I cried 3 times. I was gripping my seat for nearly the entire 3rd act. At one point I grabbed my water to drink from it and I was visibly shaking from the stress. By no means perfect, but this is what going to the movies is all about. I love what Tom Cruise has done for cinema https://t.co/yHeR1hmXmS

— van watches movies (@alejandroxpadi) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning is 🔥 Whip-smart and razor-sharp, this tense eighth entry in one of the most exhilarating franchises of all time is another winner. With sphincter tightening set pieces, blockbusters do not get much better than this. Cruise & McQuarrie nail it! pic.twitter.com/Q4sIm6SX6Z

— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) May 13, 2025

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THE FINAL RECKONING is an absolutely captivating send-off to the franchise’s legacy and what Tom Cruise has given to Ethan Hunt. While the first 30-40 minutes is a bit too much of an exposition dump, all the set-pieces that follow are unbeatable. pic.twitter.com/QraTiF27Mz

— matt minton 🏳️‍🌈🎬 (@6MattMinton14) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossible/#MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning is action spectacle brimming with jaw-clenching suspense. That is, when it isn’t drowning in a tsunami of exposition & flashbacks. Really good when it’s firing on all cylinders, but overall, mixed. pic.twitter.com/Nr1EdGG2Hd

— Jeff Nelson (@SirJeffNelson) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossible – The Final Reckoning is the ACTION MOVIE OF THE SUMMER! @TomCruise DEFIES ALL ODDS with JAW-DROPPING action built only for @IMAX . Every stunt, every set piece, every second is designed to blow your mind, A PULSE-POUNDING THRILL RIDE, and Cruise remains the… pic.twitter.com/MpZUhThiUj

— Anthony Gagliardi (@AJGaliardi) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossible The Final Reckoning is a thrilling, emotional & satisfying conclusion to one of cinema’s greatest sagas.

While it drags in the middle, this leads into a 3rd act more breathtaking & pulse-pounding than you can imagine.

The plane sequence is an all-timer! pic.twitter.com/t3Ugm98NX5

— Brad Shankar (@bradshankar) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossible - The Final Reckoning is surprisingly dialogue-driven and has more dazzling stunts including a standout mid-film banger. The convoluted espionage plot feels a bit long at nearly three hours. However, if you’re there to watch Tom Cruise almost die, it delivers pic.twitter.com/kt8fUcAB93

— 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘿𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣 (@JohnMovieWatch) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossible The Final Reckoning is a mixed bag. Exhilarating set pieces, stunt work, and epic scope, but it’s also plodding, overwritten, and unnecessarily convoluted. Also nothing about this felt final. Not bad. But far from the best in this usually reliable series. pic.twitter.com/T7NW9JdhST

— The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossible: The Final Reckoning is a VAST improvement over Dead Reckoning. Stakes are back, tension is back & a certain fav. sequel became a WHOLE lot more important. Despite some glossed over story beats & the biggest loose thread in IMF history, it's a fitting finale. pic.twitter.com/I6A9oV2FCh

— Mike Reyes (@MrControversy83) May 13, 2025

So, yeah. I'm definitely a little disappointed, seeing as some of the most negative reactions are from critics I'm familiar with and trust, while a lot of the positive reactions are from people I've never heard of (though there are positive ones from a couple people I know/like as well). Overall, no matter where they land, it seems most everyone agrees the plot is a mess at times, but that the saving grace of course is the insane action, the latter of which isn't surprising. Still, I was obviously hoping reactions would be more effusive. That said, nothing was ever going to top Fallout, there's still plenty of positives/hope in these tweets, and now maybe with slightly lower expectations we'll end up being pleasantly wowed/surprised.

Need this photo without text for a large wall poster

Didn't really enjoy THE FINAL RECKONING :(

It's got McQ's best and worst tendencies, i.e. stunning visuals bogged down by an overtly complex script that introduces so much that goes nowhere. Obviously feels like they were filming this without a script. pic.twitter.com/6wcfksJdac

— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) May 13, 2025

THE FINAL RECKONING requires you to know (at the time) inconsequential details from the most random of M:I entries that it feels like it was made to validate rewatches rather than making a compelling narrative on its own. https://t.co/Cz3VbG6btw

— James Preston Poole (@JamesPPoole) May 13, 2025

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING has some of the same biggest sins that modern blockbusters can have. Its action is very good but good lord I can’t justify any of the other creative choices in it.

— Reyna Cervantes (@Jfcdoomblade) May 13, 2025

LIGHT THE FUSE!! “THE FINAL RECKONING” sticks the landing on the “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” film series with the most intense, visceral, emotional & powerful “MISSION” of them all! @TomCruise does it again with incredible stunts! You really *FEEL* the danger! It’s AWESOME in IMAX! pic.twitter.com/NfR8qO8Vx2

— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING might be one of the funniest vanity projects in franchise history. Elements of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and 90s analog action hilariously combat an overlong opus with a thrilling third act. Tom Cruise has turned Ethan Hunt into Dom Toretto. pic.twitter.com/joa8IxRA03

— Eric Marchen (@EM6211) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING has two big set pieces. One, I wondered how they did some of it. The other, I was pretty sure I knew exactly how they did most of it, and that only made it seem nuttier. They're both jaw-dropping.

— Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) May 13, 2025

Final Reckoning’s a big old sloppy mess with maybe the best extended set piece they’ve ever done sandwiched in the middle. There’s an image during said set piece that took my breath away.

Lots of nearly naked TC if you’re into that sorta thing.

— Brandon Streussnig (@BrndnStrssng) May 13, 2025

When it's not overloading you with nostalgia-bait archival montages and baffling editing choices, #MissionImpossible proves to be a fun, albeit underwhelming conclusion to the saga. Tramell Tillman is a certified scene stealer and Simon Pegg is my MVP this time around. pic.twitter.com/gMoBbc9n91

— adam patla (@apat10) May 13, 2025

As hard as it may be to believe, Cruise and McQuarrie really stuck the landing with #MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning, which is to the MI franchise what The Dark Knight was to Batman. It's a massive finale with enormous stakes, no less than WWIII, and it left me gobsmacked.

— Edward Douglas (@EDouglasWW) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING plays like a greatest hits in the best way. A gleefully bombastic ride that feels more "impossible" than any other entry. From the reverence for the franchise's history to Tom Cruise's all-time great stunts, it's an exhilarating finale. pic.twitter.com/VsLx4CJpJZ

— Ezra Cubero (@EzraCubero) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING has killer @IMAX moments—submarine & plane sequences are standouts. Tom Cruise is a MADMAN!

The plot's a bit bloated and messy, with some jarring editing. It evened out for me in the latter half. Still had a fun time at the movies. pic.twitter.com/05pErGQtGj

— Adam Hlaváč (@adamhlavac) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING is a shot of ADRENALINE straight from Tom Cruise’s heart. The 3 hour runtime breezes by, set pieces live up to the hype, not to mention the JAW dropping sequence that is not included in trailers🤐. The most moving of the franchise…By far pic.twitter.com/Budiz1PLfd

— Brian (@BrianLongFilms) May 13, 2025

#MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning stands as one of the greatest action movies of all time. The tension, stunts, direction, editing, everything borders on perfection.

Tom Cruise delivers yet another legendary performance, and the production value is simply insane. If you… pic.twitter.com/6WAs4ulX1D

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING is the biggest film in the franchise yet as it plays like one extended climax stretched across nearly three action-packed, emotional hours. With a more somber tone, the stakes have never been higher and the action set pieces are… pic.twitter.com/eS5numoyl8

— Matt Neglia @Cannes (@NextBestPicture) May 13, 2025

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning has pacing issues but when it literally takes flight, the movie soars.

Tom Cruise delivers a tense and thrilling third & final act. Love letters to the franchise are caked in, for better and worse.

Last 45 mins are exceptional. pic.twitter.com/H6gFzN5nCG

— Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) May 13, 2025

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING is a maximalist mess; our boys have too many ideas for a movie again, making a somber series tribute with a janky FAIL SAFE-like nuclear arms plot. Oddly light on action. The big set-pieces are extraordinary. I liked it! Hoped to love it pic.twitter.com/KGpvA8l67O

— Brendan Hodges (@metaplexmovies) May 13, 2025

Pretty mixed, sounds like one of those that will probably be a blast on initial viewing then maybe not hold up quite as well as you start to nitpick. Should still be a lot of fun, fingers crossed.

Just FYI...

The most necessary rewatches to get the most out of THE FINAL RECKONING are the original film, M:I-3 and (of course) DEAD RECKONING. https://t.co/hgyked2s4D

— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) May 13, 2025

Yeah, it's definitely a little too busy, and relies on more obvious CGI at times than other installments, but man is a fun time.

A moment above the city at @BFI IMAX in London. We can’t wait for you to see #MissionImpossible — The Final Reckoning on the biggest screen possible. #FilmedForIMAX @TomCruisepic.twitter.com/GbNDYL0M94

— Mission: Impossible (@MissionFilm) May 13, 2025

As expected seems largely positive…the complaints in the tweets are the same as the last few movies. The plot meanders around to fill time til the great and long (half hour or more) climax. I posted the same thing here for fallout, but still liked the movie. Expect the same here, though nearly 3 hours does seem exceptionally long and probably why some of the blowback happened. Hard to believe an action movie that probably doesn't have an overly complicated plot couldn't be edited down a bit.

The negative reactions are considerably more negative than any other Mission: Impossible movie released in the social media era. Granted, there are hardly any outright negative reactions, and sure, people may have noted/mildly complained about overly complicated plot mechanics in the past, but it was nothing like this. For instance, I've never seen a single Mission: Impossible reaction skew anywhere remotely this negative…

I don't always agree with @DavidPoland, but I've read everything he's written for the past 19 years. You should watch his daily videos, too. Today, DP offered his quick take on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 8: It’s terrible. The new M:I movie is not the worst, but maybe the next-to-worst.…

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) May 13, 2025

Quote:

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I don't always agree with @DavidPoland, but I've read everything he's written for the past 19 years. You should watch his daily videos, too. Today, DP offered his quick take on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 8: It's terrible. The new M:I movie is not the worst, but maybe the next-to-worst. It is an act of cinematic masturbation unlike almost anything you'll see. It is so self-aware and so up its own ass. It's just not a very good movie, unfortunately. Dense, thick, and chatty. A terrible premise. It is an EPIC mess.

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