Unveiling the Cinematic Influences Behind ‘Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning’

The Mission: Impossible series is often credited for setting high benchmarks with its audacious action scenes, but every great creation stems from some form of inspiration. Director and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, known for his creative prowess in films like Edge of Tomorrow and The Usual Suspects, recently opened up about his sources of inspiration in an interview with FilmSweep, and how they have subtly shaped Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

VIDEO OF THE DAY FROM FILMSWEEP

During this dialogue, McQuarrie shared with Steve Weintraub how Dead Reckoning is a result of multiple influences yet none simultaneously. This implies that like many directors, McQuarrie distills elements from various admired sources, adding his unique twist to them. He did, however, mention a few movies that had a direct impact on him:

“There are films that inspire me and that I regard as worthy adversaries in a friendly, competitive sense. There are movies that I deeply respect and they often linger in my thoughts. I have a penchant for movies about the Arctic and submarines, simply because they’re intriguing. I love ‘The Thing,’ but it wouldn’t be accurate to say it influenced ‘Dead Reckoning.’ I admire ‘Das Boot’ and ‘Crimson Tide’ for their captivating high-pressure environments, but they aren’t direct influences on the film. They are more like challenges—other filmmakers showcasing exciting settings, spurring me to say, ‘I want to do that! I want my turn to experiment in that realm.’”

Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures

RELATED:
Become an IMF Agent with the ‘Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One’ Game

McQuarrie Discovers Unexpected References in Mission: Impossible Films

McQuarrie pointed out that, unlike Rogue Nation — which intentionally incorporated references to The Parallax View and Three Days of the Condor — he opted to steer clear of blatant allusions in Dead Reckoning. This decision was based on the fact that fans often spot references regardless. For example, the yellow Fiat 500 in Dead Reckoning was perceived as a direct reference to the Japanese animated spy series Lupin the Third, though McQuarrie admits he’s never seen the show. He clarifies, “the Fiat is yellow simply because it’s a vibrant, fun color. I wasn’t aware of ‘Lupin the Third.’”

In conclusion, McQuarrie says that he could name “countless movies” that have inspired his filmmaking journey, but he often finds himself surprised by unintentional echoes of other works in his films. Creating large-scale scenes like those in Mission: Impossible often leads to inadvertent parallels with established cinematic approaches:

“I often notice elements of John Ford and Steven Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters,’ even when I didn’t consciously plan for it. I see reflections of those works in my films.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One stars Ethan Hunt (Cruise) in a gripping struggle to locate a lethal weapon that poses a threat to humanity. The returning cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Henry Czerny, alongside newcomers Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3), Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter), Cary Elwes (BlackBerry), Shea Wingham (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), and Esai Morales (Titans).

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is set to hit theaters on July 12. Stay tuned for our complete interview with McQuarrie. In the meantime, enjoy our conversation with Tom Cruise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Christopher McQuarrie’s influences

More about Christopher McQuarrie’s influences

• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Official Trailer
• Christopher McQuarrie’s Filmography
• FilmSweep Interview with Christopher McQuarrie
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Cast and Crew
• Mission: Impossible Series Overview