Unlike its more action-heavy sequels, the first film is a stylized espionage thriller. Brian De Palma utilized "Dutch angles," suspenseful pacing, and Hitchcockian tropes to create an atmosphere of paranoia.
The story follows Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). After a botched mission in Prague results in the death of nearly his entire team, Hunt is framed as a mole. To clear his name and find the real traitor, he must go rogue, recruit a "disavowed" team of experts, and infiltrate the most secure vault at CIA headquarters. MisiГіn: Imposible 1
While it was a massive box office hit ($457 million worldwide), its greatest legacy was establishing Tom Cruise’s commitment to performing his own stunts, a trend that escalated with every subsequent entry. Key Production Facts Director Brian De Palma Starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Jean Reno Original Release May 22, 1996 Budget Approx. $80 Million Unlike its more action-heavy sequels, the first film