who composed mission impossible theme

The original Mission: Impossible theme was composed by Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin.

Quick Scoop

• The iconic Mission: Impossible theme was written for the 1966 TV series starring Peter Graves.

• Schifrin wrote it in an unusual 5/4 time signature, which he jokingly said was for “people with five legs.”

• He reportedly sketched the basic theme in about a minute and a half, finishing the arrangement in just a few minutes under tight deadline pressure.

Why it Stands Out

• The driving rhythm and repeating riff helped make it one of the most recognizable TV and film themes ever.

• It has been reused and reworked across the later Mission: Impossible films with Tom Cruise, but Schifrin’s core melody always remains.

Recent Context

• Schifrin, a multi‑award‑winning composer with more than 100 film and TV scores, died in 2025 at age 93, prompting tributes that again highlighted the Mission: Impossible theme as his signature work.

TL;DR: Lalo Schifrin composed the original Mission: Impossible theme, the same distinctive tune still heard in today’s movie franchise.

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