Introduction
Ethan Hunt’s latest mission is also his most perilous—and possibly his last. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) is the eighth installment in the blockbuster spy franchise, directed by Christopher McQuarrie and co-written with Erik Jendresen.
With a staggering budget of $300–400 million, it’s one of the most expensive films ever made.
The film had its world premiere in Tokyo on May 5, 2025, and was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, ahead of its U.S. theatrical release on May 23.
Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, joined by franchise veterans Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett.
Filming spanned multiple locations, including the UK, Malta, South Africa, and Norway, with production delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Plot
Picking up two months after the events of Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt is on a mission to neutralize the Entity, a rogue AI threatening global annihilation.
The quest leads him to London, where a gala hosted by the White Widow becomes a trap set by his nemesis, Gabriel. A devastating explosion on Westminster Bridge results in the death of Luther (Ving Rhames), plunging Ethan into a web of betrayal and intrigue.
Imprisoned and later freed with the help of allies, including Paris (Pom Klementieff) and Degas, Ethan’s journey takes him to Alaska, where the sunken Russian submarine Sevastopol holds the key to defeating the Entity.
An intense underwater sequence sees Ethan retrieving the key, only to be thwarted by Gabriel and a duplicitous Kitridge.
The climax unfolds in Africa, culminating in a high-altitude dogfight where Ethan, clinging to a biplane, confronts Gabriel in a final showdown. The mission concludes with the destruction of the Entity and Ethan assuming the role of IMF Secretary.
Verdict
The Final Reckoning delivers the franchise’s signature high-octane action, with Tom Cruise performing breathtaking stunts, including a daring biplane sequence and a suspenseful underwater dive.
The film’s visual effects, managed by Industrial Light & Magic, enhance the practical stunts without overshadowing them.
However, the film’s dense exposition and somber tone have divided critics.
Some praise it as a thrilling send-off, while others find it lacking the humor and dynamism of earlier entries.
Despite its flaws, The Final Reckoning stands as a testament to Cruise’s commitment to the franchise and offers a fitting, if imperfect, conclusion to Ethan Hunt’s saga.
