Before you go out to see Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation in theaters this weekend, here are the movies you should see beforehand.

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The Mission: Impossible film franchise has captivated millions since the first film in 1996. Tom Cruise's natural charisma as Ethan Hunt has shined through each movie, and he continues to do so in Rogue Nation, the upcoming fifth film in the franchise.

But how much do you need to know about the series before going into Rogue Nation? While other film franchise's depend on previous knowledge of what's come before, the Mission: Impossible series essentially functions as a series of self-contained movies, so prior viewing is not absolutely essential.

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However, to get a feel for the overall sensibility of Mission: Impossible, here is the rundown of previous films in the franchise, as well as where to watch them.

Mission: Impossible (1996)

The original Mission: Impossible film set the tone for what's to come. Directed by the legendary Brian de Palma, Mission: Impossible centers on Ethan Hunt, an agent who is accused of being a spy. The film focuses on his quest to find the identity of the real spy. Watch Mission: Impossible on Netflix, Amazon or iTunes.

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

Ethan Hunt returns again in Mission: Impossible II, directed by John Woo. In this installment, Hunt is assigned a mission to Sydney to find Chimera, a genetically created disease, while fighting off bad guys who want to take control of the disease and infect the world. Watch Mission: Impossible II on Netflix, Amazon or iTunes.

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Ethan Hunt comes out of retirement in J.J. Abram's Mission: Impossible III. He must face his greatest villain yet, Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a nearly psychopathic arms dealer who kidnaps one of Hunt's agents. Watch Mission: Impossible III on Amazon or iTunes.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Ethan Hunt and his team are falsely blamed for a bombing in the Kremlin in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Directed by Brad Bird, this fourth installment centers on Hunt and his team chasing down a terrorist with access to Russia's nuclear launch codes. Watch Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol on Amazon or iTunes.

Now in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Hunt and his team will once again try to save themselves and the world. In the fifth installment, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the team must fight against the Syndicate, a rogue group intent on destroying them.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation hits theaters this weekend.

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Mission: Impossible 5, Movies