Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Ethan Hunt leads an IMF strike team after a shadowy operative named Hendricks gains access to Russian nuclear launch protocols and threatens catastrophic violence. An operation that tries to stop him results in a massive explosion at the Kremlin and leaves the IMF blamed and officially disavowed, cutting off their support. With time running out and global tensions rising, Ethan, Benji, Brandt and a new ally, Jane, go off the books to piece together Hendricks' plan, chase him across continents and try to prevent an attack that could trigger wider conflict. The film keeps the focus on high-stakes tradecraft, split-second decisions and intense set pieces without revealing the outcome.

Directed by Brad Bird, this 2011 entry adapts Bruce Geller's original Mission: Impossible television concept for the big screen, with André Nemec and Josh Appelbaum among the writers, marking Bird's first live-action feature.

The Burj Khalifa sequence and several rooftop and infiltration scenes quickly became reference points in action filmmaking, noted for their scale and practical stunt work. Tom Cruise's willingness to perform dangerous stunts was widely discussed, and the film helped refresh the franchise's image for a new decade.

Critics responded positively, reflected in a solid audience score and a vote average around 7.1 out of 10, praising the balance of suspense, humor and technical craft. Major themes include loyalty within a tight team, the moral cost of covert operations and how single events can escalate geopolitical tensions, all delivered with a focus on kinetic choreography and clever gadgetry.

The movie was a clear commercial win that reinvigorated the series and set the tone for later sequels, proving that practical stunts and character chemistry could still drive blockbuster appeal. It reestablished Ethan Hunt as a modern action hero and encouraged studios to blend large-scale spectacle with grounded stunt work.