Now that a few months have pᴀssed since Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning was released across the world, audiences have been able to make up their minds about whether another sequel in this long-running action franchise is really necessary. Although The Final Reckoning had an underwhelming box office performance, there’s still plenty to enjoy about the sequel.

The film also proves why Mission: Impossible needs to stick to its word and not release another sequel. The franchise has reached the opportune moment where it can happily retire without worrying about untapped potential or unused ideas, with both audiences and executives happy about the state of the saga. Another sequel would just ruin this harmony.

7

The Mission: Impossible Franchise Ended On A Downward Trajectory

The Previous Two Movies Weren’t The Series’ Best

Both ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning and The Final Reckoning have many strengths (primarily their intricate stunt work and sharp character development), but their overarching narratives often felt underwhelming in comparison to some of the saga’s earlier installments. This can be clearly reflected in The Final Reckoning’s Rotten Tomatoes score, which currently sits at 80%.

This would be an excellent score for any other franchise, but it sadly pales in comparison to movies like Fallout and Rogue Nation, which have scores of 98% and 94% respectively. The franchise was heading downhill, and another Mission: Impossible sequel would merely run the risk of killing the franchise simply because it didn’t know when to stop.

6

It’s Getting Harder For Mission: Impossible’s Stunt Work To Improve With Each Sequel

A Ninth Movie Would Have Higher Expectations Than Ever

Perhaps the main selling point of the Mission: Impossible franchise (especially in the later sequels) was the stunt work, with Tom Cruise delivering some of the most dangerous and blood-pumping stunts ever put to film. Every sequel was clearly trying to outdo the previous one and prove that there’s always a next step to take.

However, this obviously wouldn’t have been possible forever. Given just how dangerous some of Mission: Impossible’s set pieces have been in the past, there’s only so much more danger that Cruise could take on before it starts to feel forced. There’s a certain suspension of disbelief that’s necessary for Mission: Impossible, but a ninth movie would probably push this too far.

Ever since Ghost Protocol, this franchise has struggled to replicate the grandeur and spectacle of the Burj Khalifa sequence. Set pieces like the motorcycle freefall in ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning and the burning parachute jump in The Final Reckoning definitely get their money’s worth out of the stunts, but it certainly feels like Cruise would struggle to go any further.

5

The Final Reckoning Wasn’t A Huge Box Office Success

The Eighth Mission: Impossible Movie Had A Dip In Profit

According to Box Office Mojo, The Final Reckoning pulled in $578.7 million worldwide on a budget of upwards of $300 million, meaning that McQuarrie’s latest effort didn’t quite break even when taking into account how much was spent on marketing and merchandise. This commercial downfall is one of the biggest red flags for a long-running franchise.

To compare, both Fallout and Rogue Nation managed $824 million and $710 million, respectively, proving that it’s not just the critical reception that was going downhill for Mission: Impossible, but the commercial one too. Ending with The Final Reckoning means that the action franchise can plug the bleeding before really losing its touch.

While it’s true that ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning’s box office performance was hindered by COVID restrictions during production, and The Final Reckoning’s budget was ballooned by several subsequent delays, this isn’t quite enough to write off the commercial failure altogether. It would be very difficult for Paramount Pictures to justify another sequel when the previous two have been so underwhelming financially.

4

Mission: Impossible Seems To Be Running Out Of Ideas

The Past Few Movies Had Very Similar Stories

It’s clear that Mission: Impossible’s writers were having to reuse old ideas by the time the eighth movie came around. The focus on the Enтιтy was a very fun addition to the previous two sequels that admittedly helped the story feel fresh, but there were countless details in The Final Reckoning that audiences had seen before in these movies.

Whether that’s the looming threat of nuclear war, the repeated themes of teamwork and friendship, or Ethan once again saving the day in the final act, much of The Final Reckoning felt familiar. McQuarrie did a great job of coating these repeated tropes in a fresh story, but this would have grown more and more difficult with each pᴀssing sequel.

Another Mission: Impossible sequel would require another international supervillain with world-ending plans, and there are only so many routes that Cruise and McQuarrie could take. The franchise has used nuclear weapons so many times, and artifacts like the Rabbit’s Foot have now been retconned as technological warfare, so the options for another sequel are very limited.

3

Ethan Hunt Already Has The Perfect Ending

The Final Reckoning Gives Cruise’s Protagonist A Happy Conclusion

The Final Reckoning was clearly intended to be the last movie in this series, and Ethan Hunt gets a very satisfying ending that another Mission: Impossible sequel would merely run the risk of ruining. Ethan becoming the Enтιтy’s guardian allows him to escape death without escaping all the consequences of his actions throughout the years.

Hunt is the only person trustworthy enough to look after such a powerful artifact, and the eighth installment uses this to its advantage to definitively write him out of the story. Another sequel would simply ruin Hunt’s ending, retroactively making The Final Reckoning’s conclusion effectively pointless.

There have been discussions of potential Mission: Impossible spinoffs or series that could focus on characters other than Ethan Hunt, but it admittedly feels like they would struggle to captivate audiences in the same way. Hunt is the crux of this story, and with his narrative effectively over, it wouldn’t make sense for the franchise to continue with new characters in the spotlight.

2

Tom Cruise Has More Exciting Projects In Development

Cruise And McQuarrie Aren’t Going Anywhere

Though it can be argued that Mission: Impossible doesn’t need Cruise to survive, the franchise’s marketing and publicity seem to suggest otherwise. Cruise is an integral part of this series, so another sequel would almost necessitate his return, but the actor has so many exciting projects in the works that deserve to be made instead.

Cruise’s upcoming projects include a sci-fi action movie directed by Doug Liman (and filmed entirely in space), a sequel to his 1990 sports classic Days of Thunder, and a third movie in his acclaimed Top Gun trilogy. These projects are filled with so much potential, whereas Mission: Impossible certainly feels like it’s run its course by now.

1

The Final Reckoning Was Clearly Marketed As The Last Mission: Impossible Movie

There’s No Going Back On The Decision Now

The most obvious argument against another Mission: Impossible movie is that Cruise and McQuarrie have already stated, very publicly, that The Final Reckoning will be the last entry. And it’s not just in the тιтle; the entire story is about coming full circle and dealing with the sins of one’s past.

This subtext would be completely lost if another Mission: Impossible movie was made, staining much of the grandeur that makes The Final Reckoning so fun to watch. The marketing was very clear that it would be the last movie, and audiences would likely feel betrayed and manipulated if this didn’t end up being the case.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is now available to rent or buy on demand.