10 Unbelievable Mission Impossible Facts

It may not seem like it, due to the later films' penchant for over-the-top action and its own third act, but the first entry into the Mission Impossible franchise was a restrained affair that placed emphasis on building up suspense, plot twists and an almost atmospheric feel that is not present in the following movies.

This was due to director Brian de Palma's penchant for directing psychological thrillers that are focused on the previously mentioned tropes over flashier action sequences (though this film has a handful of those) and building a complicated plot with intrigue. This relatively restrained approach is seen in its lack of shootouts and Cruise's Ethan Hunt never fires a gun in this movie, a far cry from the shoot-em-up nature of the sequels, especially Mission Impossible 2.

However, this does not ignore the film's few but gripping set-pieces, in particular, the helicopter chase in the TGV tunnel and Ethan Hunt's escape from an exploding fish tank helped liven up the film when it slowed down.