Ranking The Mission: Impossible Movies - From Worst To Best

Cruise recruited Christopher McQuarrie - his long-time screenwriter and director of their underrated Jack Reacher - to join the franchise in a scorching collaboration.

The film chips off the same formula of big stunts and familiar plot tropes (how many times does Agent Hunt have to go rogue?) yet it’s a finely oiled piece of machinery nonetheless.

While Sean Harris’ villain is a mumbling disappointment, love interest Rebecca Fergusson is another story. Played as a haunting beauty with constantly challenging motives and who's every-bit Hunt’s equal in an action scene - she's a franchise highlight, hands down.

McQuarrie stepped up to the big-budget moviemaking plate and knocks it out the park; the first two acts are relentless and breathlessly executed spectacle with a long-take underwater sequence a stunning highlight.

He also returns the franchise to a grounded approach with an emphasis on realism and espionage. The unorthodox third act fizzles though, even if it is a refreshing attempt to switch proceedings into a low-key game of intrigue, it just doesn't quite pan out after the prior adrenaline fuelled shenanigans.

Regardless, it was a signal of a fantastic working relationship that would later pay-off in spades.