Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025)

​“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Angela Bassett, and Henry Czerny.  Released on May 23, 2025, the film has Ethan Hunt continuing his battle against Gabriel and the Entity.

The film is directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who also directed “The Way of the Gun”, “Jack Reacher”, and the previous three “Mission: Impossible” installments.  It is the eighth installment in the “Mission: Impossible” film series and the continuation of “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning”.  Every cinematic mission we embarked on since 1996 has indeed been impossible, but in the end, we managed to accomplish every single one of them thanks to the practical stunt prowess of Tom Cruise.  Our latest mission, introduced in 2023’s “Dead Reckoning”, wound up being more unfeasible than the last, as Cruise’s Ethan Hunt tackled a threat that's so formidable and dangerous that one movie wasn’t enough to complete it.  This brings us to that movie’s direct sequel, which was initially set to have “part one” and “part two” in the “Dead Reckoning” subtitle.  However, the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon caused the franchise to shift its course and drop the “parts” altogether, though “part one” in “Dead Reckoning” remains in the previous film.  Despite that small change, it didn’t stop the franchise from accomplishing this supposedly final mission that started in “Dead Reckoning”.  Does it have enough skills and stunts to continue Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie’s winning streak?  Let’s find out.

The story takes place two months after the events of “Dead Reckoning”.  IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) has retrieved the completed key from his adversary Gabriel (Morales), who’s in cahoots with a powerful AI system known as the Entity.  Along with his team consisting of Grace (Atwell), Luther (Rhames), and Benji (Pegg), Ethan continues his search for the Sevastopol, a Russian stealth submarine containing the Entity’s core module, the “Rabbit’s Foot”.  Amid the journey, Ethan encounters shocking connections to his previous endeavors and dangerous obstacles that put the team’s lives on the line.  As the battle against Gabriel and the Entity leads to him preventing a nuclear apocalypse, Ethan is forced to make choices that could save or destroy everything he holds dear.

Since the release of “Ghost Protocol” in 2011, the “Mission: Impossible” movies have consistently delivered high-quality storytelling and exceptional stunt work.  While the practical stunts have grown more dangerous and exciting in each installment, the franchise never neglected to emphasize its high-stakes narrative amid the thrilling action.  Despite the installments not grossing a billion dollars globally, we can’t ignore the fact that these movies did the impossible in delivering quality-induced cinematic experiences that are worth the price of admission.  This is all thanks to legendary action star Tom Cruise, whose marketing stunts give us more heart attacks than the number of movies I owned, and director Christopher McQuarrie, who has been helming every installment since “Rogue Nation”.  Considering my admiration and love for the previous installments, I had no doubts I would be excited to see how “Final Reckoning” wraps up the entire storyline…unless they decide to make another one.

The only thing that could be a cause for concern was its reviews.  While the word-of-mouth for “Final Reckoning” is quite positive, as we expected, It’s also more mixed than the previous installments, where their reviews were consistently glowing.  Some might say it might be due to franchise fatigue, but it could also be its execution.  Keeping the quality consistent with each installment is one thing, but making one that serves as a sentimental farewell is the biggest hurdle to jump over.  It’s not just the storytelling quality and emotional depth they need to master but also the approach of concluding specific elements introduced in previous installments.  Cruise and McQuarrie chose to accept this impossible mission to deliver a cinematic finale in the same vein as “Return of the King” and “Deathly Hallows”.  Unsurprisingly, they managed to accomplish this task, but it’s not without its share of close calls bigger than the last few McQuarrie installments.

Like the previous installments, “The Final Reckoning” delivered the usual promise of a rip-roaring, scope-inducing cinematic experience that balances jaw-dropping stunts with a tense, high-stakes story.  However, the novelty that had been successful since “Ghost Protocol” seemed to have lost most of its luster when combined with a plot that hadn’t exceeded all of my expectations.  The story in “Final Reckoning” was meant to be the conclusion to elements introduced in the previous “Mission: Impossible” films, mainly “Dead Reckoning”, as Ethan’s trust in others continues to be tested when facing the horrific might of the manipulative Entity.  If that isn't enough to convince you, the film’s entire first act is dedicated to showcasing Ethan’s greatest hits through brief flashbacks, some of which reintroduce specific elements from earlier installments like “Mission: Impossible III”.  On the one hand, this approach is helpful for audiences who aren’t willing to or couldn’t find the time to rewatch every installment in preparation for “Final Reckoning”.  On the other hand, that’s where my interest started to dwindle based on how much it dumped on as an attempt to connect it to other installments.

While the first act was well-directed in its action, the number of flashbacks used after the beginning portion started to feel too excessive.  Some of them were used to help people recognize characters from previous installments, including one from the first film.  However, at other times, it felt like it was spoon-feeding newcomers and longtime fans with its flashback dumping, even going as far as to repeat specific ones that were completely unnecessary.  I didn’t mind flashbacks as long as they’re crucial to the plot, help me recognize someone I forgot about, or serve as a tribute to a character in a franchise.  But sometimes, it’s best to allow the audience to piece those elements together instead of treating them like idiots most of the time.  I would’ve liked it better if it only did the flashback tribute at the beginning or the end, but that’s how I feel about this issue.  The movie’s nearly three-hour runtime could be the reason for this much flashback-dumping, but it didn’t bother me too much due to its pacing.  However, considering the film’s set pieces, expositions, and tense scenarios, it could be an issue for those with weak hearts or wanting consistent action.

What I enjoyed most about “Dead Reckoning” was the screenplay by McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen.  Amid its action set pieces and Ethan Hunt's trademark sprinting, “Dead Reckoning” also offered a compelling and relevant exploration of the horrors of artificial intelligence.  Through the introduction of the Entity, the movie explores the looming dangers posed by those obsessed with acquiring its power despite the consequences it may unleash.  Of course, Ethan Hunt is the only person with enough common sense to realize how risky and world-threatening this particular AI is, sending him and his team on a quest to destroy it for good.  McQuarrie and Jendresen reunited to continue this depiction in “Final Reckoning,” with the Entity manipulating the globe and gaining control over the nuclear systems capable of destroying the human race.  Although it didn’t have as strong an impact as "Dead Reckoning," I appreciated that the script maintained the suspense and genuine horrors associated with an AI's malicious and manipulative capabilities, which may feel closer to home than ever.  As for the overall story, it felt more like a conclusion to only “Dead Reckoning” than a finale of the franchise itself, especially with an ending that couldn’t quite provide the emotional gut punch it was hoping for.  With its exposition-based flashbacks, passable villain, and familiar narrative elements from other installments, the screenplay in “The Final Reckoning” puts more emphasis on the “reckoning” rather than the “final”.

But, even with a script that favors both the good and the bad elements, more so than previous installments, I still consider “The Final Reckoning” another cinematic blast that favors heart in its plot, scope, and eye-opening action.  Christopher McQuarrie has once again demonstrated that he was the right person for the job, especially regarding his direction.  His astute visionary scope, attention to the production designs, and effective practical set pieces gave the franchise so much depth and richness that it’s impossible to look away.  Not only that, but McQuarrie also ensured that every scene, whether action-packed or dramatic, is filled to the brim with tension, style, and anxiety, but in a fun and immersive way.  This was primarily due to Fraser Taggart’s cinematography capturing the action through wide-angle shots and still frames and the choreography matching the authenticity of the practical stunts.  

Speaking of which, the stunts in the film were just as captivating as the ones from the previous installments, especially the ones performed by Tom Cruise himself.  While the action scenes may not be as memorable as the other installments, the bigger stunts in “Final Reckoning” were the real deal if you want to get your anxiety levels up.  The Sevastopol submarine sequence was expertly directed for its suspense and claustrophobic setting.  The biplane chase scene in the finale, which was heavily marketed in the poster, was undoubtedly one hell of a treat for its dizzying heights and tension.  While a tad similar to the helicopter chase scene in “Fallout”, having biplanes into the mix is enough to get my heart pounding longer than it should have, mainly because of Cruise hanging on to the wings for dear life.  However, if you have a phobia of heights, you may want to stick to driving cars instead.  Most people may refer to these movies as describing what action cinema was meant to be like regarding the stunts, and based on my experience with those films, I couldn’t help but agree.  Regardless of how the story turned out, the high-stakes action and stunts have always been the driving force of a “Mission: Impossible” movie, delivering unforgettable experiences that are best seen on the biggest screen imaginable.  I’m happy to say that “Final Reckoning” is unsurprisingly no different.

I would also consider Tom Cruise another reason for the success of these movies and “Top Gun: Maverick”.  I will always admire his passion for bringing the “wow” back to the world of cinema, and it’s not because of his iconic pursuit as a stuntman.  He also comes across as a talented actor who brings charm and heart to his characters through his performances, including Ethan Hunt.  “Final Reckoning” sees Cruise reprising his role of Ethan for the eighth and possibly final time, and as always, he never fails to commit to that role at his highest potential.  Cruise delivered another solid performance that conveyed Ethan’s subtle emotional range, mainly when confronting an even greater adversary, without the need to be overly explosive with the character’s feelings.  Hayley Atwell also continued to be a good addition to the cast as Grace, a former thief assisting Ethan and his team, despite her arc in the previous installment being a bit better.  I would also credit Angela Bassett, who reprised her role as Erika Sloane from “Fallout”.  Every scene she’s in showcases how invigorating Bassett is as an actress regarding her muted yet genuinely magnetic performance.

Overall, “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” completed another cinematic mission of delivering a wow-inducing experience full of narrative stakes and practical stunts, even if it doesn’t match the quality heights of the previous installments.  As a continuation of "Dead Reckoning," the film serves as a fitting conclusion to that storyline, raising the stakes with its world-threatening AI antagonist and Ethan’s perilous mission.  However, as a finale to the entire franchise, it fell short of its given intentions, especially regarding its emotional depth and hit-and-miss ending.  The abundance of exposition and flashbacks, mainly in the first act, didn’t quite help much either, as it detracts from the storytelling experience more than helping newcomers get caught up in the plot.  Regardless, it’s another entertaining and consistently exhilarating installment that further establishes “Mission: Impossible” as one of the best action franchises in cinema history.  Tom Cruise and the rest of the cast still did solid work with their performances, and McQuarrie’s direction emphasized the action choreography, cinematography, and practical stunts with a sense of awe.  I’d still consider “Fallout” my favorite “Mission: Impossible” installment, but this movie has enough great moments to keep the franchise from self-destructing.  If you choose to accept this latest mission, chances are you might enjoy it as much as I did.

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