Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning hitting cinemas on 23 May 2025 and the buzz is electric. The eighth and supposedly final chapter of this iconic action franchise has dropped its Rotten Tomatoes score and it’s got everyone talking. With jaw-dropping stunts and a bittersweet farewell vibe let’s dive into how this blockbuster stacks up and why it’s got fans and critics on the edge of their seats.
A Solid 87% on Rotten Tomatoes
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning has scored an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 97 critic reviews with an average rating of 7.0/10. The site’s consensus calls it “Gargantuan in action runtime and scope The Final Reckoning is a sentimental sendoff for Ethan Hunt that accomplishes its mission with a characteristic flair for the impossible.” That’s a Certified Fresh badge making it five in a row for the franchise since 2011’s Ghost Protocol. But where does it sit among its siblings? It’s not quite at the dizzying heights of Fallout (97%) or Dead Reckoning Part One (96%) but it’s holding its own above Mission Impossible III (71%) and the franchise’s low point Mission Impossible II (56%).
Critics are raving about the action calling it some of the most bonkers spectacle you’ll ever see. Picture Tom Cruise dangling from a biplane or tearing through the Arctic Circle—these set pieces are pure cinema magic. Danielle Solzman from Solzy at the Movies dubbed it “a globe-trotting and pulse-pounding triumph” while Variety’s Owen Gleiberman said it’s “the most enveloping entry since Ghost Protocol.” But not everyone’s sold. Some like Matt Singer from Screen Crush reckon it’s a bit of a mess ranking near the bottom of the series thanks to a bloated 170-minute runtime and a story that’s more nostalgic than neat.
Why the Mixed Vibes?
So what’s the deal with the love-hate? The film’s a direct sequel to Dead Reckoning Part One picking up two months later as Ethan Hunt battles the rogue AI “The Entity” and its henchman Gabriel. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie who’s been steering the franchise since Rogue Nation it’s packed with callbacks to the 1996 original and emotional nods to Hunt’s journey. For fans who’ve been with Ethan since day one it’s a love letter to the series. Newcomers? You might not need the full backstory but the in-jokes and flashbacks work best if you’ve got some franchise know-how.
The action’s the real star though. Critics can’t stop gushing about a biplane chase that “erases all memory of the nonsense” and a tense sequence on a sinking submarine. But the plot’s taken some heat for being convoluted and the long runtime doesn’t help. IndieWire noted it “struggles to balance context and conflict” while others say the second half’s high-octane chaos makes up for any early slog. Tom Cruise’s relentless stunt work—yep he’s still doing the crazy stuff at 62—keeps the film’s heart pumping even if the story wobbles.
How It Fits in the Franchise
The Mission Impossible series is a rare beast—most franchises fizzle out but this one’s been getting better since Ghost Protocol kicked things into high gear. Here’s how the films rank by Rotten Tomatoes scores:
- Fallout (2018): 97%
- Dead Reckoning Part One (2023): 96%
- Rogue Nation (2015): 94%
- Ghost Protocol (2011): 94%
- The Final Reckoning (2025): 87%
- Mission Impossible III (2006): 71%
- Mission Impossible (1996): 65%
- Mission Impossible II (2000): 56%
The Final Reckoning lands in the middle which isn’t bad for a series that’s been running nearly 30 years. It’s got the franchise’s signature mix of practical stunts and Cruise’s do-or-die energy but some feel it leans too hard on nostalgia over a tight plot. Still it’s a crowd-pleaser with Hayley Atwell Simon Pegg Ving Rhames and new faces like Angela Bassett adding spark.
Is This Really the End?
Billed as Ethan Hunt’s swan song The Final Reckoning had its world premiere in Tokyo on 5 May and a glitzy Cannes screening on 14 May. But here’s the twist: director McQuarrie and Cruise have hinted the series might not be done. In 2023 McQuarrie said future installments are in the works and Cruise has said he wants to keep playing Ethan into his 80s. So is this the end or just a pit stop? Fans are split but the film’s emotional weight makes it feel like a proper goodbye—for now.
With a reported $300-400 million budget it’s one of the priciest films ever and box office trackers are eyeing $80-110 million for its Memorial Day weekend opening in the US and Canada. That’s solid but it’ll need to hit close to $1 billion globally to break even. After Dead Reckoning underperformed in 2023 the stakes are high but Cruise’s track record suggests he’s not going down without a fight.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
If you’re a Mission Impossible fan or just love action that makes your jaw hit the floor The Final Reckoning is a must-see. It’s not perfect—some say it’s overstuffed and a tad messy—but when it hits it hits. Cruise’s death-defying stunts the emotional nods to Ethan’s legacy and those insane set pieces make it a blockbuster worth every penny. Whether it’s the end or not this is one mission you’ll want to accept.