25 WTF Moments From The Mission: Impossible Franchise

By Jack Pooley /

16. Jack's Death (Mission: Impossible)

During the movie's opening mission in Prague, Ethan's entire team is killed, including the wise-cracking techie Jack (Emilio Estevez). While sat on top of an elevator, the car is sabotaged, sent up to the top of the shaft, where a protruding metal spike stabs him in the face, and if that's not enough to kill him, the electrocution would surely do the job. Paramount reportedly cast Estevez in such a small role deliberately, because it enhanced the already shocking nature of his demise. In 1996, few would've expected to see the actor in such a small part, being killed off before the 20 minute mark, helping to set an "all bets are off" tone from the outset. And on its own terms, it's pretty damn brutal too.