Mission: Impossible III – Film Review

In 2006, Mission: Impossible III reinvigorated a franchise teetering on the edge of creative uncertainty. After Brian De Palma‘s stylish 1996 original and John Woo’s slow-motion-heavy, operatic 2000 sequel, the third installment landed in the hands of J.J. Abrams, making his feature film directorial debut. Known at the time for his television work on Alias and Lost, Abrams brought fresh energy and emotional grounding to a series that had thus far prioritized spectacle over character. With Tom Cruise returning as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible III injects raw humanity, frenzied momentum, and a ruthless villain into its high-stakes formula, producing a sleek, thrilling, and surprisingly heartfelt action film.

Perhaps the most significant evolution in M:I III is the humanization of Ethan Hunt. Previous entries cast Cruise’s Hunt as a brilliant, resourceful superspy, but with minimal personal stakes beyond the mission. Abrams, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, grounds Ethan in relationships—namely, his new fiancée Julia (Michelle Monaghan), who’s unaware of his double life. This domestic subplot adds emotional weight and vulnerability, with Cruise turning in one of his most earnest performances in the franchise.

The film opens with a jarring cold-open: Ethan is bound, bloodied, and facing the barrel of a gun held by Owen Davian (a terrifying Philip Seymour Hoffman), who threatens to kill Julia if Ethan doesn’t hand over a mysterious item called the “Rabbit’s Foot.” The tension is instant and unrelenting, framing the movie not just as a mission thriller but a desperate race to save a loved one. This emotional center is what elevates M:I III beyond its predecessors.

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Owen Davian is arguably the franchise’s best villain to date. Eschewing the mustache-twirling theatrics of past antagonists, Davian is ice-cold, unpredictable, and utterly menacing. Hoffman imbues him with a chilling realism—a man who can calmly deliver death threats one moment and board a plane with sleepy indifference the next. His performance is so grounded, it creates a stark and unnerving contrast to the espionage mayhem around him.

Davian’s motives are mostly opaque—something about selling weapons to the highest bidder—but that hardly matters. He represents a nihilistic force, one that puts Ethan and his ideals to the ultimate test. Unlike previous villains whose power rested in complicated betrayals or global schemes, Davian’s threat is intimate and psychological. He doesn’t want to destroy the world. He wants to break Ethan Hunt.

J.J. Abrams’ television roots are apparent in the film’s structure and pacing. The narrative is episodic, driven by a sense of urgency, and peppered with character-driven flashbacks and moral dilemmas. Abrams favors a handheld, immersive camera style that enhances tension during action sequences while allowing emotional beats to breathe. Unlike John Woo’s operatic flourishes in M:I II, Abrams opts for gritty realism mixed with clean, kinetic energy.

His action set pieces are notable for their clarity and chaos balance. A standout sequence in Vatican City features a mask-making trick, a well-timed infiltration, and a dramatic mid-mission confrontation. Later, a bridge attack sequence—featuring drones, explosions, and a harrowing shootout—offers a showcase of practical effects and tightly choreographed chaos. These moments feel tactile and dangerous, keeping the audience right there with Ethan as things go wrong in real-time.

Yet, Abrams also leans into mystery box storytelling—a concept he’s known for. The MacGuffin of the film, the “Rabbit’s Foot,” is never explained. Its ambiguity could frustrate some viewers, but in the context of M:I III, it serves as a narrative device to explore loyalty, love, and sacrifice. It’s not about what the Rabbit’s Foot is; it’s about what Ethan is willing to do to retrieve it.

While Cruise commands the screen, M:I III improves upon its predecessors by fleshing out Ethan’s team. Ving Rhames returns as Luther Stickell, providing continuity and warmth as Ethan’s loyal tech support. Rhames adds levity and brotherly concern, especially in scenes where Luther questions Ethan’s decision to settle down.

New additions include Maggie Q as Zhen Lei and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Declan Gormley, both of whom bring charisma and skill to their roles, albeit with limited backstory. Laurence Fishburne as IMF director Theodore Brassel adds another layer of ambiguity and bureaucratic obstruction, while Billy Crudup’s John Musgrave serves as the slippery company man whose loyalties are far more complex than they appear.

Michelle Monaghan’s Julia, though not fully developed beyond her relationship with Ethan, anchors the film’s emotional stakes. Her performance is sincere and believable, and the chemistry between Monaghan and Cruise sells the idea that Ethan might truly want a life beyond spycraft.

At its core, Mission: Impossible III explores the cost of leading a double life. Ethan is torn between his desire for normalcy and his skills as a covert operative. The movie doesn’t just pit him against a villain; it pits him against the possibility that his profession will destroy any hope for peace or connection.

The film frequently asks: can a man like Ethan Hunt ever have a personal life? Can he keep someone safe in a world where danger follows him at every turn? These questions are woven throughout the action, culminating in a climactic choice that reaffirms Ethan’s humanity rather than just his heroism.

Michael Giacchino’s score pays homage to Lalo Schifrin’s iconic theme while introducing its own adrenaline-pumping identity. The music accentuates the action but also underlines emotional moments, especially in quieter scenes between Ethan and Julia. The sound design is crisp and dynamic, while Dan Mindel’s cinematography favors cool blues and urban landscapes that contrast with the heat of the action.

If there’s a flaw in the film, it lies in its third act, where pacing falters slightly during the Shanghai infiltration and final confrontation. The resolution feels rushed, and the implications of the mission’s fallout are never fully explored. Still, the emotional closure for Ethan and Julia largely compensates for this narrative brevity.

Mission: Impossible III earns its 4/5 rating by marrying high-octane espionage with character-driven storytelling. J.J. Abrams’ entry doesn’t reinvent the spy genre, but it revitalizes the Mission: Impossible series, setting a new tone for the sequels to follow. With a grounded Ethan Hunt, a chilling villain, and heart-pounding set pieces, the film delivers both spectacle and soul.