The final Mission: Impossible movie was greeted with a five-minute standing ovation upon its premiere at Cannes.
Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning is the last movie in the series that began in 1996, all of which starring Tom Cruise as secret agent Ethan Hunt. This chapter sees him tracking down a sophisticated AI programme that threatens to destroy the world. The film concludes the storyline started in 2023’s Dead Reckoning Part One and is released May 21.
Cruise’s farewell to the franchise premiered at the film festival on Wednesday (May 14), with Variety reporting a 40-piece orchestra welcomed the audience playing the theme from the films. Following the screening, the audience applauded for what the article estimated was around five minutes, with the star and director Christopher McQuarrie then addressing those in attendance.
“This response is why we do it. You are why we do it. The big screen experience is why we do it,” McQuarrie said. “Thank you all for being here and for supporting us. I want to thank this extraordinary cast — when I tell you how extraordinary they are, it wasn’t just showing up to work every day”.
Tom Cruise said goodbye to "Mission: Impossible" at #Cannes as 'The Final Reckoning" earned a five-minute standing ovation.https://t.co/cwsNOXV0IC pic.twitter.com/HValuPY0ca
— Variety (@Variety) May 14, 2025
He continued: “This film was made during a pandemic and two industry strikes. These two films were made over a period of seven years with a lot of uncertainty, a lot of gaps in between their faith and their hard work, their dedication, their unquestioning devotion to this. This film would not be possible without the hard work of each and every one of these people standing up here. It’s the most extraordinary cast in the world”.
Cruise then added: “To be here in Cannes and have these moments — I mean as a kid when we were growing up, I really can’t even dream of something like this happening. I think McQ said it all, I’m just very grateful for 30 years to be able to entertain you with this franchise”.
While those in Cannes loved it, critics were a little more mixed, with those leaving the initial critic’s screenings praising the action but criticising an over-stuffed plot.
English (US) · 