4. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
The fifth film in the franchise, Rogue Nation, introduced a couple of key figures to the franchise. Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust – essentially Ethan Hunt’s MI6 counterpart – made her debut in Rogue Nation, as his the shadowy organization known as the Syndicate (a group who reappeared in the subsequent film, Fallout). It’s a film that sees Hunt’s interests move further afield, involving himself in global politics rather than primarily U.S.-based plots.
The new characters introduced in Rogue Nation are brilliantly compelling. It’s a film that features a number of particularly tense scenes, especially those involving Ilsa ahead of her heroic turn. The introduction of a sort of anti-IMF in the Syndicate made for an interesting development, too.
Despite the strength of its action sequences and overall plot, Rogue Nation has its issues. At times, the film drags a little thanks to a few pacing problems, but overall, it’s an excellent entry into the franchise. When ranking every Mission: Impossible movie, it may not be the best, but it’s a respectably well-made action flick nonetheless.