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Mission: Impossible II

Mission: Impossible II

Expect the impossible again.

2000123 minPG-13Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Director
John Woo
Starring
Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton, Ving Rhames

With computer genius Luther Stickell at his side and a beautiful thief on his mind, agent Ethan Hunt races across Australia and Spain to stop a former IMF agent from unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called Chimera. This mission, should Hunt choose to accept it, plunges him into the center of an international crisis of terrifying magnitude.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Mission: Impossible II?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Mission: Impossible II streaming on Disney+ and Paramount+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Mission: Impossible II?

Mission: Impossible II earns 9 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Box Office Hit.

Show 1 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Mission: Impossible II worth watching?

Mission: Impossible II's Midcredits score is the 41st percentile of all films, from 977K ratings across 6 sources. 41% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

41st percentile

Better received than 41% of films

57th percentile among Action40th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)43rd
Approval (how many liked it)39th

60 /100

43rd percentile of all films

60th percentile among Action43rd percentile among 2000s

Critics 59 · Audience 60

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.1 — solid but not unanimous.

41% liked it

39th percentile of all films

54th percentile among Action37th percentile among 2000s
41% rated it 7–1059% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 8 wins / 20 noms overall

99th percentile

977K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Action98th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$125M
Opening weekend$58M
Domestic gross$215M
Worldwide gross$546M

Returned 4.4× its budget — 97th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

It is a simplistic, style-over-substance action movie that sacrifices plot and character depth for John Woo's exaggerated, slow-motion-laden spectacle.

Fans praised

  • Slick, stylish action setpieces: motorcycle chase, gunfights, hand-to-hand
  • Tom Cruise's physical commitment: rock climbing, motorcycle stunts, martial arts
  • John Woo's signature visual flair: doves, slow-motion choreography

Detractors panned

  • Thin, unoriginal plot that abandons espionage for generic action
  • Overused and gratuitous slow-motion throughout
  • Cheesy, dated romance with weak chemistry between leads

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive75

Impressive practical stunts and explosions, but physics-defying and repetitive

CinematographyDivisive70

Glossy location photography in Australia; Woo's slow-motion polarizes

Sound and musicDivisive60

Hans Zimmer's bombastic score; Limp Bizkit theme codifies early-2000s era

Acting55

Cruise charismatic but shallow; Newton underutilized; Scott wooden; Hopkins wasted

Pacing40

First hour sluggish, final third action-packed but exhausting

Tension30

Low stakes, no real suspense; action devolves into cartoonish spectacle

Plot and story25

Generic virus-thriller clichés, predictable twists, no suspense

Characters25

Paper-thin hero, bland villain, love interest reduced to damsel

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 11 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 16 points higher than users.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 12 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Mission: Impossible II like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingRomantic
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsRomantic · 8% of filmsEpic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its high-stakes espionage and romance completely straight, with no irony or undercutting, treating the absurd action and melodramatic romance with earnest conviction.
The rideThe film sustains a high-action, adrenaline-driven mood punctuated by romantic interludes, building to an extended action climax.
StructureThe plot unfolds in a straightforward beginning-middle-end arc, with setup (recruitment, exposition), complications (infiltration, Nyah's capture), and climax (lab raid, final confrontation).

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves viewers with a sense of adrenaline-fueled entertainment and uplift, celebrating the hero's triumph and romantic payoff.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEthan Hunt is assigned to retrieve a stolen virus and antidote from a rogue agent; the story follows a classic mission structure with disguises, infiltration of the villain's compound, and action set pieces.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of filmsJustice · 13% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe mission is driven by Ethan's romantic bond with Nyah, which complicates the assignment and ultimately motivates him to risk everything to save her.
StanceThe film celebrates romantic love and the hero's duty, affirming that Ethan's willingness to risk everything for Nyah is admirable and worth it.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Hans Zimmer
SettingSydney, Australia, and a remote island compound
MusicZimmer's score blends symphonic action cues with rock-influenced motifs, notably the theme 'Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission 2)'.

Content guide

Is Mission: Impossible II okay for kids?

PG-13

Mission: Impossible II is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action and some sensuality” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (65/100), sexual content at moderate (39/100), language at moderate (39/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (25/100) and frightening material at intense (63/100). Overall it is heavier than 77% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 25 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14A
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Belgium16
  • Czechia12+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • Hungary16
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway15
  • Poland12
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO12
  • Russia12+
  • Spain12
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
  • THG
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 48% of all filmsHeavier than 77% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 85%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 73%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 42%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 25%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 80%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what PG-13-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Mission: Impossible II have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Mission: Impossible II?

Cast

Tom Cruise
as Ethan Hunt
Dougray Scott
as Sean Ambrose
Thandiwe Newton
as Nyah Hall
Ving Rhames
as Luther Strickell
Richard Roxburgh
as Hugh Stamp
John Polson
as Billy Baird
Brendan Gleeson
as McCloy
Rade Šerbedžija
as Dr. Nekhorvich
William Mapother
as Wallis
Dominic Purcell
as Ulrich

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Mission: Impossible II?

Movies like Mission: Impossible II include Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018), Mission: Impossible III (2006) and Knight and Day (2010). Of the 12 closest matches, most are stories about spies, and several are films with Tom Cruise.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

11 of these 12 share its world: espionage. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Mission: Impossible II?

243 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: spy. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.