Chicken or the egg?

“MISSION: Impossible III” is more than the latest version of the small-screen espionage drama that has been a pop culture icon since its premiere in the 1960s.

It’s also a big-screen version of “Alias,” with Tom Cruise taking on the Jennifer Garner role.

“M:i:III” director J.J. Abrams has acknowledged that “Alias,” his ABC series about a graduate student living a double life as a secret agent, was inspired in part by the “Mission: Impossible” TV show. And he said “Alias” in turn served as a valuable training ground for him to take on the big-screen adventure, which took in a disappointing $48 million in the U.S. and Canada its opening weekend, less than Paramount Pictures had hoped for.

Given Abrams’ fondness for the original, perhaps it’s no surprise that “M:i:III” appears to be more of a homage to the first few seasons of “Alias” than to the original “Mission: Impossible.”

Consider these similarities. And please don’t tell Ben Affleck.

The “Let’s Skip the Intros and Just Cut to the Mayhem” Moment

“Alias”: The first scenes of the pilot find spy Sydney Bristow (Garner) bloodied and bound to a chair in a dark, ominous room, where she is menaced by a mysterious villain. How she got into this pickle is related in flashbacks later in the episode.

“M:i:III”: The first scene of the film finds spy Ethan Hunt (Cruise) bloodied and bound to a chair in a dark, ominous room, where he is menaced by a mysterious villain. How he got into this pickle is related in flashbacks later in the film.

The “Spies Like Excellent Health Benefits” Moment

“Alias”: Sydney’s fiance is a doctor who has no idea she is a spy.

“M:i:III”: Ethan’s fiancee is a nurse who has no idea he is a spy.

The “Spies Have Boring Cover Stories” Moment

“Alias”: Sydney tells her friends she works for a bank.

“M:i:III”: Ethan tells friends he works for the traffic department.

The “Spies Should Get Caller ID” Moment

“Alias” : Sydney gets a call at home from “Joey’s Pizza,” which is spy agency code for “Your Country Needs You to Get to Work.”

“M:i:III”: Ethan gets a call at home from “Ready Travel Resort Services,” which is spy agency code for “Your Country Needs You to Get to Work.”

The “OK, What Is My Mission and No, I Don’t Want a Big Gulp” Moment

“Alias”: Sydney first meets her operations handler Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan) at a convenience store, where they both pretend to shop for Twinkies while discussing the mission. Sydney declines Michael’s offer for a Slushee.

“M:i:III”: Ethan meets his operations manager, John Musgrave (Billy Crudup), at a convenience store, where they both pretend to hunt for Twinkies while discussing the mission. Ethan advises Musgrave to get the “900-ounce Slurpee.”

The “Hit Me With Your Best Adrenalin Shot” Moment

“Alias”: Sydney rescues a barely conscious Vaughn from bad guys, reviving him with an Adrenalin shot to the heart.

“M:i:III”: Ethan rescues a barely conscious fellow agent, Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell), from bad guys, reviving her with an Adrenalin shot to the heart.

The “I Look More Needy if I’m on a Roof” Moment

“Alias”: Sydney, not wanting to give her real mission away, summons her friend, reporter Will Tippin (Bradley Cooper), to a rooftop and asks for help, telling him, “You just have to trust me.”

“M:i:III”: Ethan, not wanting to give his real mission away, summons his fiancee to the rooftop, asks for help, begging her to “trust me.”

The “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time” Moment

“Alias”: Bad guys plant an explosive device in Will’s head.

“M:i:III:” Bad guys plant an explosive device in Ethan’s head (and one in Lindsey’s too).

The “Head Fu” Moment

“Alias”: When the bound Sydney’s torturer gets a little too close to her face, she head-butts him, manages to fight out of her restraints and knocks him unconscious.

“M:i:III”: When the bound Ethan’s adversary gets too close to him, he bites him, manages to fight out of his restraints and knocks him unconscious.

The “Spies Pay No Attention to Dress Codes” Moment

“Alias”: Sydney attends a black-tie event in a foreign country in a form-fitting red dress.

“M:i:III”: One of Ethan’s accomplices, Zhen (Maggie Q), attends a black-tie event in a foreign country in a form-fitting red dress.

The “Slow Talking Techno-Nerds Need Not Apply” Moment

“Alias”: Marshall (Kevin Weisman) is a fast-talking nerd who helps Sydney carry out assignments.

“M:i:III”: Benji (Simon Pegg) is a fast-talking computer nerd who helps Ethan carry out assignments.