3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
J.J. Abrams walked so Brad Bird could fly. After Mission 3 sort of redefined the Mission franchise, Bird set the tone of what it would become and continue to be. Ghost Protocol isn’t just a hugely exciting, massive action movie, it also established Cruise as a man who was willing to do his own death-defying stunts, which added a whole other level of scope to the franchise. Plus, a supporting cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, and a larger role for Simon Pegg brings things up another notch.
