--- title: "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" year: 2011 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol" fi1m_score: 82 critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 21 published: "2026-09-17T07:35:46.083984+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T07:35:46.465291+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) Directed by Brad Bird · 2h 13m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Thriller, Adventure **Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 72 from 21 reviews *In a sentence:* Tom Cruise does the climbing while the gadgets consider whether they are in the mood > Brad Bird makes a tense, funny team adventure out of unreliable gadgets and difficult jobs. The villain is thin and the pace slips later, but the action is unusually easy to follow and hard to sit through calmly. ## Synopsis Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) begins with a Russian prison escape, then moves on to an infiltration in Moscow. The target is the Kremlin archive, where he needs to get inside without being detected. Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) are part of the group working with him, each needed for an operation that cannot be left to Hunt alone. A technological trick offers a way past security. With gadgets that do not always behave as intended, the agents must keep adjusting their plans while trying to stay out of sight. ## Review *Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol* understands how much enjoyment there is in watching capable people cope when their equipment disappoints them. Brad Bird makes a brisk, funny thriller whose action remains clear even when the job is going badly wrong. We recommend it, with a warning that the villain gets considerably less attention than the obstacles. The emphasis on sharing the work gives Tom Cruise something useful to do besides appear indestructible: Ethan Hunt has colleagues to depend on, and their difficulties become his. The early Russian prison escape establishes how comfortably Brad Bird handles movement and comic timing within the same sequence. The Kremlin archive operation then makes the business of sneaking past security entertaining in itself, without needing a fight to keep us interested. James D. Bissell’s production design gives that trick a convincingly official setting, which makes the intrusion all the more enjoyable. Paying attention to the practical task is rewarded here, because we understand enough to appreciate the ingenuity involved. The Burj Khalifa climb is the sequence that got to us. We were frightened, because Tom Cruise’s exposed body against the building makes the possibility of a fall horribly easy to imagine. Robert Elswit’s photography preserves the scale of the climb, while Paul Hirsch’s editing keeps the immediate physical problem understandable. We know enough to dread the next movement, which is a considerable achievement in a genre often content to shake a camera at trouble. Simon Pegg’s Benji makes technical competence look compatible with ordinary alarm, and the jokes work because the job still needs doing. Paula Patton gives Jane enough force to hold her place beside Ethan Hunt, while Jeremy Renner brings a useful reserve to Brandt. Tom Cruise seems to enjoy having people around him who can complicate a scene as well as help complete it. We get the pleasure of a working group even when the script has not given its members much private life. Michael Giacchino’s brisk score keeps the chases playful, but Brad Bird also knows when silence will do more for the tension. Paul Hirsch keeps the changes between suspense and comedy smooth enough that a joke rarely costs us concern for the person in danger. The recurring gadget problems are particularly effective, since they oblige the actors to react to something more immediate than another briefing, and allow small embarrassments to occur alongside serious risks. The weakness is the story supplied by André Nemec and Josh Appelbaum, which has far more imagination for individual obstacles than for the threat connecting them. Michael Nyqvist’s Hendricks is too thinly written to give the pursuit much urgency between the set pieces. Some of the later challenges also repeat the same cycle of preparation, failure and recovery, and the pace begins to slip. At 133 minutes, the film could afford to lose some of that repetition without depriving the team of anything we would miss. Against the action thriller’s usual demand that we admire one man indefinitely, the emphasis on shared work is welcome. Brad Bird makes it easy to enjoy the ingenuity and still worry about the people carrying out the plan. Choose it for the team, and give the climbing sequence your full attention. *Fi1m score 82, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics welcome Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol as an inventive, good-humoured action thriller, with praise concentrated on Brad Bird’s direction and the Burj Khalifa climb. That sequence earns approval even from several less enthusiastic reviews, which find its suspense more persuasive than the surrounding story. Tom Cruise’s physical commitment, the stronger emphasis on teamwork and Simon Pegg’s comic contribution also draw praise. The gadgets and the agents’ need to improvise give the action much of its appeal. Reservations centre on a thin, sometimes confused plot, an unmemorable villain and limited character development. Some critics find the later stretches slower or the succession of challenges repetitive, though most consider the set pieces sufficient compensation. The spread is broad: Collider particularly values the ensemble and improvised solutions, while Digital Spy finds the film flat, its humour misjudged and its thrills insufficiently sustained. ### Reviews we read (21) - **Empire**, Nick de Semlyen (80/100, inferred): The dizzyingly brilliant Burj Khalifa action sequence is the main attraction and pure popcorn cinema. The film has a refreshingly light touch and focus on team play that keeps it fun, though the plot and villain are stale. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review/) - **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (4/5): This is a gripping rejuvenation of the series that is inventive, relentless and tension-packed. The amazing spectacle of Cruise dangling off the Burj Khalifa tower is highlighted. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-aejimt/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol/) - **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The film is arguably the strongest in the series, with impressive set pieces and cheeky brio from director Brad Bird. The bravura Burj Khalifa scaling sequence is the standout feat of tense suspense filmmaking. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol/5035420.article) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (80/100, inferred): The fourth Mission: Impossible is an efficient and effective thriller that gains extra comic dimension from Simon Pegg's scene-stealing performance. It delivers solid entertainment with standout gadgetry and a breathtaking Burj Khalifa sequence, though it sags slightly in later scenes. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/dec/22/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review) - **Total Film**, Neil Smith (75/100, inferred): Bird's zippy caper succeeds by focusing on a surrogate family of agents working as a team, delivering fast-paced globe-trotting thrills and spectacular set pieces like the Burj Khalifa sequence. Minor disappointments include underdeveloped backstories but it remains thrilling blockbuster entertainment. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review/) - **Evening Standard** (70/100, inferred): The film looks far better than it sounds, with spectacular action sequences in Moscow and especially the vertiginous Burj Khalifa stunt that is the highlight. Enough gadgets, chases and set pieces compensate for the thin story and two-dimensional characters. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review-7428154.html) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (70/100, inferred): The review commends Brad Bird's stylish live-action debut and the film's visual flair in IMAX sequences, crediting Tom Cruise's unwavering commitment for making the action believable. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-dec-16-la-et-mission-impossible-20111216-story.html) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (70/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's standout action sequences, especially the vertiginous Burj Khalifa climb, and highlights the strong ensemble performances from Cruise, Pegg, Patton and Renner. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-2011) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (70/100, inferred): The critic finds spectacular action in striking international locales but notes the repetitive challenges and villain plot. Brad Bird's live-action debut handles the format well, with strong set pieces like the Russian prison escape and Burj Khalifa climb standing out. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-film-review-271129/) - **The Independent** (***): The critic had a surprisingly good time with this high-octane fourth outing, praising the quality of the stunts and Cruise showing himself as a team player rather than a solo act. The Burj Khalifa climbing sequence stands out as thrilling and stomach-lurching, though the film is full of absurdities. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-david-fincher-156-mins-18-mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-133-mins-brad-bird-12a-6280578.html) - **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (70/100, inferred): The critic highlights the film's humorous take on imperfect gadgets and stunts under Brad Bird's direction, along with its unexpected sincerity and Tom Cruise's evident enjoyment. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/making-missions-possible-since-1776) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (70/100, inferred): The review notes the film's return to high-stakes action basics with Tom Cruise's committed stunt work and Brad Bird's self-aware direction, while acknowledging the familiar nonsensical plot. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/movies/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review.html) - **Little White Lies**, Matt Bochenski (4/3/2): The critic finds the film flat and inert overall despite its ambitions. The vertigo-inducing Burj Khalifa climb stands out as the thrilling high point. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol/) - **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): It is an enjoyable but unambitious action movie that fails to deliver character or heart. The dizzyingly effective Burj Khalifa sequence in IMAX is singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-1) - **Variety**, Justin Chang (50/100, inferred): The review praises the jaw-dropping early set pieces and inventive direction by Brad Bird but finds the film loses momentum in the later stretches despite strong individual sequences. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-1117946718/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A): The critic praises Brad Bird for delivering the best Mission: Impossible yet with bone-crunching action, fleet-footed pacing, and a terrific ensemble that makes it a team movie. He singles out the brilliant gadgets and set pieces, especially how plans go wrong forcing improvisation. [Read](https://collider.com/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review/) - **Paste**, Dan Kaufman (9.0): Calls it the best entry in the franchise and one of the best action movies in recent years, highlighting the thrilling Burj Khalifa sequence as the centerpiece worth the price of admission, and the sense of fun and strong performances. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol) - **The Wrap** (85/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a rousing gasp machine that revives the flagging franchise with nonstop jolts and thrills under Brad Bird's direction. Bird's animation background shines in the tangible action sequences, particularly the Burj Khalifa climb, making the effects feel real and the series relevant again. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/mission-impossible-matters-again-ghost-protocol-33717/) - **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (4/5): The critic praises the film's exhilarating action sequences, especially the Burj Khalifa climb, and Brad Bird's assured direction that brings urgency, silence for tension, and an ensemble focus. It notes some niggles with length and gadgets but calls it a strong, enjoyable improvement on the previous entry. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review/) - **/Film**, Germain Lussier (8/10): The review praises the nonstop, high-octane action sequences directed by Brad Bird that advance plot and character while balancing levity and heart. It notes the film's simple plot is elevated by inventive gadgets and stunts but finds the repetitive 'everything works out' structure slightly tiring. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/518934/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review-bad-ass-action-brad-bird-style/) - **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film surprisingly flat and low-key, hampered by a confused narrative, messy script, and lack of sustained thrills or character depth despite strong set pieces and IMAX spectacle. It criticizes the tone, comic relief, and overall execution as a disappointment. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a355871/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Brad Bird - **Director:** Brad Bird - **Writer:** Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec - **Cinematography:** Robert Elswit - **Editor:** Paul Hirsch - **Music:** Michael Giacchino - **Production design:** James D. Bissell - **Costume design:** Michael Kaplan - **Producer:** J.J. Abrams, Tom Cruise, Bryan Burk - **Cast:** Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt; Paula Patton as Jane; Simon Pegg as Benji; Jeremy Renner as Brandt; Michael Nyqvist as Hendricks; Vladimir Mashkov as Sidorov; Samuli Edelmann as Wistrom; Ivan Shvedoff as Leonid Lisenker - **Runtime:** 2h 13m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 16 December 2011 - **Genres:** Action, Thriller, Adventure - **Budget:** $145 million - **Box office:** $695 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wkih9Yvxq0 ## Where to watch in the US - Paramount+: streaming, hd - Tubi: free, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $16.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-17.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Wages of Fear* (1953), Fi1m 90: Another lesson in making a simple physical task almost unbearable to watch — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-wages-of-fear.md) - *Police Story* (1985): Ingenious physical action, with comedy that makes the danger feel more immediate - *Sneakers* (1992): Capable people, fallible technology and the pleasure of watching a team think - *The Incredibles* (2004), Fi1m 88: Shared work, domestic friction and action whose geography never needs explaining — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-incredibles.md) - *Rififi* (1955): For the patient planning and suspense that depends on understanding the job --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol