Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning finally released in theaters, and it did so to great success. Despite its box office compeтιтion with the Disney live-action remake of Lilo & Sтιтch, the movie managed a four-day domestic opening of $79 million over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Combined with overseas markets, the movie now boasts a worldwide gross of $206 million, a total that will only climb as it continues its theatrical run. As the тιтle indicates, The Final Reckoning is slated to be the last chapter in Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) story.
Audiences will undoubtedly miss the Mission: Impossible world, or at least this version of it, which has been active for almost 30 years. These movies were highly influential in the action genre, pushing stunt work to the limits and flaunting impressive budgets and scales. The series is also notable for its use of espionage and conspiracy plots, which are the narrative thread throughout their action-heavy films. Even as Mission: Impossible fades away this year, another franchise has a movie coming out this year that is well worth the hype.
YRF Spy Franchise Is Releasing Their Next Movie With War 2
And It Comes Out In Just Three Months
While it is not a Hollywood movie, this year will see another major action sequel with the release of the Indian movie War 2. This film is part of the Yash Raj Films (YRF) spy franchise. While it exists within this larger universe, it is a sequel to the 2019 global adventure film War. The movie follows the story of a secret agent named Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) who decides to go rogue after a mission to capture a terrorist goes wrong. At the same time, Kabir is chased by another agent, named Khalid.
There is a new director for War 2, subbing Siddharth Anand for Ayan Mukerji. It will have continuity from the first film in that it will also include Roshan in the lead role of Kabir. In addition, War 2‘s cast also includes N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Kiara Advani. It is set for release on August 14, 2025. A War 2 teaser trailer was recently revealed, which established that Kabir will face a new enemy in this second movie. The trailer included action-packed moments including grenades, swords, and more in a preview replete with dramatic slow motion.
YRF Spy Franchise Has Grown Into One Of The Biggest Indian Action Franchises
It Began In 2012
In the years leading up to the release of War 2, the YRF spy franchise has become one of the biggest action franchises in India. While YRF as a company was founded in 1970, its big action franchise began in 2012. This coincided with when the production and distribution group changed hands to be run by Aditya Chopra, the son of founder Yash Chopra, from whom the company gets part of its name.
Yash Chopra pᴀssed away on October 21, 2012, two months before Ek Tha Tiger’s release.
The first YRF spy franchise movie was the Bollywood movie Ek Tha Tiger. This was followed by Tiger Zinda Hai in 2017 and then War in 2019. Originally, these first three films were supposed to be standalone features, united simply by the fact that they were all action movies made by YRF. Things changed, however, when War did incredibly well at the box office. The movie made $67.1 million worldwide, $53.5 million of which came from India, with the rest coming from international markets.
This win encouraged YRF to make these movies into a cinematic universe, which was first united through Pathaan in 2023. Before Tiger 3, it was the most expensive film in the franchise, but it also ended up being hugely rewarding, grossing $112.5 million worldwide, which is a huge total for a Bollywood film. Through this progression, the franchise has added more characters and major stars. For example, War 2 will even add Telugu film star Rao Jr., who was previously in the Oscar-winning global hit RRR.
War 2 Would Be A Worthy Follow-Up To Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
It Has Some Similar Elements
Like the Mission: Impossible franchise, the YRF spy movies have themes of action and espionage. While they may take on a different filmmaking style than the Cruise-led movies, these overlapping ideas still make War 2 an exciting replacement for Mission: Impossible, and audiences will only have to wait a few more months. The Final Reckoning will likely be the last installment starring Cruise, so many will be looking for a worthy replacement. Even with its release date separation from the first War movie, it looks like War 2 will have been well worth the wait.
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YRF Spy Universe
- Created by
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Aditya Chopra
- First Film
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Ek Tha Tiger
- Cast
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Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Ashutosh Rana, Girish Karnad
- Movie(s)
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Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, Tiger 3, War 2, Tiger vs Pathaan
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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning