We’ve scaled the Burj Khalifa, hung off airplanes, and raced motorcycles at breakneck speeds with Ethan Hunt, but with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the end has (maybe) come. And it’s nothing short of spectacular.
The reviews are in, and while critics are divided on whether this eighth entry lands the passionate resonance it aims for, one thing is unanimous: this film MUST be experienced on the biggest screen possible!
From jaw-dropping action to callbacks spanning nearly three decades, The Final Reckoning is a celebration and a confrontation of the limits of spectacle.
According to Danielle Solzman (Solzy at the Movies), it’s “another epic achievement in filmmaking,” while Sarah Gorr of The Spool admits, “It’s not an entirely satisfying ending… but the glorious spectacle of it? Well, that’s sure as hell a reason to get your butt in a seat.”
The action goes bigger (and wilder) than ever before in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Director Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise have long redefined action cinema, and here, they go even harder. David Gonzalez (The Cinematic Reel) raves about “two jaw-dropping and exhilarating set pieces,” while Damon Wise (Deadline) declares the film “arguably topping Dead Reckoning’s train scene.”
Whether it’s the aerial or underwater, Cruise’s energy remains unmatched. Even for those skeptical about the film’s pace or plot, the action is undeniable. “They’ve managed to stretch the limits with some of the biggest can-you-believe-it stunts that have ever hit the screen,” writes Solzman.
And Julian Lytle (RIOT US) points out how the choreography gives each character a distinct fighting identity. It’s a rarity in ensemble-driven blockbusters.
Sure, some scenes push suspension of disbelief a little too far (as Owen Gleiberman notes, there was “derisive hipster laughter” at his screening). Still, if you’re in for the ride, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning knows how to deliver pure cinematic adrenaline.
A love letter to Mission: Impossible fans…with flaws
Is this the best Mission: Impossible film? That depends on who you ask.
Variety’s Gleiberman calls it “the most enveloping entry since Ghost Protocol,” but Screen Crush’s Matt Singer finds it “a mess.”
Yet for longtime fans, the callbacks (montages, cameos, and Easter eggs galore) hit with bittersweet power. “It’s a love letter to the franchise,” Solzman writes.
Even casual viewers can follow the story, thanks to cleverly placed flashbacks, as Manohla Dargis (NYT) notes.
The script, however, is another story. Critics agree it’s overstuffed, and McQuarrie’s attempts at emotional closure sometimes buckle under the weight of 30 years’ worth of connective tissue. But as Ian Sandwell (Digital Spy) puts it, “What saves The Final Reckoning… is that it never takes itself too seriously.”
Tramell Tillman (playing Capt. Bledsoe) steals nearly every scene he’s in, to the extent that we NEED a spinoff. Meanwhile, Esai Morales’s Gabriel is a divisive villain. Some loved his Bond-esque energy, others found the rogue AI plotline a drag.
Whether you’ve been on this ride since the ’90s or you’re coming in fresh, The Final Reckoning is a thrilling, flawed, but ultimately unforgettable experience.
This isn’t just a movie. It’s the close of a cinematic era.
RELATED: ‘Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part 1’ Review
