Tom Cruise’s super spy Ethan Hunt returns for what could be his final mission, almost 30 years since the very first Mission: Impossible premiered. The Final Reckoning is the eighth film in the franchise, and a culmination of almost three decades of high-stakes espionage, jaw-dropping stunts, and saving the world.
Initially titled Dead Reckoning Part Two, this film was planned as a direct continuation of its predecessor, until a multitude of outside factors caused adjustments to the story (and to the franchise as a whole). In this thrilling installment, IMF agent Hunt and his team race against time to stop The Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence determined to destroy the world by seizing control of the nuclear codes of the most powerful countries.
Whether or not this truly marks the end for Ethan Hunt, Cruise and his team once again bring their A-game with unmatched action and compelling drama. Here are five reasons why you should go on one last mission with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning:
1. The Craziest Stunts
Originally based on a 1960s TV series, the Mission: Impossible films have built a reputation around Tom Cruise's dedication to performing increasingly daring stunts. From scaling the world's tallest building to holding his breath underwater for six minutes and doing motorcycle cliff jumps, Cruise continues to push the boundaries.
He does that and more in Final Reckoning, where the biggest and wildest stunt of the series includes Cruise’s Hunt performing fight scenes while standing on and hanging from the wings of a biplane. The highly-teased stunt is absolutely mind-blowing in execution—you just have to see it to believe it.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) hanging for dear life on a flying biplane.
2. Tom Cruise in Peak Form
With all the aura and mystique surrounding Tom Cruise, it’s easy to overlook how genuinely talented he is as an actor. He consistently delivers emotional depth amidst thrilling action sequences and showcases impressive comedic timing. While The Final Reckoning may have a simpler plot, Cruise’s passion and intensity effectively propel the film forward.
Cruise also taps into silent film greats like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd as he jumps from one stunt sequence to the next, only using facial reactions and body movements to convey each scene. Most set pieces are dialogue-free, letting the action speak for itself.
Cruise's Hunt goes face-to-face with a knife full of memories.
3. An Action Movie Editing Masterclass
With a nearly three-hour runtime, The Final Reckoning could have benefitted from some trimming, but it excels particularly in its editing of action sequences. The film uses a lot of parallel editing, a technique where you jump back and forth between two different locations or areas to build suspense and excitement.
One standout sequence involves Hunt navigating an underwater submarine. The tension masterfully escalates as scenes alternate between inside the submarine and external events impacting it. This sequence exemplifies expert-level editing that significantly drives the narrative tension.
Ethan and some of his team members (Hayley Atwell and Simon Pegg) share a moment before the chaos.
4. Spectacular Set Designs
Speaking of that submarine, the set design for this particular sequence is jaw-dropping and representative of the movie’s overall exceptional production design. Other impressive sets include a sprawling CIA bunker, a data center hidden within a cave, a remote cabin in frozen Alaska, and a clandestine underground medical base.
It’s always nice to see the budget of a film manifest vividly through intricate production designs and stunning visual effects. With a reported budget exceeding $300 million, The Final Reckoning ensures every dollar is visible on screen.
Ethan's team head toward danger.
5. More Cameos than a Marvel Movie
While Cruise is great as Hunt, his supporting cast is always fun to watch, including Simon Pegg returning as IMF technician Benji and Pom Klementieff who plays Paris, a villain-turned-hero who made their Mission debut in the previous film.
Throughout the film, we get memorable performances from both Mission: Impossible veterans and well-known actors from television and film. Angela Bassett returns triumphantly as President of the United States, while Rolf Saxon appears for the first time since the original Mission: Impossible. Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), and Tramell Tillman (Severance) also make memorable, scene-stealing appearances.
Final Thoughts
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a crowd-pleasing, exciting, and action-packed entry into the franchise. If this is the final film, it’s a satisfying conclusion to Hunt’s epic narrative. Despite its shortcomings, the film more than compensates with thrilling stunts, top-notch action and a Tom Cruise willing to do whatever it takes to entertain the audience.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is now showing in Philippine cinemas.
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures International