Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Review: A High-Octane, Emotionally Charged Finale That Almost Lands Perfectly
With Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt for what is touted as the final chapter of a franchise that has redefined modern action cinema.
Directed once again by Christopher McQuarrie, the film promises spectacle, suspense, and a fitting farewell—and for the most part, it delivers.
The storyline picks up immediately after Dead Reckoning Part One, diving headfirst into a global crisis centered around “The Entity,” a sentient AI that can manipulate defense systems and digital infrastructure. The stakes are no longer just nuclear codes or rogue agents—it’s existential, pitting human instinct against algorithmic control. In typical Mission fashion, the action spans the globe, from shadowy corridors in London to a submerged Russian submarine in Arctic waters.
Tom Cruise, at 62, continues to defy human limits. His performance is not just physically impressive—it’s emotionally layered. Hunt is portrayed as battle-worn, torn between duty and the ghosts of choices past. The stunts are jaw-dropping as expected—particularly a biplane sequence that left audiences gasping and reportedly left Cruise momentarily unconscious in real life.
Supporting performances are solid, with Hayley Atwell returning as Grace, offering both charisma and emotional nuance. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg provide continuity and heart, while new additions like Nick Offerman and Hannah Waddingham add fresh dynamics, though they’re not given enough screen time to fully blossom.
From a technical perspective, the film is a marvel. The cinematography is sleek, the editing tight, and the score pulses with urgency. What lets the film down—slightly—is its pacing and narrative ambition. In attempting to close the loop on years of plot threads, the film occasionally buckles under its own weight. The first act is a bit heavy with exposition, and the finale—while explosive—relies on familiarity rather than surprise.
Still, the emotional beats land. There’s a sense of finality that hits hard, especially for long-time fans. The themes of trust, betrayal, and humanity versus technology resonate well, grounding the film’s outrageous action in something real.
Final Verdict: 4.1/5 stars
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is not just another action film—it’s a well-earned culmination of a 30-year journey. It’s thrilling, emotional, and at times overwhelming, but it’s undoubtedly a cinematic spectacle worth experiencing—especially in IMAX. A near-perfect sendoff, if it truly is the last.
