Every Mission: Impossible Movie Ranked Worst To Best

The most underrated chapter of Ethan Hunt's story, Mission: Impossible III is the franchise at its most intimate and human, following the superspy as he attempts to settle down, but soon must battle sinister dark forces conspiring against him and threatening those he loves he most.

Featuring a magnificently evil Philip Seymour Hoffman and introducing a compelling romantic element to Hunt's life, J.J. Abrams' bracing threequel dials down the bombastic nature of its predecessor and instead leans back into the tense thrills of the original film, making Hunt a man with a plan and a big heart.

It may not feel as epic as the films around it, but Mission: Impossible III has more than enough emotional gut-punches to make up for its relative lack of bonkers Cruise stunt work. Cruise has never been better as Hunt than he is here, proving the series works best when he's at his most fragile.