--- title: "Mission: Impossible III" year: 2006 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-iii" fi1m_score: 70 critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 19 published: "2026-09-19T12:40:19.999623+00:00" updated: "2026-09-19T12:40:20.299218+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 III (2006) Directed by J.J. Abrams · 2h 06m · MPA PG-13 · Adventure, Action, Thriller **Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 62 from 19 reviews *In a sentence:* Philip Seymour Hoffman counts to ten and a franchise this expensive looks, for once, frightened > J.J. Abrams’s first film is the fastest of the three, with a bridge sequence that had us ducking and, in Philip Seymour Hoffman, a villain who never raises his voice. Underneath, the plot is television, and the object everyone chases is never explained. ## Synopsis Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has left fieldwork to train recruits for the Impossible Missions Force and is about to marry Julia (Michelle Monaghan), a nurse who has no idea what he does. At their engagement party his handler Musgrave (Billy Crudup) tells him that Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell), the agent he trained, has been captured in Berlin by men working for the arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hunt takes a team, Luther (Ving Rhames), Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and Zhen (Maggie Q), into a Berlin factory to get her out. The rescue goes wrong, and Hunt turns his attention to Davian himself, a trader in weapons who is about to sell something called the Rabbit’s Foot. ## Review J.J. Abrams had never directed a film when Tom Cruise handed him this one. The third *Mission: Impossible* moves faster than either of its predecessors and has a villain who could frighten a room by clearing his throat. It also has a plot that would not detain a Tuesday-night television audience, built round an object the script refuses to explain. We enjoyed it a great deal. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) has stepped back from the field to train recruits and is engaged to Julia (Michelle Monaghan), a nurse who believes he works in traffic. At his engagement party Musgrave (Billy Crudup) arrives to say that Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell), Hunt’s protégée, has been taken in Berlin by people working for the arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hunt goes, with Luther (Ving Rhames), Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and Zhen (Maggie Q), and the rescue does not go cleanly. Hoffman is the reason to watch. He plays Davian soft and bored, a heavy man in a good suit who does not raise his voice because he has never needed to. The film opens with him counting to ten over a bound and bleeding Hunt, and we felt something we do not often feel in this series: real fear that he would reach ten. He never plays the villain’s pleasure; he plays a man doing accounts. Cruise looks smaller in every scene they share, and the film uses that. The action is the other reason. The best is on a bridge over Chesapeake Bay, where a convoy is hit from the air and Hunt, knocked flat by one missile, gets up and runs at the camera while another comes in. Dan Mindel shoots it handheld in hard afternoon light, the sun flaring into the lens and the frame shaking with every impact, and Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon cut it so that we always know where the drone is, where Hunt is, and how far apart they are. We ducked. Michael Giacchino keeps the old Lalo Schifrin theme in the brass and lets it loose only when the running starts. Scott Chambliss builds a Vatican for a heist with a cassock and a mask made in the back of a van, and Colleen Atwood gives Davian the best suits in the film. The trouble is everything the running is for. The object everyone wants is called the Rabbit’s Foot, and nobody in the film knows what it is. Simon Pegg’s Benji, a lab technician, has a theory involving the end of the world; the script offers it as a joke and then asks us to care about the thing for another hour. We laughed at the joke and then felt slightly cheated, because a thriller that will not say what is at stake has decided the stakes do not matter. The agency politics, Laurence Fishburne’s Brassel barking and Crudup smoothing, run a course anyone who watched Abrams’s [*Alias*](https://film.one/tv/alias) will have mapped by the half-hour. Julia is the film’s attempt at a heart, and Monaghan does what she can with a smile and a hospital corridor. The idea, that Hunt has something to lose this time, is stated at the engagement party, stated again in a lift, and then set aside until the plot needs it. Cruise is at his best sprinting, sweating, hanging from the side of a Shanghai tower on a rope. He is less convincing when asked to stand still and feel things, and Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman write him a good deal of standing still. Set against the series, this is the one that runs. Brian De Palma’s 1996 film was a puzzle; John Woo’s 2000 sequel was a pose. Abrams makes a chase, which is what the title promised. It runs 126 minutes and carries a 12A. The reasons to see it are Hoffman and the bridge. As for what the Rabbit’s Foot is, nobody knows, and the film has no intention of finding out. *Fi1m score 70, published 19 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics come down in favour, though without much heat. Nine of the nineteen reviews are positive, and the praise gathers in two places: Philip Seymour Hoffman’s villain, described as chilling, single-minded and a stronger presence than Cruise, and the set pieces, the Chesapeake bridge attack and the Shanghai sequence among them. Abrams is credited with a leaner, faster film than the second entry, and several reviews welcome the attempt to give Hunt a private life. The reservations gather around the plot, which even admirers call flimsy or contrived, and around Abrams’s television background, which some see as a virtue of pace and others as a lack of stamina for a full-length film. The spread is wide, from warm reappraisals written years later to outright dismissals. The Guardian stands alone in finding Hoffman uncharismatic, The Independent calls Abrams a hack, and The New York Times objects to the maudlin romance. ### Reviews we read (19) - **Little White Lies**, David Ehrlich (85/100, inferred): Hoffman's Owen Davian is the highlight as a terrifyingly single-minded villain who strips Hunt of his personal life and identity, making this the pinnacle of the series through a stripped-down approach. Abrams understands that less can be more in crafting one of the most engaging mega-budget action films in years. [Read](https://lwlies.com/in-praise-of/mission-impossible-iii-philip-seymour-hoffman-tom-cruise) - **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (B+): The critic finds the film a strong directorial debut for Abrams that blends personal stakes and drama with globe-trotting action and intrigue in the style of his TV work like Alias. Hoffman’s chilling villain and the visceral set pieces stand out as highlights in an otherwise formulaic but well-executed summer blockbuster. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/mission-impossible-iii-1798201710) - **Total Film** (80/100, inferred): Abrams brings a lean, urgent, no-flab style that meshes perfectly with Cruise’s energy for a breathless, pummelling action machine that improves on prior entries and stands as the best of the trilogy. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/mission-impossible-iii-review/) - **Empire**, Ian Nathan (70/100, inferred): Mission 3 is a step ahead of its predecessors with cracking sequences, gadgetry and personal stakes, but remains a ragged whole of contrived plotting and predictable closure despite urgent pacing and strong set pieces. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mission-impossible-iii-review/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (70/100, inferred): The film plays like two consecutive one-hour TV shows, one standard and the other stocked with excitement, with the second hour ramping up involvement. Hoffman's picture-making villain performance raises the tension and overmatches Cruise. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-05-et-mission5-story.html) - **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): The film returns the franchise to its TV origins as a frenetic, fast-paced and engaging blockbuster directed by small-screen icon JJ Abrams. It lacks the cinematic grandeur of its predecessors but delivers slick, TV-style treatment of emotional elements like Ethan's wife. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/mission-impossible-iii/4027027.article) - **Slant Magazine** (70/100, inferred): The critic calls the film the oddest and most impersonally efficient entry in the series, a straightforward but propulsive summer action movie that is surprisingly the most viscerally entertaining despite its shallow plot and lack of auteur flair. Hoffman’s menacing villain and the coherent, high-octane set pieces receive particular praise. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/mission-impossible-iii-dvd/) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (2.5/4): The plot is secondary to sensational action sequences and high-tech stunts, with Ethan pursuing objectives he does not understand. The film delivers the expected formula but feels repetitive after previous entries. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mission-impossible-iii-2006) - **Financial Times**, Martin Hoyle (60/100, inferred): The review calls the film preposterous tosh but ludicrously enjoyable if one relaxes expectations, highlighting the stylish villainy of Philip Seymour Hoffman and the absurd action highlights. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/30bd89d2-dac7-11da-aa09-0000779e2340) - **Radio Times**, Sloan Freer (3/5): Abrams brings a more intimate side to Ethan Hunt alongside the expected action and gadgets in this fast-paced, slick entry with standout sequences. The formula feels stale and mechanical, however, with a flimsy plotline and cardboard characters. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ddyd02/mission-impossible-iii/) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (60/100, inferred): Abrams does a smarter job with the franchise than his predecessors but seems to lose steam along the way, as if television schooling deprived him of stamina for the longer haul. Hoffman is preferred in this role over his Capote performance. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/05/15/save-us) - **The Times** (50/100, inferred): The critic praises the intense opening but notes the film struggles to maintain momentum afterward, relying on franchise elements like chases and gadgets while attempting but not fully succeeding in giving Cruise a human backstory. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/mission-impossible-iii-5stxb0lmv7g) - **Evening Standard**, Derek Malcolm (40/100, inferred): Abrams delivers eye-popping action thrills and professional stunt work, but the plot is incomprehensible or unbelievable with one-dimensional characters and no emotional involvement, making the film feel bloodless despite the spectacle. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/your-mission-find-a-plot-7387213.html) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (40/100, inferred): The film appears tailored to reflect Cruise's personal life but otherwise droops due to maudlin romance and Abrams failing to adapt his small-screen talents to the big screen. Hoffman enlivens it with his ice-blooded villain performance. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/movies/going-to-extremes-and-getting-personal-in-mission-impossible-iii.html) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the third installment a tired, worn-out experience in the franchise, with a scaled-down but still ridiculous plot and uncharismatic villainy from Philip Seymour Hoffman. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2006/may/05/3) - **The Independent**, Jonathan Romney (30/100, inferred): The film is a frenetic but ultimately messy and unsatisfying post-Bond knock-off with little innovation beyond its pace; Abrams is dismissed as a TV hack whose direction fails to elevate the material or make the action sequences memorable. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/mission-impossible-3-12a-8691536.html) - **Film Stories**, A J Black (90/100, inferred): The film humanized Ethan Hunt and blended escapism with relatable heart and soul, arguably saving the franchise after the excesses of MI2 by adding emotional stakes and warmth while launching Abrams' cinematic career. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/mission-impossible-revisited-j-j-abrams-mission-impossible-iii/) - **The Skinny**, Paul Gallagher (★★★★): The critic calls it one of the best action films in years, crediting Abrams for shaking things up successfully with a simple story and talented cast. The standout elements are the first-class action sequences, including a Chesapeake bridge set piece and Shanghai base jumping, alongside a script with humor, emotion, and a strong Hoffman villain turn. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/mission-impossible-iii) - **Eye for Film**, Scott Macdonald (50/100, inferred): The film works reasonably as a genre example with lively action sequences and technical skill but lacks genuine wit or personal connection, coming across as a mass-produced, impersonal product like a big-budget version of Alias or 24. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/mission-impossible-iii-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) ## Details - **Director:** J.J. Abrams - **Director:** J.J. Abrams - **Writer:** Roberto Orci, J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman - **Cinematography:** Dan Mindel - **Editor:** Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey - **Music:** Michael Giacchino - **Production design:** Scott Chambliss - **Costume design:** Colleen Atwood - **Producer:** Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner, Zhao Haicheng - **Cast:** Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt; Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian; Ving Rhames as Luther; Billy Crudup as Musgrave; Michelle Monaghan as Julia; Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Declan; Keri Russell as Lindsey Farris; Maggie Q as Zhen - **Runtime:** 2h 06m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 5 May 2006 - **Genres:** Adventure, Action, Thriller - **Budget:** $150 million - **Box office:** $398 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oVva0muTE8 ## Where to watch in the US - Paramount+: streaming, hd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $16.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-19.* 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 - *Mission: Impossible* (1996), Fi1m 81: De Palma’s original, a puzzle box with a train on top and a proper plot — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible.md) - *Ronin* (1998), Fi1m 80: Frankenheimer’s Paris car chases and a case nobody explains, done with more gravity — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ronin.md) - *Nikita* (1990), Fi1m 76: Besson’s assassin thriller, where the personal life costs the agent rather more — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/nikita.md) - *The Bourne Supremacy* (2004), Fi1m 81: Greengrass shakes the camera harder and earns it with a Moscow chase — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-supremacy.md) - *Infernal Affairs* (2002), Fi1m 87: Hong Kong moles and double lives, played straight and fast in under two hours — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/infernal-affairs.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. 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