Director - Christopher McQuarrie
Writers - Bruce Geller, Erik Jendresen, Christopher McQuarrie
Stars - Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morale
Running Time - 2h 49m 
Genres - Action, Adventure, Thriller
 
After nearly three decades of wild stunts, ticking clocks, and Tom Cruise sprinting like the world depends on it, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning lands with a bang—and a bit of baggage. It’s packed with spectacle and ambition, but also burdened by the weight of trying to be the “ultimate” chapter in a franchise that may not know how to stop.
 
This time, Ethan Hunt faces his most intangible threat yet: a rogue artificial intelligence known as “The Entity.” It's everywhere, sees everything, and wants complete control. The idea is timely, sure—but the film leans so hard into the apocalyptic tone that it almost forgets how much fun these movies used to be. The charm, the cheeky tension, the slick wit—here, they take a backseat to serious speeches and soul-searching stares.
 
Don’t get me wrong—this is still a Mission: Impossible film, which means you're getting jaw-dropping stunts, globe-trotting action, and at least one moment where you wonder if Cruise is actually trying to kill himself for real. A standout sequence inside a submerged Russian submarine is pure, pulse-pounding cinema. The biplane scene teased in trailers? Worth the price of admission.
 
But as the story expands in scale, the emotional beats sometimes shrink. The film tries to stitch together moments from across the franchise, bringing back old faces and recalling past missions. Sometimes that works, like with the return of William Donloe (yes, the guy from the vault in the first film!), but other callbacks feel more like homework for longtime fans than rewarding moments.
 
Cruise, now in his 60s, still gives it his all. He doesn’t just act—he commits, body and soul. And the supporting cast is strong: Hayley Atwell’s Grace brings freshness and vulnerability, while Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg return as the franchise’s steady heartbeat. New characters show promise too, even if they’re not always given enough room to shine.
 
What holds the film back is its tone. The Final Reckoning takes itself very seriously. There’s a looming sense of dread that rarely lifts, and the high stakes—literally “all life on Earth”—feel too abstract to truly hit home. Mission: Impossible has always thrived when it's grounded in personal stakes and clever plotting. Here, everything feels a bit too big, too heavy, and too self-important.
 
Still, there’s something admirable about the effort. Director Christopher McQuarrie clearly wants this to be a meaningful sendoff, or at least a major turning point. And while it doesn’t quite stick the landing emotionally, the craft, energy, and sheer dedication on display are undeniable.
 
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a visually stunning, action-heavy chapter that tries to close a massive loop but loses some of its spark in the process. It's bold, intense, and sometimes overwhelming—but even when the story stumbles, Tom Cruise keeps the mission thrilling. If this really is the end, it goes out swinging… even if it forgets to smile.