Every Mission Impossible Villain Ranked From Worst To Best
3. Franz Kreiger - Mission Impossible
The role of Franz Kreiger could have been nothing more than a standard supporting role , but was instead turned into one of the more iconic MI villains thanks to a scene stealing performance by legendary French actor Jean Reno. Reno realises Keiger's character as an unflappable burglar with a penchant for cigars and fear of rats, and in the process makes him one of the best characters that the Impossible franchise has produced.
Keiger's renegade nature makes him a character you can't help but cheer for, even when you find out he is a villain, the ability to fly and then control a helicopter whilst inside a train tunnel a feat to be admired. His scene where he 'takes down' a rat is a classic, and only makes you love the guy even more. If only Keiger hadn't killed the lovely MI agent Sarah Davies, then he could almost have passed for a loveable rogue.
Keiger's best scene comes when the newly formed 'team' hideout awaiting for contact with the cyber terrorist Max, Reno brilliantly realising Keiger's transition from laid back goofball to criminal not to be trifled with. A menacing threat to Ethan that he will "kill him" if he treats him like a fool again could easily have sounded fake with a weaker actor, but Reno manages to make it sound truly genuine and extremely menacing.