Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Review: Callbacks, Closure, and a Hollow Farewell

In this conclusion to the decades-long series, Ethan Hunt faces his final mission. The IMF team scrambles to prevent global catastrophe while Ethan confronts the full weight of his past. New allies arrive, old enemies linger, and one familiar face from the very first mission resurfaces to help close the circle.

There’s something profoundly fitting about ending a story with reflection. Ethan Hunt’s journey, like Paul’s words to Timothy, recalls a fight fought, a race run, and a faith — however fragile — carried through trials. The Final Reckoning gestures toward this kind of closure in its flashbacks and callbacks, showing the weight of a man’s choices over time. Yet the film often undercuts its own emotional potential, distracting us with new faces and side plots instead of deepening what made the series resonate. As Christians, we’re reminded that legacy isn’t built on spectacle but on faithful endurance; what lingers is not the flash of action, but the consistency of character.

McQuarrie doubles down on action spectacle, but like its predecessor, the story feels thin. The decision to sideline core characters while adding new, underdeveloped ones makes the final mission feel strangely impersonal. Yet there are bright sparks: the opening callbacks to the entire series, the montage of Ethan’s past, and the surprise return of William Donloe — a clever, heartfelt touch that ties the end back to the beginning. These glimpses of reflection give the film its rare moments of emotional weight, even if the larger story falters.

Tom Cruise once again throws himself fully into the role, and the flashbacks remind us why Ethan Hunt became iconic. Rolf Saxon’s return as William Donloe is one of the film’s most rewarding elements — grounding the finale with continuity and understated humanity. Sadly, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg remain underused, while Hayley Atwell’s Grace continues to feel like an unnecessary distraction. Rebecca Ferguson’s absence is sorely felt, and the villain lacks depth, leaving much of the cast adrift in noise.

Rated PG-13, the film contains intense violence, peril, and language but avoids graphic content. Fans of the franchise will watch for closure, and longtime viewers will enjoy the callbacks and continuity. However, those hoping for a finale with true depth may leave disappointed. Parents should know the runtime and constant intensity may exhaust younger viewers, even if content is within teen-appropriate limits.