Mission: Impossible Approaches Its Epic Conclusion

Mitchell Booth, 26 May 2025

Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in the eighth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. The new film is titled Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which first premiered in worldwide theaters on May 23, 2025. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film follows Hunt's mission to prevent antagonist Gabriel (Esai Morales) from acquiring an AI program known as “the Entity”.

Few franchises have consistently matched the high-stakes action and box office success of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Spanning nearly three decades, the saga of Ethan Hunt in the franchise marks the end of an era in The Final Reckoning. Tom Cruise was quoted saying “It’s not called 'final' for nothing” indicating that it will be the last film of the franchise’s rich history. Origins and Early Triumphs (1996-2006)

The Mission: Impossible franchise was first launched in 1996 as a reimagination of the 1960s TV series. Tom Cruise transformed his career by taking on the role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt in the first film. He is well known for performing his own death defying stunts, which has become a trademark of his legacy that has redefined action cinema.

Subsequent films showcased a distinct direction of the franchise with action packed films becoming a success at every release. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) and Mission: Impossible III (2006) included an abundance of action sequences and made the franchise even more successful internationally.

Revitalization and Peak Popularity (2011-2018)

The franchise hit its stride with the critically acclaimed Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). Brad Bird, renowned for animated hits like The Incredibles, brought his flair to the film to include the most notable sequence of the franchise. Tom Cruise’s iconic climb up Dubai’s Burj Khalifa cemented Ethan Hunt’s status as a true action movie legend.

From 2015 onwards, Christopher McQuarrie took over the director duties with Rogue Nation (2015) and Fallout (2018). Both films were critically admired for their authenticity and escalating stakes. These films featured recurring cast members like Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Sean Harris, ensuring Hunt’s world felt ever-expanding yet familiar.

The Franchise’s Influence and Tom Cruise’s Career

The Mission: Impossible series elevated Tom Cruise’s stardom into becoming a legend of Hollywood. Refusing body doubles for dizzying stunts, from somersaulting off motorcycles to clinging onto airborne cargo planes, Cruise became synonymous with performing his own death-defying stunts.

Moreover, by producing the films through his own company, Cruise/Wagner Productions, Cruise exercised creative control, influencing franchise direction and innovation. The series also launched and resurrected the careers of involved actors and introduced marquee directors to blockbuster filmmaking, cementing its role as a genre-defining institution.

The Final Chapter: Dead Reckoning Part Two and Farewell

With Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One releasing in 2023 and Part Two releasing in May 2025, the series heads toward a definitive climax. The “Final Reckoning” is no mere marketing phrase and has been confirmed as Hunt’s last mission. Mounting physical demands, evolving storytelling interests, and the challenge of outdoing previous installments have prompted this conclusion.

Lasting Impact

The Mission: Impossible franchise’s fusion of real-world stunt work, espionage intrigue, and audacious filmmaking will continue to influence action cinema long after Hunt’s final mission. From its visionary directors to Tom Cruise’s career-defining dedication, its legacy remains, quite simply, impossible to replicate.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning promises to deliver the long-awaited conclusion fans have been hoping for. With its release, audiences are eager to witness the final chapter in Ethan Hunt’s story.