• This Memorial Day, you might be firing up the grill and making some classic hamburgers.
• Celebrity chefs, from Ina Garten to Gordon Ramsay, each have their own burger recipes.
• Ree Drummond wraps hers in lettuce, while Rachael Ray makes her own version of a McDonald's Big Mac.

Forget boring lettuce-cheese-and-tomato burgers at your next cookout — it's time to get fired up about something worthy of a celebrity-chef restaurant.

With Memorial Day weekend and grilling season right around the corner, there are chef-approved tips for elevating a classic burger at home.

Potato chips, bacon-tomato jam, and freshly sliced avocado — practically every celebrity chef has their own unique list of toppings they have to add to create their own signature burger.

Here's how 12 celebrity chefs make their perfect burger.

Bobby Flay adds potato chips to make his signature "crunch burger."

Bobby Flay starts with four 6-ounce burgers made from ground chuck or ground turkey for the signature burger served at Bobby's Burger Palace.

He then adds American cheese, beefsteak tomato, lettuce, red onion, a homemade horseradish mustard mayonnaise sauce, and potato chips for the perfect amount of crunch.

Gordon Ramsay says seasoning can make or break your burger.

Gordon Ramsay makes his burger using ground beef and brisket and recommends storing the formed and seasoned burger patties in the fridge before putting them on the hottest spot of the grill.

For toppings, Ramsay adds American cheese, lettuce, tomato, grilled white onions, and mustard mayonnaise. 

Ina Garten makes her hamburgers using two types of beef and egg yolks.

To make Ina Garten's "real hamburgers," mix together 2 pounds of ground chuck and 1 pound of sirloin, steak sauce, egg yolks, salt, and pepper.

Garten also adds a small pat of butter to each burger, sticking it inside so it's covered by the meat before adding the burger to the grill.

Martha Stewart adds Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to her burgers.

Martha Stewart makes her hamburgers by adding mustard and Worcestershire sauce to ground chuck.

She also recommends adding cheese, tomatoes, raw or grilled onions, pickles, and jalapeños to make the burgers even better.

Ree Drummond wraps her "low-carb" burgers in lettuce.

To make these Pioneer Woman-approved "low-carb" burgers, you'll need lettuce leaves large enough to fold over the entire hamburger patty, tomato slices, red onion, avocado, and chopped pickles.

Drummond also adds her own version of a special sauce, which uses Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. 

Jamie Oliver tops his "insanity burger" with homemade burger sauce and pickles.

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's insanity burger comes directly from his cookbook "Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food." The recipe calls for a burger patty made from ground chuck steak.

Oliver uses sliced red onions lightly dressed in vinegar and sea salt, bacon, yellow mustard, Tabasco chipotle sauce, cheese, ketchup, pickles or "gherkins," and homemade burger sauce for toppings.

Joanna Gaines tops her "Gaines brother burgers" with drip jam and melted Gruyére cheese.

In her first cookbook, "Magnolia Table," Gaines shares the recipe for her famous burgers using ground beef, beefsteak tomato, homemade bacon-tomato jam, and Gruyére cheese. 

To make Alton Brown's "burger of the gods," you'll need ground chuck and sirloin.

Alton Brown's "burger of the gods" patties are made with trimmed and cubed chuck and beef sirloin, plus kosher salt.

In the recipe, the celebrity chef and "Iron Chef" host recommends cooking the 5-ounce patties in a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.

Guy Fieri's "straight-up with a pig patty" burger requires many ingredients, including "donkey sauce" and applewood-smoked bacon.

To recreate Guy Fieri's burger, you'll want to read the lengthy list of ingredients.

However, some highlights from this "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives"-worthy burger are applewood-smoked bacon, heirloom tomato, Vidalia onion, iceberg lettuce, dill pickles, and two different kinds of sauce.

Giada De Laurentiis' game-day burgers are topped with cheese, tomatoes, and avocado.

To make De Laurentiis' recipe for game-day burgers, you'll need 2 pounds of ground chuck.

The Food Network star elevates these simple burgers with toppings like grilled onions steamed with balsamic vinegar and sugar, mashed avocado, provolone piccante cheese, arugula, and thinly sliced tomato.

Emeril Lagasse is famous for his blue cheese-stuffed burgers.

For Emeril's "kicked-up" blue cheese-stuffed burgers, you'll want to crumble the cheese and form it into small patties. Then, sandwich the cheese between two beef patties before adding it to the grill.

Lagasse's recipe also recommends topping the stuffed burgers with sliced tomatoes, romaine, sliced onions, and his green peppercorn mayonnaise.

Rachael Ray's version of a McDonald's Big Mac calls for homemade special sauce.

Rachael Ray's recipe for "Big Smack" burgers uses her own special sauce, which is made with sour cream or Greek yogurt, ketchup, dill pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

She makes the actual burgers with ground beef sirloin and tops them with the special sauce, yellow American cheese, chopped Vidalia or white onion, dill pickle chips, and chopped iceberg lettuce.

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Happy Friday! Let me offer a penny for your thoughts while I still can. The Treasury Department placed its final order for the coin best known for being stuck to the bottom of your car's cup holders.

In today's big story, we're looking at the impact Trump's tax bill could have on your wallet and why bond investors remain up in arms about it.

What's on deck

Markets: Jamie Dimon isn't feeling too optimistic about the economy.

Tech: We have some advice for Jony Ive about his future work with OpenAI.

Business: The creative ways companies avoid using the word "tariff."

But first, one bill to rule them all.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

Trump takes on taxes

For President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" and your wallet: Is beauty only skin deep?

The tax bill passed the House on Thursday and is now headed to the Senate. And while it's still subject to change, BI's Ayelet Sheffey examined how it could impact Americans' finances.

Here's a look at some of the potential winners and losers of the bill in its current form.

Winners

Service workers: The legislation would eliminate taxes on tips and overtime wages.

Parents: The current child-tax credit would be extended through 2028 and bumped up from $2,000 to $2,500. There's also the "Trump account" that includes a $1,000 deposit from the government for babies born in the US from 2025 through 2028.

Residents of states with high taxes: The cap on state and local tax deductions, known as SALT, would increase from $10,000 to $40,000. The issue's been a source of GOP infighting.

Losers

People with student debt: Existing income-driven plans would be eliminated in favor of two options. One would be a standard payment plan. The other offers loan forgiveness after 360 payments for borrowers based on their income level. (The two new options aren't that much worse than borrowers' current options, but the bill shows more loan forgiveness is a long shot.)

EV owners: Say goodbye to those tax credits. And while we are at it, let's add a $250 annual registration fee. Somewhat relatedly, tax credits for homeowners installing solar panels or energy-efficient heat pumps are on the chopping block.

People on Medicaid and SNAP: The monthly work requirements for many recipients would rise. Elder Americans won't get a pass either, as the work requirement for SNAP benefits would extend to adults age 55 to 64.

One group not on the above list would argue it's the biggest loser from Trump's bill: bond investors.

"Bond vigilantes" have been selling off Treasurys and sending yields spiking in protest of the bill.

So what's their beef? BI's Jennifer Sor has a nice rundown on the group's biggest gripes.

The issue centers on the bill widening the US government's deficit (how much revenue is brought in compared to what it spends money on). At last count, that number reached $1.8 trillion. One estimate sees that growing by $4 trillion over 10 years under the new bill.

A bigger deficit means more borrowing, which isn't good for the economy's growth prospects. The more the US has to worry about paying off debt, the less it can spend on services or benefits for Americans.

And if the debt and deficit keep growing, some investors might wonder whether the government can actually make good on its debts (see: Treasurys).

3 things in markets

1. Beware "global financial market Armageddon," a famed Wall Street bear warns. Societe Generale strategist Albert Edwards fears the worst as Japanese bond yields spike. Here's how the bond yield surge in Tokyo could affect the US.

2. Jamie Dimon says don't get too comfy. The US is still at risk of a fate worse than recession — stagflation — he told Bloomberg on Thursday. It's not a problem that can be ignored either. "I think it's a mistake to think we can go through all the things we're going through and the volatility itself will come down," he added.

3. Would you like an AI video with that research note? In response to client requests for more videos, UBS is using AI to generate avatars of its analysts that explain their notes. Thirty-six analysts, or about 5% of UBS' total, have volunteered to take part, and the bank has plans for more.

3 things in tech

1. The ins and outs of Google I/O. The search behemoth's annual conference was packed with updates, from Gemini's Chrome integration to its nascent Smart Glasses. As Google preps for the AI era, here are the six main takeaways from I/O.

2. Legal-tech darling Harvey goes into the blue Azure. Harvey agreed to spend $150 million on Microsoft's cloud services over two years, according to an internal email seen by BI. The startup, which builds chatbots and agents for legal services, is scaling up and expanding.

3. Dear Jony Ive, please don't give us a voice-controlled device. The former Apple designer and Sam Altman have been teasing new AI hardware following OpenAI's purchase of Ive's startup. BI's Katie Notopoulos hopes the gadget won't require talking in public.

3 things in business

1. The jet-setting rich. Nearly half of summer travelers this year earn over $100,000, according to a Deloitte survey. Luxury travel is booming, but if you don't have deep pockets, you may find yourself cutting back during trips — if you go at all. The wealth gap may not last, though.

2. Walmart takes a page from the Big Tech playbook. The retailer is laying off 1,500 people to "remove layers and complexity," effectively flattening management. Companies like Meta and Amazon have led the trend to boost efficiency.

3. Don't say the T-word. Instead of "tariffs," businesses might say they have to raise prices because of "sourcing costs" or "supply-chain issues." Tariff-induced panic buying took off in April, but that burst of activity is winding down, Bank of America credit card data shows. That's bad news for the economy.

In other news

• Now they're being ordered home.The big winners of the loneliness epidemic: nice guys with jobs.
• I'm on the verge of finishing my dream course at Harvard Business School. With Trump's crackdown on foreign students, I don't know if I'll be let back on campus.
• Big Law firm says its Trump deal is nothing more than a 364-word Truth Social post.
• Kid Cudi says Diddy broke into his home, unwrapped his family's Christmas gifts, and shut his dog in the bathroom.
• Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says there's a 'silver lining' for people starting businesses in a choppy economy.
• Hinge Health just broke open the digital health IPO market. Here's who's getting rich.

What's happening today

• NATO Parliamentary Assembly spring session.

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The Business Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have two children.
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are raising Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the US.
• Archie and Lilibet didn't have prince and princess titles when they were born.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children might be royals, but their childhoods differ from those of other British princes and princesses.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been raising Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 3, in California following their step back from the monarchy, giving their children almost entirely private childhoods that most royals don't get.

Here's everything to know about Archie and Lilibet.

Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Archie was born May 6, 2019, at the Portland Hospital in London, just shy of a year after Harry and Meghan's May 2018 wedding. The couple announced his birth on their Sussex Royal Instagram account, which they stopped using in 2020, with a graphic that read, "It's a boy!"

"We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019," the post said. "Their Royal Highnesses' son weighs 7lbs. 3oz."

"The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives," the statement said.

Harry and Meghan broke tradition after Archie's birth, choosing not to do a photocall when they left the hospital as Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, did when their children were born. Instead, they introduced Archie to the world with a photocall at St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8. They announced his name via Instagram the same day.

In 2020, the couple revealed Archie's name was inspired by the Greek word "arche," which means "source of action." They named their charitable organization Archewell for the same reason. Meanwhile, Harrison traditionally means "son of Harry," making it a natural choice for Archie's middle name.

Archie was seventh in the line of succession for the British throne when he was born, but he moved up to the sixth spot after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022. Archie was christened in July 2019 at the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle, with members of the royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, in attendance.

While they were still working royals, Archie joined his parents on a royal tour of Africa in September 2019 when he was just 4 months old, meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu during his first royal engagement. Meghan later revealed Archie's nursery caught fire during the tour, though he wasn't hurt.

Harry and Meghan also shared a candid holiday card that featured a close-up of baby Archie in December 2019.

Harry and Meghan decided to keep Archie out of the public eye since they stepped back as senior royals and relocated to the US in 2020. He hasn't joined them for public appearances, living out his childhood privately in Montecito, California.

The couple shared a few glimpses of Archie in their 2022 Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," and he has appeared in a handful of Meghan's Instagram posts since January 2025. Her posts don't include his face, though.

Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Meghan and Harry shared they were expecting their second child in February 2021, revealing in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that they were having a daughter. In an essay for The New York Times, Meghan said she had a miscarriage between her pregnancies with Archie and Lilibet in July 2020.

Harry and Meghan welcomed Lili on June 4, 2021, at 11:40 a.m., as the couple shared in a statement on their Archewell website two days after her birth.

In the statement, the pair said that Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. Lilibet is the first member of the British royal family to be born in the United States.

At the time of her birth, she was eighth in the line of succession, but as of 2022, Lilibet is seventh in line for the British throne.

Harry and Meghan said that Lili's name celebrates her grandmother and great-grandmother. Lilibet was Queen Elizabeth's family nickname, while Lili's middle name honors Princess Diana, who died when Harry was 12.

"On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili," the couple said in their statement. "She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not release a photo of Lili's face alongside the announcement. They shared the first public photo of her face on their 2021 Christmas card.

Lilibet was christened in the US in March 2023 during an intimate ceremony performed by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, which the royal family didn't attend. Tyler Perry, who allowed Meghan and Harry to stay in his house when they first moved to California in 2020, is her godfather.

Harry and Meghan released another photo of Lilibet for her first birthday, sharing a snap of the young royal at Windsor Castle's Frogmore Cottage.

The Sussex family traveled to the United Kingdom in June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. During the visit, Lilibet met her great-grandmother for the first and only time. She also met her grandfather, King Charles.

Like her brother, Lili made minor cameos in "Harry & Meghan" and appears on her mother's Instagram, though her face isn't visible in the posts. Meghan also released a recipe for Chantilly Lili, a dessert named after her daughter, in April 2025.

Archie and Lili's titles changed after Queen Elizabeth II died

Archie and Lilibet didn't have prince and princess titles when they were born, instead being referred to as Master Archie and Miss Lilibet on the line of succession.

The Letters Patent, a royal decree made by King George V in 1917, states that only the current monarch's children and grandchildren and the children of the Prince of Wales can use a prince or princess title.

At the time of their births, Archie and Lili weren't the grandchildren of the sovereign or children of the Prince of Wales, making them ineligible for prince or princess titles.

However, Meghan also said in her and Harry's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that while she was pregnant with Archie, some members of the royal family "were saying they didn't want him to be a prince," which she indicated may have been because Archie is biracial.

Following the interview, Buckingham Palace said in a statement, "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan."

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning," it said. "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

After Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, King Charles III ascended the throne, making Archie and Lili the grandchildren of the British monarch. As such, they automatically inherited prince and princess titles, per the Letters Patent.

Meghan and Harry referred to one of their children with their new title in March 2023, as a spokesperson for the couple called their daughter "Princess Lilibet Diana" in a statement to Business Insider about Lili's christening.

On March 9, Buckingham Palace updated the line of succession on its website, officially calling Harry's children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time.

Although their titles and place in the line of succession changed, Archie and Lili aren't publicly known to have a relationship with the rest of the royal family. Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family is still strained, and in a May 2, 2025, interview with BBC News, Harry said his father isn't speaking to him due to disputes over security for the Sussexes when they're in the UK.

• I'm an American who's lived in the Netherlands for 10 years.
• I think visitors should expand their Dutch travel itineraries beyond just Amsterdam.
• Expecting small talk and American-style customer service are other mistakes I see frequently.

Wandering into a Dutch bike lane is a fast track to two things: a near-death experience and an unexpected lesson in Dutch curse words.

After living in the Netherlands for the past decade, I've seen tourists repeatedly make this mistake — and many others.

Whether you're spending a weekend in Amsterdam or venturing farther north to Groningen, knowing what not to do can make all the difference. Here are the six biggest mistakes I see tourists make when they visit the Netherlands.

Only visiting Amsterdam

If your entire Dutch travel itinerary is based in Amsterdam, I think you're making a mistake.

Sure, the iconic city is featured in travel guides for a reason — romantic canals, the Van Gogh Museum, and an army of bikers with zero fear, come to mind — but there's so much more to the Netherlands.

Instead, I recommend visiting cities like Utrecht, Haarlem, and Groningen. Like Amsterdam, they have adorable Dutch houses and lots of charm, but are generally quieter and see fewer groups of tourists.

Traveling to popular tourist destinations without planning ahead

If your plan is to wing it in the Netherlands, you'll likely be disappointed.

I recommend booking tickets for popular tourist excursions like Keukenhof (one of the world's most famous gardens, best known for its tulips) or the Anne Frank House ahead of your trip.

Otherwise, you risk spending the majority of your trip in line with the other hopefuls.

Expecting small talk

In my experience, many people in the Netherlands don't engage in small talk — although, the weather is exempt from this, as complaining about the rain, or the lack thereof, is basically a national sport.

However, this tends to surprise many first-time visitors. I've noticed people here don't typically ask how your day's going while bagging your groceries, unless it looks like your day has been a dumpster fire. Even then, I wouldn't expect a lot of sympathy.

The Dutch are known for their efficiency and getting to the point, and once you get used to it, the directness is kind of refreshing.

Walking in the bike lane

Those red paths at the side of the road aren't decorative — they're high-speed lanes for cyclists with zero patience. Most importantly, they're not safe for pedestrians.

Pro tip: If you hear a bell, move, and make it quick.

Anticipating American-style customer service

If you're used to American-style customer service where the waiter checks on you every five minutes, the Dutch approach might feel way more hands-off.

In my experience, servers won't typically try to upsell you the truffle fries or ask if you're "still working on that." Instead, it's common for patrons to just flag waiters if they need something.

I also wouldn't stress about tipping. Rounding up or leaving a few euros is appreciated, but not expected.

Booking accommodations in the city center

Booking a place to stay in the middle of the city might seem like a good idea. However, there will likely be lots of noise.

Cities like Amsterdam have quieter neighborhoods, like De Pijp or Jordaan, with all the charm but fewer crowds (and significantly less yelling at 3 a.m.). In my experience, you'll also find more locals, better coffee, and aesthetic shops.

Staying just a little outside the chaos means you can still get the vibe you're looking for, but with a good night's sleep. Your future jet-lagged self will thank you.

Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Friday for what it called "clear retaliation" against the school for "exercising its First Amendment rights" after the government barred international student enrollment.

Why it matters: Harvard is becoming the litmus test of how far the Trump administration will go to try taking down colleges and universities it considers to have liberal biases.

• "The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government's illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body," Harvard President Alan Garber said in a statement.

Driving the news: The university will also file a motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from taking any further action against the school, Garber wrote.

• The lawsuit said the administration's "decertification decision causes immediate, ongoing and irreparable harm to Harvard."

Catch up quick: On Thursday, the Trump administration barred Harvard's ability to enroll international students and said those currently enrolled should transfer or leave the U.S.

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Trump administration's actions toward Harvard should serve as a "warning to every other university to get your act together."
• She said the university was being held "accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus."

Read the full lawsuit here:

Go deeper: Harvard ban is warning to other universities, Noem says

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

• Tom Cruise has starred in eight "Mission: Impossible" movies since 1992.
• The actor reprises his role in the 2025 sequel, "The Final Reckoning."
• Here are all of the "Mission: Impossible" movies, ranked from worst to best.

Tom Cruise is taking on one last daring adventure in "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," which pits Ethan Hunt against an evil AI that threatens to destroy the world.

The actor has been the face of the franchise since the first movie in 1996, and has starred in eight films in total.

The Impossible Mission Force (yes, really) first debuted in the "Mission: Impossible" TV series in 1966, which starred Steven Hill and Peter Graves and ran for six seasons until 1973, before it was revived for another two seasons on ABC in 1988.

With the franchise set to end with "The Final Reckoning," here are all the "Mission: Impossible" movies, ranked.

8. "Mission: Impossible 2" (2000)

"Mission: Impossible 2" should be given way more love than it gets, mainly because the Hong Kong cinema legend John Woo helmed it. Yes, the "Hard Boiled" and "Bullet in the Head" director brought his signature bullet ballet style to the "Mission: Impossible" sequel, with all the slow-motion flair you could ask for.

Is it cheesy? Sure. Does the script need some work? Definitely. Is there any smart subtext or meaning underneath all the action? Absolutely not. This is a peak 2000s action movie, and it knows it. 

"Mission: Impossible 2" is so over the top that once you've made peace with it, it's best to just go along for the ride. Come on, Tom Cruise and Dougray Scott play motorbike chicken with each other before a midair tackle sends them both crashing to the ground. What's not to love? It's the type of vehicular chaos that the "Fast & Furious" franchise's Dominic Toretto would be proud of.

Even so, "Mission: Impossible 2" ranks at the bottom of the bunch.

7. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" (2011)

The 2011 film "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" takes the franchise into the modern era. It follows Hunt and his team as they're forced to go on the run when they're framed for bombing the Kremlin.

It quickly becomes a race to stop the villainous Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), who wants to start a nuclear war so that only the strongest members of humanity will survive. 

It's this plot that keeps "Ghost Protocol" from ascending the ranking, because, as spy thrillers go, stopping a nuclear war feels predictable, and the film fails to do anything unique with the premise. Plus, there's nothing particularly extraordinary about Hendricks as a baddie.

But generic plot devices aside, the film features some brilliant fights and gripping set pieces. The stand-out moment is when Cruise's hero climbs the Burj Khalifa in Dubai with nothing but sticky gloves and rope.

One of the most surprising elements of the film is Jeremy Renner's William Brandt, a disgraced former agent who's grappling with the guilt of failing Ethan on a former mission. That sub-plot works very well among the rest of the action, and it's a clever way of injecting a bit of heart into the mission.

6. "Mission: Impossible 3" (2006)

Two words: JJ Abrams. The "Lost" and "Fringe" creator made his big screen debut in 2006 with "Mission: Impossible 3," which takes a mid-noughties approach to the Impossible Mission Force and gives it a brutal edge.

The sequel pits Ethan, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Zhen Lei (Maggie Q), and Declan Gormley (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) against a nefarious arms dealer played by the incomparable Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Part of what elevates "Mission: Impossible 3" from previous films is that it never actually explains what Ethan and the gang are chasing. It's known only by its mysterious codename, the Rabbit's Foot. It could be an infectious disease, a computer virus, a hard drive teeming with currency, or nuclear codes — and that's what makes it so compelling. 

It's also refreshing to see Ethan settled and in love with Michelle Monahan's Julia Meade. What does married life look like for a superspy? How does that complicate his responsibility to save the world? 

The sequel feels very busy, as Abrams packs a lot into a tight two-hour run time. And some parts don't quite work, like Ethan's dynamic with his young mentee Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell). But there are some stellar sequences throughout, like the ballistic shoot-out on the bridge, which is an eye-popping piece of action choreography.

5. "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" (2025)

"Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" is the sequel to 2023's "Dead Reckoning," and sees Hunt race to stop an assassin known as Gabriel (Esai Morales) from controlling a sentient AI called the Entity. Just to raise the stakes, the Entity has already taken control of the world's nuclear weapons and plans to wipe out humanity.

While the 2025 movie is billed as the final entry in the franchise, its story doesn't quite live up to the high expectations set by "Dead Reckoning." The first hour is bogged down by lengthy exposition and generic action movie silliness.

That being said, as soon as the action picks up and Cruise embraces his adrenaline junkie persona once more, "The Final Reckoning" provides a breathtaking cinematic experience.

Whether it's the suspenseful scuba dive into a wrecked submarine or how Hunt climbs between two biplanes in the sky to fight Gabriel, the film's ambitious sequences deserve to be seen on the big screen.

4. "Mission: Impossible" (1996)

Taken from the 1966 TV series of the same name, 1996's "Mission: Impossible" introduces Cruise's Ethan Hunt, a field agent working for Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), the main character from the show. 

It has audiences instantly on their toes when Ethan's entire team, including Phelps, are assassinated by a double agent in the opening — forcing our hero to go on the run after being framed for their deaths.

"Mission: Impossible" earned itself a place in cinema history thanks to the brilliantly intense break-in scene, in which Cruise's Hunt hacks into a CIA mainframe computer while suspended on cables.

And of course, the high-octane ending on top of a Channel Tunnel train is a pulse-pounding affair set to the iconic theme music. 

Cruise effortlessly brings Hunt to life alongside top-notch performances from Voight, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Ving Rhames, which really help sell the paranoid atmosphere of the film

3. "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" (2015)

"Rogue Nation" is where frequent Tom Cruise collaborator Christopher McQuarrie properly put his stamp on the franchise. McQuarrie expands the world in a fascinating way with the introduction of the Syndicate, a vast organization made up of rogue agents from every intelligence agency on the planet.

Their mission (should they choose to accept it) is to create disorder and chaos to destabilize the global intelligence community, although their true goals don't become apparent until 2018's "Mission: Impossible - Fallout." Hunt is determined to root out the Syndicate, and its sinister leader, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris).

"Rogue Nation" also introduces Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), an enigmatic British agent who has a delicious will-they-won't-they dynamic with Cruise's hero.

A brawl in the rigging above an opera stage in Vienna is a stunning highlight, as is Cruise's underwater dive to retrieve a computer chip from a submerged safe. Cruise broke the world record for holding his breath for six minutes while completing that stunt in 2014.

2. "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" (2023)

"Dead Reckoning Part One" sees Hunt's IMF team chasing a key that will lead them to an unstoppable AI that could wreak havoc on the world.

And, of course, every government agency in the world wants to get their hands on it, so Hunt and his team are effectively on the run from everyone. 

"Dead Reckoning's" focus on AI gives it a grounding in the real world, but the film also continues to elevate the sheer scale of action that audiences have come to expect from the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. 

That jaw-dropping mountain jump at the movie's climax has to be seen to be believed, and it only gets more bonkers after that.

It's a testament to Cruise and McQuarrie that the film feels fresh and new — even if the script does drag on at points. 

Then again, audiences are coming to see Cruise throw himself off a mountain, not to hear Oscar-winning dialogue.

1. "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" (2018)

There's no question that McQuarrie's "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" is the best movie in the franchise, which is impressive considering it's the sixth outing for Hunt and the gang. 

It continues the Syndicate storyline from "Rogue Nation" and dives further into Solomon Lane's scheme. He wants to destabilize the world by irradiating the Siachen Glacier, which supplies water to India, Pakistan, and China. This would kill off a third of the world's population and drastically change society in the process.  

But most of the story revolves around a CIA and IMF mole who goes by the codename 'John Lark.'

The hunt to find this rogue agent crosses the world, introducing the likes of Henry Cavill's CIA agent August Walker and Vanessa Kirby's underworld matriarch, Alanna Mitsopolis. 

The scope of McQuarrie's movie is massive, and its huge stunts mirror that size. A gobsmacking scene sees Hunt dive with Walker from a plane and parachute into Paris. Cruise shot the stunt alongside a cameraman to properly capture the chaotic dive. 

Then, of course, there's the film's exhilarating helicopter chase through a New Zealand mountain range — just another example of McQuarrie and Cruise's commitment to filming these stunts in the most jaw-dropping way possible.

"Fallout" is a thrilling chapter of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise that deepens the audience's understanding of Cruise's hero while delivering a stunning cinematic experience.

• First lady Melania Trump is keeping a low profile during President Donald Trump's second term.
• An infrequent White House presence, she divides her time between homes in Florida, New York, and DC.
• Her latest appearances included the "TAKE IT DOWN" Act signing and an event for military mothers.

It's a refrain dating back to the first Trump White House: Where's Melania?

First lady Melania Trump, who remained an enigmatic figure during President Donald Trump's first term, has kept an even lower profile during his second.

Ahead of the inauguration, Melania Trump told Fox News that she planned to divide her time between the White House, Trump Tower in New York City, and Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

This schedule has made her an infrequent White House presence, averaging one to three appearances at public events each month.

Melania Trump's communications director, Nicholas Clemens, declined to comment.

Take a look at the first lady's White House activities and appearances thus far.

January 20: Melania Trump attended the inauguration.

Melania Trump held the Bible as Donald Trump was sworn in for his second non-consecutive term, and the couple danced together at several inaugural balls later that evening.

For the swearing-in ceremony, Melania Trump wore a navy coat and skirt by Adam Lippes, an American designer. She accessorized with a matching wide-brimmed hat by Eric Javits.

Her black-and-white inaugural gown was designed by Hervé Pierre.

January 21: The president and first lady joined Vice President JD Vance and Usha Vance at the National Day of Prayer Service.

The service, the last of Donald Trump's inaugural events, was held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

January 24: Melania Trump and Donald Trump visited California and North Carolina to survey damage caused by natural disasters.

Melania Trump joined Donald Trump to visit Los Angeles in the aftermath of multiple wildfires and neighborhoods in North Carolina damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Together, they met with first responders and residents who had lost their homes and businesses. Melania Trump was photographed hugging and shaking hands with those affected by the natural disasters.

February 22: Donald Trump and Melania Trump hosted the National Governors Association dinner at the White House.

Melania Trump wore a black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, similar to the outfit she chose for her official White House portrait, while posing for photos with governors from across the US.

Donald Trump thanked Melania Trump in his speech, saying that she "made the evening beautiful."

March 3: She participated in a roundtable discussion on the "TAKE IT DOWN" Act targeting revenge porn.

"TAKE IT DOWN" is an acronym for "Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks."

The act criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes, and requires websites to remove them.

"Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm," Melania Trump said in her opening remarks.

March 4: Melania Trump attended Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress.

The first lady's guests included the families of Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was fatally shot during an assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Laken Riley, who was killed by a man who had entered the US illegally.

Melania Trump wore a gray skirt suit by Dior.

April 1: She attended the International Women of Courage Awards.

Melania Trump, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, presented awards to several notable women in a ceremony held at the State Department.

"These extraordinary women illuminate the transformative power of love in shaping our world," she said in her remarks at the event. "Their journeys remind us that true courage is born from a deep commitment to others, showing that love fuels the call for justice."

April 21: She appeared alongside Donald Trump at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Melania Trump read the book "Bunny with a Big Heart" to a group of children at the event.

April 25: Donald Trump and Melania Trump departed the White House together to travel to Pope Francis' funeral.

The president and first lady were among several world leaders who attended the late pope's funeral in Vatican City.

May 8: She hosted an event for military mothers and unveiled a US postage stamp honoring Barbara Bush at the White House.

"I applaud Mrs. Bush's mark defending our society's vital need for women across all avenues, whether CEO or homemaker," Melania Trump said at the unveiling. "We have, can, and will build better families and run innovative businesses at the same time, ultimately shaping a brighter future."

May 19: Melania Trump spoke at the signing ceremony for the "TAKE IT DOWN" Act in the Rose Garden.

The bill, which was first presented to Congress in 2024 before Donald Trump took office, received widespread bipartisan support.

"Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation: sweet, addictive, and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children," Melania Trump said in her remarks at the signing ceremony.

May 20: Melania Trump hosted a Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day event for children in the Kennedy Garden.

The first lady greeted the children of White House staffers as they participated in an arts-and-crafts activity.

"It is always special to see children's creativity and spirit on display, especially here at the White House where so many hardworking men and women support the success of our nation every day," she said in a White House statement.

May 21: She spoke at the Senate Spouses Luncheon held at the National Gallery of Art.

Melania Trump, accompanied by Usha Vance, spoke about her Be Best platform, which focuses on children's well-being, and her Fostering the Future initiative, which supports children transitioning out of foster care.

"Together, we will uplift and empower our children, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive," the first lady wrote in a post on X. "Let's continue this vital mission and inspire a brighter future for all!"