If you thought Ethan Hunt was finally going to retire and take up gardening, think again. Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning is here, and Tom Cruise, at an age when most of us are considering orthopedic shoes, is still sprinting across rooftops, clinging to airplanes, and giving gravity the finger. As a blogger and critic at Drunken Tailor, I strapped myself in for Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning Review and the last chapter of this legendary action saga. Let’s break down the carnage, the cast, and whether this final mission is truly impossible to forget.
Cast: Old Friends, New Foes, and Tom Cruise Defying Mortality
The heart of every Mission Impossible movie is, of course, Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. Cruise delivers his signature cocktail of intensity, charisma, and I do my own stunts, bravado one last time. He’s joined by the franchise’s familiar faces:
- Ving Rhames as the ever-loyal Luther Stickell
- Simon Pegg as the quippy Benji Dunn
- Hayley Atwell returns as Grace, now fully integrated into the IMF team
- Esai Morales as Gabriel, a villain with more layers than a Russian nesting doll
- Pom Klementieff as Paris, now an ally after her turn in “Dead Reckoning”
- Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge, back to his bureaucratic best
- Angela Bassett as Erika Sloane, now President of the United States (because why not?)
- Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Shea Whigham, Janet McTeer, Holt McCallany, and more round out a cast that reads like a who’s who of action cinema
This ensemble brings both nostalgia and fresh energy, with Cruise’s Ethan Hunt anchoring the chaos with his trademark intensity.
Plot: AI Apocalypse, Global Stakes, and the Usual IMF Shenanigans
Picking up after the cliffhanger of Dead Reckoning, The Final Reckoning finds Ethan Hunt and his IMF team racing to neutralize the Entity, a rogue AI threatening to turn humanity into its personal chessboard. The stakes? Only the fate of the world. The plot is a heady mix of globe-trotting set pieces, double-crosses, and enough tech jargon to make your Alexa sweat.
Director Christopher McQuarrie, who’s helmed the last few entries, keeps the action relentless and the pacing brisk. There’s a submarine sequence that’ll make you forget to breathe, a motorcycle chase that redefines the word bonkers, and, yes, Tom Cruise running like he’s being chased by the ghost of his own stunts.
Budget and Release: When Money Meets Mayhem
If you thought the stunts looked expensive, you’re right. Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning comes with a jaw-dropping budget of at least $400 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made.
Throw in another $150 million for marketing, and Paramount is betting big that audiences will show up in droves.
The film premiered in Tokyo on May 5, 2025, dazzled at Cannes on May 14, and hit Indian theaters early on May 17, 2025—six days before its global release on May 23. Box office projections are bullish, with an $80 million opening weekend expected in the US alone.
In short, Ethan Hunt’s final mission is as much about breaking records as it is about saving the world.
Ratings: The Critics’ Verdict
Now, let’s talk numbers. For the first time since 2001, a Mission Impossible film has dipped below the coveted 90% mark on Rotten Tomatoes, currently sitting at 79%. That makes it the lowest-rated entry since “MI:3,” though let’s be honest—79% is still a passing grade in the school of action cinema. Critics are split: some lament a sense of déjà vu and franchise fatigue, while others praise the film’s adrenaline-fueled set pieces and Cruise’s undiminished star power.
On IMDb and Metacritic, early ratings hover in the 7.5–8.0 range, with fans lauding the action but noting a few narrative stumbles. It’s not the franchise’s high-water mark, but it’s far from a flop.
What Works: Thrills, Nostalgia, and Tom Cruise’s Relentless Energy
- Action Sequences: The set pieces are as jaw-dropping as ever. If you’re here for spectacle, you won’t leave disappointed.
- Cast Chemistry: The banter between Cruise, Pegg, and Rhames is as sharp as ever, and Hayley Atwell shines as the new recruit.
- Global Locations: From Norway’s icy fjords to Malta’s sun-drenched streets, the film is a travelogue for adrenaline junkies.
- Tom Cruise: The man is a force of nature. His commitment to practical stunts and physicality remains unmatched.
What Doesn’t: Franchise Fatigue and AI Overload
- Familiar Formula: By the eighth film, even the most inventive set pieces can feel like déjà vu. The plot, while timely with its AI angle, sometimes gets lost in its own convolutions.
- Bloated Runtime: At nearly three hours, the film could have benefited from a tighter edit. Not every subplot needs a parachute.
- Villain Depth: Esai Morales is menacing, but the script doesn’t give him quite enough to chew on.
The Drunken Tailor Verdict: Should You Accept This Mission?
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a fitting, if imperfect, send-off for Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is: a globe-trotting, pulse-pounding, logic-defying spectacle. If you want nuance and subtlety, you’re in the wrong theater. But if you want to see Tom Cruise risk life and limb for your entertainment one last time, this is your ticket.
Final Score: 4 out of 5 martinis. Shaken, not stirred—because that’s a different franchise, and Ethan Hunt would never let James Bond have the last word.
Final Thoughts
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning may not reinvent the wheel, but it spins it faster and harder than almost anyone else. Tom Cruise proves, once again, that age is just a number—especially when you’re running from explosions. For fans of the franchise, it’s a must-see. For everyone else, it’s a reminder that sometimes, impossible missions are the most fun to watch.
This is Drunken Tailor, signing off and already missing the sound of Tom Cruise sprinting into the sunset.
