The 40 Best Mission: Impossible Quotes, Ranked

The Mission: Impossible series is renowned for its memorable dialogue in the action genre, consistently growing stronger with each new release. If James Bond films established the blueprint for action movies, then Mission: Impossible mastered it. Each film in the franchise delivers a mix of iconic quick-witted remarks, powerful emotional expressions, and an abundance of clever quips.

A major factor behind this is the execution. Even the most cheesy lines are given context that transforms them into something grand or natural-sounding. With numerous memorable lines from the Mission: Impossible series, the action takes on a whole new depth. These movies aren’t just about physical fights and adrenaline-pumping stunts; they also contain thoughtful dialogue. The latest installment in the franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning , brings an end to Ethan Hunt’s era along with his team, offering many iconic lines that symbolize the series as a whole. The most significant quotes from the Mission: Impossible franchise are witty, clever, and epic, providing insight into the characters who utter them.

Revised on June 4, 2025, by Arthur Goyaz: The recently released film, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” seems to mark the conclusion of a series. It’s filled with intense action and emotional depth, embodying the characteristics that have made the Mission: Impossible series a cornerstone of the action genre. Furthermore, it offers some of the franchise’s most unforgettable one-liners and soliloquies. To enrich the collection even more, this list has been expanded to incorporate additional iconic quotes from the Mission: Impossible series.

Captain Bledsoe, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Despite being a sequel directly following “Dead Reckoning”, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” manages to introduce fresh and intriguing characters. Notably, Tramell Tillman’s return to the big screen was delightful, this time portraying a virtuous character. In this film, he takes on the role of Captain Bledsoe, the Commanding Officer of the submarine that transports Ethan Hunt to Sevastopol.

In The Final Reckoning, Bledsoe’s introduction is unforgettable due to his famous quip. When Ethan makes a perilous jump into freezing cold waters, Bledsoe and his crew save him. In response, Ethan politely says, “I presume you are Captain Bledsoe,” to which the captain retorts with the film’s most amusingly witty remark.

Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

If you’ve ever wondered what truly sets an exceptional pickpocket apart from a skilled one, the film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” serves as a helpful refresher: it’s all about timing. In the latest installment of the franchise, “Dead Reckoning,” Grace, a master thief-turned-IMF agent, proves to be a significant asset, adding depth to the series. Nevertheless, some viewers were left puzzled regarding Grace’s role on the Entity mission, as they had previously known Ilsa, a character who met her end in the movie and with whom audiences were more familiar.

In “The Final Reckoning,” it becomes apparent that Grace is crucial, as Ethan discloses that to avoid a nuclear disaster, someone must quickly download and imprison the Entity on a data drive – faster than the blink of an eye. This mission is something Grace was destined for, demonstrating not only her skill as a thief, but establishing her as the thief, exceptionally talented in her field.

Multiple Characters, Mission: Impossible Franchise

The series consistently updates while preserving its original distinctive traits, from torn masks to Ethan’s over-reliance on serendipity, and the franchise has never faltered. Yet, there’s a common saying that unites every single Mission: Impossible film.

Every Mission: Impossible film begins with a specific mission statement, often preceding the opening titles and playing the iconic theme song for fans. This quote gives a sense of familiarity to the series while also setting a unique tone for each movie. In the cool and subdued style of Mission: Impossible II, Ethan receives his mission through sunglasses, which he dramatically discards, causing them to explode and trigger the opening credits. Conversely, in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the message is somber and foreboding, leading to a subtle, almost unnoticeable explosion – wisps of smoke blending subtly into Ethan’s serious contemplations.

Sean Ambrose, Mission: Impossible II

The film “Mission: Impossible II” is often seen as the least successful installment in the series. On paper, John Woo’s directorial approach seemed promising, but it didn’t quite live up to expectations in execution. His overly stylized action sequences, excessive character transformations, and an exaggerated plot similar to “Notorious,” ended up making for a rather underwhelming sequel that now appears more like the franchise growing pains. However, the movie did include some memorable dialogue.

In the film “Mission: Impossible II”, the antagonist is Sean Ambrose, a renegade MIF agent. Ambrose assumes Ethan Hunt’s identity to gain Dr. Vladimir Nekhorvich’s trust, enabling him to seize a virus cure that Nekhorvich has developed. Later on, Ambrose playfully torments Ethan with the well-known line about smiling every five minutes.

Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I must say that the rogue character Gabriel from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is nothing short of captivating, with a flair for the dramatic that borders on the extraordinary. His high-tech villainy adds a thrilling sci-fi twist to the narrative’s struggles, and he truly tests the mettle of Ethan Hunt and his team to the max.

It becomes evident when Gabriel issues another warning about his AI superweapon, which he claims will determine the fates of those nearby, causing anger in the IMF agent. Tired of the villain’s menacing speeches, Ethan Hunt makes it clear to him that the only certainty from this dangerous pursuit is Gabriel meeting an end at the hands of the IMF agent.

Eugene Kittridge, Mission: Impossible

In his role as the stern, no-nonsense deputy director at the IMF, Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) established high standards. He is a persistent character, suspected to be both protagonist and antagonist, who suspects Hunt of being a mole and pursues him relentlessly to ensure justice is served. Kittridge is firm, unyielding, and unwilling to tolerate any excuses or subpar work from individuals expected to perform their duties effectively.

In the entire franchise, a crucial scene unfolds where Hunt is hanging over CIA Officer William Donloe’s desk in an effort to obtain the NOC list. Following this incident, the pivotal line you mentioned ensues. The unfortunate Donloe can be seen standing in the background as Kittridge confides in Frank Barnes, “You and I are aware of this situation. This is where it ends. It never occurred.” Upon being questioned about Donloe’s fate, Kittridge reveals the grim details.

Benji Dunn, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

In the movie “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”, Jeremy Renner’s character, William Brandt, was introduced as part of Agent Hunt’s team. Interestingly, Brandt was the agent tasked with protecting Hunt’s wife, but unfortunately, he failed in this assignment. As the only survivors from a botched mission, they were compelled to collaborate, embarking on a challenging and dangerous journey under Ghost Protocol to retrieve the stolen Russian launch codes.

After completing their mission, the team gathers in Seattle to plan for another assignment. As always, Benji provides a dose of humor by saying he’s joining up because no future mission could possibly be tougher than the one they just completed. One of the appealing aspects of the Mission: Impossible series is that every mission since Ghost Protocol has been even more challenging, so Benji’s joke serves as a clever inside reference.

William Brandt, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

One distinctive feature of the “Mission: Impossible” series is its knack for delivering witty remarks following high-tension scenes. In the movie “Ghost Protocol”, the team finds themselves in a race against time to retrieve override codes to deactivate a satellite, which if launched by the antagonist Hendricks, would trigger missiles towards the United States, potentially leading to nuclear war. To prevent such catastrophe, the team devises a plan to obtain the codes from Nath. In this scheme, Jane charms him while Benji manipulates Brandt into a large mainframe by strategically positioning opposing magnets on both Brandt and a remote-controlled vehicle below him, effectively suspending him above a catwalk.

However, Hendricks manages to outsmart the team by employing a satellite to transmit a virus straight into the mainframe, causing it to malfunction. This predicament forces Brandt to hastily exit the mainframe, while Hunt and Carter frantically locate the station from where Hendricks is beaming the signal. After an exhilarating escape from a sharp spinning fan, Brandt returns safely and expresses his wish for a role swap in the future.

Luther Stickell, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

In the movie “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” there are two powerful speeches at the beginning and end. One is given by President Erika Sloane, while the other comes from Ethan’s most trusted friend, Luther. Luther’s speech stands out due to its poetic nature, encapsulating Ethan’s journey not just in this film but throughout the entire franchise. The movie is filled with memorable lines, such as the tagline, “We all face the same destiny, the same future. The total of our infinite choices.

Luther’s line about existing and perishing in obscurity stands out distinctly as it encapsulates the noble spirit that underlies his bond with Ethan. Over the course of many years, they braved dangers and endured hardships to protect the world, all without seeking any reward for their actions. The world relied on them, whether they were aware of it or not. Despite being destined to remain hidden, Ethan consistently chooses to reappear, a pattern that will persist in the future.

Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible – Fallout

In “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” I found myself in a precarious situation where I had to let a terrorist escape with three Plutonium cores, as my comrade Luther Stickell was captured (further details to follow). This left me no choice but to collaborate with the CIA on the mission to retrieve the stolen nuclear material. In an attempt to track down the cores, I devised a risky plan: rescuing another villain, hoping he would lead us to where the Plutonium was hidden.

In simple terms, CIA agent Walker highlights every problem with the strategy, but Ethan dismisses him by suggesting they’ll deal with that issue when it arises. This scene perfectly illustrates the unrealistic predicaments Ethan and his team often face, as they tackle one crisis at a time, hoping for the best.

Read More

2025-06-08 00:23