David James /© Paramount /Courtesy Everett Collection The firstMission: Impossiblemovie was released in 1996 Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames have appeared in all eight entries of the film franchise Simon Pegg has been with the series since 2006'sMission: Impossible III It has been nearly 30 years sinceTom Cruisechose to accept his mission in the firstMission: Impossiblemovie — and audiences have been along for the thrilling ride ever since. Now, three decades and eight movies later, theMission: Impossiblefilm franchise continues to be a series stuffed with stunt spectacles and jaw-dropping action sequences featuring Cruise and his fellow Impossible Mission Force agents as they try to save the world. Cruise andVing Rhameshave appeared in all of theMission: Impossibleentries, while many other notable names have been part of the rotating roster of secret spies. The latest installment,Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, which hit theaters on May 23, continues the story set up in 2023'sDead Reckoning, weaving together elements from the previous seven films, for what ispossibly the lastMission: Impossiblemovie. In a February 2025 interview withEmpire, Cruise said that he hopesThe Final Reckoningis "thesatisfying conclusionto a 30-year story arc. I'm pretty confident that people are going to feel that the title was appropriate." As the latest — and last? —Mission: Impossiblemovie hits the big screen, take a look back at some of the biggest stars who have joined the IMF in the action-packed film franchise. Paramount Pictures / Murray Close; Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic Tom Cruise has been one of the biggest stars in Hollywood since the '80s. He made his film debut in 1981'sEndless Love, but two years later he had his breakout role inRisky Business. The actor has been the face of theMission: Impossiblefranchise since 1996, when he first played secret agent Ethan Hunt. Cruise has starred in all eightMission: Impossiblemovies, the most recent being 2025'sMission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. Outside ofMission: Impossible, over the past three decades, Cruise has been nominated for four Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for his turn inPaul Thomas Anderson'sMagnolia(1999). He also reprised his role of Pete "Maverick" Marshall in the 2022 high-flying blockbuster,Top Gun: Maverick. Paramount Pictures ; Matthias Nareyek/Getty Ving Rhames plays computer and tech expert Luther Stickell. Aside from Cruise, Rhames is the only other actor to have appeared in all eight of theMission: Impossiblemovies. Outside of theMission: Impossibleseries, Rhames has appeared in multiple other notable TV and movie projects includingPulp Fiction(1994),Con Air(1997),Out of Sight(1998),Bringing Out the Dead(1999) andDon King: Only in America(1997), for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture. "Thank God for Tom Cruise," Rhames told PEOPLE about working with hisMission: Impossiblecostar in May 2025. "We became good friends in a very positive relationship. We have a nice chemistry with each other." Paramount Pictures ; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Michelle Monaghanfirst played Julia Meade, Ethan Hunt's wife, inMission: Impossible III. She later reprised her role inGhost ProtocolandFallout. In addition toMission: Impossible, Monaghan is also known for her roles inTrue Detectiveand the third season ofThe White Lotus. In 2021, to celebrate the 15th anniversary ofMission: Impossible III, the actress shared a series of images onInstagramof her and Cruise in the movie. "I mean, WOW. 15 years since the release of #MissionImpossible III! 😍🔥 This franchise brings back so manyamazing memoriesand I'm so grateful to have been along for the ride," she wrote in the caption. "Happy anni @tomcruise, forever the Ethan to my Julia. ❤️." Paramount Pictures ; Simon Ackerman/FilmMagic Simon Peggmade his first appearance as Benji Dunn, a technician for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), inMission: Impossible III. He has been featured in everyMission: Impossiblemovie since. When not supporting Ethan Hunt on death-defying missions, Pegg is a favorite of comedy fans for his filmsShaun of the Dead(2004) andHot Fuzz(2007), and bringing levity to sci-fi action blockbusters like J.J. Abrams'Star Trektrilogy. When discussing the latestMission: Impossiblemovie withThe Hollywood Reporter, Pegg said that the 2025 installment felt like "a really satisfying culmination of these films. It feels likeanend to me. It wraps up so much of what's gone before." Industrial Light & Magic/©Paramount Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection ; Daniele Venturelli/Getty Jeremy Rennerplayed William Brandt inGhost ProtocolandRogue Nation, but did not reprise his role in the three most recentMission: Impossiblemovies. Renner is also known for his roles inThe Hurt Locker(2008),The Town(2010),The Mayor of Kingstownand for playing the superhero Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a 2024 interview withCollider, the actor gave a reason for not returning for moreMission: Impossible, citing that filming "requires a lot of time away." "I had to go be a dad. It just wasn't gonna work out then," he continued, referring to his daughter,Ava. "I love those guys. I love Tom [Cruise]so much. We had so much fun, and I love that character a lot," he continued. "I'd always jump into aMission: Impossibleanytime and back into Brandt. It's great." Paramount Pictures/Entertainment Pictures ; Katie Jones/Variety via Getty Rebecca Fergusonplayed MI6 agent Ilsa Faust in threeMission: Impossiblemovies:Rogue Nation,FalloutandDead Reckoning. Ferguson has also appeared inThe Greatest Showman(2017), Apple TV+'sSilo,DuneandDune: Part Two. Even though she left the franchise, in an interview on WrapWomen'sUnWrappedpodcast,Ferguson saidshe still loves herMission: Impossiblecharacter Ilsa "beyond words. I think she's the most awesome, fantastic character." Paramount Pictures ; Ian West/PA Images via Getty Vanessa Kirbyportrayed Alanna Mitsopolis, aka the White Widow inFalloutandDead Reckoning. Alanna has ties to the firstMission: Impossible, as she isthe daughterof Max Mitsopolis, played byVanessa Redgravein the 1996 original. Kirby has been part of theMission: Impossiblefamily sinceFallout, and she has called her costar Cruise "the most passionate actor." "He knows more about cinema, cares more about it, than anyone I have ever met," she said in a 2023Harper's Bazaarinterview. "He also believes anything is possible, and that really inspires everyone around him to believe in what their own mission is." This summer, Kirby will be part of another film family when she suits up as Sue Storm inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Read the original article onPeople
