An incredible and iconic blockbuster spy thriller will be airing for free on BBC One this afternoon (Wednesday, 31st December).

While many streamers will be ringing in 2026 with the final episode of Stranger Things coming to Netflix on New Year’s Day, if you’re planning a quieter evening before the countdown to midnight, this beloved 1990s thrill-ride could be the perfect option.

Get your pulses racing with Mission: Impossible, the first instalment in the phenomenal spy franchise led by Tom Cruise as reckless secret agent Ethan Hunt, who stops at nothing to save the world from destruction.

Originally released in 1996, this inaugural entry in the increasingly jaw-dropping action series was directed by Brian De Palma and some say it still tops the six sequels that came afterwards.

Viewers who need a boost of adrenaline to see them into the new year are in luck, as it’s airing at 8:30pm tonight and also available to stream on BBC iPlayer for the next five months.

One 10/10 review from an enthusiastic IMDb user declared it “the best spy movie ever”.

They went on: “The movie derives its power from a fine mix of action, suspense, thrill, special effects, and an amazingly crafted *impossible* mission.

“All the characters fit in their roles well. It all starts as a regular spy mission movie, but the unbelievable turn of events leave the viewers as much amazed as the main characters.

“The slow recovery from this initial shock, the pursuit of truth, the mission, the revelation, the hope/love/belief, and the grand finale; all of it has been well knitted in a single fully flowing helluva movie.”

Another reviewer called the first Mission: Impossible “still the best in the franchise”.

“The movie can balance perfectly well between tense situations and action scenes, De Palma CAN direct a thriller movie, proved by the scene where Ethan Hunt goes to steal the NOC list, that scene is fantastic, and it lasts about 15 minutes without getting tiresome,” they added.

Someone else declared: “This is the best movie in the world. I love it and I recommend it fully to anyone who hasn’t seen it. This is a wonderfully good film.

“The plot is easy to understand and smartly written. Tom Cruise is brilliant as Ethan Hunt of the Impossible Mission Force and does a hell of a good job getting back on good terms with the IMF. I recommend this film to anyone.”

And a final fan on Letterboxd raved: “Love the later mission films obviously, but no director today can really compare to De Palma at his finest, who was perhaps the most accomplished cinematic craftsman to emerge out of the new Hollywood.

“Like, nothing today outside of maybe Spielberg looks and feels THIS good, it’s like visual candy, such a rich array of colors and atmosphere and rightfully iconic moments, united by neo-classical style and a playful spirit — every setpiece is 110% perfect, there are no wasted shots, all of it is beautiful and technically adept. It’s not possible for them to make something this precise anymore.”

Will Cruise’s first mission with the IMF be your final film of 2025?

Mission: Impossible airs at 8:30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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