‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ First Reactions Praise Film as an ‘Exhilarating Adrenaline Rush’ With ‘Gold Standard’ Action ‘For the Ages’

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” has been revealed to members of the press, and first reactions are praising the film as an exhilarating end to the historic action franchise.

Film critic Courtney Howard wrote of the film on X, “[‘Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning’] rips! Loved it. An exhilarating adrenaline rush for the head & heart & immersive, awe-inducing stuntacular of the highest order. McQ, [Tom Cruise] & CO have crafted the gold standard – a brilliant, bold actioner for the ages. See it BIG & LOUD.”

Related Stories

VIP+

Soundstage Expansion Now Feeling Crunch of Production Contraction

'Love on the Spectrum' Song 'Boyfriend Forever' by Abbey Romeo Submitted by Netflix for Emmys (EXCLUSIVE)

Journalist and BAFTA member Simon Thompson echoed Howard’s glowing review, writing on social media, “[‘Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning’] is whip-smart and razor-sharp, this tense eighth entry in one of the most exhilarating franchises of all time is another winner. With sphincter-tightening set pieces, blockbusters do not get much better than this. Cruise & McQuarrie nail it!”

Offscreen Central’s founder and editor-in-chief, Kenzie Vanunu, praised the film with a small caveat. She wrote, “[‘Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning’] is a summer spectacle with nonstop adrenaline and me asking if Tom Cruise is OK the entire movie. There’s a bit too much going on (at all times), but still a good time at the movies!!”

After seven installments across 28 years, “Mission: Impossible 8” brings Cruise’s iconic espionage franchise to a close (at least for the time being). Picking up two months after the events of 2023’s “Dead Reckoning,” the film follows super spy Ethan Hunt as he continues his mission to destroy an all-powerful AI known as “the Entity” before it falls into the wrong hands.

Other cast members include Hayley Atwell, Hannah Waddingham, Pom Klementieff, Nick Offerman, Shea Whigham, Simon Pegg, Katy O’Brian, Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames and Esai Morales.

After tonight’s press premiere, “MI8” heads to the Cannes Film Festival to screen out of competition on May 14. Cruise and writer-director Christopher McQuarrie will both be in attendance. The splashy world debut will mark Cruise’s third time at the festival, with his first as part of Ron Howard’s 1992 romance “Far and Away” and his second being for “Top Gun: Maverick” in 2022.

In total, the “Mission: Impossible” franchise has a lifetime gross of well over $1 billion. The highest earner of the bunch is 2018’s “Fallout,” which is widely considered to be the strongest entry in the franchise.

Check out more first reactions below.

“#MissionImpossible Tom Cruise is truly one of a kind. Loved Final Reckoning.” – Jazz Tangcay @jazzt

“MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THE FINAL RECKONING is an absolutely captivating send-off to the franchise’s legacy and what Tom Cruise has given to Ethan Hunt. While the first 30-40 minutes is a bit too much of an exposition dump, all the set-pieces that follow are unbeatable.” – Matt Minton @6MattMinton14

“#MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning is an emotional, riveting, & perfect Mission Impossible finale. That feels the most visceral of them all. With pound for pound punches, exhilarating stunts (that might be the best of the franchise), & incredible performances throughout.” – Zach Pope @popetheking

“#MissionImpossible/#MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning is action spectacle brimming with jaw-clenching suspense. That is, when it isn’t drowning in a tsunami of exposition & flashbacks. Really good when it’s firing on all cylinders, but overall, mixed.” – Jeff Nelson @SirJeffNelson

“WHOA! After a poorly paced first act, #MissionImpossible Final Reckoning revs up the engines for a full speed adrenaline rush to the finale! Incredible stunts, great visuals, and a crazy edge-of-your-seat final sequence! Had a BLAST! THIS IS WHAT ACTION MOVIES ARE ABOUT!” – Leo Rydel @GeeklyGoods

“MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning is the grand crescendo of a franchise built on speed, suspense, and spectacle. Cruise pushes every limit—soaring higher, diving deeper, and racing toward the edge, risking life, limb, and logic in a three-hour blitz of chaos, precision, and pure adrenaline. It’s not just a finale—it’s a full-body experience. Buckle up.” – Landon Johnson @LandonHJohnson