Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning: High-Flying Stunts, Low-Flying Story

Tom Cruise is one crazy man. At this point, it’s almost expected that each new Mission: Impossible movie will feature stunts that somehow outdo the last, and The Final Reckoning is no exception. From breathtaking motorcycle jumps to death-defying train sequences, the action is top-tier. Cruise continues to prove he’s willing to risk it all for the sake of on-screen spectacle, and it pays off in terms of pure visual excitement.

However, once the adrenaline wears off, you’re left with a movie that feels bloated and underwhelming. The biggest issue is the pacing, especially in the first hour, which is bogged down by relentless exposition and an overuse of flashbacks. It tries to explain too much and show too little, making the narrative feel heavy and sluggish. There’s an overwhelming amount of dialogue dedicated to unpacking plot points rather than allowing the story to unfold naturally.

The core concepts introduced in Dead Reckoning—particularly the sinister AI known as “The Entity” and the villain Gabriel—had so much potential. But here, they’re barely developed beyond the surface. What’s introduced as intriguing in the first half is never built upon or meaningfully concluded. It leaves you feeling like important threads were forgotten or left on the cutting room floor.

Another frustrating aspect is the forced connection to past films in the franchise. Instead of feeling nostalgic or rewarding, these callbacks often come across as clunky and unnecessary. And while the ensemble cast gets plenty of screen time, it’s at the expense of Ethan Hunt. This is Cruise’s franchise, and yet he sometimes feels sidelined in favor of less compelling supporting characters.

That said, the final act delivers. The stakes rise significantly, the tension builds, and Angela Bassett as the president brings a gravitas and emotional depth that elevates the climax. It’s moments like these that remind you of the potential this film had.

In the end, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning delivers where it always has—jaw-dropping action and Tom Cruise doing the impossible. But with a tighter script and better narrative focus, it could’ve been so much more.