TEHRAN- “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, a 2025 action movie by American director Christopher McQuarrie, went on screen at the Arasbaran Cultural Center in Tehran on Wednesday. 

The film screening was followed by a review session. 

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is the eighth installment in the iconic “Mission: Impossible” film series. As a direct sequel to “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” (2023), the film continues the thrilling adventures of Ethan Hunt, portrayed by Tom Cruise in his final appearance as the legendary IMF agent.

The film premiered in Tokyo in May, followed by an out-of-competition screening at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Critics praised “The Final Reckoning” for its intense action sequences, compelling storytelling, and Tom Cruise’s iconic performance, earning widespread acclaim. With a massive budget estimated between $300–400 million, it stands among the most expensive films ever produced. It has grossed approximately $598 million worldwide, making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2025 and boasting the franchise’s largest opening weekend.

Set two months after retrieving the key to the source code of the dangerous AI known as the Entity, Ethan Hunt receives a direct message from U.S. President Erika Sloane. She warns that the Entity is seizing control of nuclear arsenals worldwide, aided by underground doomsday cultists. Despite orders to surrender the key, Hunt refuses, determined to stop the AI’s destructive plan. Alongside fellow IMF agent Benji Dunn, Hunt visits Luther Stickell, a skilled hacker who has developed a malware called the “Poison Pill” capable of disabling the Entity.

The team recruits intelligence agent Theo Degas and Gabriel’s former lieutenant, Paris, who reveals the location of the sunken Russian submarine Sevastopol—home to a crucial component, the Podkova, which could give the Entity control over nuclear systems. Gabriel, the AI’s former proxy, captures Hunt and Grace but Hunt escapes with help. In a tense sequence, Hunt dives into the wreck to retrieve the Podkova, narrowly escaping death and decompression sickness thanks to Grace’s aid.

With the Podkova in hand, Hunt aims to fool the Entity into entering a physical drive rather than the mainframe. However, Gabriel ambushes the team at a bunker, demanding the Podkova and attempting to detonate a nuclear device. A fierce gunfight ensues, and Hunt’s team races to defuse the bomb, which is activated during the chaos. Gabriel is killed in the process, but not before stealing the Poison Pill, forcing Hunt into a final showdown.

In a high-octane sequence, Hunt chases Gabriel in a plane, breaks his arm, and retrieves the Poison Pill. With the clock ticking, Hunt inserts the device into the Podkova, which then triggers the Entity’s containment just moments before nuclear warheads are set to launch. The climax features daring aerial stunts, a tense off-air fight, and Hunt’s ultimate sacrifice—listening to a farewell message from Luther as the Podkova is destroyed, ensuring the nuclear threat is neutralized.

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” marks the end of an era, capping a series that redefined modern action cinema. Its massive budget, groundbreaking stunts, and intricate plot have set new standards for blockbuster filmmaking. The film not only concludes Ethan Hunt’s story but also signifies a generational shift in the franchise, with new characters and themes emerging for future installments.

The film is celebrated for its audacious action scenes, emotional depth, and Tom Cruise’s enduring charisma. The film’s international scope and technological themes also reflect contemporary anxieties about AI and global security, making it a fitting finale for a franchise rooted in espionage, heroism, and innovation.

SAB/