MOVIE NEWS – The crowd erupted into applause as Tom Cruise arrived at the Cannes Film Festival for the gala premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Signing autographs as Lalo Schifrin’s iconic theme echoed, the superstar basked in admiration once more.

Three years ago, he ignited the Croisette with Top Gun: Maverick, complete with flyovers and a Palme d’Or for lifetime achievement. The jets stayed grounded this time, but the spectacle inside the Grand Théâtre Lumière was no less thrilling.

The stakes are sky-high: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning may mark the end of one of cinema’s most celebrated action franchises. Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie haven’t ruled out more films but have dodged confirming anything, leaving the final word to Paramount, whose top executive, Brian Robbins, attended the Cannes celebration.

With rumored costs exceeding $300 million, this film needs global box office dominance to break even. Its predecessor, Dead Reckoning: Part One, pulled in $571.1 million – a solid number, but this finale aims higher.

Early reviews are glowing. Critics call it a masterclass in high-octane filmmaking. Even when viewers think the film can’t possibly go any further, Cruise pushes the limits yet again. A few have noted that the non-stop intensity might be overwhelming, but most agree: if this is the final mission, it couldn’t have ended on a stronger note. And if the saga continues? The next entry will have to live up to nearly impossible expectations.

(In theaters May 22, 2025)