Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth and potentially final chapter of the iconic action franchise that’s been thrilling audiences for nearly 30 years. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this 2025 release aims to wrap up the high-stakes saga with jaw-dropping stunts, a sentimental nod to its legacy, and a battle against an AI villain, The Entity. But does it deliver the explosive send-off fans expect? Let’s dive into this Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning review, exploring its plot, reception, and what makes it tick.

A Quick Recap: Dead Reckoning Sets the Stage

To understand The Final Reckoning, we need to revisit 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. Ethan Hunt and his IMF team—Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg), and newcomer Grace (Hayley Atwell)—chased a cruciform key to control The Entity, a rogue AI threatening global chaos. The film ended on a cliffhanger, with Ethan securing the key but facing Gabriel (Esai Morales), The Entity’s human ally, and a world teetering on the edge of nuclear annihilation. Dead Reckoning was lauded for its playful energy and iconic stunts, like the Rome car chase, but some felt its AI-driven plot was overly ambitious.

The Final Reckoning picks up with Ethan in hiding, summoned by President Sloane (Angela Bassett) to destroy The Entity’s source code, hidden in a sunken Russian submarine. The stakes? Save humanity from AI-driven Armageddon. The 2-hour-49-minute runtime—the longest in the franchise—promises epic action but struggles to balance spectacle with narrative cohesion.

What Works: Stunts That Defy Gravity

Cruise, at 62, remains the king of spectacle, performing stunts that leave audiences gasping. A standout underwater sequence in the Sevastopol submarine is a masterclass in tension, with Cruise navigating flooding compartments in near silence. The climactic biplane chase, soaring over South Africa’s veldt, is a visual feast, blending practical effects with Cruise’s fearless physicality. Fans on X are buzzing about these set pieces, with posts calling them “a shot of adrenaline” and “the gold standard of action.”

The ensemble shines, too. Hayley Atwell’s Grace adds emotional depth, while Pom Klementieff’s Paris steals scenes with her fierce presence. Callbacks to earlier films, from 1996’s original to Rogue Nation, create a nostalgic love letter to fans, as noted by critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s optimism—“We’ll figure it out”—feels refreshing in a cynical blockbuster landscape.

What Falls Short: Solemnity Overload

Despite its thrills, The Final Reckoning stumbles with an overly serious tone. The first hour drowns in expository montages and melodramatic dialogue, recapping the franchise’s 30-year history in a way that feels like a “Previously On” episode gone wrong. Critics on Metacritic lament the “self-important” vibe, missing the cheeky humor of Fallout or Ghost Protocol. The Entity, while topical, is an abstract villain, described as a “truth-eating digital parasite” that’s hard to fear compared to tangible threats like nukes.

At nearly three hours, the pacing lags, with too much time spent on cyber-speak and flashbacks. Some X users call it “bloated” and “a whimper” compared to past entries, though others praise its ambition. The plot’s convolution—cruciform keys, podkovas, and doomsday cults—can feel silly, undermining the gravitas McQuarrie aims for.

Ratings Across Platforms

• Rotten Tomatoes: Certified Fresh at 81% with 136 reviews, praised for “spectacular action sequences” but critiqued for a “bloated” and “uneven” story.
• Metacritic: A mixed 71/100 with 34 reviews, with reviewers noting “staggering set-pieces” but a lack of narrative flow.
• IMDb: Early user scores hover around 7.8/10, reflecting fan love for Cruise’s dedication but frustration with pacing.
• X Sentiment: Posts range from “thrill-tastic cinematic victory lap” to “dull and dysfunctional,” showing a divided fanbase.

Scores may continue to shift as more reviews are published, especially following the film’s theatrical release worldwide.

The Verdict: A Solid but Imperfect Farewell

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a thrilling, overstuffed finale that doesn’t quite match the series’ peaks (Fallout, Ghost Protocol). Cruise’s stunts and the ensemble’s chemistry keep it engaging, but the somber tone and bloated runtime dull its spark. It’s a fitting, if flawed, end to one of cinema’s greatest action franchises, leaving the door ajar for more.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

For fans, it’s a must-see on the biggest screen possible—preferably IMAX—to witness Cruise’s death-defying spectacle. Newcomers might find it accessible as a standalone, but the callbacks reward longtime viewers. What do you think of Ethan Hunt’s latest mission? Share your thoughts below

Global Release Dates

• United States & United Kingdom: The film will premiere in theaters on May 23, 2025 .

• India: In a unique move, the film will be released six days earlier on May 17, 2025, allowing Indian audiences an exclusive early viewing .

• China: The movie is scheduled for release on May 30, 2025, one week after its global debut .

• France, Germany, and other European countries: The film will be released between May 21 and May 23, 2025