Tom Cruise is back—this time in a more daring and sombre chapter of the iconic Mission: Impossible franchise with The Final Reckoning.
Picking up immediately after the events of Dead Reckoning, Cruise’s IMF agent Ethan Hunt is in pursuit of Gabriel, who possesses a ‘poison pill’—a crucial device capable of shutting down the Entity, a malevolent artificial intelligence on the brink of initiating global nuclear war.
Hunt has 72 hours to capture Gabriel and secure the device—or risk both the end of the world and the franchise. Well, it wouldn’t be Mission: Impossible if the fate of humanity weren’t hanging in the balance.
So, is this epic finale a soaring success or a catastrophic crash landing? Here’s what we thought:
Caution: Slight spoilers ahead!
Building the crew
Director Christopher McQuarrie helms his fourth film in the franchise, with Tom Cruise once again producing. Cruise might as well have a directing credit, as the film feels like a true collaboration between the star and director. McQuarrie’s style arguably peaked with Fallout, and his contributions to the direction of the last four MI films cannot be understated.
Surrounding Cruise are returning IMF agents Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames), along with some surprise cameos from earlier instalments. Grace (Hayley Atwell) and Paris (Pom Klementieff) also return from Dead Reckoning and become integral to Ethan’s mission. Watching Cruise interact with both familiar faces and new allies is a highlight, as the team is gradually assembled throughout the film. There’s also a sense of gravitas with Angela Bassett portraying the U.S. President, and Nick Offerman appearing as General Sidney.
While there are flashes of light-hearted banter, most characters remain in a solemn or emotionally intense state. At times, the grim tone feels slightly overbearing, but there are genuinely touching emotional moments (which we won’t spoil here) that lend the film a sense of closure befitting a final hurrah.
Action and high stakes
Undoubtedly, high-octane action is the franchise’s hallmark—and this final entry brings some of its biggest and boldest stunts yet, particularly in the second half.
A standout aerial chase between Hunt and Gabriel involves two vintage propeller bi-planes, purely because, in Mission: Impossible, they can. It’s an astonishing achievement that Cruise, now a spirited 62 years old, continues to risk life and limb just to make audiences gasp and wonder: “Why the hell would he do that!?”
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His madness pays off. That sequence had me ducking and weaving in my seat, completely immersed thanks to the sheer scale and dynamism—further heightened by an IMAX screening that brought the danger vividly to life.
In another thrilling set piece, Cruise strips down to his swimming trunks (showing his summer body) and plunges deep underwater for an intense action sequence. If soaring through the skies wasn’t enough, Cruise also dares to plunge depths of the sea for the movies.
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A race against slow pacing
What I didn’t anticipate was the sheer amount of exposition and slow pacing in the film’s first half. Be prepared for lengthy scenes featuring CIA agents Sidney (Nick Offerman) and Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), along with Bassett, as they discuss nuclear scenarios, artificial intelligence, and Ethan Hunt’s legacy.
While exposition is part and parcel of spy thrillers, it feels somewhat mismatched here, especially when the premise demands urgency. There are stretches of dense nuclear jargon and mission briefings—but also what feels like a TikTok-style highlight reel of Hunt’s past adventures, with clips from earlier entries. These scenes do slow the momentum, leaving me to wonder: Is this Mission: Impossible or Tom Cruise’s greatest hits montage?
Mission debrief
For long-time fans of the Mission: Impossible saga, The Final Reckoning offers a satisfying payoff, full of fan service and callbacks to previous films. Is it the most perfect conclusion possible? Perhaps not. But it’s still a mission accomplished.
However, if this is your first entry into the franchise you may find yourself disappointed and a bit confused. Its references to previous entries may leave you wishing to watch those films instead. If you’re expecting a globe-trotting spy flick with fun quips and exciting action sequences, you’re better off with the previous seven films or perhaps another spy-franchise.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is out in cinemas across Malaysia now.
