The 4 Tom Cruise Films That Reinvented Action Movies Just Found a New Streaming Home

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Fans of Tom Cruise have a reason to celebrate! The first four films in one of his most popular action series are coming to Prime Video.

As a huge Mission: Impossible fan, I’m so excited to hear that some of the older films are coming to Prime Video! Starting January 1, 2026, I’ll be able to rewatch classics like M:I II, M:I III, and Ghost Protocol whenever I want. It’s awesome that Amazon is adding these to their streaming service, especially with the latest film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, just recently in theaters. It’s a little disappointing that the movies directed by Christopher McQuarrie – M:I 5 through 8 – aren’t included in this deal, but thankfully they’ll still be available on Paramount+, so we won’t miss out on any of the action!

The first movie starts with Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, being wrongly accused of killing his IMF team after a mission fails. On his own, Ethan sets out to prove his innocence and get justice for his lost teammates. The film was a major hit, earning over $457 million globally and launching a successful franchise.

In 2000, four years after the original, came Mission: Impossible 2. While the first film is generally well-received with a 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the sequel proved more controversial and earned a ‘rotten’ score of 58%. The plot centers on Ethan Hunt teaming up with a skilled thief (Thandie Newton) to prevent a former IMF agent (Dougray Scott) from stealing a dangerous virus and selling the cure for profit.

Despite mixed reviews, the second Mission: Impossible film still performed very well at the box office, earning over $546 million globally. The franchise continued with Mission: Impossible III in 2006. This third installment was a step back towards the quality of the first film, featuring Ethan Hunt in a relationship with a woman who doesn’t know he’s a spy. He’s tasked with stopping a dangerous and difficult-to-find villain (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who is trying to sell a mysterious and powerful item called ‘The Rabbit’s Foot’.

While Mission: Impossible III didn’t perform as well as the previous film—bringing in $398 million globally and becoming the lowest-earning movie in the series—a sequel, Ghost Protocol, was released in 2011. This installment was directed by Brad Bird, known for films like The Incredibles and Ratatouille. Ghost Protocol was a major success, achieving a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning $694 million worldwide.

The Newest Mission: Impossible Movie Broke an Impressive Box Office Record

Following the release of Ghost Protocol in 2011, Christopher McQuarrie has directed four additional Mission: Impossible films: Rogue Nation, Fallout, Dead Reckoning, and The Final Reckoning. The eighth installment premiered in May 2025 and broke a franchise record, achieving the biggest opening weekend ever for the series. It earned $24.8 million on its first day and over $64 million across the entire three-day weekend.

Despite not opening at number one in theaters, The Final Reckoning has been a major box office success. It faced strong competition and debuted in second place. Critics and audiences have generally loved the film, giving it a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an 80% approval score based on over 420 reviews. Viewers seem to enjoy it even more, with an 88% rating from more than 10,000 verified reviews.

The first four Mission: Impossible movies head to Prime Video on Jan. 1, 2026.

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2025-12-29 17:36