It may be the final Mission: Impossible film leaping into cinemas shortly, now is as good a time as any to get your M:I Movie Marathon on and delve back into the excellent franchise, and what better than the combination of all 7 previous movies, including Dead Reckoning, and the aptly named, Mission: Impossible 6-Movie Collection on Blu-ray!

Back in 1996, as a younger soul, I remember the sheer surprise and innovation of the earliest film from director Brian De Palma, where we first met Tom Cruise’s IMF Agent, Ethan Hunt, on the big screen for a fresh franchise based on the character originally created by Bruce Geller. Back then, there was no way we could have predicted the rise, fall and rise of Hunt – as Cruise was always looking for greater ways to advance the character, and eventually define and expand those creative manoeuvres that the world of M:I would become famous for.  

In terms of looking back, I’m still damaged by having to sell my M:I 2 VHS Limited Boxset (with 35mm film!) some years ago, even though some content doesn’t pass the test of time as much as the others, but I do think it has a fun edge and some classic moments, even if it’s not as classy as the first. But then M:I 3 arrives with J.J. Abrams (which many forget) in charge, and here we had something distinctive stepping into the world of big screen entertainment. From here it launched us into a vast stratosphere with Brad Bird’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, followed by big man Christopher McQuarrie coming in as director and co-writer with Cruise, before we hold onto Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, then the muscles of Fallout before eventually Dead Reckoning Part One. And throughout this exciting journey, every mission, narrative, operation becomes more extensive, daring, beautiful, harrowing and [physically] breathtaking – which is quite the feat with pure, magical high quality filmmaking.

From escaping government assassins, to dropping slowly into secret vaults (and creating a pop culture moment), to hanging onto the top of speeding bullet trains, plus free-climbing cliffs, fighting and jumping off speeding bikes, numerous global adventures, fake masks galore (and for Benji!), climbing up sky-scraping glass buildings as a sandstorm sets in, and never forgetting ‘…you keep calling me Dimitri…’, plus being there when the Kremlin is attacked, through to ever ounce of sweat and then running everywhere – in a Tom Cruise style. And, we’re not done yet, stopping a nuclear war, the numerous love situations and elusive agents, disavowed chaos, stolen plutonium, hanging into planes as they’re in flight (for real!) more Tom Cruise running and let’s not forget the running – and jumping, and even an ankle break to keep things interesting – and probably a lot of other broken bones along the way.

 

As well as these choice moments, for a franchise that’s earned more than a mind-blowing $4 billion at the worldwide box office, we can’t forget the huge stars and ensemble casts that included Anthony Hopkins, Brendan Gleeson, Henry Czerny, Emmanuelle Béart, Jean Reno, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vanessa Redgrave, Alec Baldwin, Jon Voight, Josh Holloway, Léa Seydoux, Paula Patton, Thandiwe Newton, Dougray Scott, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Tramell Tillman, Esai Morales, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maggie Q, Keri Russell, Michelle Monaghan, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Angela Bassett, Wes Bentley, and Henry Cavill [moustache!] to name just a selection – not forgetting the dark, ominous Sean Harris, and the incredible Philip Seymour Hoffman *still shuddering from his magnificence to this day!*

So, you might have guessed, this 6-Movie Collection contains all these things, and an extra mass of special features and extras across 7 Blu-ray discs, for over 12 hours of greatness as Cruise’s Ethan Hunt lights the fuse and endeavours to stay one step ahead. As you might tell, I can’t recommend this collection highly enough – and while you’re thinking about it, you might as well add Dead Reckoning (right here), if you haven’t already of course…

Mission: Impossible 6 Movie Collection is out now from Paramount Home Entertainment!

Pick up your copy* on 4K Ultra HD https://amzn.to/4atiT6W or Blu-ray: https://amzn.to/4deYVP2

*these are affiliate links, if used