10. Mission: Impossible (1995-2011)
Paramount PicturesIn an age where blockbuster franchises are increasingly sticking to the tried-and-tested formulas that yield much the same results, the Mission: Impossible series stands out as a long-running franchise where each installment feels completely different from the last. As the sole franchise of the world's biggest movie star, credit must go to Tom Cruise for refusing to rehash the same concept over and over again. Brian de Palma's Mission: Impossible was a solid first outing for the fledgling franchise, with the director providing a tightly-crafted thriller that just about overcomes the convoluted plot. Subtlety went out of the window when John Woo took over for the sequel, favouring style over substance and creating a kinetic and highly-stylised flick that offered plenty of the director's trademark high-octane action. Ethan Hunt returned to the big-screen in 2006 with JJ Abrams making his feature debut behind the camera, with the third installment offering impressive practical stunts and CGI pyrotechnics to craft a wildly entertaining popcorn flick. Hiring Brad Bird for his live-action debut reaped huge dividends in Ghost Protocol, easily the best in the franchise, with Cruise's staggering Burj Khalifa acrobatics one of the greatest set-pieces in recent memory. With Mission: Impossible 5 currently gearing up for a London shoot, Christopher McQuarrie certainly has high expectations to live up to.