While the latest Ethan Hunt adventure impresses at the box office, its massive budget raises questions about true profitability
May 30, 2025: Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has not only thrilled audiences but has also joined the ranks of Cruise’s 25 highest-grossing movies worldwide. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the final installment in the long-running franchise sees Ethan Hunt (Cruise) in a high-stakes showdown against Gabriel (Esai Morales) and The Entity. The film also features Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, and Henry Czerny.
According to Box Office Mojo, The Final Reckoning has raked in over $220 million globally, including $86.2 million domestically and $136.1 million overseas. The Numbers places the film at 23rd on Cruise’s all-time box office list, just behind Interview with the Vampire ($223.6M), A Few Good Men ($236.5M), and Knight and Day ($258.7M). It has recently surpassed Jack Reacher ($217.4M) and Collateral ($217.6M).
What This Means for the Film
Although The Final Reckoning has cracked Cruise’s top 25 highest-grossing films, it still has a long climb to join the top five, where titles like Top Gun: Maverick ($1.454B) and Mission: Impossible – Fallout ($786.6M) reign supreme.
Given its strong opening and aggressive marketing campaign, The Final Reckoning may still edge closer to those high rankings. But with a reported $400 million budget, profitability remains a daunting challenge. The film’s break-even point could be around $1 billion — a figure no previous Mission: Impossible movie has reached.
For comparison, even Dead Reckoning — the sixth highest-grossing film of Cruise’s career at $565.7 million — was deemed a financial disappointment given its $291 million budget.
A Mixed Note for the Franchise’s Final Bow
Despite mixed critical reviews, audiences have responded positively to Cruise’s swan song as Ethan Hunt. The film’s strong opening suggests the marketing hook — selling it as the last mission for Hunt — may have paid off, at least for the debut weekend.
However, sustaining that interest will be key. If The Final Reckoning had been made on a more typical budget, it might already be considered a solid hit. With a $400 million price tag, though, profitability is a steep climb. Cruise’s star power is evident, but the final chapter’s box office performance will ultimately reveal whether the franchise truly ends on a triumphant note.
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Mission Impossible 8, Tom Cruise box office, Ethan Hunt, Mission Impossible franchise, Hollywood box office, blockbuster films, Christopher McQuarrie