For almost 30 years now, Tom Cruise has been entertaining audiences with death-defying stunts and world-saving escapades in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Sadly, Ethan Hunt’s adventures are now over with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning bringing the series to a close, but that doesn’t have to be the end of the action.
Whether it’s the man on a mission trope, or bombastic, explosive chaos you’re into, there are decades of brilliant action movies to explore. From super spies and superheroes to AI annihilation and apocalyptic wastelands, we’ve compiled a list of the best action franchises to watch for anyone who loves Mission: Impossible, and we can also tell you where to stream them all.
John Wick
There’s a good chance that even Ethan Hunt would cower in the shadows if the Baba Yaga ever came to hunt him down. If this were a contest to find the most dangerous man on the planet, there’s a good chance that the John Wick movies would give us the winner.
The great thing about this franchise is there are four movies starring Keanu Reeves as the titular hitman, and they become more and more bonkers and brutal with each installment. Plus, there’s a new spin-off, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, which is just as slick and action-packed as the main quadrilogy.
Bourne
There are a lot of similarities between Ethan Hunt and Jason Bourne; both are highly-trained, highly-dangerous government weapons who have a tendency to go against the grain from time to time. From The Bourne Identity through to Jason Bourne, Matt Damon has wowed audiences with his gritty espionage movies, and they’re perfect for anyone who loves Mission: Impossible.
While the Tom Cruise franchise has taken things to dizzying heights with its last few entries, the Bourne series has always kept things slightly more grounded, but these movies are still just as thrilling and fun as their chaotic cousin.
James Bond
So, what do you do if the likes of Wick, Bourne, and Hunt are a little too roguish for your tastes? Well, if you want something a bit more refined and professional, there’s no one better suited for the mission than James Bond.
The one thing to note here is, you’re in for the long haul if you want to watch every entry in the 007 franchise; there are 25 movies, from 1962’s Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, right through to 2021’s No Time to Die, which brought Daniel Craig’s fantastic run as Bond to an end.
Fast & Furious
Just like Mission: Impossible, these movies have ramped up the scale of things and become more and more ludicrous as time has gone by. The Fast and the Furious kicked things off way back in 2001 with a fairly simple story of street crime and stolen DVD players. By the time you get to Fast X, though, the crew have been to space, which tells you all you need to know about the direction this franchise has gone in.
It’s impossible not to love it all, though. They may be silly and incredibly over-the-top, but that’s what action movies are all about, right?
The Terminator
By the end of the Mission: Impossible saga, the threat of global destruction at the hands of an evil AI becomes the core storyline. But, this is nothing new, as Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron can attest to with The Terminator franchise.
The first movie in the series is almost like a slasher movie, with Arnie’s titular robotic menace on the loose, but Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a bona fide action movie classic. Not only does it flip the narrative entirely, but it also introduces Robert Patrick as T-1000, who could be the greatest movie villain of all time.
The Matrix
Keanu Reeves isn’t just a deadly assassin, he’s also a messianic hero who saves the world from annihilation in The Matrix. This astounding creation from the Wachowski sisters is an incredible blend of action and science fiction, with an epic story of distorted realities, robotic overlords, and superhuman kung-fu battles.
The original trilogy is regarded as one of the best collections of the modern era within both genres, and fans were treated to a fourth installment almost 20 years later with The Matrix Resurrections in 2021. You’re unlikely to find action sequences quite as stylish as you get from this mind-blowing franchise.
Mad Max
If you ever wondered what might happen if Ethan Hunt ever failed in his missions, you only have to look at the apocalyptic world we are left with in Mad Max to realise how far civilisation could fall. From brutal revenge on the backroads of Australia to all-out despair in the desert, this franchise has been through a strange evolution over time.
These films are weird, there’s no denying it. But, with Mad Max: Fury Road and the more recent prequel, Furiosa, you have two of the most slick, stunning action movies of the last decade.
Rambo
How many times have we seen Ethan Hunt defy all the odds and the rules and still come out on top? Well, if that’s the kind of vibe you’re after, the Rambo franchise will be right up your street. Indeed, this Sylvester Stallone franchise is, at its best, a fascinating study of masculinity, while also being absolutely ridiculous and bombastic with its more recent entries.
With varying degrees of quality, the franchise requires real dedication toward the end, but with 1982’s First Blood, you get a genuinely thrilling, gritty, intriguing action flick with a strong message at its core.
Jack Ryan
Diving into the Jack Ryan franchise is a surefire win for anyone craving more gun-toting government officials and globe-trotting adventures post-Mission: Impossible. While the modern TV show and the 2014, Chris Pine-led Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit are more glossy and forgettable, you cannot go wrong with the old ‘90s flicks.
In fact, just like James Bond, the Jack Ryan series has been through a few different lead actors. From The Hunt for Red October-starring Alec Baldwin to the brilliant Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford in the titular role, through to Ben Affleck’s one-film appearance in The Sum of All Fears, Jack Ryan is the gift that keeps on giving.
Batman
Ethan Hunt may be the living manifestation of destiny, but no action hero is cooler than Batman. He’s gone from the pages of your favourite comic books to being one of the biggest stars of the silver screen across a number of different movies, but one thing remains the same; badass action, cool weapons, and devilish villains.
From the more zany Batman of 1989 and Tim Burton’s follow-up, Batman Returns, right through to Christopher Nolan’s impeccable Dark Knight trilogy and the latest version, Matt Reeves’ The Batman, there are so many different styles and takes on this iconic hero. Whatever it is you want from an action movie, you’re sure to find it somewhere in the Batman collection.
Where To Watch Action Movie Franchises Like 'Mission: Impossible' Online
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