Mission Impossible 8 Premieres Amid Mixed Reviews Over AI Threat

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth and final installment starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, continues the saga with a plot centered around stopping a rogue AI called The Entity from triggering global catastrophe. The film pays homage to the franchise's history but has been criticized for its excessive length, convoluted exposition, and lack of humor or engaging character development, particularly among returning team members and new additions. While the movie features spectacular stunts, including a notable aerial biplane sequence performed by Cruise himself, some fans and critics feel the marketing strategy—especially the use of social media influencers—misses the mark with the franchise's core audience. Despite these flaws, the film holds a solid 88% critics' approval on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a mixed but generally positive reception. The high stakes of potential World War III and the heavy reliance on Cruise's iconic character underscore the narrative, but many reviewers found the film less thrilling than previous entries, noting a decline in freshness and excitement. Ultimately, the film attempts to balance an epic conclusion with franchise nostalgia, though it struggles with pacing and character engagement.