
A group of extraordinary spies, each experts in their own fields, belong to the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) -- first headed up by Daniel Briggs and later overseen by Jim Phelps. The IMF is a government agency that undertakes only the most hazardous of espionage missions. The beginning of each episode featured the now-famous tape-recorded message outlining the latest task for the group to tackle. Popular during the Cold War, the group's missions usually centered on overthrowing the government of some small communist country causing problems for the free world. The IMF crew included disguise expert Rollin Hand, charmer Cinnamon Carter, electronics technician Barney Collier, strong man Willy Armitage and, in later episodes, disguise-master Paris.

A movie-studio head from a hostile nation plans to show a manufactured film of American Vietnam-War atrocities to the press.

The IMF must foil an aspiring foreign leader's plan to assassinate a scientist who defected.

The IMF uses techniques of movie illusion to convince an ailing prime minister that his successor plans to become a dictator.

The IMF uses psychological pressure to learn the plans of an enemy agent (James Daly) impersonating a captive U.S. operative.