Mission: Impossible II, also known as M:I-2, is a 2000 American action spy film directed by John Woo and starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. The film is the second installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise and was released in theaters on May 24, 2000.
In the film, Ethan Hunt is tasked with tracking down a rogue IMF agent named Sean Ambrose (played by Dougray Scott), who has stolen a deadly virus called Chimera. Ambrose plans to release the virus and then sell the cure, making himself rich in the process.
To stop Ambrose, Hunt enlists the help of Nyah Nordoff-Hall (played by Thandie Newton), a skilled thief and Ambrose's ex-girlfriend. Together, Hunt and Nordoff-Hall travel to Sydney, Australia, where they infiltrate Ambrose's team and attempt to steal the virus back.
However, things become complicated when Hunt and Nordoff-Hall develop feelings for each other, and Ambrose discovers their true identities. The film climaxes with a high-speed motorcycle chase through the streets of Spain, followed by a showdown on a cliffside fortress.
Mission: Impossible II was a commercial success, grossing over $546 million worldwide. However, it received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the action sequences but criticizing the plot and character development. Despite this, the film helped solidify the Mission: Impossible franchise as a major player in the action movie genre.