The Mission: Impossiblefranchise started in 1996, and by 2025, there will be eight releases of Mission: Impossible ranked. Mission: Impossible is one of the most critically acclaimed action franchises of the modern era, with the movie series spanning nearly three decades. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning won't even mark the end of the franchise, as Tom Cruise has said he wants to continue playing Ethan Hunt as long as the films are profitable, hinting that he could do so into his 80s (via Deadline).