For nearly 30 years, Mission: Impossible has been the gold standard for cinematic stunts and adrenaline-pumping action sequences. And with The Final Reckoning, the franchise’s eighth installment, it’s clear that Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie are still determined to raise the bar—and sometimes, shake the ground underneath it.
Though its title hints at a grand
finale, and its tone swings for high-stakes drama, The Final Reckoning
isn’t so much a swan song as it is a culmination—a culmination of 30 years of
impossible missions, globe-trotting intrigue, death-defying stunts, and one
man’s relentless pursuit of doing the right thing, no matter the cost.
A
Darker, More Serious IMF Mission
Let’s get this out of the way: The
Final Reckoning is more sober and self-serious than previous entries. It
leans heavily into melodrama, with dialogue and performances that often feel
like they’re carrying the literal weight of the world. The film opens with a
grim, lo-fi mission briefing—no more record store flirtations or dreamlike
nuclear wedding sequences. Instead, we get dire warnings about a malevolent AI
known as “The Entity,” a digital specter introduced in Dead Reckoning: Part
One. This villain isn’t just threatening nations—it's threatening every
living thing on the planet. It’s a premise so colossal, so abstract, that
it occasionally makes the film buckle under its own ambition.
But here’s the thing: that ambition also
gives the movie a scope and gravity that’s rare, even in today’s blockbuster
landscape. In an age where many franchises are content to tread water, The
Final Reckoning aims high—sometimes too high, but always with commitment.
Action
as Art
And make no mistake: when The
Final Reckoning delivers action, it delivers top-tier spectacle. The
highlight? Ethan Hunt’s infiltration of the sunken submarine Sevastapol,
a claustrophobic, high-tension set piece that showcases everything this
franchise does best. It’s a white-knuckle thriller that feels grounded,
tactile, and suspenseful in a way that recalls the best of Fallout and Rogue
Nation.
The fight choreography also gets a
welcome upgrade. This time, the IMF isn’t just battling anonymous
henchmen—they’re up against elite operatives from other nations, which raises
the level of physicality and danger. The brawls feel more brutal, more
unpredictable, and for perhaps the first time in the series, you’re not
entirely sure Ethan Hunt is going to win. That’s exciting.
And then there’s the biplane
sequence. Unlike the much-hyped motorcycle jump from Dead Reckoning Part One,
this film wisely kept its centerpiece stunt under wraps. That restraint pays
off—what unfolds on screen is a thrilling, funny, and pulse-pounding climax
that feels fresh because we haven’t already dissected it in a dozen
YouTube videos. It’s vintage Cruise, vintage Mission, and a reminder of
why this franchise remains a cinematic event.
Threads
From the Past, Tied into the Present
As a longtime fan of the franchise
(and of Bond films, too), I was especially appreciative of the effort to tie
past stories into this installment. Some callbacks are a little forced, and the
nearly three-hour runtime could have been trimmed, but others—like the return
of William Donloe from Mission: Impossible (1996)—are genuinely clever
and meaningful. Donloe’s role serves both as fan service and a thematic
reinforcement of the film’s central idea: our lives are the sum of our choices.
There’s real heart in seeing the IMF
team working together again. One of the strengths of Fallout was how it
utilized the ensemble—Benji, Luther, and others all had distinct roles and
moments. That dynamic returns here in full force. The film remembers that
Ethan’s strength isn’t just his tenacity—it’s his unwavering belief in his
team.
Is
It the End?
Despite the subtitle, The Final
Reckoning doesn’t wrap things up with a bow. The door is clearly left open
for more, and let’s be honest: do any of us really believe Tom Cruise is done?
That said, the film makes an earnest attempt to stitch together threads from
every corner of the franchise. While not always graceful, there’s something
admirable in that effort. A franchise that began in 1996 is still evolving,
still experimenting—even if it sometimes stumbles in its seriousness.
Final
Verdict
Mission: Impossible – The Final
Reckoning may not be the franchise’s best,
but it remains a thrilling, often awe-inspiring spectacle packed with emotional
stakes, big ideas, and jaw-dropping stunts. If the tone occasionally tips into
melodrama, that’s the price of a series trying to honor its past while
imagining a future. And if this really is the beginning of the end, it’s a
respectable, ambitious step toward the final chapter—whenever that may come.
Rating: 7.5/10
Best for: longtime fans, action lovers, and anyone who appreciates
practical effects over CGI explosions.
Biggest Strength: submarine set piece, the biplane finale, and ensemble
teamwork.
Biggest Weakness: somber tone, oversized stakes, and a bit too much
story baggage.
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