If you take away the capes and special powers, there is only one superhero in Hollywood: Tom Cruise.

His latest adventure, "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation," is another example of the actor's unrivaled star charisma. At age 53, he still does most of his own stunts, including the spectacular airplane takeoff sequence that opens "Rogue Nation."

While the movie never bests the jaw-dropping opener, writer/director Christopher McQuarrie ("Jack Reacher") understands the appeal of the franchise. A good "Mission: Impossible" movie focuses on the interplay between Cruise's Ethan Hunt and his team of hypercompetent spies. "Rogue Nation" assembles the franchise's dream team - Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Jeremy Renner - then adds a star-making turn by Rebecca Ferguson as a duplicitous British spy.

"Rogue Nation" doesn't quite hit the high-water mark set by the last installment, "Ghost Protocol," but it's further evidence of the franchise's remarkable consistency across five movies and almost 20 years. Even the weakest film, "Mission: Impossible II," has its moments.

Credit Cruise (who also serves as the guiding producer on the franchise) for bringing in a new director with each installment and allowing that filmmaker to have a personal creative vision on the project.

Even though each installment has its own distinct flavor, there's enough consistency across the series to pick-and-choose the ultimate "Mission: Impossible" film.

Here are the highlights of the franchise:

Greatest Stunt

Tom Cruise dangles outside the tallest building in the world, "Ghost Protocol."

Wearing some defective magnet hands (every gadget is defective in this movie), Ethan Hunt almost falls really, really, really far off the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Thrilling stuff, bolstered by the fact Cruise really stuck himself on the outside of the building. Hopefully he had some ropes to go with those terrible gloves.

Runner-up: An airplane takes off with Tom Cruise hanging on the outside, "Rogue Nation."

Best Finale - Train Sequence, "Mission: Impossible"

The biggest stunts in the franchise often come early ("Rogue Nation") or in the middle ("Ghost Protocol") of the movie. The original "Mission: Impossible is more of a low-key thriller until Cruise grips onto the top of a speeding bullet train. The sequence relies more heavily on CGI than other big moments in the franchise, but it's convincing work even 19 years later. Plus, I'm a sucker for Cruise's reading of the line, "Red light, green light" as the classic "Mission: Impossible" theme plays. Runner up: Micro-explosive diffusion in Tom Cruise's head, "Mission: Impossible III."

Best Villain - Owen Davian, "Mission: Impossible III"

The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman chewed all kinds of scenery in this movie, his first project after winning an Oscar for "Capote." This is the only movie in the franchise with such a showy villain, but Hoffman keeps the character grounded enough to avoid straight cheese. The series could use a few more "big" villains like Davian, just as long as they don't start looking like disfigured Bond baddies. Runner up: The bait-and-switch Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), "Mission: Impossible." Fans of the original television series didn't see that coming.

Best Teammate - Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), "M:I 3-5"

The comedic actor is increasingly valuable to the latter half of the franchise. In movie three, Benji appears in an extended cameo whereas in "Rogue Nation," Benji has the second-most screentime. Pegg brings necessary levity to each and every scene he's in, but the character is also the most warm-hearted of the bunch. Runner-up: Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), "M:I 1-5."

Best Feminine Influence - Rebecca Ferguson, "Rogue Nation"

"Mission: Impossible" could use more women in general. That being said, every token female agent adds something important. Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, however, is a real breakthrough, serving as an equal alley and formidable antagonist to Ethan Hunt throughout "Rogue Nation." She's the character most worthy of a "Mission: Impossible" spinoff. Runner-up: Paula Patton, "Ghost Protocol."

Best Birds - The doves in "Mission: Impossible 2"

Director John Woo ("Face/Off") loves slow-motion shots of doves. Despite a few impressive sequences, there is a lot to forget about "Mission: Impossible 2." The doves, however, are unforgettable.

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.