20 Action Movies From The 21st Century That Didn't Actually Suck

4. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

For nearly 20 years, the Mission: Impossible franchise has stuck to its tried-and-tested formula; an unnecessarily complicated plot, a revolving door of supporting characters, cool gadgets and Tom Cruise doing crazy stunts. What stops things from becoming stale is the presence of a different director for each installment, a policy that paid huge dividends when Brad Bird signed on to make his live-action debut with the fourth entry.

The light and breezy Ghost Protocol has the feel of a classic espionage movie, packed with sharply-dressed beautiful people, sweeping location shots, double-crosses aplenty and a globe-trotting narrative that covers Budapest, Moscow, Dubai, Mumbai and... Seattle. With Ethan Hunt's team given a bigger and more pivotal role in the story, there is also plenty of chemistry and banter between the disavowed agents.

For a franchise that prides itself on jaw-dropping stunts, Ghost Protocol raises the bar quite literally by having Tom Cruise scale the world's tallest building in a breathtaking sequence that is one of the most intense and spectacular set-pieces ever put to film. While the rest of the movie fails to match the Burj Khalifa sequence's level of excitement, it remains stylish, fun and massively enjoyable blockbuster entertainment.