEWS/605310305/1023 |access-date=2008-07-15 |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121203001/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19960531%2FREVIEWS%2F605310305%2F1023 |url-status=live }}</ref> In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Stephen Holden]] addressed the film's convoluted plot: "If that story doesn't make a shred of sense on any number of levels, so what? Neither did the television series, in which basic credibility didn't matter so long as its sci-fi popular mechanics kept up the suspense."<ref name="Holden">{{cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |author-link= Stephen Holden |title= Mission: Impossible | work = [[The New York Times]] |date=May 22, 1996 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/library/filmarchive/mission_impossible.html |access-date=2008-07-15}}</ref> Mike Clark of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the film three out of four stars and said that it was "stylish, brisk but lacking in human dimension despite an attractive cast, the glass is either half-empty or half-full here, though the concoction goes down with ease."<ref name="Clark">{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Mike |title=Should you decide to accept it, plot works |work=[[USA Today]] |page=1D |date=May 22, 1996 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16346878.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107134308/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16346878.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=live }}</ref> However, [[Hal Hinson]], in his review for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', wrote, "There are empty thrills, and some suspense. But throughout the film, we keep waiting for some trace of personality, some color in the dialogue, some hipness in the staging or in the characters' attitudes. And it's not there."<ref name="Hinson">{{cite news |last=Hinson |first=Hal |title=De Palma's ''Mission'' Implausible |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 22, 1996 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/missionimpossible.htm#hinson |access-date=2008-07-15 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201012520/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/missionimpossible.htm#hinson |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's [[Richard Schickel]] wrote, "What is not present in ''Mission: Impossible'' (which, aside from the title, sound-track quotations from the theme song and self-destructing assignment tapes, has little to do with the old TV show) is a plot that logically links all these events or characters with any discernible motives beyond surviving the crisis of the moment."<ref name="Schickel">{{cite magazine |last=Schickel |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Schickel |title=Movie: Improbable |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=May 27, 1996 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,984610,00.html |access-date=2009-05-21 |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304070545/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,984610,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Writing for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[Owen Gleiberman]] gave the film a "B" rating and said, "The problem isn't that the plot is too complicated; it's that each detail is given the exact same nagging emphasis. Intriguing yet mechanistic, jammed with action yet as talky and dense as a physics seminar, the studiously labyrinthine ''Mission: Impossible'' grabs your attention without quite tickling your imagination."<ref name="Gleiberman">{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |title=Mission: Impossible |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 31, 1996 |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,292824,00.html |access-date=2009-05-21 |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427131456/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,292824,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Numerous reviewers have praised the CIA break-in and the last climactic pursuit scene, despite their mixed feelings about the rest of the film. Both scenes have frequently featured highly on fans and critics' lists of best action scenes from this series and have been referenced many times in other subsequent works.<ref>{{Citation|title=Top 10 Mission Impossible Scenes|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw-BZyc9RrU|language=en|access-date=2020-06-21|archive-date=May 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501013505/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw-BZyc9RrU|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Reactions from original television series cast=== Several cast members of the [[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|original television series that ran from 1966 to 1973]] reacted negatively to the film. Actor [[Greg Morris]], who portrayed [[List of Mission: Impossible characters#Barney Collier|Barney Collier]] in the original television series, was reportedly disgusted with the film's treatment of the Phelps character, and he walked out of the theater before the film ended.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9605/29/imposssibles/ | title = 'Mission: Impossible' TV stars disgruntled | publisher = CNN | date = May 29, 1996 | access-date = July 22, 2010 | archive-date = June 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100608101104/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9605/29/imposssibles/ | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Peter Graves]], who played Jim Phelps in the original series as well as in the [[Mission: Impossible (1988 TV series)|late-1980s revival]], also disliked how Phelps turned out in the film. Graves had been offered the chance to reprise his role from the TV series but turned it down upon learning his character would be revealed as a traitor.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-14/entertainment/obit.peter.graves_1_phelps-character-mission-publicist | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120709062419/http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-14/entertainment/obit.peter.graves_1_phelps-character-mission-publicist | url-status=dead | archive-date = July 9, 2012 | publisher = CNN | title = Interview with Maggie Q | date = November 14, 2007 }}</ref> [[Martin Landau]], who portrayed [[Rollin Hand]] in the original series, expressed his own disapproval concerning the film. In an [[MTV]] interview in October 2009, Landau stated, "When they were working on an early incarnation of the first one – not the script they ultimately did – they wanted the entire team to be destroyed, done away with one at a time, and I was against that. It was basically an action-adventure movie and not ''Mission''. ''Mission'' was a mind game. The ideal mission was getting in and getting out without anyone ever knowing we were there. So the whole texture changed. Why volunteer to essentially have our characters commit suicide? I passed on it ... The script wasn't that good either!"<ref>{{citation | url = http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/10/29/martin-landau-is-not-interested-in-appearing-in-a-mission-impossible-movie/ | title = Martin Landau Discusses 'Mission: Impossible' Movies | publisher = MTV | type = blog | date = October 29, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091228001842/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/10/29/martin-landau-is-not-interested-in-appearing-in-a-mission-impossible-movie | archive-date = December 28, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> === Accolades === {| class="wikitable" |- !Association !Category !Recipient !Results |- | rowspan="3" |Awards Circuit Community Awards |Best Film Editing |[[Paul Hirsch (film editor)|Paul Hirsch]] |{{Nominated}} |- |Best Sound |[[Ron Bartlett|Rob Bartlett]]<br />[[Christopher Boyes]]<br />[[Shawn Murphy (sound engineer)|Shawn Murphy]]<br />[[Gary Rydstrom]]<br />[[Tom Bellfort]] |{{Nominated}} |- |Best Visual Effects |Andrew Eio<br />[[John Knoll]]<br />[[Joe Letteri]]<br />[[George Murphy (special effects artist)|George Murphy]] |{{Nominated}} |- |[[Japan Academy Prize (film award)|Awards of the Japanese Academy]] |[[Japan Academy Prize (film award)|Best Foreign Language Film]] |{{n/a}} |{{Nominated}} |- |[[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI Film & TV Awards]] |[[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI Film Music award]] |[[Danny Elfman]] |{{Won}} |- |[[Golden Raspberry Awards]] |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100-Million]] |[[David Koepp]]<br />[[Steven Zaillian]]<br />[[Robert Towne]] |{{Nominated}} |- |[[Golden Screen Award (Canada)|Golden Screen Awards]] |{{n/a}} |{{n/a}} |{{Won}} |- |[[MTV Movie & TV Awards|MTV Movie + TV Awards]] |[[MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence|Best Action Sequence]] |For the train-helicopter chase |{{Nominated}} |- |[[MTV Video Music Award]]s |[[MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film|Best Video from a Film]] |[[Adam Clayton]]<br>[[Larry Mullen Jr.|Larry Mullen, Jr.]]<br><small>for "[[Theme from Mission: Impossible]]"</small> |{{Nominated}} |- |[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards|Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards]] |[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards|Favorite Movie Actor]] |[[Tom Cruise]] |{{Nominated}} |- | rowspan="4" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20160222120254/http://ofta.cinemasight.com/ Online Film & Television Association Awards] |Best Adapted Song "[[Theme from Mission: Impossible]]" |[[Adam Clayton]]<br />[[Larry Mullen Jr.|Larry Mullen, Jr.]]<br />[[Lalo Schifrin]] |{{Nominated}} |- |Best Sound Mixing |[[Ron Bartlett]]<br />[[Christopher Boyes]]<br />[[Shawn Murphy (sound engineer)|Shawn Murphy]]<br />[[Gary Rydstrom]] |{{Nominated}} |- |Best Sound Effects Editing |[[Tom Bellfort]] & [[Christopher Boyes]] |{{Nominated}} |- |Best Visual Effects |Andrew Eio<br />[[John Knoll]]<br />[[Joe Letteri]]<br />[[George Murphy (special effects artist)|George Murphy]] |{{Nominated}} |- |[[Producers Guild of America Award]]s |Most Promising Producer in Theatrical Motion Pictures |[[Tom Cruise]] & [[Paula Wagner]] |{{Won}} |- |[[Satellite Awards]] |[[Satellite Award for Best Editing|Best Film Editing]] |[[Paul Hirsch (film editor)|Paul Hirsch]] |{{Nominated}} |- |[[Saturn Award]]s |[[Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film|Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film]] |{{n/a}} |{{Nominated}} |- | rowspan="2" |[[Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]] |Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More Than $100M | rowspan="2" |[[Paramount Pictures]] |{{Nominated}} |- |Worst Resurrection of a TV Show |{{Nominated}} |} ==Sequels== {{main|Mission: Impossible 2|Mission: Impossible III|Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol|Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation|Mission: Impossible – Fallout|Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One|Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two}} ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote|Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible}} * {{IMDb title|0117060|Mission: Impossible}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Mission: Impossible}} * {{mojo title|missionimpossible|Mission: Impossible}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|mission_impossible|Mission: Impossible}} {{Mission Impossible}} {{Brian De Palma}} {{Robert Towne}} {{Steven Zaillian}} {{Tom Cruise (actor)}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Mission: Impossible (film series)]] [[Category:1996 films]] [[Category:1996 action thriller films]] [[Category:1990s chase films]] [[Category:1990s English-language films]] [[Category:1990s heist films]] [[Category:1990s spy action films]] [[Category:American action thriller films]] [[Category:American chase films]] [[Category:American heist films]] [[Category:American sequel films]] [[Category:American spy action films]] [[Category:Cruise/Wagner Productions films]] [[Category:Films about the Central Intelligence Agency]] [[Category:Films adapted into comics]] [[Category:Films based on television series]] [[Category:Films directed by Brian De Palma]] [[Category:Films produced by Tom Cruise]] [[Category:Films scored by Danny Elfman]] [[Category:Films set in Kyiv]] [[Category:Films set in Kent]] [[Category:Films set in Langley, Virginia]] [[Category:Films set in London]] [[Category:Films set in Prague]] [[Category:Films set on the London Underground]] [[Category:Films set on trains]] [[Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios]] [[Category:Films shot in Prague]] [[Category:Films shot in Scotland]] [[Category:Films shot in Virginia]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by David Koepp]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Robert Towne]] [[Category:Paramount Pictures films]] [[Category:1990s American films]]'