Tom Cruise’s Overlooked $398 Million Action Thriller Just Dropped Online for Free Streaming on Pluto TV

Tom Cruise has made a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s top action stars, and his Mission: Impossible movies are a big reason why. Since taking on the role of Ethan Hunt in 1996, Cruise has turned the franchise into one of the most successful action series of all time.

While some of the later movies have received huge praise, one earlier entry often gets overlooked, but now it’s making a comeback.

Mission: Impossible III is now available to stream for free on Pluto TV as of May 2025. This might be the perfect time to revisit the film, which many fans believe doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

Released in 2006, Mission: Impossible III was Cruise’s third outing as Ethan Hunt. In the movie, Hunt is trying to rescue his fiancée, Julia, while going up against a ruthless arms dealer played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. The story added a more personal layer to Hunt’s character and raised the emotional stakes, something that hadn’t been explored as deeply in the first two films.

Hoffman’s role as villain Owen Davian is often seen as one of the best in the entire series. His calm but threatening presence brought something different to the franchise. J.J. Abrams, who directed the film, was making his feature film debut at the time. His direction gave the series a new energy and helped lay the groundwork for what the next movies would build upon.

While Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) and later films like Fallout have earned higher scores on sites like Rotten Tomatoes—Fallout holds an impressive 98%—MI:3 still played a key role in shaping the tone and style of the franchise moving forward.

It introduced more emotional storytelling and a stronger focus on character relationships, which became a signature of the newer entries.

Even though it made nearly $400 million at the box office, Mission: Impossible III is sometimes forgotten when people talk about the series. That’s changing now, with more viewers getting a chance to watch or rewatch the film for free.

If you’re a fan of the franchise or just love action movies, now might be the right time to check out, or rediscover, Mission: Impossible III. It has great action, a strong story, and standout performances that still hold up nearly two decades later.

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