A Classic Tom Cruise Spy Thriller Is Now Dominating Streaming

The original Mission: Impossible, starring Tom Cruise and directed by Brian De Palma, is experiencing a major comeback on streaming services. According to Flix Patrol, the film has recently climbed to the seventh spot on Paramount+. It joins other popular entries in the franchise on the charts, with The Final Reckoning and Mission: Impossible 2 holding the first and third positions, respectively.

Since its debut, the franchise has become a powerhouse in the action genre, known for delivering some of the most incredible spectacle moments ever put on screen. However, the first movie still stands out in one key area that has given it a unique reputation within the long-running series, thanks to its strong focus on mystery and noir.

A Different Kind of Spy Movie

While the Mission: Impossible series is widely praised as a benchmark for action filmmaking, the first installment remains superior as a genuine mystery thriller with a compelling whodunnit plot. It keeps audiences guessing in a way that later films in the series don't always prioritize.

This is largely due to De Palma’s direction. Before taking the helm of the franchise's first movie, he had already directed some of the most captivating mystery thrillers of his time. His signature style is all over the first MI film, from the central mystery surrounding the death of Ethan’s team to the legendary Langley heist sequence. The tension and precision of that scene alone arguably eclipse anything in the subsequent entries.

The MI series has always been driven by its directors, and the first film is a perfect example of this. It feels less like a standard franchise installment and more like a true De Palma picture.

Why the Director Walked Away

After the initial film's success, it was natural for Cruise to ask De Palma to return for a sequel. However, as history shows, it was auteur John Woo who directed the second film, which became the most polarizing entry in the entire saga.

So why didn't De Palma come back? The celebrated director simply had no interest in making sequels just for financial gain, a practice he saw as Hollywood's biggest flaw.

I said: ‘Are you kidding?’ One of these is enough. Why would anybody want to make another one? Of course the reason they make another one is to make money. I was never a movie director to make money, which is the big problem of Hollywood.

Although De Palma was correct about Hollywood's obsession with sequels—a trend that has only grown stronger—the MI franchise has managed to hold up better than many other long-running series, like Fast and Furious. A major reason for its enduring appeal has been the creative freedom given to its directors. This approach has allowed them to bring their own distinct vision to the saga, just as De Palma did with the very first movie.