REVIEW Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

The beginning of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning might leave you disoriented.

The film opens with a flurry of exposition—names, flashbacks, quick cuts to events from past films of the franchise—all layered with a heavy dose of techno-speak and spy jargon. It’s a lot.

The pace is relentless in the first 30 minutes, and the storytelling leans more on telling than showing. But once you settle in, the film finds its rhythm.

It’s worth noting that this was originally titled Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, the direct sequel to Dead Reckoning Part One, which premiered in 2023. But due to a year-long delay, the new film found its new purpose: not just a continuation, but a possible conclusion to a well-loved action franchise.

This ambitious purpose leads to a convoluted plot. Instead of just ending the events of Dead Reckoning Part One, The Final Reckoning also has to serve as the final chapter in Ethan Hunt’s decades-long journey.

It tries to honor the legacy of the franchise by tying up threads, bringing back familiar faces, and reflecting on the cost of a life lived in constant motion.

And for a movie that is positioned as the last in the franchise, the stakes are very, very high. This time, a rogue AI called The Entity is on its way to control all the nuclear weapons of the world’s most powerful nations, aiming to bring about a global Armageddon. So, before it’s too late, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has to lead a team of tactical agents to find the AI’s source code to kill it before it makes the Earth explode.

STUNNING ACTION SCENES

The story takes the characters from one global location to another—each new city bringing a new chase, a new twist, and a new layer to the mission. There’s a pivotal return to a lost Russian submarine, a mysterious key with the power to unlock the AI’s source code, and of course, shifting alliances and betrayals that are signature to the franchise.

What stands out, as always, are the action set pieces. They are elaborate, high-stakes, and executed with a level of polish that continues to set this franchise apart. From a tense chase through the streets of London to a daring mid-air sequence involving dueling planes, the film doesn’t hold back. But some of these sequences go on longer than they need to. The submarine scenes, in particular, feel stretched out, and the climactic plane battle, while visually impressive, threatens to overwhelm rather than excite.

Still, the film remains engaging. Despite the heavy exposition, director Christopher McQuarrie keeps things visually dynamic. There are entire scenes shot purely for exposition—something most films would handle with dialogue over a black screen—but here, those scenes are fully realized. It’s a reminder that this is a franchise where spectacle matters, even in the quiet moments.

TOM CRUISE PUTS ON A SHOW

Tom Cruise is, once again, in top form. At 62, he remains fully committed to the physical demands of the role, and his performance carries the weight of someone who knows this could be the final outing. It’s astounding that Tom still did most of his stunts in this movie,

The film also benefits from a strong supporting cast. Simon Pegg adds emotional depth and well-timed humor, Hayley Atwell returns as Grace with a grounded, human energy, and Pom Klementieff brings edge and charisma. Angela Bassett’s commanding role as the U.S. President is commanding and memorable—her presence alone elevates the tension in every scene she’s in.

There’s also a healthy dose of nostalgia. Longtime fans will appreciate callbacks to earlier installments, including characters and visual echoes from the very first Mission: Impossible film in 1996. The movie leans into the idea that this isn’t just another mission—it’s the culmination of everything Ethan Hunt has fought for and sacrificed along the way.

If this truly is the end of the road, The Final Reckoning gives the franchise a proper send-off. It’s not without its flaws—the pacing is uneven, and the plot is too complex and a bit confusing—but it’s a fitting conclusion. It celebrates the legacy of Mission: Impossible with style, sincerity, and just enough surprises to remind us why this series has endured for nearly three decades.