Mission: Impossible 2 is the disappointing second film that the movie franchise bounced back from , while completely changing its tone and shifting its focus. Despite a few saving graces, especially the close-up combat sequences, which might be the reason this movie features Tom Cruise's best melee fight sequences in the franchise, Mission: Impossible 2 is the weakest Mission: Impossible movie.

Rewatching 1996's Mission: Impossible in 2025 reveals some surprises , most notably the striking difference in tone from the rest of the franchise as it is a grounded and intense espionage thriller with next to no fight scenes. John Woo's Mission: Impossible 2 is thus even more jarring as a follow-up because it's over-the-top, cheesy, and features an abundance of fighting.

Tom Crui

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