Whenever a long-running movie franchise enjoys consistent box office success, one of two things typically happens. The franchise in question either evades critical acclaim entirely, proving popular with audiences but never quite managing to win over critics, or the series starts off strong before gradually declining in quality with each passing installment.

Very rarely does a movie franchise begin somewhere between "average" and "good," then transition toward true greatness over the course of several movies. Sequels traditionally result in diminishing returns; this is the exact opposite, and the best example of such a rare phenomenon belongs to an IP that has, across almost three decades, turned into a cinematic powerhouse.

The First Mission: Impossible Movie Is Good, But Never Great

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