Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has debuted to a lackluster Rotten Tomatoes score, prompting reflection on the remarkable journey of Tom Cruise’s iconic action franchise over the past 14 years. Recognized as one of the premier action film series in cinematic history, the Mission: Impossible franchise has consistently delivered high-quality entertainment since its inception in 1996. The underwhelming performance of The Final Reckoning thus stands out sharply against this legacy, particularly when compared to its highly-regarded predecessors.
The film continues the story from 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, and is anticipated to mark Tom Cruise’s final portrayal of the legendary character, Ethan Hunt. Following the resounding successes of earlier installments—especially those crafted by director Christopher McQuarrie—audiences had high expectations for a fitting conclusion to this beloved series. Initial reactions to The Final Reckoning have surfaced, and while they don’t measure up to the acclaim received by previous films, they do shine a light on one of the franchise’s core attributes.
Examining the Low Rotten Tomatoes Score of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Current Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80%
The peculiar trend in the Mission: Impossible series is the perception that later entries often surpass the originals in quality. The first four films were helmed by acclaimed directors such as Brian De Palma, John Woo, J.J. Abrams, and Brad Bird, effectively transforming the series into a platform for directorial talent. After collaborating with Cruise on Jack Reacher, Christopher McQuarrie stepped into the director’s chair with Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. His work garnered such positive feedback that he continued to direct the subsequent films.
Unfortunately, after the four films directed by McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning holds the disappointing title of the lowest-rated film among his contributions on Rotten Tomatoes. With an 80% rating, this eighth installment falls behind Rogue Nation (94%), Dead Reckoning Part One (96%), and Fallout (98%). Notably, it also trails behind Ghost Protocol, directed by Brad Bird, which maintains a 94% rating.
Analyzing Critical Reception of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Critics’ Initial Reactions and Feedback
Despite its 80% rating, The Final Reckoning has attracted a notable number of negative reviews. Several critics describe the film as feeling “clunky,”with NYC Movie Guru’s Avi Offer remarking that it appears “bloated and meandering,”laden with excessive exposition. Critics from various outlets have echoed similar sentiments, noting the film’s nearly three-hour runtime as a detractor.
TIME Magazine‘s Stephanie Zacharek indicates that the narrative lacks coherence, filled with expository dialogue that feels fragmented. While the action sequences have received praise, many reviewers suggest that the overall film’s pacing might be too unwieldy for general audiences.
The Final Reckoning’s Score and Franchise Standing
A Snapshot of Franchise Ratings
While The Final Reckoning may have fallen short of expectations in some aspects, it still signifies an ongoing success for Cruise and McQuarrie, achieving a Certified Fresh rating of 80%. This accomplishment secures its place among the ranks of McQuarrie’s previous films, which have all boasted similarly positive scores.
Significantly, The Final Reckoning surpasses the original trilogy films, which garnered ratings of 65%, 57%, and 71%, respectively. This statistic implies that Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning successfully outperforms many earlier entries, taking a step towards a satisfying conclusion for Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Ethan Hunt.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes