Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 8 scores lowest on Rotten Tomatoes Since 2006

Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 8 scores lowest on Rotten Tomatoes Since 2006

Tom Cruise’s latest action-packed adventure, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, may have thrilled audiences at the Cannes Film Festival with a standing ovation, but the critical reception tells a more mixed story. Despite being one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2025, the film has debuted with an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest in the franchise since Mission: Impossible III in 2006.

The 81% Tomatometer rating, based on 136 reviews, places The Final Reckoning in fifth place among the franchise's eight installments. It trails behind the likes of Mission: Impossible – Fallout (98%), Dead Reckoning (96%), Rogue Nation (94%), and Ghost Protocol (94%). Only Mission: Impossible III (71%), the original Mission: Impossible (65%), and Mission: Impossible II (57%) have scored lower over the years.

While the film is receiving largely positive reviews for its high-octane action sequences and Tom Cruise’s continued commitment to jaw-dropping stunts, some critics and fans feel it falls short in delivering a satisfying conclusion to the long-running series. Many pointed out a reliance on nostalgia and an underwhelming emotional payoff as areas of concern.

Christopher McQuarrie returns to direct The Final Reckoning, continuing his collaboration with Cruise since Rogue Nation (2015). Originally conceived as Dead Reckoning – Part Two, the film underwent a rebranding after Dead Reckoning – Part One (2023), which was both a critical and commercial success.

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Joining Cruise are returning stars Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, and Pom Klementieff, alongside new additions such as Nick Offerman and Holt McCallany. The ensemble cast, combined with Cruise’s relentless dedication to practical stunts, has kept audiences engaged despite critical reservations.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is being marketed as the concluding chapter in Ethan Hunt’s two-decade-long journey. It will hit Indian cinemas on May 17 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

Though the film may not have reached the soaring critical heights of its predecessors, it remains a must-watch for fans eager to see how the globe-trotting saga wraps up. Whether it delivers the final punch fans hoped for is still up for debate.