Mission: Impossible’s Streaming Triumph After Box Office Setback

Tom Cruise has once again claimed the spotlight, as the newest Mission: Impossible entry, The Final Reckoning, has launched straight to the summit of Paramount+’s streaming charts. It’s hardly a surprise to see a Cruise-led blockbuster dominate on its digital release, and this so-called final chapter in the long-running franchise was never likely to settle for anything less than first place.

Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team

The cast list reads like a who’s who of contemporary cinema, with Cruise joined by Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, Rolf Saxon, and Lucy Tulugarjuk. Christopher McQuarrie returns to direct, having co-written the script with Erik Jendresen.

Two months after the events of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) continue their search for the Entity, a terroristic AI that has infiltrated intelligence networks across the globe. As pressure mounts while Hunt and his team are pursued by governments, ghosts from his past emerge in the latest instalment of the iconic action spy series.

Box Office Woes and Production Challenges

Despite the anticipation, the previous film, Dead Reckoning, underperformed at the box office, prompting a swift rebrand for its follow-up, which was initially set to be Dead Reckoning Part 2. The financials were less than ideal: with a reported budget of $300-400 million and a global take of $598 million, the studio was left counting its losses.

The production itself was far from smooth sailing. Originally intended to be shot back-to-back with its predecessor, the schedule was upended in 2021, leading to a significant overhaul. The project then found itself mired in the industry strikes of 2023, causing further delays and ballooning costs. Meanwhile, Cruise’s penchant for performing his own stunts—often involving aircraft—did little to keep expenses down.

Critical Reception and Streaming Success

While the film received a respectable critical response—an 80% score from reviewers and 88% from audiences—it didn’t quite reach the heights of earlier entries in the series. Nevertheless, its streaming debut has provided a much-needed boost, with viewers flocking to see Cruise’s latest exploits. The renewed interest has also propelled earlier Mission: Impossible titles up the Paramount+ charts.

At present, Cruise occupies four of the top five spots on the U.S. streaming leaderboard. The original Mission: Impossible and its sequel sit in second and fourth place, respectively, while his action thriller American Made claims third. Top Gun: Maverick, another of Cruise’s blockbusters, remains in the top ten, holding on at number ten.

The Future of the Franchise

Despite its title, The Final Reckoning may not be the last we see of Ethan Hunt. Although a return for Cruise in the near future seems unlikely, the enduring popularity of the franchise means the door is never truly closed on further adventures.