MOVIE NEWS – Paramount Pictures has gone all in on Mission: Impossible 8, reportedly making it one of the priciest movies ever filmed. Filming for the next big installment began in March 2022 and faced multiple roadblocks before its anticipated 2025 release. Initially stalled by the SAG-AFTRA strike in July 2023, production resumed in March 2024, only to be delayed by a submarine malfunction. After nearly two years of production, the costs for this project have skyrocketed, which could mean a very costly gamble for Tom Cruise’s next high-stakes mission.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the budget for Mission: Impossible 8 is closing in on $400 million. While the exact amount is undisclosed, a figure of $400 million would place it as the fourth most expensive movie ever made, right behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($447 million), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ($432 million), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ($416 million). Adjusted for inflation, it lands in eighth place, just between Avengers: Endgame ($424 million) and Avengers: Infinity War ($394 million). The previous Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning already drew attention with its $291 million budget, but its $570 million worldwide gross was still seen as underwhelming compared to earlier franchise entries. Domestically, Dead Reckoning performed better only than Mission: Impossible 3 from 2006. With a budget even higher than its predecessor, Mission: Impossible 8 will need to be a blockbuster success globally to justify its enormous investment, hinting that Paramount may be gearing up to end the franchise.

Will Breaking Even Be This Mission’s Toughest Challenge Yet?

The Hollywood Reporter also highlights that Paramount Pictures may market Mission: Impossible 8 as the final installment in the franchise, hoping to appeal to fans who’ll flock to see Ethan Hunt’s last escapade. The “last film” marketing tactic worked for hits like Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Jurassic World: Dominion, all of which still weren’t the actual last entries in their series. However, sources reveal that Tom Cruise might not be ready to give up his iconic role just yet.

The promotional campaign for Mission: Impossible 8 is slated to kick off soon, with a first trailer likely to appear with Gladiator II. Paramount is looking to debut the film at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, aiming for a Memorial Day weekend release in the U.S., where it’ll compete against Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch. The film will then face a packed June lineup with heavy-hitters like Karate Kid: Legends, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, the How to Train Your Dragon live-action adaptation, and F1, making it a race to recoup its massive budget.

Source: MovieWeb