Best Blurays IconBest Blurays
Films
/
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Mission: Impossible (1996) poster
Letterboxd

3.6

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Adventure, Action, Thriller • 1h 50m

Overview

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.

Director: Brian De Palma

Cast: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vanessa Redgrave, Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė, Valentina Yakunina, Marek Vašut, Nathan Osgood, John McLaughlin, Rolf Saxon, Karel Dobrý, Andreas Wisniewski, David Shaeffer, Rudolf Pechan, Gaston Šubert, Ricco Ross, Bob Friend, Annabel Mullion, Garrick Hagon, Jiřina Třebická, Andrzej Borkowski, Maya Dokic, Sam Douglas, Olegar Fedoro, Carmela Marner, Mimi Potworowska, David Schneider, Helen Lindsay, Pat Starr, Richard D. Sharp, Randall Paul, Sue Doucette, Graydon Gould, Tony Vogel, Michael Rogers, Laura Brook, Morgan Deare, David Phelan, Melissa Knatchbull, Dale Dye, Marcel Iureș, Ion Caramitru, Emilio Estevez, Keith Campbell, Michael Cella, Harry Fielder, Toby Hinson, John Knoll, Paul Markham

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Paramount 4K Blu-ray despite issues

Best Audio Release

Laserdisc Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 matrix Dolby Surround, VHS hifi 2.0 Dolby Surround, Cinema DTS

Additional Info

The film was remixed for the first DVD to remove a great deal of the bass and tame the LFE channel. Every version since uses this revised mix. Only the Laserdisc and release prints have the original theatrical 5.1 discrete mix. The 2.0 matrix version also has the low end intact on LD and VHS. Just demo the main title or the aquarium restaurant glass explosion and you’ll note the difference immediately.

The first DVD while porting the LD and vhs master is where the audio remix happened. The remix still sounds good but it was an unnecessary compromise to place on one of the great mixes of all time. The UHD also uses the remix.

The Paramount UHD is ok though it has some frozen grain and some HDR issues as expected of a screwy Paramount master.

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Disappointing
Paramount:

Some frozen grain, some HDR too bright, typical paramount issues, no theatrical audio mix only the tamed home video remix.

Featured Lists

Length

110 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

Mission։ Impossible

Last Updated

4 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Paramount 4K Blu-ray despite issues

Best Audio Release

Laserdisc Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 matrix Dolby Surround, VHS hifi 2.0 Dolby Surround, Cinema DTS

Additional Info

The film was remixed for the first DVD to remove a great deal of the bass and tame the LFE channel. Every version since uses this revised mix. Only the Laserdisc and release prints have the original theatrical 5.1 discrete mix. The 2.0 matrix version also has the low end intact on LD and VHS. Just demo the main title or the aquarium restaurant glass explosion and you’ll note the difference immediately.

The first DVD while porting the LD and vhs master is where the audio remix happened. The remix still sounds good but it was an unnecessary compromise to place on one of the great mixes of all time. The UHD also uses the remix.

The Paramount UHD is ok though it has some frozen grain and some HDR issues as expected of a screwy Paramount master.

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Disappointing
Paramount:

Some frozen grain, some HDR too bright, typical paramount issues, no theatrical audio mix only the tamed home video remix.

Featured Lists
Length
110 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
Mission։ Impossible
Last Updated
4 months ago
Contributors

Part of Mission: Impossible

See more →
Mission: Impossible II poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

The DTS-HD 5.1 from some of the international Blu-rays and the TrueHD 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray are similar.

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

The DTS-HD 5.1 from some of the international Blu-rays and the TrueHD 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray are similar.

Mission: Impossible III poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

The DTS-HD 5.1 from some of the international Blu-rays and the TrueHD 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray are similar.

Additional Info:

Best Buy exclusive DVD has Bonus Disc with featurettes not found on Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

The DTS-HD 5.1 from some of the international Blu-rays and the TrueHD 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray are similar.

Additional Info:

Best Buy exclusive DVD has Bonus Disc with featurettes not found on Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray (caveat: IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date)

Additional Info:

IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray (caveat: IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date)

Additional Info:

IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray, a very good 2k upscale

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray, a very good 2k upscale

More from Brian De Palma

See more →
Carlito's Way poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Universal LaserDisc

Additional Info:

Carlito’s Way was released theatrically in both Dolby Stereo and DTS. The 2.0 on the Arrow UHD is the original stereo mix, unknown if the 5.1 mix on the  Arrow disc is the original DTS mix.

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Universal LaserDisc

Additional Info:

Carlito’s Way was released theatrically in both Dolby Stereo and DTS. The 2.0 on the Arrow UHD is the original stereo mix, unknown if the 5.1 mix on the  Arrow disc is the original DTS mix.

Hi, Mom! poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray see caps vs Arrow

Hi, Mom! poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray see caps vs Arrow

Carrie poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Carrie poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Criterion LaserDisc

The Untouchables poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

LaserDisc

Scarface poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

R2/R4 DVD DD 4.0

Scarface poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

R2/R4 DVD DD 4.0

Dressed to Kill poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Phantom of the Paradise poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow > Shout! Factory

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow > Shout! Factory

Blow Out poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2022 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Blow Out poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2022 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

More from Paramount

See more →
Funny Face poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Funny Face poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

South Park: The End of Obesity poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Mean Girls poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Crocodile Dundee poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

US Paramount 4K Blu-ray, unsure whether it's the International cut released by Paramount or the Encore Cut

Best Video:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Australia Cut: Laserdisc

Additional Info:

The film exists in three versions:
- the original Australian cut (~104 minutes at 24fps/~100 minutes at 25fps);
- the American/international version (~98 minutes at 24fps/~94 minutes at 25fps) trimming some exposition in the Outback first half of the film and some shorter extensions of a few seconds in the New York section, altering some of the dialogue – including censoring a "fuck" to "screw" – but featuring one additional dialogue extension not in the Australian version (a comparison of the two cuts can be found at Movie Censorship);
- the Australian Encore Cut (~95 minutes at 24fps/~91 minutes at 25fps) which uses the international version source so it already has those alterations but also removes approximately three minutes consisting of parts of two scenes featuring Mick grabbing the crotch of a cross-dressing prostitute and a later sequence when he does the same thing at a party to a woman with a deep voice (a comparison of the international version and the Encore Cut can be found at Movie Censorship).

Best English-Friendly:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

US Paramount 4K Blu-ray, unsure whether it's the International cut released by Paramount or the Encore Cut

Best Video:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Australia Cut: Laserdisc

Additional Info:

The film exists in three versions:
- the original Australian cut (~104 minutes at 24fps/~100 minutes at 25fps);
- the American/international version (~98 minutes at 24fps/~94 minutes at 25fps) trimming some exposition in the Outback first half of the film and some shorter extensions of a few seconds in the New York section, altering some of the dialogue – including censoring a "fuck" to "screw" – but featuring one additional dialogue extension not in the Australian version (a comparison of the two cuts can be found at Movie Censorship);
- the Australian Encore Cut (~95 minutes at 24fps/~91 minutes at 25fps) which uses the international version source so it already has those alterations but also removes approximately three minutes consisting of parts of two scenes featuring Mick grabbing the crotch of a cross-dressing prostitute and a later sequence when he does the same thing at a party to a woman with a deep voice (a comparison of the international version and the Encore Cut can be found at Movie Censorship).

Scream poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Video:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Audio:

2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes. 

The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325

Scream poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Video:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Audio:

2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes. 

The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325

Before Sunrise poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

Enemy at the Gates poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

US Paramount has poor encoding

Best English-Friendly:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

US Paramount has poor encoding

Edit History

4 edits
Mission: Impossible (1996) backdrop