Skip guide · Mission: Impossible

Which Mission: Impossible movies can you skip?

Updated November 6, 2026

You can skip 2 of the 10 titles in the Mission: Impossible franchise and still follow the main story: Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible. The essentials (8 titles) take about 18 hours instead of 177 hours.

Skippable

2

Essentials

8

Time saved

159 hours

Safe to skip

• Mission: Impossible1966 · Series · 130h 49m · optionalThe original TV series; optional.
• Mission: Impossible1988 · Series · 28h 1m · optionalThe TV revival; optional.

Why each one is optional

What each skippable title is, what it adds if you do watch it, and who is in it.

No. 01 · 1966 · Series · 130h 49m · optional

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible is an American television series that was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicles the missions of a team of secret government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force. In the first season, the team is led by Dan Briggs, played by Steven Hill; Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, takes charge for the remaining seasons. A hallmark of the series shows Briggs or Phelps receiving his instructions on a recording that then self-destructs, followed by the theme music composed by Lalo Schifrin. The series aired on the CBS network from September 1966 to March 1973, then returned to television for two seasons on ABC, from 1988 to 1990, retaining only Graves in the cast. It later inspired a popular series of theatrical motion pictures starring Tom Cruise, beginning in 1996.

Why it matters: The original TV series; optional.

Starring

Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, and Bob Johnson

Creator

Bruce Geller

Scores

IMDb 7.9

Episodes

171 across 7 seasons

No. 02 · 1988 · Series · 28h 1m · optional

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible is an American television series that chronicles the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force. The show is a revival of the 1966 TV series of the same name. The only actor to return for the series as a regular cast member was Peter Graves who played Jim Phelps, although two other cast members from the original series returned as guest stars. The only other regular cast member to return for every episode was the voice of "The Tape", Bob Johnson.

Why it matters: The TV revival; optional.

Starring

Peter Graves, Thaao Penghlis, and Antony Hamilton

Creator

Bruce Geller

Scores

IMDb 7.5

Episodes

35 across 2 seasons

The essentials, in release order

1. Mission: Impossible1996 · Film · 1h 51mEthan Hunt's first mission; the Langley vault heist.
2. Mission: Impossible 22000 · Film · 2h 3mA standalone John Woo action film.
3. Mission: Impossible III2006 · Film · 2h 6mIntroduces Ethan's wife Julia, whose story runs through to Fallout.
4. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol2011 · Film · 2h 13mThe IMF is disavowed; the Burj Khalifa climb.
5. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation2015 · Film · 2h 11mIntroduces Ilsa Faust and the Syndicate; leads straight into Fallout.
6. Mission: Impossible - Fallout2018 · Film · 2h 27mThe direct sequel to Rogue Nation and a high point of the series.
7. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One2023 · Film · 2h 44mPart one of the Entity story.
8. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning2025 · Film · 2h 50mConcludes the Entity story and ties back to the first film.

Common questions

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