Age Gaps Between Tom Cruise and His Female Co-Stars in Mission Impossible Films Verge on Problematic

With the new Mission Impossible movie arriving soon, we couldn't help but notice a trend that's been quietly sneaking up on us in the MI franchise. Yes, we're talking about the ever-widening age gap between Tom Cruise and his leading ladies.

Mission: Impossible (1996) — Tom Cruise (34) and Emmanuelle Béart (33)

In 1996, the first Mission Impossible film hit the big screen. Tom Cruise, our charismatic hero, was paired with Emmanuelle Beart. The age difference? A mere year. It was a match that felt balanced and appropriate, with both actors bringing their unique talents to the table.

Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) — Tom Cruise (38) and Thandie Newton (27)

Fast forward to 2000, and we see Thandie Newton join the franchise in Mission Impossible II. The age gap had jumped to 10 years. While this might not have raised many eyebrows at the time, it was a sign of the future trend.

Mission: Impossible III (2006) —Tom Cruise (43) and Michelle Monaghan (30)

By the time Mission Impossible III rolled around in 2006, the age gap had increased yet again. This time, Michelle Monaghan, 14 years Cruise's junior, was the leading lady.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) — Tom Cruise (49) and Paula Patton (36)

In 2011, Paula Patton, 13 years younger than Cruise, took the reins.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) — Tom Cruise (53) and Rebecca Ferguson (32)

In the more recent films, the age gap really starts to become noticeable. In Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015) and Fallout ( 2018), Rebecca Ferguson was 21 years younger than Cruise.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) — Tom Cruise (61) and Hayley Atwell ( 41)

In the upcoming Mission Impossible 7, Hayley Atwell, 20 years Cruise's junior, will be the female lead.

However, we need to acknowledge that some female co-stars were paired with other male actors. For instance, Emmanuelle Beart was with Jon Voight in the first film, Thandiwe Newton was with Dougray Scott, and Paula Patton was with Josh Holloway.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One premiered on July 10, 2023.