As Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opens in theaters, there’s been a lot of debate about the long-running franchise’s best and worst movies. Released 25 years ago today, Mission: Impossible II proved that Tom Cruise taking over the 1960s TV series was more than just a one-off success. Even Mission: Impossible II’s version of the gimmicky, attention-grabbing stunt isn’t about putting Ethan in danger, but rather his pure enjoyment of an adrenaline rush. Paramount PicturesWhile the McQuarrie films are often grim, Mission: Impossible II retains a sense of playfulness throughout. Those directorial quirks are what made the Mission: Impossible series so appealing in its early installments, and Mission: Impossible II is full of them.