“Satisfying conclusion in the franchise but not the best one and having an identity crisis”

Dir: Christopher Mcquarrie
Prod: Tom Cruise, Christopher Mcquarrie, Don Granger, Dana Ellison
Writ: Erik Jendresen, Christopher Mcquarrie, Bruce Geller
Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Janet McTeer, Henry Czerny

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (or “Wickening” because this movie wants so hard to be like John Wick) is the eighth and supposedly final installment in the franchise. The events take place directly after the last one and are still about Ethan Hunt trying to destroy a sentient AI called “The Entity” to prevent judgment day.

This is actually one of my most anticipated movies of 2025. I am so pumped when the Paramount logo appeared in the movie and I was ready what the movie brings me.

I gotta be honest I love Mission Impossible, but from the first until the fourth one, Ghost Protocol, it still feels like an action film that focuses on being a “spy” movie. While Rogue Nation, with Christopher McQuarrie directing, shifts the approach into this kind of “neo-noir action thriller” John Wick-esque vibe, the espionage thingy is kinda missing. While it still involves political and military stuff, the movie itself has an identity crisis like, is it supposed to be a stunt show full of gun-fu like John Wick, or commit to being a spy movie? Which is weird. I do love those two franchises it’s just that Mission Impossible, especially Dead Reckoning and this one, feels like, “Okay, let’s go we can be like John Wick.” So ugh yeah, we’re talking about the negatives first.

And the first act? It’s like… yeah, there’s action, but it feels exhausted. The runtime is a juggernaut 3 and a half hour long, and it’s bloated with unnecessary exposition and weird editing. Feels like a YouTube video, which is insane considering the movie has a $400 million budget.

Now into the positive aspects. Once the action hits, it’s insane. The submarine scene is epic! That sequence is the best thing since John Wick: Chapter 4’s Osaka fight scene, which also lasted about 25 minutes. And the plane scene, which goes on for like an hour in the third act, is spectacular. It’s not just an action sequence it’s an action opera. Every time the action scenes show up, they’re choreographed beautifully, intense, and fun to watch.

All the acting is good. Even Esai Morales even though his character is weak, but his acting is great. Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Greg Tarzan Davis, Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett (who steals the show) and there’s a lot of people in here. It’s one of the most ensemble casts in the entire Mission Impossible franchise like you can recognize the actors face.

Finally, we get into the mixed aspects: Tom Cruise’s acting. I don’t know who’s to blame the writer or Tom Cruise himself because from the first one up to Fallout, Ethan’s character was “aggressive, insane, emotional, mysterious.” While in Dead Reckoning and this one, Ethan feels like Star-Lord crossed with John Wick. It’s insane how the filmmakers and Tom Cruise himself forgot what made Ethan… Ethan. I just don’t like this version of him.

So, is this a bad and not fun movie? No, it isn’t. This is still a good, fun, and action-packed film. But because the Mission Impossible franchise has been so consistent with every movie after the fourth being a masterpiece it’s disappointing that the final movie has this kind of weird vibe. It feels like the opposite of what the franchise built up to, and the last one (Dead Reckoning Part One) was honestly a way better movie than this one.

I still loved watching it though. If you have friends especially ones who love John Wick so much like I did you’ll get the references in this movie. And yeah, I’m planning to watch it again like, three times because I already seeing it twice and please go go see it especially in IMAX or Dolby Cinema. It is worth it I strongly recommend watching it and thank you Mr. Cruise for your dedication in movies. just like Tom says “We’ll see you at the movies.”

My Rating: B+