What we flagged
View all categories
Our take
Mission: Impossible is a spy thriller full of betrayals, break-ins, and tense chases. People are shot and killed, and the train and helicopter finale puts characters in real danger, though little blood is shown. Language is mostly mild. The twisting plot may be harder for younger children to follow than the violence is to watch. Around 13 and up feels comfortable.
Uplifting themes
Loyalty and clearing your name sit at the heart of it, and the hero keeps faith with the people he trusts. It is more about nerve and cleverness than any deeper lesson Ethan is quick-thinking, calm under pressure, and stays loyal to his team even while he is the one being hunted. Some of the people around him play both sides, which gives families plenty to weigh up
Story (may spoil tone)
When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.
Details
Violence The action turns on shootouts, an exploding getaway, and a white-knuckl…
The action turns on shootouts, an exploding getaway, and a white-knuckle train and helicopter finale. People are shot and a few characters die, but the camera stays away from blood. The threat is close to constant even when the hits do not land hard
Language Most swearing is mild, including hell and damn, with occasional b-word…
Most swearing is mild, including hell and damn, with occasional b-word insults. The language is scattered rather than constant
Drugs / alcohol Characters drink socially at functions and embassy parties, and there i…
Characters drink socially at functions and embassy parties, and there is passing talk of drunk bystanders. It sits in the background and never drives the story
Frightening Tension does a lot of the work, from a silent break-in where a single d…
Tension does a lot of the work, from a silent break-in where a single drop of sweat could ruin everything to a sudden explosion in a restaurant. It is suspense more than horror, but the squeeze can feel intense for younger viewers
Gore / death / weapons Guns are everywhere and several people die across the story, including…
Guns are everywhere and several people die across the story, including a nasty crushing moment near the end. Wounds are not lingered on, and there is very little blood for a film with this much shooting
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
What other parents think.
Be the first family to leave a watch note.
Talk after watching
- The team pulls off some incredible break-ins. How do you tell real spycraft from movie fantasy?
- Ethan is accused of something he did not do. How would you handle being wrongly blamed?
Ask ClearAge
Mission: Impossible
Ask about this guide, or name another film to open its ClearAge page.
