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Mission: Impossible III

The mission begins.

2006 · 126 min · Adventure
7.5 Modest
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Adventure Action Thriller

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.

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
2006
Studio
Paramount Pictures · Cruise/Wagner Productions · MI 3 Film

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

David Fincher was originally set to direct the third Mission: Impossible film for a 2004 release, but dropped out to make Zodiac instead, citing creative differences over the direction of the series.

Origins

Joe Carnahan replaced Fincher and developed the film for fifteen months, envisioning Kenneth Branagh as a villain based on Timothy McVeigh alongside Carrie-Anne Moss and Scarlett Johansson, but he quit in 2004 after a creative dispute.

Casting

Tom Cruise personally called J. J. Abrams to offer him the directing job after binge-watching the first two seasons of Alias; the resulting delays due to Abrams's commitments to Alias and Lost caused Branagh, Moss and Johansson to leave the project.

Casting

Billy Bob Thornton was offered the role of villain Owen Davian but turned it down because he didn't want to be typecast as a villain, and the part went to Philip Seymour Hoffman instead.

Casting

Ricky Gervais was reportedly cast as Benjamin Dunn but left due to scheduling conflicts with For Your Consideration; Simon Pegg, who eventually played the role, has disputed this account, saying Gervais was meant for a different character.

Casting

J. J. Abrams offered Martin Landau the chance to reprise his original 1960s TV role of Rollin Hand in a cameo, but Landau declined, disliking the franchise's direction and wanting a bigger part.

Filming

Principal photography ran from July to November 2005 across Rome, Vatican City, Shanghai, Xitang, Berlin, Caserta, and locations in California, Virginia and Maryland, with some Shanghai night skyscraper scenes actually shot in Los Angeles.

References

To promote the film, Paramount rigged 4,500 Los Angeles Times vending boxes with hidden digital audio players that played the theme song when opened, but the devices often fell into plain view and were mistaken for bombs, prompting police bomb squads to detonate several of them and temporarily shut down a veterans hospital.

Reception

A controversy arose in early 2006 when blogs and news outlets alleged that Tom Cruise pressured Viacom to cancel a rebroadcast of the South Park episode 'Trapped in the Closet,' sparking calls for a boycott of the film; Cruise denied any involvement.

Trivia

Mission: Impossible III was the first film released simultaneously on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray by a major studio, on October 30, 2006.

Memorable quotes

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I've got a charge in my head, I'm going to die unless you kill me.

Ethan Hunt After learning Davian implanted an explosive charge in his brain.

[before jumping down from the wall of Vatican City] Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Ethan Hunt Before executing a dangerous jump from the Vatican City wall.

[about to get electrocuted] Throw the switch on and off. [slight pause] Don't forget the off.

Ethan Hunt About to be electrocuted, giving instructions in a tense moment.

(first lines) We put an explosive charge in your head. Does that sound familiar?

Owen Davian First appearance, establishing the main threat to Ethan.

[to Ethan, on phone] You hung me outside of an airplane. You can always tell someone's character by the way they treat those they don't need to treat well.

Owen Davian Calling Ethan on the phone, revealing his philosophy about character.

Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. "Those who can't do, teach" back in the field. Hey, Ethan -- don't worry. We're gonna get the girl. Or have you been away for so long you've forgotten how good we are?

Luther Stickell Welcoming Ethan back to active duty.

Wait, wait, Ethan, I'm not saying I have a better idea, but there's a point where bold becomes stupid.

Luther Stickell Warning Ethan about taking risks during a mission.

The look in your eye is a pain in my ass, you know that right?

Luther Stickell Expressing frustration with Ethan's intensity.

(In video) This message, let's call it my excellent engagement gift to you, will self-destruct in five seconds.

John Musgrave In a pre-recorded video message containing crucial information.

You don't have any idea what the hell's going on, do you? I mean, you saw what I did to your little blonde friend at the factory, right? Well... Well, that was nothing. That was... fun. That was fun.

Owen Davian Taunting Ethan about harming his friend at the factory.

Didn't I tell you she'd call out your name? And I told you I was gonna kill you in front of her? Well, I'm gonna kill her in front of you.

Owen Davian Making a deadly threat about Julia in front of Ethan.

[to Luther] In Germany, you asked me what it is I see in Julia. What I see in Julia is life before all this. And it's good.

Ethan Hunt Explaining to Luther what Julia means to him.

Benji Dunn: [panicked] I just looked it up. Okay, you're on Interpol's most wanted list. And that, by the way, is a spectacular list to be on.

Benji Dunn After discovering Ethan's status on an international wanted list.

Oh no, it's fine. I always spill red wine on my white custom-made shirt.

Owen Davian Making a sarcastic comment about an accident.

How the community felt

😵 Shocked 75%
😆 Amused 50%
🤩 Amazed 75%

What people are saying (2)

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Torrezno

1 week ago

Review ★ 7

La supuesta peor película de la saga es un pepino y además tiene el mejor y más carismático villano de toda la franquicia. Eso sí, la relación amorosa tiene tan poca química que hace que lo de la puñetera pata de conejo no sea lo peor de la película y eso mira que tiene mérito.

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Seven oN ★ 7

2 weeks ago

Next Mission Impossible movie, fast paced and action packed as the previous ones.

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