Chronicles in film

Can we trust him one last time?

Tom Cruise wants you to trust Ethan Hunt in the 8th Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Thirty years ago, Ethan Hunt embarked on his first mission in Brian De Palma’s 1996 Mission: Impossible. Now, the final mission is upon him.

Two years after Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, The Final Reckoning continues the story of the hunt for the Entity. But what is the Entity? In the previous part, Ethan and the team constantly speculated about who—or what—it was.

Ethan’s self-destructing message now comes from Angela Bassett’s Erika Sloane, a one-time CIA boss turned President. She sends a personal plea for Hunt to once again become the saviour of humanity.

The Entity is now unleashing chaos on the world. Truth is vanishing, war is approaching, and the Entity is taking control, threatening to destroy humanity. Can Ethan find it—and stop it? His first task: track down Esai Morales’ Gabriel.

The Mission: Impossible franchise is one of those rare series. It has grown not just in popularity but also in critical acclaim. The stunts have only gotten bigger and crazier—at times competing directly with the Fast & Furious films.

Tom Cruise is the last of the original Hollywood megastars. His name alone has pulling power and gets bums on seats, no matter the genre.

But Cruise isn’t just showing up on screen—he’s involved in every part of the process. Acting, producing, even directing at times. And then there are the stunts—death-defying feats that he performs himself, even now at the age of 62.

He’s a student of cinema, having been in the industry since he was 18. He’s always wanted to learn, always embraced new technology—he’s the total package.

I’m not saying every film he’s starred in is perfect. We live in an era where many younger actors seem more concerned with their social media status than establishing themselves as true movie stars. And regardless of whether you agree with some of the things Cruise has said or done, it’s clear that past missteps can resurface and destroy a career overnight.

Honestly, I can’t think of any younger actor who even comes close. I can name many who have already destroyed their careers. The few who rival Cruise in stature are now middle-aged or older.

Post-COVID, cinemas around the world have struggled—many have closed. The pandemic delayed both Dead Reckoning and Final Reckoning.

Cruise was dubbed the “saviour of cinema” with Top Gun: Maverick. Now, we live in a time when the gap between theatrical and digital releases is incredibly short. In some cases, films skip theatres entirely. So getting people back into packed cinemas is no small feat.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a flawed film. It should never have been split into two. Dead Reckoning and Final Reckoning should have been one whole movie.

The dialogue—especially early on—is mediocre. The exposition drags on too long.

Yet, despite sniffy reviews, this is a fun film. A popcorn movie. Pure escapism from the chaos of the real world.

I didn’t see this on the biggest screen, but I watched it on release day. The smaller screen didn’t affect my enjoyment one bit.

The first part played almost like a highlight reel—from Ethan’s iconic ceiling-drop scene in the first film, to the Evel Knievel-style bike stunt from the previous entry.

Then comes the magic: the next two hours deliver two breathtaking set pieces—an underwater scene and an aerial one.

The underwater sequence is my personal favourite. Without giving too much away, it’s nearly silent. The mood, the visual effects—it’s like a scene from a Lovecraftian horror film. Vast, claustrophobic, full of dread and the unknown. Ethan is in a forbidden place—but it’s one he must enter.

The second major scene—the airplane sequence—was featured in the marketing. These aren’t cutting-edge jets; they’re older planes. But the point is: these are practical stunts, not just CGI trickery.

The tone also harks back to De Palma’s original. That sense of paranoia—where even allies are enemies, or hold grudges—permeates the film.

It echoes today’s political climate—fragile, teetering on a knife’s edge. One wrong move and it’s curtains. An unseen force fuels hatred and fear across the globe. Is it the deep state? Is it AI?

From every corner of the world and every walk of life, Ethan’s resolve is tested—especially emotionally. Like every M:I film, people close to him get hurt. Final Reckoning is no different.

The cast doesn’t disappoint. Some may feel underused, but everyone plays their part: Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, Ving Rhames, Gregg Davis, Hayley Atwell—these are the cogs that keep Cruise running. Supporting turns from Angela Bassett, Holt McCallany, Nick Offerman, Janet McTeer, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, Hannah Waddingham, and Katy O’Brien all add weight. But it may be Trammell Tillman who quietly steals the show.

Will this be the IMF’s swan song? Or will they choose to accept another mission?

Despite its flaws, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a prime popcorn blockbuster. An exhilarating second half saves it from drowning in exposition and middling dialogue. It delivers what fans want: jaw-dropping action, political intrigue, and Ethan Hunt saving the world once more.

★★★★

Action, Thriller | USA, 2025 | 12A | 21st May 2025 (UK) | Paramount Pictures | Dir. Christopher McQuarrie | Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Vang Rhames, Pom Klementieff , Greg Davis, Esai Morales, Nick Offerman