“M:I – The Final Reckoning” Reactions Are In

The first reviews are out for “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” the eighth and likely final film (for now anyway) in the venerable action film franchise that began back in 1996.

In terms of critical acclaim, the series has mostly been quite well regarded. The first film scored softly positive reviews at the time but has mostly gone up in estimation. The second was softly panned with critics and widely panned with audiences. The third is more mixed – it certainly has its supporters, but there’s a lot who don’t like it almost as much the second.

The second ‘trilogy’ of M:I films on the other hand – Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation, Fallout – have all been highly acclaimed and beloved by critics and fans alike. Then came ‘Dead Reckoning’ which went very well with critics initially, but the fans and audience were decidedly more mixed on it.

Can ‘The Final Reckoning’ stick the landing? The first press screening reactions are out ahead of the film’s Cannes premiere and they are incredibly mixed. The film’s major set pieces (the submarine and biplane sequences) are universally praised, it’s the rest of the film around it where there’s a whole lot more division. Some adore it, others call it this franchise’s “Rise of Skywalker”. Here’s a sampling:

“As someone mid on the last #MissionImpossible sticks the landing. Taut, masterfully edited. The ensemble cast works beautifully. Plenty of callbacks to the original series in service of a fitting conclusion. Had a blast.” – Kristen Lopez, Variety

“Absolutely rocks. It cranks the stakes higher than ever before and masterfully fuses white-knuckle espionage with relentless action sequences. All hail Tom Cruise who is once again a force of nature & the final 45 minutes? My GOD” – Nate Adams, Awards Watch

“#MissionImpossible: The Final Reckoning – the first hour gets bogged down in exposition, but once it gets out of its own way it soars. Incredible set pieces – Tom Cruise remains the world’s most entertaining madman – and Tramell Tillman is on scene-stealing form. Liked it!” – Amon Warmann, Fade to Black

“A VAST improvement over Dead Reckoning. Stakes are back, tension is back & a certain fave sequel became a WHOLE lot more important. Despite some glossed over story beats & the biggest loose thread in IMF history, it’s a fitting finale.” – Mike Reyes, CinemaBlend

“Ratchets up the stakes higher than they’ve ever been. A rocky start, but once the main mission kicks in, the tension never lets up. So gripping it’ll have you holding your breath. A thrilling end, should they choose to accept it.” – Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture

“Bigger doesn’t always mean better… the film sometimes buckles under the weight of its ambition, bogged down by excessive callbacks, overstuffed exposition, unnecessary tie-ins, and forced revelations. Despite its flaws, this supposed final mission… serves as a satisfactory conclusion.” – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a lot of movie. Tom Cruise racing the clock to save the world is as intense as ever, though there have been prior installments that are more fun. Overall satisfying, if a middle of the road installment.” – Joey Magidson, Awards Radar

“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, Indiewrire

“Oddly the least action-forward entry in the franchise. It’s long, it’s plotty, it’s repetitive, but when those scenes do hit? Holy s—. They’re incredible. So i’m pretty mixed on it overall. High highs, low lows.” – Germain Lussier, io9

“THE FINAL RECKONING is a mess but it means well. Overloaded with plot, oddly paced, and the score is the weakest in the franchise – but the set pieces hit hard. There’s an underwater scene that rivals THE ABYSS. I didn’t like it, but I really loved parts of it.” – Patrick Tomasso, impatrickt

“Aa maximalist mess; our boys have too many ideas for a movie again, making a somber series tribute with a janky FAIL SAFE-like nuclear arms plot. Oddly light on action. The big set-pieces are extraordinary. I liked it! Hoped to love it” – Brendan Hodges, Metaplex Movies

“While not as bad as Rise of Skywalker, Final Reckoning is undoubtedly cut from the same cloth. Plagued by insecurity, it plays like an egregious franchise greatest hits. Scenes have no beginning or end, it’s scatterbrained nonsense – a constant flow of exposition & flashbacks… can’t believe I now have NEW appreciation for Dead Reckoning.” – Griffin Schiller, The Playlist

“Can sometimes be M:I at its best, massive stunts and dense spycraft included. Sadly, it gets bogged down in so much nostalgia and needless retcons that it reflects the worst of franchise filmmaking. ” – James P. Poole, Discussing Film

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” premieres at Cannes on Wednesday and has its global rollout late next week. Several countries, such as Australia, are getting a bunch of preview screenings this coming weekend.

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