Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Adventure, Action, Thriller • 2h 6m
Overview
Retired from active duty, and training recruits for the Impossible Mission Force, agent Ethan Hunt faces the toughest foe of his career: Owen Davian, an international broker of arms and information, who's as cunning as he is ruthless. Davian emerges to threaten Hunt and all that he holds dear – including the woman Hunt loves.
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell, Maggie Q, Simon Pegg, Eddie Marsan, Laurence Fishburne, Bahar Soomekh, Jeff Chase, Michael Berry Jr., Carla Gallo, Bellamy Young, Paul Keeley, Jane Daly, Greg Grunberg, Sabra Williams, Rose Rollins, Sasha Alexander, Tracy Middendorf, Aaron Paul, Kathryn Fiore, Colleen Crozier, Sean O'Bryan, Bruce French, Ellen Bry, Patrick Pankhurst, Tony Guma, James Shanklin, Anne Betancourt, Antonietta De Lorenzo, Andrea Sartoretti, Antonio Del Prete, Francesco De Vito, Giorgio Marchesi, Niccolò Senni, Paolo Bonacelli, David Waters, Michael G. Kehoe, Timothy Omundson, José Zúñiga, William Francis McGuire, Michelle Arthur, Barney Cheng, George Cheung, Brandon Molale, Simon Rhee, Marcus Young, Jerry Trimble, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Director: Brian De Palma
Paramount 4K Blu-ray despite issues
Laserdisc Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 matrix Dolby Surround, VHS hifi 2.0 Dolby Surround, Cinema DTS
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.
Director: Brian De Palma
Paramount 4K Blu-ray despite issues
Laserdisc Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 matrix Dolby Surround, VHS hifi 2.0 Dolby Surround, Cinema DTS
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.
Director: John Woo
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.
Director: John Woo
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.
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (caveat: IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date)
IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (caveat: IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date)
IMAX sequences have not been released on home video to date
Paramount 4K Blu-ray, a very good 2k upscale
Paramount 4K Blu-ray, a very good 2k upscale
Director: J.J. Abrams
Director: J.J. Abrams
Disney Blu-Ray
Original broadcast version of Exodus Pt. 2: fan restoration
Disney Blu-Ray
The Britain Blu-Ray of S1 has exclusive extras
The Best Buy exclusive Blu-Ray of S6 has a bonus disc.
Disney Blu-Ray
Original broadcast version of Exodus Pt. 2: fan restoration
Disney Blu-Ray
The Britain Blu-Ray of S1 has exclusive extras
The Best Buy exclusive Blu-Ray of S6 has a bonus disc.
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (featuring the Imax sequences)
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (featuring the Imax sequences)
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray for the US Cut.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray, is significantly better than the US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (even with FEL Baked in and Dolby Vision), with more grain retention and detail
SDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/TEPHtKjl
HDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/hIFe11Hx
Comparisons in SDR using L8 Trim from CM v4.0 (both UHDs can use CM v4.0): Remux vs USA UHD: https://slow.pics/c/mkrhVtpl
The International Cut, which contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act, hasn't been released on home video to date.
International Cut contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray for the US Cut.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray, is significantly better than the US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (even with FEL Baked in and Dolby Vision), with more grain retention and detail
SDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/TEPHtKjl
HDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/hIFe11Hx
Comparisons in SDR using L8 Trim from CM v4.0 (both UHDs can use CM v4.0): Remux vs USA UHD: https://slow.pics/c/mkrhVtpl
The International Cut, which contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act, hasn't been released on home video to date.
International Cut contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act.
Director: Peter Weir
Director: Peter Weir
Director: Tony Scott
Director: Tony Scott
Director: Haskell Wexler
Criterion Blu-ray is slightly better than MoC Blu-ray: while both are from a 4K restoration approved by director, MoC is more sharpened but gamma is flatter see caps
Paramount DVD and potentially Paramount LaserDisc see blah-ray
Criterion and MoC Blu-ray has the same audio, and additional (destructive) hiss reduction was applied, and one segment was made significantly louder.
Also, every home video release except the 1982 Paramount VHS cassette replaces Wild Man Fischer's 'Merry-Go-Round' in the roller derby scene with a version of 'Sweet Georgia Brown' by Brother Bones. Two very different songs, and one must assume that the tone of the scene has changed considerably
Director: Haskell Wexler
Criterion Blu-ray is slightly better than MoC Blu-ray: while both are from a 4K restoration approved by director, MoC is more sharpened but gamma is flatter see caps
Paramount DVD and potentially Paramount LaserDisc see blah-ray
Criterion and MoC Blu-ray has the same audio, and additional (destructive) hiss reduction was applied, and one segment was made significantly louder.
Also, every home video release except the 1982 Paramount VHS cassette replaces Wild Man Fischer's 'Merry-Go-Round' in the roller derby scene with a version of 'Sweet Georgia Brown' by Brother Bones. Two very different songs, and one must assume that the tone of the scene has changed considerably
Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though
Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though
Director: Jon Favreau
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray disappointing review
Director: Jon Favreau
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray disappointing review
Director: Wes Craven
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.
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.
2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray
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
Director: Wes Craven
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.
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.
2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray
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
Director: Karyn Kusama
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release is a significant upgrade from the 2006 Blu-Ray and features Dolby Vision and HDR10)
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release features a 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio; 2006 Blu-Ray featured a lossy DD track)
Paramount 4K HD Blu-Ray's video and audio are significant upgrades from the previous 2006 Blu-Ray. ViaVision's 4K UHD Blu-Ray features the same 4K video scan, but has 2 audio commentary tracks included on the 4K disc; Paramount's 4K does not (the commentary tracks are available only on the included Blu-Ray).
Director: Karyn Kusama
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release is a significant upgrade from the 2006 Blu-Ray and features Dolby Vision and HDR10)
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release features a 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio; 2006 Blu-Ray featured a lossy DD track)
Paramount 4K HD Blu-Ray's video and audio are significant upgrades from the previous 2006 Blu-Ray. ViaVision's 4K UHD Blu-Ray features the same 4K video scan, but has 2 audio commentary tracks included on the 4K disc; Paramount's 4K does not (the commentary tracks are available only on the included Blu-Ray).
Edit History
4/21/2026
Best Audio Release
From
Cinema DTS For the Blu-ray mix, maybe the DTS-HD MA from some of the international BDs or the TrueHD on the 4K Blu-ray?
To
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.
From
Cinema DTS For the Blu-ray mix, maybe the DTS-HD MA from some of the international BDs or the TrueHD on the 4K Blu-ray?
To
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.
12/1/2025
Additional Info
Added
Best Buy exclusive DVD has Bonus Disc with featurettes not found on Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray
Added
Best Buy exclusive DVD has Bonus Disc with featurettes not found on Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray
10/7/2025
Best Audio Release
Added
Cinema DTS
For the BD mix, maybe the DTS-HD MA from some of the international BDs or the TrueHD on the UHD?
Added
Cinema DTS
For the BD mix, maybe the DTS-HD MA from some of the international BDs or the TrueHD on the UHD?
Blu-ray.com
Added
https://www.blu-ray.com/Mission-Impossible-III/22014/#Releases
Added
https://www.blu-ray.com/Mission-Impossible-III/22014/#Releases
12/24/2024
