Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning – A Thrill Ride With Speed Bumps

Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present

A Tom Cruise Production

Tom Cruise

“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING”

Opens in theaters May 23, 2025

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning – A Thrill Ride With Speed Bumps

A Mission Worth the Hype?
Going into Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the expectations were high—how could they not be? When a franchise like Mission Impossible approaches its supposed finale, comparisons start flying, and the bar inevitably raises. This installment, carrying the weight of decades of action spectacle, needed to meet some daunting criteria: a blockbuster extravaganza, an all-out action thriller, and—most ambitiously—a finale on par with Avengers: Endgame. The verdict? A mixed bag.
Does it deliver thrills? Yes. Is it entertaining? Absolutely. But does it reach the crescendo of a Mission Impossible finale that truly feels conclusive and unforgettable? Not quite.

Tom Cruise Being Tom Cruise
One thing that Mission Impossible never fails to deliver is Tom Cruise in peak action-star mode. The man runs, jumps, climbs, falls, and swims with the kind of reckless abandon that keeps audiences in awe. And in The Final Reckoning, the Cruise factor remains strong—his stunts are borderline absurd in their intensity, pushing the limits of what should be realistic. Yet, herein lies a tricky balancing act: when does action morph into spectacle for spectacle’s sake, veering too far from the grounded reality this franchise is built upon?
The set pieces—particularly a couple of elongated sequences—cross that threshold at times, becoming less nerve-wracking and more self-indulgent. The infamous water scene drags on with diminishing returns, and the plane sequence follows suit, stretching beyond the tension required to maintain engagement.

The Theater Experience – A Mixed Reaction
As a dedicated movie reviewer, I always gauge a film’s effectiveness through two lenses: crowd size and audience reaction. And this was a packed house—”sold out” (although a screener), massive, and brimming with palpable anticipation. The IMAX experience amplified the intensity, making every stunt feel larger-than-life, a testament to Cruise’s commitment to spectacle. But anticipation aside, a few moments stirred audible discomfort among the audience—shuffling in seats, small murmurs, even groans in key sequences that overstayed their welcome.
And then there was the comedy. Mission Impossible is known for weaving humor into its adrenaline-fueled narrative, but the execution here felt uneven. An early fight sequence lacked credibility due to misplaced comedic timing, and even Cruise’s signature run—a sight audiences have come to embrace—elicited unintended chuckles. Not ideal for a film striving for edge-of-your-seat intensity.

The Cast – Stars That Shine and Fade
One undeniable win is the cast. The Mission Impossible team has always been an ensemble of strong personalities, and The Final Reckoning makes some notable choices.

• Angela Bassett (the President of the United States) She commands the screen with her signature presence, playing her part as well as the script allows. However, the material provided to her feels limiting, falling short of her full potential—a missed opportunity to elevate her role.
• Hayley Atwell (Grace) commands attention, and in IMAX, her radiance is even more striking. She plays her part well despite weaker writing, proving her ability to elevate the material.
• Simon Pegg (Benji) delivers his standard quirky charm, albeit without any groundbreaking additions to his character.
• Ving Rhames (Luther) remains the wise, monotone presence we love, though his arc, including his finale arc here, could have been handled more creatively.
• Pom Klementieff (Paris)—a true standout. This woman is a force to be reckoned with, exuding a raw energy and magnetism that sets her apart. Watch out for her—she has the it factor, and this performance is just the beginning.
• Esai Morales (Gabriel), unfortunately, doesn’t land the impact he should have. A talented actor restricted by an underwhelming script, his villainous unpredictability feels more off-kilter than menacing. He was more inviting in the previous film.

A Franchise Turning Point
After nearly three decades of Mission Impossible, nostalgia subtly creeps in. Flashbacks strategically remind audiences of just how long they’ve been watching Ethan Hunt defy death, bringing an inevitable realization—if you saw the first Mission Impossible in your early twenties, you’re now in your fifties, possibly with a college graduate at home, and one going into college.
That passage of time adds weight to the idea that this might be Tom Cruise’s final mission. If that’s true, this film must be seen—if only to close a chapter.

A Reflection of Real-World Chaos: One unexpected drawback was how much the film mirrored the current dire events unfolding in real life. While some may find this grounding, for me, it detracted from the escapism that a blockbuster should provide. I go to the movies to disconnect from the world’s chaos—not to see it unfold in IMAX.

The Final Verdict
Is Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning a fitting swan song? Not entirely. The finale doesn’t provide a heart-pounding edge-of-your-seat climax—it lands safely within the realm of predictability and dialogue. It holds interest but lacks the holy grail of surprises that elevate a concluding chapter into legend status.
Still, this film delivers enough spectacle and intrigue to warrant its place within the Mission Impossible pantheon, likely falling somewhere around fifth in ranking among the eight films—though that assessment might be slightly generous.

So, should you see it? Yes, but manage expectations. The rollercoaster is there, but the ride isn’t as wild as you might hope.

-Jay Katz
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning