From Mumbai to Minsk, iconic locations where the Mission Impossible movies are shot

Tom Cruise changed the world of action cinema in 1996, when he first starred in the Mission: Impossible franchise. The film series; which is synonymous with his name, is one of the most loved action film franchises, owing to its thrilling plot lines, heart-stopping action and intense stunts; in most cases performed by Cruise himself. All of it is carried out in cinematic style across some of the incredible locations of the world. Mumbai, Dubai, Minsk, Paris, Yemen, Shanghai, and New York are some of the many cities where the Tom Cruise-starrer takes its viewers. Here are some of the best locations that were a part of this thunderous film series. 

1. Mission Impossible (1960)

The film had its humble beginnings back in 1996 with a couple of locations across Europe, primarily being shot in Prague, Czech Republic. The national museum was used as the American embassy when Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) makes his successful escape in the Old Town Square. Other famous spots from Prague includes Charles Bridge, Liechtenstein Palace, Wenceslas Square and Na Kampe. Later, the film takes us to London's Liverpool tube station, where Hunt is seen making a phone call. The final scene of the movie takes place onboard a train headed from UK to France, where we see the Channel Tunnel that connects both countries through an underwater route. 

2. Mission Impossible 2 (2000)

The second part of the series takes us on a journey to the most popular city in the Kangaroo Nation, as we see Cruise and his entourage in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Opera House, Sydney Bridge, Ashton Park and the Sydney Tower form parts of the background. The most thrilling scene of the movie, where we see Tom Cruise in some of the most death-defying scenes, takes place in Utah, USA. Cruise is seen free-climbing red rocks in Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. And yes, it really was Tom who did most of the stunt. 

3. Mission Impossible 3 (2006)

Is it even a Tom Cruise movie if he doesn't jump from the top of an iconic building? The Bank of China, located in a building in Shanghai, reaffirms that fact. For the third installation of the movie, Cruise and company take the audiences on a mini world tour as the film; which was shot between July 2005 to November 2005; uses multiple locations such as Shanghai, Berlin, Vatican City, Rome, California and more. For one of the most iconic scenes in the franchise, Cruise was seen flinging himself off the 55-feet-tall skyscraper in Shanghai. Post this hell-raising stunt, we see Hunt navigating the streets of Rome, Caserta and Vatican City.  

4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Once again, Cruise showcased his love for tall tower-related stunts during the filming of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, where he scaled the tallest tower in the world i.e. the Burj Khalifa. With no stunt doubles, the then-49-year-old heartthrob suspended himself from the building's exterior and climbed atop the tower with a pair of ladders. Cruise became one of the earliest people in film history to reach the top of the famed tower. We also see two Indian cities – Mumbai and Bengaluru – featured in the movie as Hunt chases some goons through the bustling streets of these busy cities. Other filming locations for the movie included Moscow in Russia and Budapest in Hungary. 

5. Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

The movie series makes its way back to London where we see the Thames River, London Eye and Piccadilly Circus. Later in the movie, we see Hunt hiding in Paris's Eiffel Tower before making his way to the Vienna Opera House in Austria. National buildings of the USA, such as the Capitol and the DC Monument, are also featured in the movie for brief periods of time. The movie also takes the audience to Havana in Cuba, Minsk in Belarus and Casablanca in Morocco for a couple of scenes. 

6. Mission Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Clinging to Cruise's back as he manoeuvred his bike through the narrow streets of Paris became a dream for many when the film first came out. Only Cruise can manage to do that in the busy streets of France's capital without breaking a sweat. We tour most of Paris in the movie, as tourist destinations like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Concorde are featured in the movie. Henry Cavill joins the franchise as a ruthless CIA assassin, as we see Cruise's Hunt chasing him down across London's locations like St Paul's Cathedral, Blackfriars Bridge and Tate Modern. India's Kashmir makes an appearance during a helicopter chase in the movie.

7. Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

The movie is best known for the biggest stunt in cinematic history, Tom Cruise motorcycles a bike through a mountain before parachuting to safety in Helsetkopen, Norway. The heart-stopping stunt was shot 6 times in one day of shooting, following 500 test skydives and 13,000 motocross jumps in preparation from a ski slope. The sand dunes of the Rub' al Khali Desert in Yemen and the UAE make an appearance in the opening action scene of the movie. 

8. Mission Impossible – Final Reckoning (2025)

The movie, that is currently making waves at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, was shot across the UK, Malta, South Africa and Norway. One can only wait with bated breath to see what daring stunts the 62-year-old Hollywood star will perform this time. 

Edited by Dayle Pereira