‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ first reactions criticise “dysfunctional” plot but praise action

The first reactions to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning have landed online, with some finding the plot overstuffed but almost all praising the elaborate set-pieces.

• READ MORE: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ review

The eighth film in the spy franchise sees Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt racing against time to stop the Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence that can destroy mankind. It concludes a story that began with 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, and is the longest mission yet clocking in at just under three hours.

Following the initial screenings, many critics took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their enthusiasm.

Erik Davis of Fandango wrote: “Absolutely astonishing action moments meet a sprawling story w/ many nods to past MI films. It’s the biggest, wildest and most consequential Mission movie yet.

“Two of my favorite all-time Mission action scenes are in this film – one plays like a horror movie and one took my breath away. Lots of classic spy movie bits in here, too. Also maybe the most Cruise running in an M:I movie to date? It really does go all in and it’s a good time, for sure”.

Director Chris McQuarrie and star Tom Cruise truly take #MissionImpossible to the next level with #TheFinalReckoning. Absolutely astonishing action moments meet a sprawling story w/ many nods to past MI films. It's the biggest, wildest and most consequential Mission movie yet.… pic.twitter.com/ocHkxwcv7P

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) May 13, 2025

Entertainment journalist Jake Hamilton called it: “a love letter to fans who just rewatched the entire series. It ties the entire series together as one story rather than eight entries. First time I’ve cried in the series. Plane sequence is one of cinema’s greatest stunts. I loved it”.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING is a love letter to fans who just rewatched the entire series.

It ties the entire series together as one story rather than 8 entries.

First time I’ve cried in the series.

Plane sequence is one of cinema’s greatest stunts.

I loved it. pic.twitter.com/3HxWtsY3HY

— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) May 13, 2025

Writer Jillian Chilingerian posted: “Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning is peak Tom Cruise chaos with every flawed fumble of Ethan Hunt saving the fate of humanity with his inner circle in an emotional conclusion that had me shrieking and shutting my eyes for his most daring stunts in the air and under the sea”.

Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning is peak Tom Cruise chaos with every flawed fumble of Ethan Hunt saving the fate of humanity with his inner circle in an emotional conclusion that had me shrieking and shutting my eyes for his most daring stunts in the air and under the sea pic.twitter.com/iDPYStDQ7A

— Jillian (@JillianChili) May 13, 2025

Not everyone was convinced though, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich calling it “dull and dysfunctional in a way I didn’t think this franchise was capable of. Setpieces are obviously incredible, but as someone so supportive of Cruise’s crusade to save the movies and whatnot this was a massive heartbreaker”.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is dull and dysfunctional in a way i didn't think this franchise was capable of. setpieces are obviously incredible, but as someone so supportive of Cruise's crusade to save the movies and whatnot this was a massive heartbreaker.

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) May 13, 2025

Coming somewhere in the middle, The Piecing It Together Podcast said: “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning takes forever to start & every scene goes on for too long & there’s too many characters & ideas & flashbacks… But when it’s good, it’s great”.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning takes forever to start & every scene goes on for too long & there's too many characters & ideas & flashbacks… But when it's good, it's great. Wish I could say the series goes out with a bang but it did that already with Fallout. pic.twitter.com/Zwr4pypfXj

— Piecing It Together Podcast (@PiecingPod) May 13, 2025

Recently, Tom Cruise took to Instagram to praise Michael B Jordan and the makers of Sinners after seeing the horror at the cinema.

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