The 10 Best Movies Like 'Mission: Impossible' To Watch Now

For viewers interested in the fictional espionage agency Hunt works for, Impossible Missions Force (IMF), Bridge of Spies offers insight into how real-life espionage works. The espionage thriller follows James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), a lawyer determined to give a fair trial to an alleged spy from the Soviet Union. With spies, prisoner exchanges, and Cold War tension, Bridge of Spies is a true story as thrilling as the Mission: Impossible movies. 

What makes it even more impressive is that it doesn’t need fictional agencies, dazzling stunts, and action sequences to be exciting. Bridge of Spies masterfully creates suspense through an intense character study and prisoner exchange negotiations. Fans of Steven Spielberg and Hanks' collaborations, such as Band of Brothers (2001) and Saving Private Ryan (1998), will be especially intrigued by Bridge of Spies.

Bullet Train will appeal to viewers who enjoy Mission: Impossible for its fast-paced, stunt-filled, and action-packed scenes. The movie follows assassin Ladybug (Brad Pitt), whose latest mission sees him confronted with numerous deadly figures on the fastest train in the world. Viewers who hail the bullet train scene as the best action sequence in Mission: Impossible will be especially interested in Bullet Train. 

It runs at a breakneck pace with exhilarating visuals and bloody action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat, while Pitt is just as convincing an action hero as Cruise. Between the comic relief, silly antics, and Ladybug’s mouthy persona, Bullet Train feels like a cross between Mission: Impossible and Deadpool (2016).

Casino Royale and all the movies in the James Bond franchise will appeal to Mission: Impossible fans. In the film, James Bond (Daniel Craig) tries to outsmart the terrorist financier Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) when he hosts a high-stakes poker game to raise money. Casino Royale is often considered one of the best Bond movies as Craig reinvents the character in an intense spy thriller with a serious and haunting tone. The film is bright, intense, action-packed, and dark, marking the perfect Bond debut for Craig.

The British MI6 operative often garners comparisons to Hunt, as both are highly skilled and intelligent secret agents. Casino Royale parallels the Mission: Impossible franchise with its exploration of spycraft, conspiracies, and espionage. If you're a Bond fan looking for a movie that matches the intensity and suspense of Mission: Impossible, Casino Royale is your best bet.

Viewers who enjoyed Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) will be interested in John Wick: Chapter 4. Both movies received high attention for their nearly flawless execution of action sequences and massive stakes. John Wick: Chapter 4 sees Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin take on the most powerful criminal organization in the world, the High Table. Like the most recent Mission: Impossible movie, it boasts creativity and quality while making everything bigger and bolder than previous installments. 

The movie also abandons some of its seriousness, embracing its over-the-top premise and delving deeper into innovative action and stunts. If you love the over-the-top stunts and action of franchises like Mission: Impossible and Fast and Furious, John Wick: Chapter 4 is a must-see.

Spy Game is an underrated action thriller that follows CIA operative Nathan Muir (Robert Redford) as he utilizes all his skills and resources to free his protégé, Tom Bishop (Pitt), from China’s custody. It’s a strong espionage movie with powerful performances and a clever storyline that strongly parallels Mission: Impossible III (2006). 

Like the Mission: Impossible films, Spy Game is smart and stylish with strong performances and a fun, engaging premise. The chemistry between Pitt and Redford is perfect, further elevating the movie. It takes its subject matter a little less seriously than Casino Royale and doesn’t boast as many innovative stunts as John Wick: Chapter 4, but it parallels Bullet Train with its fun premise and alluring characters. 

The Bourne Identity and the Jason Bourne franchise as a whole will appeal to fans of Mission: Impossible, especially given the comparisons between Bourne (Matt Damon) and Hunt. The first movie is similar to the first Mission: Impossible story, as it is an origin story with an underlying mystery where Bourne is rescued from the Mediterranean Sea with amnesia and an uncertain connection to the CIA. 

Its neo-noir elements also make it stand out in the action genre, adding wit and emotion to the story. The Bourne Identity is most reminiscent of the James Bond franchise with its sophistication, wit, and serious tone, but it also has notes of Black Box (2020) with its amnesia storyline. Viewers looking for something similar to Mission: Impossible, but that’s a little more grounded in story and action, will enjoy The Bourne Identity.

Like the Mission: Impossible movies, The Gray Man runs at a breakneck pace and keeps the adrenaline pumping with its action sequences. The film sees CIA agent Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling) uncover secrets about his agency that set a whole torrent of assassins after him.

While it’s not as carefully crafted or serious as some of the Mission: Impossible movies, it still will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s fast, stunt-heavy, and boasts impressive performances from Gosling and Chris Evans, who have a lot of fun with their roles. If you love Gosling’s recent action-packed, comedic, and outlandish The Fall Guy (2024), you’ll definitely want to check out The Gray Man.

The Hunt for Red October is a film adaptation of Tom Clancy’s book of the same name. It follows Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin), a CIA intelligence analyst, who is the only one who detects a subtle Russian threat to the U.S. and has limited time to convince his superiors of the plot.

Like Casino Royale, The Hunt for Red October isn’t as sophisticated and modern in its approach to stunts, but it still manages to dazzle with its impressive practical effects and shockingly realistic submarine mock-up. Its submarine setting also makes it unique and reminiscent of Bullet Train through an unconventional and restricted setting. The film is perfect for viewers who love Cold War espionage thrillers and the suspense of Mission: Impossible.

Based on a true story, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare follows a black ops team secretly commissioned by Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) to disrupt Germany’s U-boat supply operation during World War II. The movie boasts nonstop action, a breezy pace, and a real-life mission as seemingly impossible as those tackled in Mission: Impossible. 

It also features Guy Ritchie’s signature blend of comedy and gritty action. You’ll get to see a new side of Henry Cavill as the unhinged and charismatic Gus March-Phillips. If you love Mission: Impossible but want something a little more realistic and with a basis in history, like Argo (2012), The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an excellent choice.

Viewers who watch the Mission: Impossible movies for Cruise and the breathtaking stunts will be interested in Top Gun: Maverick. The Top Gun (1986) sequel sees Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) tasked with leading a group of Top Gun graduates on a dangerous mission. 

The movie features some of the most striking aerial stunts, and Cruise offers one of his best performances yet as the charismatic pilot who must face his past. It’s one of those rare sequels that actually surpasses the original, as it offers the perfect blend of emotion, action, and dazzling visuals. Top Gun: Maverick also leans a little more toward the inspirational genre than most entries on these lists, making it perfect for fans of Mission: Impossible looking for an inspiring and exhilarating narrative on par with Rocky (1976).