What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMission: Impossible
Film · 1996
If you loved Mission: Impossible, start with Mission: Impossible (Bruce Geller, 1966) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Mission: Impossible across media.
What hooked you in Mission: Impossible was the high-stakes thrill of watching a resourceful operative navigate impossible conspiracies while clearing their name.
Start with the source
The source
Mission: Impossible
Bruce Geller · Series · 1966
Adaptation
Mission: Impossible II
John Woo · Film · 2000
Adaptation
Mission: Impossible III
J.J. Abrams · Film · 2006
Books on the same thread
The Ipcress File
Len Deighton · Book · 1963
Shares a thread with Mission: Impossible: Betrayal.
Just as Ethan Hunt faces betrayal in Mission: Impossible, this classic thriller captures the same suffocating paranoia and the desperate need to uncover a mole within the intelligence apparatus.
The Innocent
Ian McEwan · Book · 1998
Explores: Cold War, Espionage, Loss of Innocence.
If the geopolitical tension of Mission: Impossible kept you on edge, this story of surveillance and international plots offers a similarly immersive look at the cost of espionage.
James Bond
Ian Fleming · Book · 1953
Explores: International Intrigue, British Intelligence, Gadgets.
The foundation for the high-stakes gadgets and global intrigue seen in Mission: Impossible started here, providing the quintessential blueprint for the suave, unstoppable spy operating in the shadows.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith · Book · 1992
Explores: Identity Theft, Moral Ambiguity, Obsession.
While Mission: Impossible focuses on team operations, this story mirrors the intense psychological stakes and moral ambiguity found when a protagonist must navigate a complex, deceptive web of lies.
Series on the same thread
Prison Break
Paul T. Scheuring · Series · 2005
Explores: Brotherhood, Wrongful Conviction, Redemption.
This series captures the same relentless momentum as Mission: Impossible, focusing on a man fighting a massive, corrupt conspiracy to prove innocence and secure justice for his own family.
The Fugitive
Roy Huggins · Series · 1963
Explores: Manhunt, Injustice, False Accusation.
Fans of the false accusation arc in Mission: Impossible will recognize the desperate, cross-country hunt for the truth as an innocent man tries to outrun a powerful, systemic conspiracy.
MacGyver
Lee David Zlotoff · Series · 1985
Shares a thread with Mission: Impossible: Action-Adventure.
If you admired the technical ingenuity Ethan Hunt uses to survive in Mission: Impossible, you will appreciate this agent who solves complex problems using only his wit and surroundings.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Surveillance State, Moral Ambiguity.
Like the rogue operations in Mission: Impossible, this show follows a skilled operative working outside the system to stop threats, fueled by the same high-tech surveillance and moral conviction.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Podcast
Explores: Justice, Wrongful Conviction, Morality.
The investigative spirit that drives Ethan Hunt to uncover the truth in Mission: Impossible is reflected in these stories, which examine the complex intersection of justice and human behavior.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories mirror the suspense and narrative twists of Mission: Impossible, offering short, intense explorations of moral ambiguity that demand the same level of close attention.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Mission: Impossible movies in?
You should watch the films in their original release order to follow the character arc of Ethan Hunt. Start with the 1996 Mission: Impossible, followed by Mission: Impossible II from 2000, and then proceed to Mission: Impossible III released in 2006.
Is Mission: Impossible based on a television show?
Yes, the 1996 movie is based on the original television series titled Mission: Impossible, which first premiered in 1966. While the film updates the premise for a modern espionage setting, it draws its core concept of a crack team of agents from the classic television source material.
Does the 1996 Mission: Impossible have any direct sequels?
Yes, the 1996 Mission: Impossible serves as the start of a film series. It is followed by two direct sequels mentioned in the franchise history, which are Mission: Impossible II, released in 2000, and Mission: Impossible III, which was released in 2006.
How does the plot of the 1996 Mission: Impossible begin?
The plot of Mission: Impossible begins when Ethan Hunt discovers that his espionage team has been compromised during a mission. After a mole penetrates the CIA, Hunt finds himself as the prime suspect and must clear his name by identifying the real double agent responsible for the operation failure.