MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (2025) Review

Review

Few franchises last long enough to release more than a trilogy. Fewer franchises last long enough to release eight films and be preparing to blow out the candles on its thirtieth birthday cake. But this week Paramount Pictures releases Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in UK cinemas. The eighth and possibly final (more on that later) film in the franchise which began back in 1996 and propelled star Tom Cruise to ultra-stardom. But coming off the back of a mixed reception to Dead Reckoning – Part One, can the returning Christopher McQuarrie steer the $4.4B-grossing franchise to a satisfying conclusion of its legions of fans?

Right off the bat The Final Reckoning is a beast to contend with. Clocking in at an impressive 169 minutes its the longest film in the franchise. It’s also the fourth to be directed by McQuarrie who has now clocked up a decade alongside Cruise as a franchise staple. The baggage of seven previous films weighs heavy as McQuarrie and co-writer Erik Jendresen‘s script attempts to balance nostalgia with a near-apocalyptic storyline which has to continue to grapple with an A.I. threat which did little to endear itself to audiences in the first half of this two-part story. Then there’s the ensemble cast. Between familiar faces of films past and new famous faces there’s almost 20 major speaking roles across the film. So there’s no denying it, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a busy, busy film.

The great news is that after a densely packed first act the film soars all the way to is finale. There’s just no avoiding that trudging through all the exposition is difficult. But one has to applaud Cruise, McQuarrie and the team for attempting to re-work what was initially going to be a back-to-back production to try and take on board the criticisms. It is clear changes were made. The A.I enemy, referred to as The Entity now has ties to Ethan’s (Cruise) previous adventures. This serves The Final Reckoning by adding a sense of coming full circle should this be the final film. Its connections to the Rabbit’s Foot seen in Mission: Impossible III feels like it stretches the events of that film a little too far. But so much of what The Final Reckoning does is forgivable because it’s just so damn enjoyable. Also stretching things is the sudden admission that the Sevastopol scenes in the previous film were actually set in 2012. These events now land between Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation, the fourth and fifth films in the franchise. The decision to change the timeline gives the film one of its biggest set pieces. But it also unnecessarily confuses and complicates the A.I. storyline.

There’s also the complicated job of dealing with Gabriel (Esai Morales), the A.I.’s herald as well as its brute, human, strength. Dead Reckoning – Part One left Gabriel in the wind meaning The Final Reckoning needed to either deal with or forget his place in the story. Act one quickly deals with his position, finding a neat loophole to keep him a threat whilst simultaneously shifting him towards the periphery of the main storyline. His place in act one seems constructed in help with the sheer volume of exposition which the story requires. By the third act his role thankfully settles back in to something which feels traditionally Mission: Impossible and befitting of an actor of Morales’ stature.

Once the team splinters and Ethan reaches the USS George H. W. Bush things are genuinely on the up. Though it’s still dense, the second act of McQuarrie and Jendresen‘s script is able to balance dual storylines naturally. It pulls back on overloading the audience instead allowing them to experience its story. It also means the film is able to lean in to what it does best. Its stunts. The set piece on the Sevastopol is one of the most ambitious in the franchise. Shot beautifully in IMAX by Fraser Taggart it’s equally awe inspiring and dizzying. Meanwhile on land the rest of the team is squaring off against the Russian armed-forces whilst carrying most of the weight of the film’s storyline.

Focussing on the supporting cast allows them all a moment in the sun. Ultimately The Final Reckoning is the culmination of Ethan’s journey. But it doesn’t forget the tireless efforts of the huge cast to bring the series to this point. Having appeared in six films, Simon Pegg’s Benji is in the thick of the action and leading the team. It feels like the most crucial role Benji has ever played in one of these films and Pegg has more than earned it. On the flip side, Ving Rhames has appeared in every film. The only actor other than Cruise to do so. Yet his storyline is squandered and somewhat confusing. Though Luther has a heroic role in saving the day, it comes at the expense of giving him the kind of send-off he deserves. Perhaps Luther was just one character too many for a packed finale to The Final Reckoning, those scenes still featuring seven key cast members aside from Cruise.

Hayley Atwell, who debuted in Dead Reckoning – Part One as Grace is still front and centre. Proving once again that Atwell more than deserves a franchise of this scale. As seems to be the case across the board, Final Reckoning doesn’t linger on Grace’s past. There’s nothing more to be learned about her. Instead the focus is purely on how she can aid Ethan in saving the world. Thankfully the script holds back from going to full romantic territory. Whilst it’s heavily implied it can still be interpreted that these two characters care deeply for each other. Atwell is given plenty of action as well as a neat amount of comedy which plays to her strengths as an actor. Her charisma and her charm easily match that of Cruise making their shared screen time electric.

Despite all of its potential drawbacks The Final Reckoning is nothing short of gripping. Through charm and sheer determination the film is able to overcome a needlessly complex plot. Even in its third act, when the fate of humanity rests in the hands of the I.M.F. team, the film becomes so enthralling that for a split second the entire cinema fell utterly silent. Tension swept through the room like a Mexican wave as the entire audience contemplated the fact Ethan and his team may lose. Something which a rational mind tells us will never be the case with one of these films. What shouldn’t come as a surprise is that despite its title The Final Reckoning doesn’t bring with it a definitive ending which closes the door on future instalments. Something tells me that after a long rest, Ethan Hunt (and Tom Cruise) will be needed to help save the world (and cinema) one more…

Verdict

Despite over-complicating its plot in an effort to create a meaningful ending to Ethan Hunt’s story, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a blockbuster worthy of a trip to the movies. It’s luscious IMAX visuals present Tom Cruise’s potentially final outing as his most ambitious and death-defying.

⭐⭐⭐.5