Whether or not this is truly the final Mission: Impossible, Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise have made a film that operates as a genuine cinematic event. At 169 minutes, it earns every frame through sheer commitment to practical filmmaking that has become vanishingly rare in the blockbuster era.
The Ethan Hunt We Deserve
Cruise, 63 at time of filming, has never been more present in his performance. There’s a weariness that makes every near-death feel genuinely risky. The dual task of concluding the Entity arc while giving Ethan an emotional reckoning with his own mortality is handled with rare skill.
Set Pieces for the Record Books
The submarine sequence. The WWII biplane chase. The zero-gravity spacecraft sequence. McQuarrie keeps finding new ways to challenge his star, and each stunt feels earned rather than gratuitous. No amount of digital production could replicate what’s on screen here.
The TDW Verdict
An action masterwork that rewards those who’ve been on the journey from the beginning. Pure cinema.