In 2023, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning faced significant challenges at the box office, primarily due to fierce competition from blockbuster hits like Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, and Barbie, helmed by Greta Gerwig. The film ended its theatrical run with a disappointing gross of $570 million worldwide, despite being produced on a staggering budget of nearly $300 million. This underperformance was particularly surprising, given that it followed the critically acclaimed and commercially successful installment, Mission: Impossible - Fallout.
The lower-than-expected box office results for Dead Reckoning compelled Paramount Pictures to reassess its marketing strategy for the eighth installment in the franchise, titled Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. This new release is being promoted as the concluding chapter of the beloved action saga. However, it faced further challenges when it debuted alongside Disney's highly anticipated Lilo & Stitch remake.
Despite the stiff competition, The Final Reckoning achieved a remarkable milestone by delivering a franchise-best debut. The film grossed an estimated $77 million domestically during the extended Memorial Day weekend. Additionally, it has already earned approximately $127 million from international markets, having opened in select territories the previous week. This brings its cumulative global earnings to around $190 million, with expectations to surpass the $200 million mark by Monday.
However, the film's impressive opening is overshadowed by its reported production budget of $400 million, making The Final Reckoning one of the most expensive films ever created. To break even, the movie must generate over $800 million worldwide, essentially requiring it to become the highest-grossing installment in the Mission: Impossible series.
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who has helmed the last four films in the Mission: Impossible franchise, The Final Reckoning faced numerous production hurdles, including pandemic-related shutdowns and industry strikes. Star Tom Cruise, who has been synonymous with the franchise since the mid-1990s, embarked on a high-profile global press tour ahead of the film's release. The movie also enjoyed a glamorous premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Upon its release, The Final Reckoning garnered mostly positive reviews, although its current Rotten Tomatoes score stands at 80%, which is notably lower than its immediate predecessors. Nevertheless, audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film holding a remarkable 90% audience score on the aggregator site and earning an A CinemaScore from opening day viewers. The star-studded cast includes Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Angela Bassett, Henry Czerny, and Esai Morales.
Fans of the franchise can catch The Final Reckoning in theaters now. For the latest updates and news about the Mission: Impossible series, stay tuned to Collider.
