The Mission: Impossible movie franchise is based on the Mission: Impossible TV series, which aired from 1966 to 1973. The show’s basic premise consisted of a team of secret agents handling covert, high-stakes missions. Back in the day, Baby Boomers would have been glued to their TV sets watching this popular weekly show.
The first Mission: Impossible movie was released in 1996. Over 7 installments, the franchise has grossed $4.1 billion, with more to line the coffers after this week’s release of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.
Tom Cruise was 33 when he appeared as Ethan Hunt for the first time. He is now 62.
Ethan Hunt, the main character in the Mission: Impossible film series, is a top agent in the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). Known for his intelligence, physical skill and moral integrity (yes, there is still some), Hunt takes on dangerous missions to stop global threats, often putting his life on the line to protect innocent people and his team. Over the course of the now 8 Mission: Impossible films, he has evolved from a clever, young operative to a mature leader, driven by loyalty, sacrifice and a strong sense of right and wrong. His character is defined by high-stakes action and iconic stunts that have become hallmarks of the Mission: Impossible franchise.
In between his Mission: Impossible stints, Cruise killed it financially with two doses of Top Gun, which brought in $1.8 billion. Other movies, though not rinse-repeats, have also been successful and remain favorites: Rain Man and Jerry Maguire are stand-outs.
Tom Cruise was paid $75,000 for his 1983 breakout role in Risky Business. Back then, top actors, like Eddie Murphy, commanded $1-$2 million per movie, and the average American received an annual salary of about $15,000. Over the course of his career, Cruise’s base salary for Mission: Impossible movies has averaged $14 million, a paltry sum compared to his back-end deals, which have included a lucrative percent of the box office take.
You see, beyond simply acting, Cruise is also a film producer. This he learned from his former agent, Paula Wagner, who played a pivotal role in guiding his career. After the success of Jerry Maguire, the two formed their own production company, introducing both risk and control into their lives. Both have paid off handsomely.
A producer, like Tom Cruise, is responsible for the whole enchilada of a movie - from securing financing and managing a film’s budget to hiring key staff and ensuring the project stays on schedule. The producer works closely with the director to shape the creative vision while handling logistics, contracts and legal matters. Producers also play a key role in marketing and distribution, ensuring the film reaches target audiences and generates top dollar. Essentially, the producer is the project manager of a film, balancing both the creative and business sides to make sure everything runs smoothly and successfully. And if the producer is also the key talent in the film, you can be sure he is looking out for his own interests.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning premiered on May 5th in Tokyo, was screened at last week’s Cannes Film Festival and will be released in North America on Friday, May 23rd.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning stands out for its timely, high-stakes, action-packed story centered on a rogue form of artificial intelligence known as "The Entity," which threatens to trigger global nuclear attacks by hijacking digital systems. The plot taps into real-world fears about AI and cyber warfare, making the film feel particularly relevant today.
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