'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' review: Cruise soars in exhilarating franchise send-off

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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For nearly 40 years, Tom Cruise has risked life and limb to sell a few bucks’ worth of movie tickets. He’s sprinted through city streets, leapt from skyscrapers, HALO-jumped from 25,000 feet, and clung to the side of a plane as it took off, all in the name of pure spectacle. Now, at 63, Cruise gives it everything he’s got one last time in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” a sometimes bloated but undeniably thrilling send-off that may not match the perfection of “Rogue Nation” or “Fallout,” but still delivers a jaw-dropping high-wire act that proves both the durability of the franchise and the unrelenting commitment of its star.

In “The Final Reckoning,” Cruise seems to stare down his own mortality, or at least wink knowingly at it. The world is on the brink of collapse (again), and only Ethan Hunt can stop it. Director Christopher McQuarrie uses this global crisis as both a ticking-clock narrative and a meta-commentary on the state of movies themselves. Artificial intelligence is the villain this time, a digital god playing puppet master, and it’s not hard to read the film as a battle cry against the erosion of human artistry. Cruise, of course, is cinema’s last true daredevil, and McQuarrie gives him a proper stage to remind us why.

Yes, this installment leans heavier on plot than past entries, but that’s not a weakness. In fact, it gives the film a pulse. The espionage is dense, the stakes feel urgent, and the tone leans closer to Brian De Palma’s original “Mission: Impossible” than to the more explosive entries that followed. Beneath the globe-trotting and death-defying stunts, there’s a story about trust, legacy, and a man who keeps trying to outrun the inevitable.

Picking up where “Dead Reckoning” left off, Ethan and his team are still chasing the Entity, a rogue AI determined to control (or destroy) the world. The threat is abstract, but the consequences are very real. To stop it, Ethan assembles his crew: Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg), Grace (Hayley Atwell), and Paris (Pom Klementieff), along with a few fresh faces. The Entity can predict outcomes before they happen, which means Hunt is constantly playing catch-up against a ghost with infinite reach.

The threat is the biggest the IMF has ever faced. Disinformation has fractured the media. Cults have risen. Global chaos looms. In other words, just another day at the office. Along the way, standout supporting turns from Angela Bassett, Tramell Tillman (a standout), Janet McTeer, Holt McCallany, Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, and Shea Whigham help flesh out this worldwide crisis with grounded, human stakes.

This is McQuarrie’s fourth “Mission” film, and he understands exactly why audiences keep showing up. Along with co-writer Erik Jendresen, he keeps the exposition snappy, the momentum rolling, and the absurdity just grounded enough to believe. Sure, the dialogue can be preposterous, but that’s part of the charm. You’re not here for realism. You’re here to see what madness Cruise will pull off next and the film does not disappoint.

Much has already been said about the mid-air biplane sequence involving a yellow Boeing B75N1 and yes, it’s absolutely bonkers. But don’t overlook the Sevastopol submarine set piece, where Cruise is submerged underwater for nearly 25 minutes in one of the tensest sequences the franchise has ever staged. These aren’t just stunts, they’re acts of cinematic defiance.

“The Final Reckoning” also serves as a full-circle reflection of the franchise’s legacy. It’s loaded with callbacks, echoes, and emotional beats that nod to everything Ethan Hunt has endured. At times, it plays like a greatest hits album. But Cruise earns the right to take a bow. He’s sweat, bled, and even broken bones for these movies, and you can feel every second of it on screen.

This isn’t just blockbuster filmmaking, it’s a farewell tour. And while some fans may grumble about the slower pace or increased focus on emotion over adrenaline, I found the quieter moments surprisingly powerful. There’s a gravitas here that adds weight to the chaos, and Cruise, often overlooked as an actor, reminds us that he can do more than just run and jump.

Is this really the end? Probably not. Studios don’t walk away from billion-dollar franchises. They’re likely already eyeing someone younger (Glen Powell, your cue is coming) to lead this for the next generation. But no one will ever match what Cruise has done here, not just for this series, but for movies in general. If this truly is the last mission, he’s going out with a bang.

Grade: A- 

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING opens in theaters Friday, May 23rd.